All you need to go off-grid

OFG-HowToFreeYourself.svg
Search
Sign in / Sign up

Courses, guides & tutorials
Communities

Off-Grid hiccups

empty

A while back my current deep cycle batteries began to get weak, they would charge up quickly and not hold much of a charge, unfortunately the batteries are the part of the off-grid system that need to be replaced on a semi-regular basis. I am hard on my batteries, that has never been a secret. This next week I plan on buying four 6-volt deep cycle golf cart batteries. In the past I have used marine type deep cycle batteries, they are more heavy duty than regular automotive batteries, but aren’t near as hearty as golf cart batteries.

As my current batteries began getting weaker and weaker, it began creating problems with my inverter, causing it to go into fault mode for a few seconds, meaning it would cut off the power during that time, it only did it during the day when the batteries were charging or fully charged, never at night, it took me a while to figure out where the problem was.…

Read More »
April 13, 2014 8 Comments
Communities

Air pruning?

01

Ever heard of air pruning? Neither have I… I just watched this video and I’m blown away, I think of all the people who do container gardening for many reasons, some don’t have the space, some rent and aren’t allowed to till up the grass/lawn, others have poor or no soil. …

Read More »
March 24, 2014 2 Comments

Prepping for an Emergency – Home Disaster Guide

Thanks to Jessica Merritt for this comprehensive guide to surviving natural disasters. This is Part 1 -part 2 tomorrow.

Natural disasters affect every area of America, and no home is immune to the threat of emergencies. These disasters can threaten your property, even your life. And there are simple steps you can take to protect your home and family in the event of an emergency. We’ll share expert tips for preparing your home to survive tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, and floods. Being prepared for natural disasters and emergencies can protect your property — and it just might save your life. Be ready by following our guide to natural disaster preparedness.

Emergency Preparedness Basics

For any emergency, you’ll need the basics: a plan and an emergency kit. Be ready for natural disasters with these tips that apply for any emergency.

Home emergency plan:…

Read More »
March 23, 2014 No Comments
Communities

Pioneer couple

11
I grew up watching Texas Country Reporter, back in the day it was called 4 Country Reporter, that’s when there were only a few TV stations to choose from, channel 4 was a Dallas TV station thus the name was born. This show began back in the early 70s and showcased Texans living simple yet interesting lives, TCR gave us a glimpse into the window of those wonderful people.…

Read More »
March 22, 2014 6 Comments
Communities

Update on being sick…

addiction-71575_640
With my latest brush with a pretty major upper respiratory infection (URI), I made the decision to work on my stash of meds and educate myself as much as possible about what to take, how much and when to take it. One really REALLY good source of info is the ThePatriotNurse on YouTube. Chances are you already know about her, but if you don’t, or you haven’t visited her YouTube channel in a while, well you need to go there and check her out.…

Read More »
March 16, 2014 1 Comment
Communities

7 days without utilities

7days

I continually talk about being prepared, and I mean for as many things as possible, while it’s not possible to be ready 100% for every possible scenario, it is possible to be ready for as many probabilities as you can. This guy LDSPrepper decided to test his preparation, he turned off his utilities for a week, water, electricity and gas, he video taped his experiences for that week.

The really cool thing about this was he didn’t get everything perfect before he started, he shut everything off as if it happened without warning, he had dirty dishes, his solar system wasn’t fully set up, he needed to water his garden…. After watching all the videos, it’s clear he has some work to do, but this was a really good run for him and I believe we can all learn something from this, I know he did.…

Read More »
March 15, 2014 1 Comment
Communities

Being sick away from help

501px-Michael_Ancher_001

I have been going through one of the things that is greatly feared by the off-grid and rural community, getting very sick, I’m not talking about a little cough or feeling bad, I’m talking putting you in bed, wavering between feeling horrible and feeling like I died an hour ago…. it’s the worst sick I have been in MANY MANY years.  This started a week ago Saturday, with a slight sore throat and a little tickle in my throat, from there it degraded to putting me in bed with a fever, coughing fits so bad I feared I would stop breathing, this really tested me and my resolve to take care of myself. There is a point where one gets bad enough to go ahead and see a doctor, I came as close to that point this time as I ever have since we moved off-grid.…

Read More »
March 9, 2014 3 Comments
Communities

Shipping container homes

010101

As more and more people look for easy and inexpensive ways to create their own housing, one good method people have discovered are shipping containers. These are inexpensive and relatively easy to find and have delivered, with a just a little forethought one can use one of more of these above ground, or below ground to create a great living space.…

Read More »
March 6, 2014 8 Comments
Field tests of computers and laptops
Courses, guides & tutorials

Bye-bye the smartphone:Tablets rated and reviewed

Out in the boonies, your net-connected phone or computer can be your best work-mate.
But phones are too small, and computers too power-hungry. The new generation of tablets could be the ideal productivity tool for many off-gridders.
With the right tech choices, you’ll be able to do all the usual – send emails, stream video, run multiple programs, but also edit video, run spreadsheets, work from home AND have a family asset that will let kids do homework while granny searches the family tree and Dad watches Netflix.

So here is what we tested:…

Read More »
March 3, 2014 1 Comment

Autonomous home on Australian Grand Designs

Ozzie architect Sam Zaher has clients flocking. He makes the most of the best spots in the country! His latest project is a little getaway overlooking Byron Bay, possibly the finest view in Australia.

And he has shown that off-grid living and luxury go hand-in-hand.

The Coorabell residence he designed for an environmentally conscious Sydney family not only ticks all the sustainability boxes, but also the cover of Grand Designs magazine.

The brief was to create a modern, stylish and interesting home that would sit lightly on the 27ha of land, be open, airy and age well.…

Read More »
February 25, 2014 No Comments

DIY bow made of PVC and fiberglass rods

With all the controversy over guns, some places do not allow you to own a gun or make it so difficult to own one that it’s next to impossible to have one, and the fact that some people just don’t want the responsibility of gun ownership, but would still like to be able to defend themselves or hunt, or even just target practice for fun, a bow and arrow is the next best thing, it’s quiet, often more legal to own and possess. It’s also stealthy, you can shoot an arrow with no one hearing you, you can shoot in the city without worrying about ordinances. You still must be careful, you can hurt or even kill someone if you are careless, but with the proper training and practice, you can use a bow and arrow for nearly anything you could use a gun to do.…

Read More »
February 16, 2014 2 Comments

How We Went Off-Grid

Order Here How We Went Off-Grid

20 x 8 Ft. Outdoor Storage Shed, Desert Sand

Order Here 20 x 8 Ft. Outdoor Storage Shed, Desert Sand