Off Grid Living-

[FireSignFemme]

I believe I could live off grid but only if I were part of a group of people successful at doing it because their ancestors before them had done so successfully for generations. Also I wouldn't do it with any group of people attempting to try and bring the same level of comfort and convenience they enjoyed on grid, off grid. And I absolutely would not do it on any womyn's land ever. There are worse things than dying and one of them is having to spend time on womyn's land listening to each and every one of them attempt to try and reach a consensus. Oh imagine if we were all immortal and I had to live on womyn's land – forever! World without end amen. From cradle to grave doesn't sound so bad when I look at it like that.

[kittygrrl]

thought-Learning to make bread is a necessity...it can be any kind of bread you fancy..griddle cakes, white or wheat bread, muffins, biscuits etc..

[kittygrrl]

Originally Posted by kittygrrl

some one wanted to let me know this video should be in the bushcraft thread...that's genius actually it is...i thought this might be useful for the person who is living in a temporary shelter ie tent, lean to..while building their permanent cabin...i tried one a few summers ago and found it useful for boiling water, warming up etc..it wasn't built quite like this one but basically the same design...

[Esme nha Maire]

Interesting thread. I would love to have been able to do this sort of thing when younger but now am simply too frail, aside from anything else.

My advice to anyone looking into this sort of thing though would be to consider carefully what your objectives are; is it to simply live in the countryside where utilities are not readily available, because you like the idea of living in the countryside? Is it to live in as ecologically sound a way as possible? And will you be starting from scratch with just some land, or will you be taking over a structure already in place?

Going the "as ecologically sound as possible" route can take more attention to detail than some might think - as the couple who didn't think about what the soil was like by their new home noted in one of the above videos. The more detail you look into beforehand the better, from architecture, to horticulture, through biochemistry and physics.

If you can get by on rainwater runoff from your roof, so much the better, although obviously you'll need to treat the water before use, as with groundwater. But don;t forget about waste water! Can you re-use it? Or at least return it to the local environment in a way that is non-damaging? If you're going to use groundwater, what are the local options? What will happen if you divert a spring for your own use? Is the local groundwater level stable, rising, or (as in states like California) dropping rapidly due to massive over-extraction? If you have enough land, waste water might be treatable by using it to form a small wetland area with willows and reedbeds, if those are native to the area. And what will you do with toilet waste?

Windpower generation doesnt have to use a propellor-like windmill, vertical rotors are possibilities too, and mechanically simpler. Check the pros and cons of each type. And having a multiplicity of power sources isn't a bad idea. Maybe include in your home an exercise bike that can drive a dynamo to turn workout sessions into usable power? Also, you can generate electricity from waste heat from cooking and heating (see http://offgridpowerboom.com/thermoel...amping-stoves/ for an example of camping equipment that can do this). It's also worth considering whether solar concentrators allied with water passing through black piping might be sufficient to provide your hot water requirements, or at least reduce the amount you need to heat water by other means.

If building a home, it may be worth considering a design that uses a Trombe wall on the south side https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trombe_wall. Depending on locale and availability of materials, it may be worth considering hay as an insulation material or even a building material; the walls can be plastered to give a smooth surface.

So much of it depends on locale, ecological factors and cost. I wish I were a youngster with the money to afford to buy a hectare of land permissible to build on, and with enough money in the bank to make a go of it. But I am delighted to see others looking into all of this, and showing that it IS possible to live without using such large amounts of energy usage as most of us use.

Good lucky, Kittygrrl! I so hope you manage to make your dream come true!

[kittygrrl]

Originally Posted by Esme nha Maire

Interesting thread. I would love to have been able to do this sort of thing when younger but now am simply too frail, aside from anything else.

My advice to anyone looking into this sort of thing though would be to consider carefully what your objectives are; is it to simply live in the countryside where utilities are not readily available, because you like the idea of living in the countryside? Is it to live in as ecologically sound a way as possible? And will you be starting from scratch with just some land, or will you be taking over a structure already in place?

Going the "as ecologically sound as possible" route can take more attention to detail than some might think - as the couple who didn't think about what the soil was like by their new home noted in one of the above videos. The more detail you look into beforehand the better, from architecture, to horticulture, through biochemistry and physics.

If you can get by on rainwater runoff from your roof, so much the better, although obviously you'll need to treat the water before use, as with groundwater. But don;t forget about waste water! Can you re-use it? Or at least return it to the local environment in a way that is non-damaging? If you're going to use groundwater, what are the local options? What will happen if you divert a spring for your own use? Is the local groundwater level stable, rising, or (as in states like California) dropping rapidly due to massive over-extraction? If you have enough land, waste water might be treatable by using it to form a small wetland area with willows and reedbeds, if those are native to the area. And what will you do with toilet waste?

Windpower generation doesnt have to use a propellor-like windmill, vertical rotors are possibilities too, and mechanically simpler. Check the pros and cons of each type. And having a multiplicity of power sources isn't a bad idea. Maybe include in your home an exercise bike that can drive a dynamo to turn workout sessions into usable power? Also, you can generate electricity from waste heat from cooking and heating (see http://offgridpowerboom.com/thermoel...amping-stoves/ for an example of camping equipment that can do this). It's also worth considering whether solar concentrators allied with water passing through black piping might be sufficient to provide your hot water requirements, or at least reduce the amount you need to heat water by other means.

If building a home, it may be worth considering a design that uses a Trombe wall on the south side https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trombe_wall. Depending on locale and availability of materials, it may be worth considering hay as an insulation material or even a building material; the walls can be plastered to give a smooth surface.

So much of it depends on locale, ecological factors and cost. I wish I were a youngster with the money to afford to buy a hectare of land permissible to build on, and with enough money in the bank to make a go of it. But I am delighted to see others looking into all of this, and showing that it IS possible to live without using such large amounts of energy usage as most of us use.

Good lucky, Kittygrrl! I so hope you manage to make your dream come true!

Great post Esme! But i don't believe there is an age limit it just depends on your goals..even if you only manage to do 2% towards self sufficiency that's is going to be amazing! As they say in shooting "aim small, miss small"...it's about degrees..you don't have to do the whole banana at once..

[kittygrrl]

my obsession
mushrooms

[kittygrrl]

[kittygrrl]

very
rustic

[kittygrrl]

growinggarlic

[homoe]

Originally Posted by kittygrrl

growinggarlic

Is this for a food source or to keep Vampires at bay or... perhaps a little of both...

[kittygrrl]

Originally Posted by homoe

Is this for a food source or to keep Vampires at bay or... perhaps a little of both...

...Vampires need garlic too ..

[cathexis]

Originally Posted by homoe

Is this for a food source or to keep Vampires at bay or... perhaps a little of both...

Originally Posted by kittygrrl

...Vampires need garlic too ..

Both mortals and vampires need to keep insects from stinging or biting.

Can you visualize a vampire slapping off a bug chewing on their calf while at a mortal's neck taking a drink? What a mess that would be.

[kittygrrl]

[kittygrrl]

great icebox
option

[kittygrrl]

my dream..rock fireplace, small log cabin w vintage 6 burner woodstove, composting toilet..huge log bed w red & green quilts 2 dogs & kittens..and a
small greenhouse and garden

[kittygrrl]

or
this

[kittygrrl]

[kittygrrl]

[RebelDyke]

Originally Posted by kittygrrl

my dream..rock fireplace, small log cabin w vintage 6 burner woodstove, composting toilet..huge log bed w red & green quilts 2 dogs & kittens..and a
small greenhouse and garden

I say YES to the cabin. I'm in... wildlife/nature/bonfires/and stars... and some nice fine company... SOLD!

[RebelDyke]

hangs my head into my hands...

I really really reallyyyyyy REEEEEALLYY need an off grid cabin in the woods like PRONTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo... liars and rule breakers are driving me INSANE..

I feel like calgon take me away!

I need a go fund me page....sigh