6 Memorable Wilderness and Off the Grid Books

Over the years I've read a lot about wilderness adventures and off the grid living. Here are six memorable books. Click on the titles to see my more in-depth reviews.

Drawn to Sea (Caitlin Press, 2013) by Yvonne Maximchuk is the memoir of a single mother who moved to remote Coastal BC. She lived in a float home, built a cabin, and fished with legendary Billy Proctor. Author/artist Yvonne has become a personal friend. Find her book on BC Ferries, in galleries and bookstores, online, or at one of her presentations.

Tide Rips and Back Eddies (Harbour Publishing, 2015) by Bill Proctor and Yvonne Maximchuk is the second book about the life and times of Echo Bay legend Billy Proctor. It was co-authored and illustrated by artist/author Yvonne Maximchuk. Look for it on BC Ferries, in Canadian bookstores, or online at booksellers such as Amazon.

Off the Grid and Free (Moon Willow Press, 2016) by Ron Melchiore tells the story of a couple who live way off the grid on a homestead they built from scratch in northern Saskatchewan. They've homesteaded in Maine and Canada, and provide a wealth of information based on their first-hand experience. You can find it in print and e-book formats online at Amazon.

Gumboot Girls (Caitlin Press, 2014) by Lou Allison and Jane Wilde. They have compiled a series of short vignettes by women who lived in Haida Gwaii and Prince Rupert during the back-to-the-land movement of the 60s and 70s. Look for it on BC Ferries, in Canadian bookstores, or on Amazon. Or catch them on a book tour here in Coastal BC.

Our Life Off the Grid (OTG Publishing, 2015) by J. David Cox follows the experiences of a couple who left behind their urban life in the Vancouver, BC, and built an off the grid cabin on land they owned on a remote island up the coast. Learn how and why they made this major lifestyle change. You can find their book in print and e-book formats online at Amazon.

And the River Still Sings (Caitlin Press, 2014) by Chris Czajkowski follows her life from England, around the world, into Canada, to her Nuk Tessli wilderness cabin, and up to her homestead on Ginty Creek. Chris has 11 books and a new one in progress. Look for them on BC Ferries, in Canadian bookstores, or on Amazon.

Do you have any books to recommend? I'm always looking for a good read in either print or e-book format. -- Margy