Off-grid living demands balanced energy management
Most of us grew up with the idea that we have unlimited electricity, heating and gasoline. Well that is unless you remember the 1970's energy crises where the west faced major shortages. I remember these days.
When we start working at unplugging from this network, we are confronted with a stark reality: learn how to manage energy or perish. Homesteading or off-grid living requires that we be forever vigilant about the amount of energy that we can collect in a given year and how much we use. The goal is to ensure that we never use more than we collect.
Living off the land requires that we recognize that growing plants for food is a form of energy collection. So too is solar heating and power. Plants are solar energy collectors, not that much different than my solar panels and thermal mass house. Animals are also capable of converting that solar energy into other forms that we can use as well.
The only reason that we have been able to accomplish so much over the past 100+ years is because we started tapping into energy sources that causes a lot of pollution and environmental damage. I'm not going to make any claim that it is non-renewable as there are some debate to that idea. But I do know that it is very harmful for all life on this planet.
Until such time as we can break the grip of the hidden hand and release all the hidden technology that threatened their empire over the years, we are going to be stuck with living within a finite amount of energy. That energy envelope is what solar energy we can collect each year, whether that comes from the sun directly or indirectly. Indirect solar energy comes in the forms of plants, animals, wind and moving water.
Homesteaders and off-grid enthusiasts have found many ingenious ways of collecting, converting, utilizing, storing and conserving all that energy. The ones that figure out how to live within the means upon which they can utilize the solar energy are the ones that thrive. Those that come up short still depend on the grid to make up the short fall. It is a learning curve and it takes time. Better to do it now when we have the time than to scramble during a crises. That is not the time to learn, but instead to take action and implement all that we learned.
In case of emergency
My wife and I have plans in the event that the shit hits the fan. We figured out how to live without gasoline, propane, electricity and even modern transportation. To do this requires that we do as much passive solar collecting as possible.
Our Earthship will allow us to survive the winter with zero wood or other heat source other than the sun. It will get down to +10C at night when it is -40C outside and a balmy +25C during the day. We figure that is no different than the outside temperatures during a nice summer day. The vast majority of the homes in Canada would freeze and be unlivable. Not a good situation to have this far north.
With no fuel we won't be able to run the chain saw, quad, generator or other motors and that is okay. If our solar system survives an electromagnetic pulse, then our fridge is fine. If not, then we keep it cold during the winter by swapping pails of water. One pail outside to freeze, the other pail in the fridge to thaw, which keeps our food chilled. We could go all winter without running the fridge. I can also MacGyver other means of producing electricity if I have to do that.
We have the vast majority of our food taken care of already. Water will still be available as we can gravity feed water from our cisterns. If push came to shove, we can also melt snow in the earthship. For the amount of wood it would take to start a fire now and again, I could easily collect it by hand as I have hand tools to replace the functions of the power tools.
I know that we are ready to be completely unplugged when the time comes. We have dedicated the last 11 years of our lives to learn the skills necessary to survive. Even if we got displaced from our domain, we could still do it despite the harsh winters around here. Having that knowledge and experience is what makes all the difference in our day-to-day activities and provides a sense of comfort and security.
That is, in my opinion, the intimate relationship that we are required to build with Creator and Mother Earth.
I remember in the days when there no worries about power consumption. It was an unlimited resource. Then we hit the energy crisis in the 1970's but I don't think it really had much effect on people because they continued to consume like there would be no tomorrow. We are working towards off grid but obtaining solar panels and wind generators can be a problem.
Yes, I seem to have a similar recollection of that same issue too. People did not slow down much at all did they! :(
I know jealousy is an awful human characteristic but Man am I jealous of your living arrangements!
I would love to find myself in a similar situation in the years to come. To have a home that utilizes nature to be extremely efficient. From water collection to heating and cooling. To have solar power, and like you mentioned in previous posts - to really only need, what, under 2k of fiat money to get by a whole year? Thats awesome. To be self sustaining in food, shelter and water... you have nearly done it all completely!
Impressive, and a life I seek to bear similar to my own. As always, @wwf, I appreciate the knowledge and experience you share.
Edit: I say jealous, because I know if SHTF here, at this current time, most likely wouldn't be a happy ending here. Keep fighting the good fight!
Actually our current fiat requirements is about $750CDN a month or $9000 a year. But if the SHTF, we could do it now with zero! It took 10 years of work, mistakes, fixing those mistakes, trial , error and lots of testing, reading and doing. It is my hope that by sharing our journey, people can do what we did in 2 years instead. I pray that steem takes off so that you can fund your own project then you can work on that jealousy issue you got going there. hahahaha
It must be so satisfying to know that you can survive a long-term blackout - or a permanent one.
Forgive me for asking, but have you given thought to defending your property should the shit really hit the fan? I wonder how long it would take for other people in the neighborhood to say, hey, @wwf is doing fine, let's go move in with him?
Or do you live in a greater community that's really on-board with this sustainable living, and more attuned to helping each other out in a time of trouble?
I hope the latter is the case. Of course I understand if you want to keep your defense plans secret!
To be honest, we felt very alone for a long time. However, something happened about a year ago and suddenly there are people all over that think like we do. I am confident that the community here is being heavily influenced by us and others. I don't think it will take much longer and the whole area will be on board with this way of life.
But we also living in a rural community. People out here help one another not attack. This is a way of life, unlike in the city. We know out here that 911 could be hours or even days away. As a result, the mentality here is that we all band together when things get tough. I'm not concerned. The people around here will figure it out and if that means asking me to teach or provide guidance and advice, I am confident that they will come to my gate for that reason, not to hold me up at the barrel of a gun!
That is really good to hear - and so different from the nightmare scenarios that spring to mind because of the way we've been conditioned to think by the news and popular "entertainment." I guess when you do live in an isolated place like that you really come to value the few people who live around you.
Indeed. Our lives depend on it!
Having the knowledge and the skills to utilise that knowledge is key to being off grid or in any survival situation. im so happy that you have the will to learn those survival skills and pass on that knowledge for off-grid living. We live in the suburbs of one of the driest cities on earth, average 83 days per year of rain for 19" - Canada is double that with 3 times the rainfall 57". We can go several months without rainfall - If the grid goes down, everything would be focused on water preservation and food production. The mentality is also different here, if it's not bolted down, it will be stolen so security of property (items required for the care and survival of the family) needs to be protected. Most treat it as a fun game, but for some of us it's our alternative way of life :)
Yes, the closer one is to a city center, the more dangerous and hostile the environment. That is why it is critical to get away so that one can remove those risks. I'm not sure where you got the statistics from for rainfall, but here we get about 20" a year. 57" a year sounds more like the west cost rain forest type stats. :)
Sorry 57" was on the wrong chart - for British Columbia - my bad - you are correct - with around 20" and this is a combination of snow and rainfall - we don't get snow here :)
Central Alberta
Annual average snowfall
Days Place-----------------------------Inches -----Centimetres
64 Banff------------------------------75.2 -----191.0
54 Calgary---------------------------50.7 -----128.8
42 Camrose-------------------------44.7 ------113.5
52 Edmonton---------------------- 48.6 ------123.5
55 Edson-----------------------------63.1 ------160.2
50 Jasper ---------------------------47.3 ------120.0
52 Lloydminster -----------------38.6 ------98.1
37 Red Deer -----------------------41.7 ------105.9
58 Rocky Mountain House ---65.0 ------165.1
That is correct. We get about 20" a year which includes snow (when it melts equivalent). the chart you listed here is snow fall. Looks about right as we get about two feet of snow a year. More this year! Ridiculous amount of snow this year and we are not even done yet!
You've done a great job of preparing. So few people think about what might happen. They are too busy trying to make a living and don't have time to learn how to survive. Sadly, if the hurricanes and wild fires, in the USA and the earthquakes all around the world can't convince people to prepare, I don't think anything will.
Thank you. I work hard to bring awareness, but you are right. They are 'busy' and 'distracted'. I believe millions will die. It will be very tough to witness, but that is part of the journey as we explore our relationship with Creator and return to the land. It will be a rough transition, but it usually takes trauma for us to really 'learn'. Thank you for your comments. I appreciate you sharing and participating.
Look into a grounded faraday cage and you can store alot if you have the money for a backup solar stem in it one can be built around you charge controller and inverter and batteries. It will protect them from a flare or emp. the solar panels would have to be a new set in storage. in this cage you can also put items that will burn out if this happens so you will have replacement parts this will only work for 1984 and below vehicles that did not have computers in them.
Alternate systems
ram pump
thermoelectric power
water turbine
wind turbine
geothermal heat
and it the going gets rough a old chevy alternator attached to a bicycle to charge a battery 8 }
Yes, that would work as well, but most people don't have the capital to be able to do that. Ourselves included. So we planned for a much simpler way of living that would still work and could be done by anybody. If the resources became available, then this is another option too.
The only non cost thing I can think of is that the ground below the frost line is at least above 32 degrees this will prevent any temp below that in winter and provide cooling in very hot areas. being in the NE USA the frost line is about 3 feet down.
For a style never using money you would have to be a hunter, fisher, gatherer, or a gatherer vegetarian. The American Indians were that but were nomads and moved to different hunter areas with the seasons and hunting gathering areas.
This style would be very hard in a set location for all locations are lacking in something, perhaps plant a white oak for flour and a walnut for protein will supplement but still hard to do.
The woods and land in its natural state is always lacking in something you will need you will have to terra form the land to the needs you have which will take many yrs.
For a no money lifestyle you will need to barter for the things you need, be it labor or item / food exchange.
Interesting. I was always curious how an earthship would work in the Canadian climate.
Great. Now you know. :)
Because of this, America is attacking the countries in the east. terrorist organizations. countries are occupying