Off Grid Living in Saskatchewan (Can it be Done?)

Off grid living in Saskatchewan is suitable since the cost of property and living is relatively affordable, and this province has the most roadways in the country, whereas most northern regions struggle with a shortage of roads. Furthermore, the local climate is pleasant because this region receives lots of sunlight throughout the year, and summers can be rather hot. Because of the local environment, you may also cultivate a variety of crops, and if you enjoy fishing, there are thousands of lakes and rivers to choose from.

Saskatchewan’s capital city is Regina; before, the province of Saskatchewan was part of the Northwest Territories, and Regina served as the seat of government. Regina became the capital of the new province of Saskatchewan after its formation. Cities that serve as provincial capitals are often the largest, while Saskatoon has a much larger population.

Saskatoon is also known as the “Paris of the Prairies,” and its population is rapidly increasing. Saskatchewan, along with neighboring province Alberta, receives the most sunlight each year, approximately 2000 hours per year, and summers in both places can be rather hot. Although Saskatchewan is prone to arctic winds from time to time, which can linger anywhere from a few days to several weeks.

Saskatchewan is known for its lakes; the province has over 10,000 of them, and many individuals who live off the grid want to live near one. Saskatchewan, like the Sahara, has sand dunes, so if you ever visit, check them out, but keep in mind that there is no vehicle access to them. These gigantic sand dunes were formed by massive glaciers that had sand trapped within them; as the glaciers melted, the sand formed these massive sand dunes.

Should You Live Off Grid in Saskatchewan?

What’s the Climate in Saskatchewan?

Saskatchewan features a variety of climates due to its vastness, including humid continental, subarctic, and semi-arid. The humid continental climate prevails in the province’s south, the semi-arid climate prevails in the south, and the subarctic climate prevails in the province’s extreme north. The typical summer temperature ranges from 60F to 90F (15C-30C), while the average winter temperature is below freezing and can drop further during arctic winters.

Another province with some extreme temperatures is Nunavut. Interested in hearing about how people live off the grid there? Check out my guide!

What Crops Can you Grow in Saskatchewan? 

The southern sections of Saskatchewan are ideal for agricultural cultivation. Wheat, rye, oats, alfalfa, barley, canola, flax, and rapeseed are the most regularly produced crops in this province. Although numerous crops can be grown in this region, there is a difficulty with land fertility in some locations, particularly in semi-arid areas. You will be able to cultivate your own food, but you will almost certainly need to make your own compost and possibly even build a greenhouse.

What’s Freshwater Availability LIke in Saskatchewan? 

Saskatchewan is recognized for its thousands of lakes and rivers, and despite having a low yearly rainfall, the province has an abundance of fresh water. The average annual rainfall is approximately 13.9′′ (354mm), and the average annual snowfall is approximately 50′′. ( 128 cm ). In general, the northern parts of the province receive the most rainfall and snowfall, whereas the southern parts receive significantly less rainfall and snowfall.

What Kind of Wildlife is in Saskatchewan?

White-tailed deer, beavers, Canada geese, caribou, coyote, lynx, moose, raccoon, and wolves are the most prevalent wildlife in this province. The most frequent fish found in Saskatchewan are walleye, northern pike, lake trout, rainbow trout, yellow perch, brook trout, arctic grayling, whitefish, sauger, splake, and largemouth bass.

You’ll need a hunting or fishing permit for any wildlife catching you do. Check out local guidelines here.

How to Generate Off Grid Power in Saskatchewan? 

Solar power: Because Saskatchewan receives a lot of sunshine each year, generating power with solar panels will be fairly simple, especially in the province’s southern regions. The local solar incentive program is called the SaskPower Solar Rebate, and it offers a rebate of roughly $0.61/Watt. In Alberta, the rebate is $0.90/kW, but the rebate in Saskatchewan is restricted to $20 000, whereas in Alberta it is limited to $5000.

Wind power: Because of the local environment, some regions have a fairly continuous wind all year. You should contact your local authorities to see if there are any local incentives for wind power.

Does Saskatchewan Have Off Grid Living Laws?

Living off the grid in Saskatchewan is permitted, and the local government even provides considerable incentives for renewable energy. The finest areas for off grid living in Saskatchewan are in the state’s south. However, there are lots of off grid communities in the state’s north, where most of the lakes are.

You can homeschool your children in this province. The homeschooling regulations are rather straightforward, although you will need to notify the local authorities.

What’s Road Access Like in Saskatchewan? 

Most Canadian provinces suffer from a severe lack of roadways, however Saskatchewan has one of the most extensive road systems in the country. This province currently has approximately 155k miles (250k km) of roads, albeit parts of them are inaccessible during the winter. If you wish to live off grid in the southern sections of Saskatchewan, a 4WD car would suffice. In the northern portions, you will need to consider purchasing a snowmobile.

What’s the Price of Off Grid Land in Saskatchewan? 

The price of land in Saskatchewan is similar to that of Alberta. Housing and land are most expensive near larger cities, but you can find cheaper housing in smaller towns. In general, the most expensive parts of this province in terms of housing and land are in the south, where population density is much higher.

Canada continues to raise housing costs. Check out Living Off Grid in Quebec for more on this.

What’s the Cost of Off Grid Living in Saskatchewan?

The cost of living in Saskatchewan is quite inexpensive. Due to its geographical location and local infrastructure, this province does not have to rely on planes. This lowers the cost of living significantly in comparison to the northern provinces. This province also has the most roadways of any province in the country. This helps with goods movement and contributes to the reduced cost of living.

What’s the Job Market Like in Saskatchewan? 

Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate is currently around 5.8 percent, which is much lower than the national average of 6.9 percent. The minimum wage in this province is $11.32, which is comparable to neighboring provinces. The most populous industries are oil, gas, mining, renewable energy, agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism.

Are There Natural Disasters in Saskatchewan? 

Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate is currently around 5.8 percent, which is much lower than the national average of 6.9 percent. The minimum wage in this province is $11.32, which is comparable to neighboring provinces. The most populous industries are oil, gas, mining, renewable energy, agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism.

Can You Live Off Grid in Saskatchewan? 

Overall, off grid living in Saskatchewan is a wonderful; however, living off the grid in the northern portions of the province becomes more challenging due to the local climate. Saskatchewan has many people and towns that live entirely off the grid since the province has everything you need to live off the grid.

If you’re interested in hearing about another ideal province to live off the grid in, I recommend checkin out Alberta.