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off-grid – Homesteader Depot

Homesteader Depot

Tag: off-grid

  • Cooling Your Home Off-Grid

    Cooling Your Home Off-Grid

    Rather than rely on fossil fuels or nuclear energy to cool off your home this summer, why not go off-grid? These systems are just as effective, yet they use natural sources of power – not “standard” electricity in order to cool your home down. A geothermal system is just one example. You can also utilize green energy, like solar or wind power, in order to run the systems that will keep you cool all summer long. No matter what, you’ll save money and do your part to save the environment – while staying comfortable at the same time. There’s nothing quite like accomplishing all of that at once!

    Utilizing Solar Power

    There are several different types of solar power systems out there. All of them do the same thing – they soak up sunlight using solar panels. The sunlight is turned into electricity, and then it flows into your home. You can set up a system that’s completely off the grid, or you can choose one that is still hooked up to city or county power (i.e. standard electricity) that only kicks on should you need a backup system. It all comes down to how sunny your area is, as well as the type of system that you prefer. No matter what, you’ll be able to use this power to cool down your home without relying on any other methods. It’s designed to work well and be very efficient.

    >> Build Your Own Solar And Wind Power System – Click Here To See How <<

    Harness The Power of the Wind

    Depending on where you live, you might be able to set up a wind-powered system. These work much better in areas that have plenty of open space, as well as a fairly continuous nice breeze. Since there are laws against putting a giant wind-powered system in your city backyard, you’ll have to be in the country for this to work. With that said, it’s entirely possible to power your home – including your floor fans, ceiling fans, and more, with a wind-powered electrical system. Just make sure to choose one that saves up electricity in a series of batteries so that you’ll stay cool on those non-windy summer days.

    Create a Geothermal System

    Geothermal systems sound complicated, but they really aren’t. These systems are designed to use the cool temperatures found about five or six feet underground, using them to control the temperature in your home. It all starts with a single PVC pipe. You’ll need one that’s around four inches in diameter. Since the pipe may be prone to leaks, as well as insects and other things, make sure to seal off the underground end with a fine mesh screen and account for necessary drainage. After you have all of these pieces into place, a geothermal system just requires some general digging: the end of the pipe needs to be deep enough in the ground to take advantage of the consistent 50-degree temperatures found there. Once you have it in place, run the other end into your home and set up a fan so that the cool air circulates. This is a very simple geothermal system.

    Another geothermal method uses water in the form of a hose buried at the same distance under the ground. The water flows through the hose with the help of a water pump. A radiator on the inside uses the water in order to cool down air that flows throughout your home. Like the other system, only a little electricity is needed in order to run the pump, the fan, and the radiator. However, the system does run almost entirely off of the grid, especially if you choose to use solar or wind power.

    >> MIT Device Cuts Power Bills By 65% – Learn More <<

  • Living Simply in a Tiny Off-Grid Cabin (Video)

    Living Simply in a Tiny Off-Grid Cabin (Video)

    Would you be happy living with less?

    This family certainly is. Living in a tiny cabin on a piece of land in New Zealand, instead of paying rent, they do work-trade for the opportunity to live off the land.

    You’d be amazed at the simplicity of their dwelling, and yet, they’re clearly very fulfilled. I found this to be such an inspiring look at just how fulfilling a more reduced life can be. I lived in a similar way for some time and relate so much to their experiences. It really is amazing just how much easier life can be when we learn to live with less, and find our fulfillment in the earth around us, rather than the shimmery perks of modern life that so often only serve to make things way too complicated.

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  • Survivalist or Homesteader? (Video)

    Survivalist or Homesteader? (Video)

    This is a great video from a popular homesteading and survivalism vlogger I really enjoy. He poses the questions: which will survive longer, a homesteader or a survivalist? Are they the same thing? Does one come before the other?

    I think this is a really great topic since, while homesteading and survivalism are not necessarily synonymous, there’s a lot of overlap. The ultimate goal of homesteading is self-reliance and independence, and survivalism is all about preparing for any number of scenarios in which you will not be able to rely on others to save or help you.

    If you’ve ever considered this question yourself, or are interested in both survivalism and homesteading, you’ll enjoy this video and the thought-provoking questions he poses. He also shares his own experience as a survivalist who became a homesteader. Enjoy!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1zdVK_3TbE

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  • Building a Tiny Home

    Building a Tiny Home

    We recently posted an article on the tiny house movement, and I wanted to elaborate a bit more on what it takes to actually build yourself a tiny house.

    This is one of the biggest appeals of tiny houses, of course, that the initial building materials can be cheap, the construction easy. Many people are able to do it themselves, even if they don’t have a whole lot of construction experience. You can use foraged, repurposed, or discounted materials, and make it your own. All these factors contribute significantly to reducing the overall cost of a tiny home, so it’s a great option for homesteaders, so you can put your funds into other homestead efforts.

    Where to build?

    The first step is, of course, finding a place to build your tiny house! Most people either do so on small lots in cities or suburbs or buy their own land in the country. If you would like to build a tiny house on your homestead, and your ultimate goal has more to do with living off the land than building your dream home, buy land that suits these needs. Another great appeal of a tiny house is that even on an acre or so, with a smaller house, you’ll have more room for farming and raising animals.

    Zoning and coding

    Next step will be checking your local law. If you are buying land that doesn’t already have a house on it, you’ll have to make sure the land itself can legally have a residence built on it.

    Secondly, you need to make sure the structure you build will be in compliance with local building codes. You can get huge fines if this is not the case. These will dictate not only the size and height of the structure but also sometimes who does the work. So, for example, you might be able to build the structure yourself, but will have to hire a certified electrician to wire it. It varies state to state and county to county, so find out what pertains to your area before you spend any money on building materials.

    Planning

    Once you know where you will be building, and your local building codes, it’s time to get planning! You can design your own, or look online for resources. In most cases, you will probably need a contractor involved with this state to some degree. They will need to sign off on your floor plan before you can begin construction.

    You can hire a contractor to oversee the whole project or simply to help with the planning, it’s up to you (and what’s legal in your area).

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    When designing the floor plan, you will need to think about this very carefully. Since it’s a tiny home, you will need to use your space very efficiently.

    At this stage, you will probably want to spend lots of time watching videos or reading articles about other tiny homes (fortunately these days there’s a lot of documentation of successful tiny homes since they’re very popular, so Pinterest and YouTube will have a wealth of resources for you).

    Building materials

    Next step will be choosing your building materials. While you will probably be

    wanting to go as low-budget as possible, quality is also of the utmost importance. This is a house, and you’ll want it to last. Always opt for quality over thrift, wherever you can.

    If you are using reclaimed or repurposed materials (such as a building container, a very popular tiny house feature), make sure it is in good condition, of high quality, durable, and sturdy.

    The building phase

    When it comes to the actual building, you will probably want some helping hands, at the very least. Doing it all yourself isn’t impossible, but it will be much easier with help. It is no small feat to build a house, even a tiny one!

    If you are only a novice when it comes to construction, you will probably want to seriously consider hiring some help. There are many options out there for companies you can hire who will help to some degree. You can still be very involved in the building yourself, but some professional help can really go a long way.

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    There are construction companies who would be happy to help with building a small home, as well as those whose specialty is tiny homes. Check your local listings to see what’s available in your area, or, even better, ask friends and family for referrals.

    A great option would be to find a local homesteading or tiny house group on Facebook and ask around. If you are going to hire someone to help with construction, nothing is worth more than a personal recommendation with plenty of references and examples of their work you can see yourself. Interview and compare a few different contractors or companies if you’re able since it’s a pretty big decision.

    Whether you build your tiny home yourself or hire someone to help out, it will certainly be a great experience! There’s nothing quite like the reward of building your own home with your own hands.

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  • The Tiny House Movement: Is It For You?

    The Tiny House Movement: Is It For You?

    The tiny house movement, which has gained a lot of traction among those wishing to live more simply, self-sufficiently, or simply economically.

    It is essentially exactly what it sounds like. More and more people are opting to live in small, or rather, tiny houses, often off-grid or on a homestead as well.

    The idea is simple. Less stuff means less energy cost, a more minimalist lifestyle, and a simpler life. Sometimes, owners are motivated by the incredibly cheap building costs, often constructing them by hand, other times, it’s the cheap energy costs of powering, heating, and cooling a significantly smaller space.

    They are a popular option for first-time homesteaders, who want to put their money into developing their land for animal husbandry and agriculture, and need a simple, affordable, sustainable dwelling.

    The tiny houses can often be powered with solar power, or heated with a small woodstove. They have compact, efficient kitchens, and clever ways to hide away beds, storage, closet space, bookshelves, etc.

    If you are considering a tiny house for your family, there are a few considerations you’ll want to take into account. The biggest, of course, being space. For a single person, couple, or family with only one child, a tiny house will often be a great option. But for larger families, while you can still absolutely minimize floor space and build a simple, self-sufficient dwelling, more people will simply mean more floor space, and more storage, required. This doesn’t mean big families can’t participate in the tiny house movement in their own way though!

    The spirit of the tiny house movement is applicable to many types of living situations. Wherever you are, you can still live more minimally, find ways to reduce your energy costs, and try to reduce your belongings down to only what you need. It’s simpler than it sounds!

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  • Essential Elements Your Homestead Property Needs

    Essential Elements Your Homestead Property Needs

    Those who are considering buying a homestead property are often very excited about starting this new lifestyle. They are looking for the “perfect” piece of property, and this is not always easy to find, as they do not know exactly what it is they should seek in a homestead. This is especially a problem for those who are just getting started with homesteading. The following tips will help you to remember some of the essentials.

    First, you need to have a good source of water on the property. This will typically mean a well and pump. You will want to talk with neighbors and those who are selling the property about what they are using. Reliability is essential. It is also a good idea to have the water tested before you buy, just to make sure it is safe.

    You should also consider how easy or difficult it is to access the property. Many who are homesteading like the idea of being in the “middle of nowhere”. However, you still need to have access to the road throughout the year, so what will you do if there is too much snow, or if the area floods? Know who is responsible for clearing the roads that access your property. If you are responsible for it, be sure you have the equipment needed to take care of any problems that come your way.

    What about power? How close are the power lines if you want to be connected to the grid? Are you going to get a generator, use solar, use wood heating, or have a combination of these methods? Figure out what you need before you buy, and make sure it is convenient for you.

    These are some of the most important things to consider when you and your family are buying a homestead property. Do not forget them.

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  • Simple Steps to Greater Self-Sufficiency

    Simple Steps to Greater Self-Sufficiency

    The goal of everyone who is interested in homesteading is to become more independent and less reliant on the “machine” that seems to run the lives of most people. Many today have no real idea of where their food comes from or what would happen if they no longer had easy access to electricity. They need the modern conveniences of the world to live. You do not want to be like those people, and you do not have to. The following are some easy things that you can start doing now, and expanding upon later, to help increase your level of self-sufficiency.

    Step #1 – Learn to Grow and Preserve Food

    You can do this whether you have a large plot of land for your homestead or you are still living in the suburbs and waiting to make the change. Start a garden and learn how to grow different types of vegetables and fruit that your family likes to eat. You can start out with a small garden and then expand when you start to learn more. Once it is time to harvest, make sure you are preserving and canning items that you will not be eating right away. Dehydrate some of the food or freeze it, as well. With a large enough garden, you will find that you can have the food you need through much of the year.

    In addition, it is a good idea to start researching the wild plants that grow in your area so you will have a better idea of how to forage if the need should arise.

    Step #2 – Start Collecting Water

    If you are sick and tired of having high water bills, or you worry about your well running dry, it is time that you started to collect water. You can get rain barrels and collect the rain that comes down from the gutters of your home. You could even set up tarps that can funnel the water down into barrels if you would like to collect even more. There are plenty of things you can do with the water that you collect, such as water your plants or wash things down.

    Step #3 – Learn to Reuse and Repurpose Items

    Many people are far too willing to throw away the items that they own when they feel they are no longer useful. However, you will want to start looking at them with a different eye and find ways that you might be able to use them in other capacities. In some cases, you might want to cannibalize parts from an item that you can use in other projects or repair different items.

    Step #4 – Learn to Make Your Own

    Another thing to do is to start learning how to make things on your own. Even if you are not a skilled woodworker, for example, you can start to learn the basics of woodworking now and create much of the furniture that you use in the homestead. You can learn to make your own candles, soap, and much more.

    Starting with these simple steps, you can start to reduce your reliance on others for some of the basic things that our ancestors were doing for themselves. You will feel more confidence, and you will find that many of these things will help you to save some money.

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  • How to Be Prepared for a Power Outage

    How to Be Prepared for a Power Outage

    What happens when you suffer a power outage? A couple of things could happen. You need to wait until the repairs are made and the electric company takes care of things to get the power restored, or you could get the generator going if you have one. Whether you are out in the middle of nowhere on your homestead and are dealing with generator issues, or you are homesteading in the suburbs, you should have some ideas of how to make the power outage as easy to handle as possible.

    A Light Source

    When the sun goes down, you need to have a way to see where you are going and what you are doing in the house, as well as outside. Just because the power is out does not mean you can neglect some of your nightly chores, such as checking on the animals outside, for example. While candles are a tried and true method for lighting the inside of the home, you might want to invest in some solar lanterns. These are a safe light source that can be taken indoors or outdoors.

    Learn to Cook on a Woodstove and an Open Fire

    If you have an electric stove, you are not going to be able to use it during a power outage. If you have gas, you should be okay. However, it is generally a good idea to learn how to cook on a woodstove, if you have one, as well as an open fire, just in case the need arises.

    Emergency Supplies

    Make sure you have a stockpile of emergency supplies, and know where they are and how to access them during a power outage. Always have more than you think you will need, just to be on the safe side, and be sure to replenish the items you use after the power returns.

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