Couple Lives 43 Years Off-Grid, Generating Their Own Energy, Food, and Retirement Fund

At times, the couple went six months without seeing another human—and they not only survived but thrived in some of the remote places.

The couple has written some of the most-sought-after homesteading books like "Off Grid and Free: My Path to the Wilderness" and "The Self-Sufficient Backyard."Courtesy of Ron Melchiore

An electronics technician from a Philadelphia suburb, who never expected to swap his 9-to-5 for living off-grid in the wilderness, has spent 43 years homesteading in the United States and Canada with his wife.

Together, they’ve built three homes in remote locations and have generated enough energy, food, and money to see them through retirement. They’ve even penned some of the most-sought-after books on how to survive off-the-grid and thrive in modern day America: “Off Grid and Free: My Path to the Wilderness“ and ”The Self-Sufficient Backyard: For the Independent Homesteaders.”