Off Grid Primer - Part 2

Off Grid Primer - Part 2

Overview of the lifestyle

Ok, now that we all understand what 'off grid' means in our case (refer to Off Grid Primer - Part 1), we can go on to what the lifestyle is like. This is a quick(ish) overview of life up here in the mountains, off grid. Most of which was new to me when we moved up here four years ago, when I was 45. Hence the occasional struggling and mild griping.

-- We have a wood stove which is our only heat source. And which I LOVE.

-- We do not have a well but we do have a spring 1/4th a mile away from the house where I get our water once or twice a week. The number of times I have to get water in a week depends on various things - how much laundry we have, the time of year it is, whether we have water-wasting visitors and how lazy I'm being. Rule of the house: NO WASTING WATER!!

--We do not have a microwave or a dishwasher because they are power hogs. I have learned to live without them just fine thank you very much. (Sorta)

--Most people up here have propane refrigerators but we have an electric one. Also a power hog but totally worth it. Propane fridges are expensive to purchase, use propane which we have to buy and are TEENY TINY. No thanks. Because of power issues, our fridge is set on a timer - on for three hours, off for three hours. This made me nervous at first to have it turned off for any length of time. I just knew we were going to get sick from spoiled food. But it stays right around 41 degrees and it's worked well so far.

--For the first few years we lived here, we spent our entire summers going out and cutting down trees for the 10+ cords of wood we would need for winter. Last summer we got smart and ordered a load of wood. SO much easier! And safer!

--We have solar panels, a wind turbine (that's pretty much just a big, tacky yard ornament), and a generator for power. In the summer, the sun and solar panels handle our electricity needs just fine and dandy. In the winter, with a depressing shortage of sunshine, we have to use the generator a lot more to charge the batteries. It's loud and stinky but it's necessary so....

--Even though we have a nice set up for the power, we still have less power than your average bear. So, no radios, computers or T.V.'s on all day. No cleaning the kitchen dishes while the fridge is running.  Can't flush the toilet each time you use it (yuck) (and this is a power AND water issue). Have to have the generator on when doing laundry, vacuuming and taking showers. The power shuts off a lot, causing me to have to stumble down the garage steps in the dark and turn the generator on to get it going again. BUT, we are our own power company so when the power goes off we turn it right back on which is very nice. No waiting on the power company for hours to have power again.

--We have ten miles of mountain road to travel to get down to the highway. We have to snow plow a little over 2 and 1/2 miles to our neighbor's house where they plow the rest of the way. Doesn't sound like much does it? Takes AT LEAST 5-6 hours, each time, and that's on a good day. This has to be done MANY, MANY times each winter, mostly by my husband, poor thing. We also have to plow the yard and the road down to the spring so we can get water. We plow and blow snow with our trusty, handy tractor. No, I didn't know how to drive a tractor or plow before I got here. I do now!

--We get an average of about 5 feet of snow each year, sometimes more, sometimes less. It's a LOT no matter which way you look at it. And what most of my griping is about.

--We have an Insta-Heat for hot water which works great, unless we forget to drain it when the temperature gets really cold and it freezes and bursts sending a fountain of water spewing all over your utility room. Yes, that happened, but only once. So far.

--I do not have hot water going to my kitchen yet (for various reasons) so I have to heat water up on the wood stove to wash dishes with. I kind of like this. Feels more hygienic to wash your dishes with boiling water. Hard on the hands though.

--I do have a real gas stove which is where I do most of our cooking. I do cook on the wood stove sometimes though. So convenient!

--Like I mentioned before, I LOVE my wood stove and having wood heat BUT it's a LOT of work. Getting wood from tree to split pieces small enough to go in your stove is a CHORE and a half, complete with splinters. It's one of our main jobs up here.

--I have a big garden that I struggle to get anything out of on account of our late, short, cool summers. Still working on that one. I'm used to gardening in Houston, Texas where if you throw seeds on the ground and walk away, they will grow. Here it's an uphill battle all the way.

--We have 6 chickens, 5 hens and 1 rooster who chases me and anyone else in the general vicinity, which I do NOT like. My husband LOVES him. The girls are good layers, our rooster Fancy is a good protector of his girls, and they all have frostbite in one way or another. Poor babies. Love the crowing and the fresh eggs. Not the chasing.

--My seriously talented husband built our home and our gorgeous barn all by himself. He also built an outhouse that he loves. Gets the award for Best View From a Potty, EVER.

--In the summer, I go to town once a week for supplies (and to see other humans). In the winter, I only go about twice a month because the road is covered in snow or ice or slush and is SCARRRYYYY. I only go when I have to.

--We have 6 dogs who are my best buddies.

--Last winter the temperature didn't go below zero, which was nice, but it has gotten down to -30 before, which is rare. It's not that cold here really, for which I'm thankful.

--We regularly see elk, moose, deer, grouse, bear and pack rats (unfortunately). We also  sometimes see mountain lions, wolves and coyotes. And knock on wood, we haven't had any trouble with the more carnivorous ones. I did walk up on a mountain lion one day, but, more on that later....

Ok, that's good for now. There are a lot of things I love about living here, this way. So much of it is old-fashioned and quiet, filled with good, satisfying, hard work. We spend way less money. We spend a lot of time talking because we don't have the T.V. and other electronic entertainment distracting us. And people think it's cool, which is always a plus! Being off grid and all that entails has been a good experience for us. Winter is a bit of a struggle for me (because of ALL the snow and the scary road) but I'm hanging in there. We have met some totally amazing, good people up here and have learned to cherish and protect our small community because we really do need each other. It's definitely all been a challenge for this city girl, but what an adventure! One I wouldn't have missed for the world!