Awesome thread Ninurta!
Finding good information on this topic is a quest. There are plenty of paths that lead to the wrong place. I was watching a couple on YT doing their "off grid" living.
To be fair, perhaps my idea of "off grid" and their idea of "off grid" are two different things. For me, I see it as a return to generations past. Learning how to make do with not much. Canning, small scale agriculture, home remedies, neighbor networks, etc.
But for them? Well, I'll provide some examples. They needed a road to get to where their off grid house would be. So they bought a bulldozer to build it. That wasn't enough so they bought an excavator too. Of course they need to keep it free of snow. So they bought a military FMTV truck. And a giant snowblower from the national park service. Of course the two do not come with a compatibility kit.
So they bought a used car, striped the motor out and mounted that to the snowblower. But they needed some fabricated mounting gear. Never fear, they have a pile of sheet stock on hand and a large CNC plasma cutter. Now it all fits.
This is all powered by a giant solar array. But in the winter it is covered with snow. So they have a giant military surplus generator to provide the power. They never mentioned where they get the diesel fuel from.
What I am getting at is, I don't not see that as sustainable. They must have a pile of money to draw upon right now. But what happens when circumstances occur that produce an "off grid" reality? All they did was bring civilization to their home in the mountains. They never adapted to the mountains. Once fuel runs out, then what? What happens when they need parts for their fleet of machinery? I have never see them garden or raise an animal.
... how did I get here? Oh yeah, great thread and I look forward checking in. This gardening season will be my first no or low till. I will keep everyone updated on how it goes. Trying a lot of of new veggies and preservation techniques.
Finding good information on this topic is a quest. There are plenty of paths that lead to the wrong place. I was watching a couple on YT doing their "off grid" living.
To be fair, perhaps my idea of "off grid" and their idea of "off grid" are two different things. For me, I see it as a return to generations past. Learning how to make do with not much. Canning, small scale agriculture, home remedies, neighbor networks, etc.
But for them? Well, I'll provide some examples. They needed a road to get to where their off grid house would be. So they bought a bulldozer to build it. That wasn't enough so they bought an excavator too. Of course they need to keep it free of snow. So they bought a military FMTV truck. And a giant snowblower from the national park service. Of course the two do not come with a compatibility kit.
So they bought a used car, striped the motor out and mounted that to the snowblower. But they needed some fabricated mounting gear. Never fear, they have a pile of sheet stock on hand and a large CNC plasma cutter. Now it all fits.
This is all powered by a giant solar array. But in the winter it is covered with snow. So they have a giant military surplus generator to provide the power. They never mentioned where they get the diesel fuel from.
What I am getting at is, I don't not see that as sustainable. They must have a pile of money to draw upon right now. But what happens when circumstances occur that produce an "off grid" reality? All they did was bring civilization to their home in the mountains. They never adapted to the mountains. Once fuel runs out, then what? What happens when they need parts for their fleet of machinery? I have never see them garden or raise an animal.
... how did I get here? Oh yeah, great thread and I look forward checking in. This gardening season will be my first no or low till. I will keep everyone updated on how it goes. Trying a lot of of new veggies and preservation techniques.