Comments on: Off Grid – On The Cheap http://www.off-grid.net/2008/12/15/off-grid-on-the-cheap/ renewable energy,survival,save money,self build,Green homes,Solar power, cheap power, 12 volt, Solar panels, Wind power, peak oil, Batteries, Inverter, Generator, Rainwater harvesting, survivalist, prepper, self-sufficient, vans, yurts, yachts, RVs Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:28:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Wretha http://www.off-grid.net/2008/12/15/off-grid-on-the-cheap/comment-page-1/#comment-369327 Wretha Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:20:53 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=3140#comment-369327 <strong>acytracey</strong>, without more info, I don't know what to tell you about your current land situation, I can say this, anything is better than nothing, the shape shouldn't have that much to do with whether or not you can live on it and do the off grid thing, as long as you actually have soil, it can be improved... if you aren't happy with your land, you can always look for another place. You can also be buying up the components you need to go off grid (no matter where that may be), do it while you are still living your "normal" life and (I assume) you have the income to do it. You can also be buying up foods that don't need refrigeration, canned goods, dry goods, things that come in pouches and don't need to be stored in cold temps, it's a good idea to have a stock of foods anyhow, one never knows what the future will hold, from global disasters to merely losing your job... Wretha acytracey, without more info, I don’t know what to tell you about your current land situation, I can say this, anything is better than nothing, the shape shouldn’t have that much to do with whether or not you can live on it and do the off grid thing, as long as you actually have soil, it can be improved… if you aren’t happy with your land, you can always look for another place. You can also be buying up the components you need to go off grid (no matter where that may be), do it while you are still living your “normal” life and (I assume) you have the income to do it. You can also be buying up foods that don’t need refrigeration, canned goods, dry goods, things that come in pouches and don’t need to be stored in cold temps, it’s a good idea to have a stock of foods anyhow, one never knows what the future will hold, from global disasters to merely losing your job…

Wretha

]]> By: acytracey http://www.off-grid.net/2008/12/15/off-grid-on-the-cheap/comment-page-1/#comment-369322 acytracey Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:38:22 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=3140#comment-369322 me and my husband have been talking about getting of the grid and farming our land but the problem we have is the land is narrow and long and the soil is not to good we have started getting animals we have some chickens and thought about a cow and pigs but not sure we have a little over 5 acrea here but we thought about looking for more land some where else but not sure if this a good start and what is the baby steps you started with me and my husband have been talking about getting of the grid and farming our land but the problem we have is the land is narrow and long and the soil is not to good we have started getting animals we have some chickens and thought about a cow and pigs but not sure we have a little over 5 acrea here but we thought about looking for more land some where else but not sure if this a good start and what is the baby steps you started with

]]> By: Wretha http://www.off-grid.net/2008/12/15/off-grid-on-the-cheap/comment-page-1/#comment-229727 Wretha Sun, 03 May 2009 16:06:13 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=3140#comment-229727 <strong>Tracy</strong>, that is great! I wish you luck on getting your condo sold before your job goes sour, but even if you don't, isn't it nice to know you HAVE somewhere to go? I worried (slightly) about pulling out all of my savings, my investments to do this, but after it is all said and done, I realized that I merely moved my money from one investment into another, this land and home IS an investment, it may or may not increase in value, but it will never decrease in size and it will always be able to house me, feed me and take care of me as long as I am able to pick up a hoe and garden, and pay the taxes. $2500-$3000 is a good amount to spend on s solar set up, it will get you started quite nicely. Do you get a lot of sun where your property is located? Don't forget about putting back some food, canned, dry, anything that doesn't require refrigeration or special conditions to keep. Hopefully your transition from your current life to your off grid life will be smooth, either way it's nice to have some stores of food to survive on after you get out there, it's one less worry. :) Wretha Tracy, that is great! I wish you luck on getting your condo sold before your job goes sour, but even if you don’t, isn’t it nice to know you HAVE somewhere to go?

I worried (slightly) about pulling out all of my savings, my investments to do this, but after it is all said and done, I realized that I merely moved my money from one investment into another, this land and home IS an investment, it may or may not increase in value, but it will never decrease in size and it will always be able to house me, feed me and take care of me as long as I am able to pick up a hoe and garden, and pay the taxes.

$2500-$3000 is a good amount to spend on s solar set up, it will get you started quite nicely. Do you get a lot of sun where your property is located?

Don’t forget about putting back some food, canned, dry, anything that doesn’t require refrigeration or special conditions to keep. Hopefully your transition from your current life to your off grid life will be smooth, either way it’s nice to have some stores of food to survive on after you get out there, it’s one less worry. :)

Wretha

]]> By: Tracy Lawrence http://www.off-grid.net/2008/12/15/off-grid-on-the-cheap/comment-page-1/#comment-229717 Tracy Lawrence Sun, 03 May 2009 00:12:51 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=3140#comment-229717 Hi. I enjoyed your article above. I too pulled money out of retirement right before the market took a nose dive. I boought 1-1/2 acres and it has a small spring fed creek running thru it. I just completed a 12 x 20 rough sawn building 2 lofts. I am putting a 31ft airstream out there on Tuesday. I am so proud to say thus far I have paid for all cash. I built 3 8ft x 4 raised beds and planted my garden this weekend. Since the land is raw, I had to haul some water in. I have 3 55gal drums and cleaned them out this weekend and took out to lot. Putting a hose in and sucking worked , but I will head to harbor freight and get a manual barrel pump. My condo has been on the market for awhile now. When I get laid of at work I will not be able to afford living here. That is a bad feeling to feel like you are stuck working at a stressful job because you need the money. You mentioned above about buying panels a little bit at a time. You also mentioned about selling some things. I have some things that I can sell and would be able to put 2500-3000 on a solar setup pretty quickly. Thanks again for the post. Tracy Hi. I enjoyed your article above. I too pulled money out of retirement right before the market took a nose dive. I boought 1-1/2 acres and it has a small spring fed creek running thru it. I just completed a 12 x 20 rough sawn building 2 lofts. I am putting a 31ft airstream out there on Tuesday. I am so proud to say thus far I have paid for all cash. I built 3 8ft x 4 raised beds and planted my garden this weekend. Since the land is raw, I had to haul some water in. I have 3 55gal drums and cleaned them out this weekend and took out to lot. Putting a hose in and sucking worked , but I will head to harbor freight and get a manual barrel pump. My condo has been on the market for awhile now. When I get laid of at work I will not be able to afford living here. That is a bad feeling to feel like you are stuck working at a stressful job because you need the money. You mentioned above about buying panels a little bit at a time. You also mentioned about selling some things. I have some things that I can sell and would be able to put 2500-3000 on a solar setup pretty quickly. Thanks again for the post.
Tracy

]]> By: Another Review “Solar Homesteading” | The Raw Land Guide http://www.off-grid.net/2008/12/15/off-grid-on-the-cheap/comment-page-1/#comment-227540 Another Review “Solar Homesteading” | The Raw Land Guide Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:44:32 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=3140#comment-227540 [...] I quickly found a great source of info at LaMar Alexander’s website. In following with my Off Grid - On The Cheap message, this is a very practical, hands on approach to how to get off the grid without having to [...] [...] I quickly found a great source of info at LaMar Alexander’s website. In following with my Off Grid – On The Cheap message, this is a very practical, hands on approach to how to get off the grid without having to [...]

]]> By: doris rhodes http://www.off-grid.net/2008/12/15/off-grid-on-the-cheap/comment-page-1/#comment-227442 doris rhodes Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:50:33 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=3140#comment-227442 does georgia have an acre or two to sell to an old single lady who very much wants to live off grid? where does georgia live? does georgia have an acre or two to sell to an old single lady who very much wants to live off grid? where does georgia live?

]]> By: Wretha http://www.off-grid.net/2008/12/15/off-grid-on-the-cheap/comment-page-1/#comment-224821 Wretha Mon, 02 Mar 2009 06:38:00 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=3140#comment-224821 <strong>Georgia</strong>, thanks for your comment. I enjoy writing about this stuff. LOL Taking baby steps is good, saving seeds is also good. I love square foot gardening, have you read any of Ruth Stout's books? There is some good info there too. I would say to start collecting panels if you can, you can use them on your mobile home, but I think it's easier to start off by building your home with solar panels in mind. If you want to use solar panels on your existing home, try converting one room at a time, or even one part at a time, such as make some of the lights in one room run off of solar. What do you want to do? Are you wanting to build a new home or do you want to stay in your mobile home? If your mobile is already on your land, and you are happy with it, you might consider keeping it, unless you have your heart set on building something else. That is just a personal choice. If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask, that's why I'm here. :) Wretha Georgia, thanks for your comment. I enjoy writing about this stuff. LOL Taking baby steps is good, saving seeds is also good. I love square foot gardening, have you read any of Ruth Stout’s books? There is some good info there too. I would say to start collecting panels if you can, you can use them on your mobile home, but I think it’s easier to start off by building your home with solar panels in mind. If you want to use solar panels on your existing home, try converting one room at a time, or even one part at a time, such as make some of the lights in one room run off of solar. What do you want to do? Are you wanting to build a new home or do you want to stay in your mobile home? If your mobile is already on your land, and you are happy with it, you might consider keeping it, unless you have your heart set on building something else. That is just a personal choice.

If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to ask, that’s why I’m here. :)

Wretha

]]> By: Georgia http://www.off-grid.net/2008/12/15/off-grid-on-the-cheap/comment-page-1/#comment-224342 Georgia Thu, 26 Feb 2009 01:30:12 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=3140#comment-224342 Thank u for taking the time to share a glimpse of hope. I feel shackled to corporate America and I'm desperate to come off the grid! I took a baby step this past month n starting some seeds for a continual harvest garden. (using square foot gardening). We already own 27 acres but live n a triple wide mobile home. Is it possible to use solar on mobile homes or do we need to look into building as we collect panels? I have at least a hundred more questions but I'll start with that one. Again- thank u for the ray of hope! -Ga. Thank u for taking the time to share a glimpse of hope. I feel shackled to corporate America and I’m desperate to come off the grid! I took a baby step this past month n starting some seeds for a continual harvest garden. (using square foot gardening). We already own 27 acres but live n a triple wide mobile home. Is it possible to use solar on mobile homes or do we need to look into building as we collect panels? I have at least a hundred more questions but I’ll start with that one. Again- thank u for the ray of hope! -Ga.

]]> By: Michael http://www.off-grid.net/2008/12/15/off-grid-on-the-cheap/comment-page-1/#comment-222151 Michael Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:46:24 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=3140#comment-222151 Speaking of using that old cistern ... this guy used his to house some chickens out there around Terlingua: http://www.velacreations.com/livestock.html Thought you might be interested in checking it out. Speaking of using that old cistern … this guy used his to house some chickens out there around Terlingua:

http://www.velacreations.com/livestock.html

Thought you might be interested in checking it out.

]]> By: Wretha http://www.off-grid.net/2008/12/15/off-grid-on-the-cheap/comment-page-1/#comment-221374 Wretha Sat, 10 Jan 2009 07:13:28 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=3140#comment-221374 <strong>Anonymous</strong>, when and where did I wander into expensive country? The most expensive part of our venture was purchasing the land, and that was a bargain because of "issues" of the property, ie vehicle access is difficult but not impossible. We do take advantage of solar gain in heating the cabin, and as for water conservation, we have a 300 gallon water tank, we do conserve water because we have to bring in every drop we consume. We do have other water tanks, gifted to us, all of these have rust and holes, we need to patch them or find something else to do with them. Our entire life is about living on the cheap, please, if you can find something that I wrote (above) that looks expensive, let me know what it is, I'll see if I can clarify what I wrote. I agree in taking baby steps, taking any steps to achieve the lifestyle that you want to live. My point here was to let people know that is IS possible to live the off grid life (if that is what you want to do) without breaking the bank, you don't need to spend $300,000+ to live green/off the grid. Thanks for taking the time to comment, I appreciate each and every one! :) Wretha Anonymous, when and where did I wander into expensive country? The most expensive part of our venture was purchasing the land, and that was a bargain because of “issues” of the property, ie vehicle access is difficult but not impossible. We do take advantage of solar gain in heating the cabin, and as for water conservation, we have a 300 gallon water tank, we do conserve water because we have to bring in every drop we consume. We do have other water tanks, gifted to us, all of these have rust and holes, we need to patch them or find something else to do with them. Our entire life is about living on the cheap, please, if you can find something that I wrote (above) that looks expensive, let me know what it is, I’ll see if I can clarify what I wrote.

I agree in taking baby steps, taking any steps to achieve the lifestyle that you want to live. My point here was to let people know that is IS possible to live the off grid life (if that is what you want to do) without breaking the bank, you don’t need to spend $300,000+ to live green/off the grid.

Thanks for taking the time to comment, I appreciate each and every one! :)

Wretha

]]> By: j_pigden http://www.off-grid.net/2008/12/15/off-grid-on-the-cheap/comment-page-1/#comment-221363 j_pigden Sat, 10 Jan 2009 02:19:56 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=3140#comment-221363 You started off fine but then wandered off into expensive country! It isn't just electricity that is 'on grid'. Solar heating and water conservation are two inexpensive ways to increase the amount of money left over at the end of the month. By increasing the amount you can invest in off-grid or green improvements, you create a multiplier effect. By starting with an even smaller step, you can climb onto the green ladder faster! You started off fine but then wandered off into expensive country!
It isn’t just electricity that is ‘on grid’. Solar heating and water conservation are two inexpensive ways to increase the amount of money left over at the end of the month. By increasing the amount you can invest in off-grid or green improvements, you create a multiplier effect.
By starting with an even smaller step, you can climb onto the green ladder faster!

]]> By: Off-Grid.Net » Simple Solar Homesteading Book Review http://www.off-grid.net/2008/12/15/off-grid-on-the-cheap/comment-page-1/#comment-220775 Off-Grid.Net » Simple Solar Homesteading Book Review Fri, 19 Dec 2008 03:21:31 +0000 http://www.off-grid.net/?p=3140#comment-220775 [...] I quickly found a great source of info at LaMar Alexander’s website. In following with my Off Grid - On The Cheap message, this is a very practical, hands on approach to how to get off the grid without having to [...] [...] I quickly found a great source of info at LaMar Alexander’s website. In following with my Off Grid – On The Cheap message, this is a very practical, hands on approach to how to get off the grid without having to [...]

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