NatureGround >> Ever wanted to live off-the-grid?

9/10/05 1:25 PM

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GiHickies Edited: 10-Sep-05 Member Since: 12/11/2002 Posts: 206

I've recently become interested in living a more natural life. Like buying some land in the middle of nowhere, building a log cabin, and installing my own self-sustaining energy sources like solar panels and wind powered generators. Did you know you could even compost your own 'waste'? http://www.weblife.org/humanure/default.html It seems gross at first, but objectively, it is way more energy efficient and better for the environment.

9/23/05 6:38 PM	Ignore | Quote | Edit | Warn Admin | Vote Down | Vote Up | Delete Post
kanotoa 30 Edited: 23-Sep-05 Member Since: 01/01/2001 Posts: 12463	I think if you can wait a few years there will be some new technologies that will make your off the grid dreams more feasible. Google Sterling Engine solar energy sunflower. I think these are twice as efficent as photo voltaic pannels. You have ignored this user.

9/27/05 10:33 AM	Ignore | Quote | Edit | Warn Admin | Vote Down | Vote Up | Delete Post
SyrioForel Edited: 27-Sep-05 Member Since: 06/23/2005 Posts: 790	kanotoa is right. There are developmenets in solar technology that will revolutionize off-the-grid living. I have been tempted to do this on occasion, but my wife would never go for it right now. We did just buy some land in a town with a population of 2,000 and plan to build a retreat there. You have ignored this user.

9/27/05 7:12 PM

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kanotoa 30 Edited: 27-Sep-05 Member Since: 01/01/2001 Posts: 12498

SyrioForel, where is you land exactly? How much space do you have and what is it like. Persoanlly I'd love to homestead. With a nice off the grid system I think you could really live a better life. I like reading solar power magazine and I like to read about people living their dreams off the grid. They are insulated against the uncertainties of the fossil fuel market. If you could get a system that was a little stronger you could use it to power an electric car too. You have ignored this user.

9/27/05 7:32 PM

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SyrioForel Edited: 27-Sep-05 Member Since: 06/23/2005 Posts: 794

It's in northern New Hampshire nestled in the White Mountains. It is only a shade under 4 acres. I could have gotten up to 11 acres with the money I had on hand, but I opted for this one due to location. The lot is flat and buildable in many areas despite being on a mountain, which was rare from many lots I looked at. It is on a publicly maintained, paved road that is only 15 minutes from a major highway, yet it still offers a feeling of seclusion. It is convenient to some of the best mountains in the northeast for skiing/snowboarding. It is convenient to the largest national park (800,000 acres) in the East which is obviously full of great hiking, rock climbing, and mountain biking areas. It is within minutes of whitewater and flatwater for kayaking/canoeing. I really couldn't ask for more in a retreat. It wouldn't be a bad place to go off the grid either, but I think if I was going to do that, I'd go even further out. In a few years though that may change. I could see myself moving there and becoming a total adventure sports bum and scratching a living consulting and teaching. It's just getting the wife in the same frame of mind. You have ignored this user.

9/27/05 7:54 PM	Ignore | Quote | Edit | Warn Admin | Vote Down | Vote Up | Delete Post
kanotoa 30 Edited: 27-Sep-05 Member Since: 01/01/2001 Posts: 12510	Post some picture later. I'd really need high speed internet though to avoid feeling isolated. WIMAX should become available to you. You can always use that land as a worst case senario plan B if civilization as we know it goes to hell. You have ignored this user.

9/27/05 8:24 PM	Ignore | Quote | Edit | Warn Admin | Vote Down | Vote Up | Delete Post
SyrioForel Edited: 27-Sep-05 Member Since: 06/23/2005 Posts: 796	I actually have very limitted pictures, so I'll post some next time I visit in a couple weekends. Sattelite is where it's at for backwoods internet access... You have ignored this user.

9/27/05 11:47 PM	Ignore | Quote | Edit | Warn Admin | Vote Down | Vote Up | Delete Post
kanotoa 30 Edited: 27-Sep-05 Member Since: 01/01/2001 Posts: 12521	Gotta do MMA.tv even if you are living off da grid! You have ignored this user.

9/29/05 1:17 AM	Ignore | Quote | Edit | Warn Admin | Vote Down | Vote Up | Delete Post
JudoBJJKid Edited: 29-Sep-05 Member Since: 01/01/2001 Posts: 1793	Any URLs you can recommend for living off-the-grid? Off-topic: What about blueprints for energy-efficient houses in earthquake country? Say Northern CA or Southern OR? Thanks. You have ignored this user.

10/1/05 8:00 PM	Ignore | Quote | Edit | Warn Admin | Vote Down | Vote Up | Delete Post
kanotoa 30 Edited: 01-Oct-05 Member Since: 01/01/2001 Posts: 12565	Judo, I just read a good articel on zero-energy homes in newsweek. Try and Google that or "Calrum homes" they build houses in California. You have ignored this user.

10/4/05 2:18 PM	Ignore | Quote | Edit | Warn Admin | Vote Down | Vote Up | Delete Post
supersonic 14 Edited: 04-Oct-05 Member Since: 11/27/2002 Posts: 3422	Syrio if you dont mind, what did you pay for it? You have ignored this user.

10/4/05 3:23 PM	Ignore | Quote | Edit | Warn Admin | Vote Down | Vote Up | Delete Post
SyrioForel Edited: 04-Oct-05 Member Since: 06/23/2005 Posts: 972	In the ballpark of 45k. You have ignored this user.

10/5/05 11:45 AM	Ignore | Quote | Edit | Warn Admin | Vote Down | Vote Up | Delete Post
supersonic 14 Edited: 05-Oct-05 Member Since: 11/27/2002 Posts: 3445	Nice. I wouldnt mind getting some land up there. Im about to start a book called "The Good Life". Found an old one in in a tiny bookstore in Wellfleet, Cape Cod a few weeks ago. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0805209700/103-6845135-0343014?v=glance&n=283155&v=glance You have ignored this user.

10/5/05 11:57 AM	Ignore | Quote | Edit | Warn Admin | Vote Down | Vote Up | Delete Post
SyrioForel Edited: 05-Oct-05 Member Since: 06/23/2005 Posts: 1001	I don't think I could ever give up and move out completely. I need money to travel the world on. :) You have ignored this user.

10/5/05 12:28 PM	Ignore | Quote | Edit | Warn Admin | Vote Down | Vote Up | Delete Post
supersonic 14 Edited: 05-Oct-05 Member Since: 11/27/2002 Posts: 3451	Me too, but just thumbing through the book it looks like it has a lot of useful info that may be easily incorporated into still a modern existance. You have ignored this user.

10/5/05 1:19 PM	Ignore | Quote | Edit | Warn Admin | Vote Down | Vote Up | Delete Post
SyrioForel Edited: 05-Oct-05 Member Since: 06/23/2005 Posts: 1003	I'll check it out. My wife is being a teacher, so we have many B&N gift certificates. You have ignored this user.

10/5/05 9:13 PM	Ignore | Quote | Edit | Warn Admin | Vote Down | Vote Up | Delete Post
kanotoa 30 Edited: 05-Oct-05 Member Since: 01/01/2001 Posts: 12598	SyrioForel, do you produce more power than you use? If so you should get some electric vehicles. You have ignored this user.

10/6/05 12:47 PM	Ignore | Quote | Edit | Warn Admin | Vote Down | Vote Up | Delete Post
SyrioForel Edited: 06-Oct-05 Member Since: 06/23/2005 Posts: 1040	Maybe someday. You have ignored this user.

10/9/05 9:22 AM	Ignore | Quote | Edit | Warn Admin | Vote Down | Vote Up | Delete Post
SyrioForel Edited: 09-Oct-05 Member Since: 06/23/2005 Posts: 1068	No real good pictures to be had from my trip to my land yesterday. It was pouring out, but I had to go to see what the surveyor was saying. I was very happy in the end. The boundaries of my land are being much bigger than I had initially been thinking. I am climbing Mt Lafayette in two weeks, so I will be having some better pictures of my land then. You have ignored this user.

10/31/05 5:42 PM	Ignore | Quote | Edit | Warn Admin | Vote Down | Vote Up | Delete Post
kanotoa 30 Edited: 31-Oct-05 Member Since: 01/01/2001 Posts: 12904	I heard the sterling engine or thin membrane PV cells will be twice as cost effect as todays technologies. I think they are only 2 years away, though cold fusion has been 10 years away forever. You have ignored this user.

11/2/05 1:23 AM	Ignore | Quote | Edit | Warn Admin | Vote Down | Vote Up | Delete Post
Famigerado Edited: 02-Nov-05 Member Since: 01/01/2001 Posts: 868	www.backwoodshome.com Lots of good info on the site and in the forums especially. You have ignored this user.

11/6/05 7:54 PM	Ignore | Quote | Edit | Warn Admin | Vote Down | Vote Up | Delete Post
Yuki Edited: 06-Nov-05 Member Since: 01/01/2001 Posts: 35530	I prefer Urban Sprawl You have ignored this user.

12/10/05 9:25 PM	Ignore | Quote | Edit | Warn Admin | Vote Down | Vote Up | Delete Post
GaryG 12 Edited: 10-Dec-05 Member Since: 12/16/2000 Posts: 1494	ttt You have ignored this user.

12/13/05 1:35 PM	Ignore | Quote | Edit | Warn Admin | Vote Down | Vote Up | Delete Post
Stronghold 27 Edited: 13-Dec-05 Member Since: 01/01/2001 Posts: 26033	I grew up with nobody around. I refused to do that to my child so I'll stay in the 'burbs until he goes to college. You have ignored this user.

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