from city to boondocks

[doc_gonzo]

sbox,

i don't mean to be a bummer, but....i lived on big pine key for a while with wind and solar on a 10 cell bank, in the dead of summer, with optimum fla. sun and wind. a standard ac refrigerator by it's self sucked down the bank before 3 o'clock in the afternoon. we didn't even get to think about watching tv or cruising the internet. consider buying as many dc appliances as you can afford.... you loose major juice converting the dc current to ac current to feed the ac pig.

cheers

doc

 

[dixygirl]

I am SOOO Jealous. I have the exact same plan but i want to have utilities. Look into getting at least a solar cabin kit or 2. In fact if i have wildblue.com wireless high speed satellite internet and Direct TV satellite I am set!
My horse needs enough space to have a pasture mate and the economy is going steadily downhill. Heck, I will use a carriage on my horse to save on gas "out in the sticks"!


I hope you are planting your own fruit trees and vegetables too. Get some berry plants, hardy orange, paw paw, persimmon. almond and quince trees, great treats. I have all these growing around my house. It is so much fun. Enjoy. I'm totally jealous of your moving to the country!
Great way to retire!!!!!!!

 

[doc_gonzo]

dixygirl,

most states have a "net metering" program ie. when you produce more power than you use you sell it back to the network. the problem arises when the "grid" goes down, you go without just like everyone else. but if you have a switchable system with a battery bank you can flip between. then you have power from the batteries or power from the "grid" depending on who is up....

doc,

evil genious

 

[Msbear]

Hi There, I know I'm a new egg and all (just got my chickens a week ago) We live in the city and need a small coop with a run. However I grew up on a 25 acre farmette (we called it that cause everyone else's farms were huge) My parents always had a dozen or so chickens. There was a barn they had access to all day but just pecked around wherever they pleased. You may lose one to a hawk every now and then. And if they're frequenting your place, you'll have to keep'em up for a week or so til they cruise on. But other predators (fox, raccoon, etc) are night-time issues so as long as you can lock them up sucurely after they go up, you'll be just fine and have a lot of happy healthy chickens.

And one word, DOG. Most predators will run at the smell of a dog.

So happy for you and your move and your self-sufficient lifestyle -you are my idol

 

[Davaroo]

Oh, I'd like to add this:

Get the book, "5 Acres and Independence," by M.G. Kains.
It's been in and out of print over the years, so is available in reprint and original (I was lucky enough to secure one of those).

As the name implies, it is about living the way you have chosen, while doing so both well and profitably.

It was written in the 1930's, well before the electrification of rural America. Mr, Kains was a renowned author on rural subjects to include poultry rearing and horticulture. His advice was sound then, it is sound today.

More of a guide than a how-to, "5 Acres" could be a prime resource for you.

 

[pvc coop]

sbox,

My PVC coop is made of about 70 TEE connections, and 20 "Elbows" and a lot of glue, HA HA. I't has withstood some Oklahoma Thunder storms, but worried about the winter. Of course it's very lite and easy to slide around the yard.

My Grandparents had a few acres back in the 1930's and 40's. They would buy chicks a 100 at a time. Grew a big garden and canned all the vegi's. My grandparents thought a Grocrey Store was only for buying necessities like, sugar, flour, etc. But my Dad thought he would save money by buying a milk cow. But ended up looseing money because us kids wouldn't drink fresh cow milk.

 

[McEgg]

thought about a cow, but found out they give 5-6 gallons PER DAY. Geez!!! Only two of the kids drink milk. (I can see waste here). Goat seems more practical.
Might get a dc frig or get a very small frig.Very few things NEED refrigeration but thinking we may hook up a freezer to its own solar panel.
Laundry once, maybe twice, a week using generator.
We call the new place "Smokey Pines" because there are alot of pine trees and the lumber we are using we get for free out of a house that burned up. he wood still smells smokey but still good. Only using it on the wellhouse, coop, and shed.
The guy was going to demolish it anyway and say we could have whatever we want. Found out there is no school bus service or mail service. Got a PO Box.
Got the wellhouse built and garden started.

I'll add pics to "My Page" in a few days. for anyone who is interested.
keep the suggestions coming!!!!

 

[speckledhen]

Sounds wonderful to me. I love cordwood masonry. My DH isn't so enthused about total seclusion as I am, but if the world keeps spinning out of control, it may be what is necessary. My family already thinks we live in the middle of nowhere now and are nuts to heat with a soapstone stove. Wonder what they'd think of the windmill, if we put one up.

More power to you! Congrats.