Off-Grid Living: The Gift of Solar!

by | Dec 18, 2016 | Off-Grid Living, The House Build

You guys, I am still in shock over what has transpired in the past few weeks…

We’ve been getting by with a little 180 watt solar panel system for the last couple years (it was an upgrade from nothing!) and recently it stopped charging my batteries properly.

So, I reached out to an old friend who has a solar panel installation business to see if he’d be willing to stop out and trouble shoot it for me. Turns out, my charge controller got zapped in a lightening storm likely this fall and was kaput.

Well, he offered to reach out to some of his vendors to see if they had anything they’d be willing to help me out with.

Holy cow, people! I can’t even believe it!

The girls and I were just gifted a $5500 brand new system!

We now have 1140 watts of panels (they are scratch and dent so couldn’t be sold but are in perfect working condition) and 2 top of the line 24 volt batteries (brand new but had been sitting on the shelf too long to sell)!

I only needed to pay for some of the new technical pieces to put it all together, and a dear friend offered to pay for it for me!

So we suddenly have more power than we know what to do with! I ran the vacuum yesterday!! And we can have lights now!

I seriously don’t even know what to do with myself.

This opens up so many possibilities for us, including me being able to do my computer work (WordPress website design) from home so I can stay here to stoke the fire!

A huge thank you to:
Craig Tarr of Energy Concepts
David Fries of Werner Electric (panels)
Steve Belisle of Bae Batteries
Chris Jarosch of Carr Creek Electric for the installation labor
And my dear (anonymous) friend for paying for the necessary pieces

We are so thankful!


Off-Grid Living: Home for the Winter?

by | Nov 18, 2016 | Off-Grid Living, The House Build

Here on the home front, a small miracle is unfolding.

Through the help of many hearts and hands, the walls of our house are almost completely insulated!

The silver spaceship look on the front is thanks to Craigslist and some reclaimed insulation from an old elementary school.

And the pink on the back wall…well, a friend gave me a Home Depot gift card and through the magic of math, it turned out to be the exact amount needed to cover the rest…down to the last sheet!

We still have a lot to do (put up Tyvek, insulate the floor, acquire firewood), but it is looking like it’s maybe, just maybe, possible for the girls and I to stay in the house this winter!

 

 

At the Homestead: First Fire in the Hearth

by | Oct 12, 2016 | Off-Grid Living, The Homestead, The House Build

It’s been a big day around here! We still don’t know if we will be able to stay in the house all winter, but we are a giant leap closer today.

Jonathan spent several hours building the chimney and prepping the wood burning stove for its first fire!

And our devoted apprentice, Margie, was out in the cold with me stapling up a wind and rain barrier to help seal up the house and get it ready for some insulation.



So at 8pm tonight, our 8 year old Maggie lit the fire for the first time and we have a warm hearth! We are so thankful. And truly lucky to even be here living this life.


And so…hauling firewood begins!


At the Homestead: Weekend progress

by | Nov 23, 2015 | Everything Else, The House Build

Are you getting tired of house photos yet?? This weekend the front entryway was built so we can finish framing in the doors and walls in the next couple days. It’s coming…

Here are Jonathan and our friend (also named Jonathan) finishing the fascia board in the entryway last night with a cell phone flashlight. 

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Scarlet’s perspective

by | Nov 16, 2015 | Everything Else, The House Build

On our morning walk today, Scarlet (age 5) shared her gratitude: “I’m thankful the house is almost done! We just need to fill in the cracks, paint it, and move the beds in!”
Oh, if only.

Later, she added that we also need a door and a doorknob.
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