I officially moved out here and became an off gridder on Oct 25 2009. I'm still living in the 192 square foot shack, and still loving it. I have yet to have a moment where I even came close to having any regrets. I am writing this post on Oct 23, but probably won't put it on until the 25th. It is pretty yucky outside, so just thought it would be a good time to build a new post.As you might have noticed in the above picture, is the honda generator. I pulled it out yesterday, to power my shack for the first time since mid February. Earlier on this summer there were a couple times that I was tempted to use it because of bad weather, but I never did have to. I chose to conserve energy instead. I used it again today. The last few days have been pretty gloomy looking out there. The sun hardly pokes through the overcast and snowy sky. I always knew there would be days like this, and it dos'nt bother me a bit. Last winter I burned approximately $80.00 worth of gas using the generator. Life is good. Off gridding is good too, I can't see myself switching over again anytime soon.
A little tour of the shack? Ok. That blue jug is my water system. I have four of those that I try to keep filled. They actually last quite a long time usually.
The big blue container. Yip, you guessed it, it's my bath tub. It dos'nt get used very often, because I usually shower at the truck fuel supply places in Grande Prairie when I go to town for work or whatever. Quite a few times this summer I have also used the shower in my RV, but it is now winterized for the winter. So the old blue tub usually rests, but it is good to know it is there when it is needed. I have used it, and I usually use about 1/2 of one those blue jugs of water when I do, and when I am done, I always feel just as clean and new as if just came out of the shower. But in all honesty, I am really looking forward to having my first shower in the new cabin sometime soon. Hopefully.
I'm good at some things, but obviously house keeping is'nt one of them.
The furnace. This is quite a simple device and it dos'nt require a fan to operate. That is one thing that caught my eye when I bought this shack. Most of the furnaces in these shacks now days require power to operate. Kinda like the furnace in my RV. I will have a heater like this in the basement of my house, but it will be larger and newer. It will be equipped with a fan, but it won't need to be on to operate. That will be my heat source when I am not home. Hopefully it all works out ok. I'll use the wood stove when I am there.
The dog bed, which is just a blanket on the floor. At times, in the colder weather she sleeps on the top bunk with me, at the foot of the bed. She usually gets up there herself. I have an end table on top of a coffee table that she use like stairs so she can go up and down as she pleases.
All summer I used the fridge in the RV. It worked real well for me.
It has a seperate freezer and fridge compartments, just like a normal fridge, only on a smaller scale. I ran the fridge on propane. It is just about time to start using the natural fridge again though. Soon I will be able to freeze anything outside in the shed and the floor under one of the beds will be plenty cool enough to keep most foods cold. I can't really justify burning propane all winter to keep things cold. I'll leave it going for a little while yet. I am still trying to decide on what I am going to do for a fridge in the cabin. DC or propane. No hurry on that one anyway, as I always have the RV or natural resources.
Self explanatory. Sure can't wait till the cabin is done. lol.
One of the many benefits of living out of town. Well acutally the people in the city seem to get alot of this at times too. lol. I snapped this picture this morning(Oct 23) from the window in my shack.Disclaimer--IMPORTANT
This is a personal blog, mainly for my own use. I am building a house with my own two hands, but I am learning alot of things as I go. I do not claim to know what I am doing, or if anything I do is even close to being done correctly or safely. So please, if you are planning on using any of my ideas or methods for your own use, please get professional advice before actually following through with your actions. I will not be held responsible for any injuries or damages of any kind caused by information or comments from this blog.
Mark that is outstanding.. Congratulations! You're definately living the good life. :)
ReplyDeletelooks warm and cozy and snug! Thanks for the tour.
ReplyDeleteJeanie, I AM living the good life. I've thought of living off grid for years. It will be nice to get into the big house though. (Big to me, but maybe little to others). Life is good.
ReplyDeleteHey Sarah, it usually is pretty cozy and warm, but I have had some weather last winter that did put it to the test for a strech. 40 below and the floor gets pretty chilly, but the top bunk is still pretty toasty.
ReplyDeleteMy two requirements I had before moving into my house was windows (dried in) and a functional toilet. LOL! There are somethings I just can't do without for an extended piece of time!
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you are enjoying your place so much.
Great post! Really good suggestions, too. Where did you get those water jugs? I need a couple. Clever bathtub! We moved into the motorhome a year ago in September and I love this way of life today as much as I did on the first day.
ReplyDeleteAnnie, are you making fun of my toilet? It kinda sounded like it to me. You don't know what you're missing. Nothing like a refreshing stroll out in the 40 below blizzard to take care of some business ya know. lol. Pretty soon, I will have me a brandy spankin new functional toilet, but for now, this baby will have to do me for a little bit longer. Thanks Annie, I am enjoying the place alot.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ginger. I got those water jugs at Canadian Tire, but alot of the hardware stores sell them too. I think I have seen them at Wal Mart too. I think they are about 5 gallons. Congrats to you guys too Ginger for off gridding over a year. It is a good life, but I know that it is not for everyone. But thats good, otherwise everyone would be doing it.
ReplyDeleteGotta love the outhouse!!! I stayed with some folks in Montana who are off grid. They just recently put a bathroom in their cabin, but kept the outhouse. I loved it. My great-grandparents lived without indoor plumbing until they died in the 1970s. The old hand pump stood outside the kitchen door, there was the wood burning cook stove, outhouse, coal stove in the middle of the front room and feather beds. I didn't like it as a kid (we had indoor plumbing, after all), but have since realized they had the world by the tail. If you really think about it, a bathroom has to be one of the filthiest rooms to put in a house-- no matter how clean they appear to be (Just my opinion, not that of staff and management lol). I hope you keep your cute little outhouse even after you move into the "modern" ages. :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your first year off grid!!! Quite the accomplishment.
A few years ago, (about 35 to be exact) some friends of mine lived "off grid" about 70 miles north of Anchorage AK. The nearest "grid" was about 30 miles. One morning his wife was out in the out house taking care of business when a moose stuck it's head in the door, actualy just a old rug hung across the opening, apparently he wanted to see what was going on. Wife finished business prety quickly and about two hours later the out house had a solid wooden door with strong locks. While he worked, the wife stood guard with a rifle, not sure if it was to keep moose away or husband busy.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lynneanne. Your great grandparents really knew how to live. You just don't come across many people like that anymore. I can remember not being very fond of outhouses when I were a kid also, but I have no complaints now. I know alot of people that cringe at the thought of using an outhouse. Some people sure are weird. lol. I do plan on keeping it around after the house is done.
ReplyDeleteHey Bob, I can just imagine all the comotion that a moose would cause poking his head in there like that. lol. I'm always looking over my shoulder going in and coming out, ya just never know what could be lurking around. I wonder how scared the moose was in the end. lol.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing this with us, I loved the tour and still am amazed that you have been off grid for a year now. Way To Go!
ReplyDeleteThanks back at you Sci Fi. I loved giving the tour. I'm actually pretty proud of myself for being off the grid for a year. The longer I do it, the more sense it seems to make.
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