About us
Beyond Grid Life Knowledge Commons is a free, community-driven library of practical knowledge and ideas for surviving catastrophic events and rebuilding afterwards.
Our mission
Why this site exists
Major bushfires, floods, cyclones, earthquakes and long grid failures can take out power, water, phone networks, the internet and supply chains at the same time. When that happens, help can be days away. People have to rely on what they know, what they have prepared and each other.
The knowledge that gets people through is out there, but it is scattered across official guidance, trades and emergency work, traditional and local practice, and lessons learned the hard way. Our purpose is to gather it in one place and get it into people’s hands while the lights are still on.
Built by a community
No single person or organisation knows everything it takes to get through a catastrophe. This site is a commons: a shared resource that gets stronger with each person who adds to it. We want to hear from tradespeople, health workers, emergency volunteers, farmers, remote communities and anyone who has lived through a disaster.
You can share:
- a method that has worked for you
- skills from your trade or profession
- traditional or local knowledge
- an idea that has not been fully tested, along with what you are unsure about
- a correction to something we have published
The ATG pathway
The library follows the three stages people and communities move through:
- After the Grid: immediate response when services fail.
- Action to Green: practical self-reliance and longer-term systems.
- Around the Grounds: community collaboration and shared knowledge.
What you will find here
- Field guides with step-by-step procedures, cautions, checks and sources.
- A kit planner with free starter checklists.
- A printable manual and a downloadable copy of the site, so you can keep the knowledge somewhere that does not depend on the internet.
- A way for anyone to suggest new guides, ideas and corrections.
How we look after contributions
Bad advice in an emergency can cost lives, so not everything is published as submitted. Contributions are checked against reliable sources first. Medical, water-treatment, food-preservation, electrical, chemical and radiation material needs specialist checking, and may take longer or be declined.
Every guide lists its sources and shows how far it has been checked. No guide has had independent specialist review yet, and each one says so. Getting the critical guides reviewed is our first editorial priority. Read our editorial standards for the details.
Free to use
The guides are free and you do not need an account to read them. Product suggestions follow the guides, and our affiliate disclosure explains how commercial links work.
Get involved
Contribute your knowledge or ideas. The form saves your draft on your own device, and nothing is sent until you choose to email or export it. You can use your name or an alias, or leave it blank.
If you are a qualified specialist and can review a guide, or you have a question for us, email info@beyondgridlife.com.