Anyone living off the land?

[newbie32]

Got to laugh ! Didn't know I did it. Got frazzled ! SORRY. I think the garden post was intended for someone else also. Maybe I'll get a hang of this. Please bare with me I'm new to this.

oh

....well the garden post I think was for me because I am the one that killed my cactus and aloe hehe. I kept thinking-what is this person doing? LOL this sight is fun!

Hope you get addicted like me

 

[chicken-lady13]

Ok ! I'm trying to comment. I hope this works out this time! LOL I was trying to tell you about my crabs being part of my family and that my chickens, Dogs & Cats play with them. Well I hope u got this post. Now I'm wondering who I sent the other ones to. Oh well can't help the fact yep I'M A BIG GOOF !!

 

[chicken-lady13]

Great it was u. Makes me feel a little less igmo! Well I hope the gardening info helps a little. Yep I think I like this site also. You made me really laugh at my self tonight.

 

[yinepu]

Quote:
6 of mine are straight from the wild so they have always had natural shells.. the other 3 were "beach adoptions".. they had badly painted shells and two of them moved immediately into plain shells when I brought them home.. the third one took his sweet ol time to move into a new shell.. so I immediately threw out the painted ones since they aren't the best thing for the hermits..

Mine all live in a "terrarium" of sorts.. deep layer of mixed cocoa fiber and calcium carbonate sand.. high humidity.. lots of shells to change into .. salt and fresh water plus their food. I have one who is shedding right now.. so he's buried himself down into the substrate until he's done.


When I was a kid I had several small ones.. over the years two grew to be the size of softballs (my brother killed the third).. gave them away when I moved then finally got these guys to feed my hermit addiction.. my largest now are somewhere between tennis ball and golf ball sized..
I had my original two for close to 20 years before I gave them away...

 

[chicken-lady13]

Ok ! I'm trying to comment. I hope this works out this time! LOL I was trying to tell you about my crabs being part of my family and that my chickens, Dogs & Cats play with them. Well I hope u got this post. Now I'm wondering who I sent the other ones to. Oh well can't help the fact yep I'M A BIG GOOF !!

 

[Bullitt]

Bullit-where have you read that they last around 20 years? Everything I have seen is like 5 years. If I could get an inexpensive one that will last that long then heck yeah I need one. Because during the summer here in desert our electric is super high thanks to needing 24hr AC. But if I could use the sun for my benefit I would be happy. I need one that would not be too much money and would I be able to move it once I get the funds to move to cooler climate?

No, I said solar panels will last at least 20 years.

Here is some information.

http://www.solarenergy.net/Articles/10-things-to-know-before-going-solar.aspx
"8. How Long do Solar Panels Last
Generally speaking, a solar panel will last 30 years or more and lose some ½ percent (0.5%) conversion efficiency annually. Hosing the panels off a few times during the summer and keeping leaves off them in the fall is about the only maintenance required."



In addition to at least one solar panel, you need a couple of other things to connect to your house and the utility grid. You can build a wood frame and mount a solar panel to it. This way you can move the panel around. It would also be easier if you move and need to take the panel with you. You will need the wire to run from the solar panel to an electrical outlet. This costs about 80 cents a foot when purchased new. And you will need a grid-tie inverter. This is where the wires from the solar panel connect and allow you to plug into an electrical socket. A 1200-watt grid-tie inverter will cost over $200 new. But it will allow you to add a couple more solar panels later.

Later you can expand the system to charge at least one deep-cycle battery and have an inverter that changes 12-volt DC to 110 AC and allows lights and appliances to be plugged into it. This would allow you to continue to have power if the electricity got knocked out.

The basic system -- a 300-watt solar panel, a 1200-watt grid-tie inverter, and say 50 feet of wire -- would cost about $550 new. Look around on Craigslist and you can find used equipment or sometimes find bargains.

I know California is one of the states that requires utility companies to pay people for putting electricity into the grid. If you produce enough electricity each month, the utility company will have to give you credit or send you a check. You would need much more than 300 watts for this to happen, especially running an air conditioner. But that one solar panel would reduce your electricity bill.

By the way, did you look at that YouTube video of the solar cabin?

 

[chicken-lady13]

My father-in-law says two cows on a acre. We feed hay and feed in the winter time. And feed as a treat in the warmer months. We like big fat happy cows.

 

[SA Farm]

My father-in-law says two cows on a acre. We feed hay and feed in the winter time. And feed as a treat in the warmer months. We like big fat happy cows.

What breed of cow does he raise?

 

[Bullitt]

My father-in-law says two cows on a acre. We feed hay and feed in the winter time. And feed as a treat in the warmer months. We like big fat happy cows.

Where do you live?

The amount of land needed varies based on where the cows are located.

 

[yinepu]

Quote:
yup.. when we have droughts here you can get away with 0 on an acre... lol