This lifestyle provides an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, as well as a sense of pride and accomplishments for those who really manage to rough it all on their own. And The Sims 4 even accommodates this lifestyle now – to a point. Sure, you can give your lot the corresponding trait and use the designated off grid items. But there are a lot of gaps left to fill in, and missing opportunities for a true unplugged experience. So of course, Simmers have made some unbelievable creations that’ll be perfect for your survivalist.
1. Functional Canning Station & Custom Canning Skill
Check Out This CC If you’ve ever watched any sort of ‘preppers’ show, you know survivalist types love their canned goods. It’s definitely not an unfounded pursuit. By canning food, you can have some security knowing you won’t be hungry for years to come. It requires skill and due process to make sure what you’re canning is preserved just right. This amazing mod really brings this old-school skill to life in The Sims 4. You get an actual canning station, complete with a stovetop and decorative hanging utensils. Now you might think that’s already pretty cool. It’s something to place in your survivalist Sim’s home that doesn’t look out of place, right? Well, it gets even better. This mod also includes a fully fleshed-out canning skill! As your Sim rises through the levels, they’ll unlock different types of things to make, from jams and spreads to pickled foods.
2. Canned Food
Check Out This CC Not every canned delicacy can be made at home, of course. Simple foods like beans, soups, pastas, and vegetables are always good to have on hand. They make for a quick meal or side dish, last forever, and in case there’s ever a weather emergency, can usually be prepared and eaten without a stove. Just make sure to have a can opener. For some reason, I’ve always been a little obsessed with pantries. My house doesn’t have one, and yet I just love to dedicate a space in my Sim’s basements to non-perishables. For survivalists, a pantry is a necessity. They aren’t gonna be heading to the store two or three times per week. So with these decorative cans, you can make it look like your Sim really does have a stockpile.
3. Off the Grid Teapot
Check Out This CC There will be no better end to an off the grid day than a lovely cup of… something. This teapot CC from PlasticBox will allow your Sim to brew various types of teas. Options include the basics, such as just ‘tea’ or ‘pitch black’, as well as some more flavorful ones like calming chamomile, steamy ginseng, healthy green, or Earl Grey. I’ll be honest, I’ve never had any sort of tea other than black tea with sugar and coffee creamer. I know, someone in England just woke up in a cold sweat and isn’t sure why. But if someone is living off the grid, they’ll probably develop new appreciations, like for tea. It’s a much more accessible and sustainable indulgence than sodas or energy drinks.
4. Carbon Flashlight
Check Out This CC They say you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone, and that certainly applies to lighting. I don’t have sources to back this up or anything, but I’m pretty sure the term ‘off the grid’ itself is a reference to not being connected to the power grid. Folks usually have some sort of other system, such as a generator or solar panels. But no matter what, you never want to be caught in the dark with no way to see. And don’t think you can rely on your phone, either! This flashlight from wondymoon is exactly the heavy-duty sort of item a survivalist Sim will want to have in the house.
5. Carbon First Aid Kit
Check Out This CC Being off the grid probably means you’re more than a ten minute drive from a hospital. So anyone who’s into this sort of lifestyle will definitely want to have some medical supplies on hand. Unless you’ve had extensive training, major injuries will still have to be attended to elsewhere. But for the most part, a first aid kit will get the job done. Cut, scrapes, and minor burns are bound to happen from time to time. Of course, for your Sims this will just be a cool little decorative piece. But it is indeed cool.
6. Trekking Pack
Check Out This CC Being a survivalist means having a backup plan. In some scenarios, being off the grid simply might not be enough. You might have to travel on foot, or disappear into the wilderness for a while. Yeah, some pretty catastrophic events would have to happen for such a thing to be necessary. But hey, you never know. And neither do your Sims. And you can really clutter their home up to look like they’re ready for anything with this CC set. It has everything a Sim who’s taking their survival into their own hands will need. Hiking boots, maps, flashlights, and sturdy backpacks are all good to have for sure.
7. Off-the-Grid Typewriter
Check Out This CC No electricity means no computer, which means no Microsoft Word. Horrifying, right? But at least your Sim still will be able to write letters or stories. This CC actually could make for a lot of fun, if you want to play a struggling author who isolates themselves out in the middle of nowhere with nothing but this typewriter. That’s totally a valid reason to go off grid.
8. Functional Water Pump
Check Out This CC Clean water is always a top priority. Without it, hygiene and hydration are both compromised, and nobody wants to be thirsty and smelly. This custom functional water pump is truly a game changer. Your Sim will actually have to collect water from the pump, and the interaction will place five buckets of water in their inventory to use for laundry, dishes, bathing, and all other water-based activities. There are a bunch of awesome buffs your Sim might get from time to time as well, such as sore muscles or a bee sting. It might not be pleasant, but that’s the reality of pumping water. And I think it’s great the creator included such things.
9. Alex Décor Set
Check Out This CC This custom decor set includes some more items you’d expect to see in the home of any prepared Sim. So any of this CC will be perfect to add around your Sim’s off-grid home, too. There’s a geiger counter, compass, first aid kit, flashlight, lantern, and best of all… toilet paper. The one thing that became a rarity that no one saw coming in the face of a real crisis. These items (and more) come in some great swatches to match your style. There’s a military-like olive green and red set, as well as blue and white or yellow and white, all with some camo thrown in on certain objects.
10. Wood Pile
Check Out This CC Heat is just as important as food and water. And you might not be able to have it without burning wood. Placing this log pile in your Sim’s home or on their lot will really make it look like they’re established where they are, and ready for the winter ahead. And it’s important to remember that heat is for more than just keeping warm. It’s integral to cooking safely, as well as boiling water to sterilize things.
11. Wood Burning Cook Stove
Check Out This CC While you can’t actually use the above wood pile to fuel this stove, they certainly complement each other, don’t ya think? This stove is much better suited for off the grid lots than any of the regular stoves we currently have in the game. It features a simple vent and front door. The top is plain black with a few burners, but the main part comes in a variety of colors. There’s a little pile of wood beneath it as well. Because the last thing anyone wants to do is to run all the way outside for a log to stoke the fire when they’re in the middle of cooking dinner.
12. Functional Chicken Coop
Check Out This CC With eggs being such an excellent source of protein, chickens are the go-to livestock for many people. They’re fairly low maintenance, and pretty cute as well. I don’t know how it’s possible, but creator icemunmun has made this CC just as elaborate and functional as it ever was, if not moreso. There are tons of amazing interactions here. The chickens are arguably just as sentient as the cats and dogs. You can talk to them, play with them, and hug them. How sweet! But of course, there’s plenty to do with eggs as well. Your Sims can collect eggs, which come in a carton, and there’s a whole system for Easter eggs too. But simply checking for eggs isn’t always a guarantee to receive them. They are available every three hours, though, so keep checking and see what you get.
13. Homesteader Aspiration
Check Out This Mod The description for this aspiration is as follows: And that pretty accurately sums up the off-grid lifestyle. A lot of skills and know-how are required, so for many people, it turns into ambition to be totally independent. Plus this mod comes with a new bonus trait, Green Thumb, which allows your Sim to learn the gardening skill far more quickly. There’s also a new aspiration bonus trait, so your Sim will always get the best results from fishing and gardening.
14. Off Grid Bath and Shower Tubs
Check Out This CC Maintaining an off grid home is hard (and sometimes laborious) work. After a day spent tending the garden or standing in the sun for hours fishing, a Sim is bound to get smelly. The lack of plumbing can make bathing a bit of a hassle, though. But honestly, it’s more of a hassle in The Sims than in real life. I think it’s sometimes forgotten that wells exist, and a ton of people still get water from them. These custom bathtubs and showers from K9DB make it so your Sim isn’t reduced to waiting for rain to bathe. They’ll work just fine on off the grid lots, and there’s even a decorative heater you can place, too.
15. Outdoor Activity Bags
Check Out This CC Many of the things we already have sitting in the garage would be very useful for survivalists. These bags, designed to look like charcoal, wood chips, and a variety of gardening soils and fertilizers, will give your Sim’s land the appearance that it’s got a busy bee living on it! Not a literal bee, of course. That’s a whole other pursuit that can be achieved if you have the right packs. I just love the design of these bags. The creator nailed that Simlish style, yet these also remain true enough to the real thing to be recognizable.
16. Fishing CC Set
Check Out This CC Living off the land means finding multiple ways to provide yourself and your family with sustenance – and fishing is a huge way to achieve that. This is one thing that’s already pretty well developed in the vanilla Sims 4. The skill is fun and a little challenging to build up, and there are several things you can do with your fish after you catch them. What is lacking, however, is physical proof that your Sim is a lover of the reel. There’s almost no decor dedicated to the sport. But with this set, you can really deck out your Sim’s lot. Included here are some wooden boats in various states, as well as a barrel of fish and some that you can hang on the wall.
17. Small Stereos
Check Out This CC Unfortunately, battery operated items seem to not exist in this game. Real off the grid homes tend to utilize things like radios or walkie-talkies, or at least have them on hand. So if you want this bit of realism in your game, you’ll just have to use your imagination a little. These stereos look great – just the type that would have a battery slot in the back, but sadly will not actually be functional without power. You can still place them in your home and pretend, though. They’ll be a perfect fit for the aesthetic.
18. Stump and Wood Basket
Check Out This CC Those wood piles don’t just appear out of thin air. Well, I guess they kind of do, at least in this game… But if you want to make it seem like your Sim is doing the chopping themselves, you’ll need an axe, a stump, and logs. All of that’s provided here for you (and in wonderful detail). Gathering and chopping your own firewood is hard work. But for those off the grid Sims, things aren’t always as simple as popping into the store and buying a bundle.
19. Toddler Washtub
Check Out This CC Sometimes, it’s more efficient to do things the old fashioned way. Bathing a toddler in a washtub has conserved more water than putting them in a bathtub, since it’s a smaller space. Good thing toddlers are small and don’t really need all that space anyway, huh? Well this is a super cute alternative to bathing them inside or installing a full-sized shower and bath.
20. Laundry Set
Check Out This CC Laundry is an unfortunate fact of life. But at least with this CC set, you can just include it without the hassle of actually, you know… doing laundry. It’s compatible even if you don’t have the Laundry Day Stuff pack. And it features a tub and washboard, as well as a clothesline and detergent. Now, as much as I love that pack, this is arguably even better in some other scenarios. If your Sims are busy keeping their off grid homestead running, you might not have time to deal with stinky piles of clothes. So this is the best of both worlds. You get the illusion of a need to wash clothes, without all the work.
