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Off grid content? - 8/10/2023 10:56:31 PM

voidone

Posts: 1
Joined: 11/28/2016
Status: offline

Was hoping to find some subs into off grid living.

Also was hoping to find posts about how to build a cabin,
Or hook up a solar panel setup to a house here.
Stuff like that.

Any one do that here?
How to raise chickens, grow potatoes etc?

Thanks in advance. I know YouTube has plenty but wanted to see
If a fellow kinkster is doing this.

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RE: Off grid content? - 3/3/2024 9:52:42 AM

ChristianHandyman

Posts: 1
Joined: 6/8/2023
Status: offline

Living off grid is not a very attractive proposition for the average person. Most likely envision living in hovel with a dirt floor, no running water and an outhouse with a hole in the ground to crap in. Now that may hold true for some off grid spreads, the reality is most off grid homes are nowhere near that rustic.

Anyway I live somewhat off grid in a somewhat normal house. I installed a modest solar system about 4 years ago that provides most of my electrical needs and would suffice in a grid down event. I have always had an interest in going solar but batteries were always the sticking point for me. I could have done what a lot of people do and install a grid tie system, but that involves a lot of regulatory & government oversight, plus that type of system doesn't operate when the grid is down.

So about 5 years ago I learned that there was a relatively new battery technology (Lifep04) that solved many of the problems that kept me away from pulling the trigger on solar. Then I found a forum website called http://diysolarforum.com where I learned what I needed to purchase and how to install it correctly.

For many years I also kicked around the idea of building my own home but time and age have squeezed the motivation to do so right out of me. But when I was considering it I went around and around about what to build. In the end I came to the conclusion that a straw bale house would work best for me with it's ease on construction and the fact that it takes very little to heat and cool the structure. I think now the best way to build one is to put up a steel building and then stack the straw bales inside against the exterior walls stucco over them and then build out the interior.

(in reply to voidone)

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RE: Off grid content? - 3/3/2024 11:23:49 AM

JVoV

Posts: 3226
Joined: 3/9/2015
Status: offline

I think you really have to define 'off grid living' for yourself. And part of that is how much involvement with the outside world you want. T
I doubt you'll find many posts from anyone living off the grid, because that would defeat the purpose.

I live in Florida and took advantage of solar panels when the government was subsidizing them years ago. But I'm still "on the grid", in that most months I get a check from the power company and if I do have a bill, the highest has been $27.

Car insurance is pretty much a must if you plan on driving on the roads. As is a driver license. Using a ride-share service takes care of those, but you have to have a credit card, which keeps you very much on the grid, since ev
Any I've used require a social security number. Gift cards may let you circumvent this. Idk.

The last vehicle I purchased was FlexFuel originally, and I've had it converted to biodiesel.

I live out in the boonies, so I can always top off at a neighbor's place. For free actually, since I give him my extra produce. Yup, I have a garden. I haven't figured out how to grow a bacon tree though, so I still get my meats from the store.

It wasn't a conscious decision for me to live off the grid, I just got a really good deal on this property when lands values went to shit. I could sell it for about 10 times as much now, as the city has encroached.

One thing I do know is that you really need to learn the zoning codes that apply to your property. Once you get on Code Enforcement's radar, it can be almost impossible to get off of it.

Oh, decent home internet isn't available here, even though I still get flyers from at least 3 companies. And the only xell phones that get solid signal here is TracFone and AT&T. So I have a little AT&T internet box. Kinda cute. And an AT&T phone, which I should probably upgrade to a new 5G one eventually.

Some parts of my life are off-grid, some aren't. I'm not a fugitive from the law or paranoid about the NSA monitoring me, I'm just cheap lol

Oh! I have a huge front yard where I can grow watermelons and pumpkins to supplement my income. It really helps when property taxes come due

(in reply to ChristianHandyman)

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