Moving Off-Grid

Well, the day finally came.  We sold our big house we built 10 years ago (4000 sq ft)  You can imagine what we collected over the years, so we sold a lot of things, gave lots away and packed what was left into 1 1/2 containers and had them moved them out to the off-grid property.

Setting up in the travel trailer

Thankfully we have a decent size travel trailer, which we stayed in while building the house we just sold.  So back to trailer living for a while.  It’s not too bad as long as we can be finished by winter.  The trailer is 25′ long with a pull out so we do have a bit of room, not too cramped.

The trailer was moved up to the property and is now our home while working on our little house which is about 480 sq ft.  there will also be a loft about 180 sq ft which will be my office but for sure a lot smaller than what we had.

It has been interesting the last few months, to say the least.  With coronavirus shutting so many countries down, it has been a challenge to find some of the building supplies we needed.

Putting up the Solar Panels

As an example, we ordered our solar panels, batteries, and components 2 months ago.  We have the solar panels and batteries but are still waiting for the rest of them.  Soon………

 

Luckily we have a well on the property so are hooking up to that for water, and the existing septic.  The latest problem and there have been a few lol.  Is the backhoe digging the trench just broke down.  Hopefully, it will be repaired by the weekend and back up running.

We are both working our regular jobs which are now an hour’s drive each day, coming home and working here.  We have a generator and the trailer which has been wonderful.

Mosquito Season….me or them?

When we first moved up at the end of May the mosquitos were horrendous.  I didn’t think I would survive up here, but with lots of research, we bought some great mosquito deterrents which made it a little more liveable.  Now a few months later and hot weather they are not so bad and when they do come out we put out our Thermocells and all is good.

The travel trailer has a shower and I’m a bath kinda person, so the tub that will be going in the little house (came out of the old cabin) was set out on some plywood and I prettied up the area and now am able to have a bath.  It isn’t as easy as running the hot and cold water but it sure feels good after a day of painting, building, or digging.  We have two barrels painted black that sit out in the sun and warm the water.  Works pretty well, although some days I do have to rob some hot water from the travel trailer.

TV Night Off-Grid

Another thing we do is have a TV night.  We take our big TV and put it outside on a stainless table that Scott made for our BBQ and plug into the generator, sit back with a cold beer and some snacks, and the Thermocells going and enjoy a movie outside.

I am really beginning to enjoy this.  There is something nice about being out in the fresh air watching a movie, maybe reminds me of my younger years when we used to go to the drive-in.  I don’t know, but I sure do love movie night.

The Vegetable Garden

In the couple months, we have been out here, we have a wonderful vegetable garden planted which we are now feasting on fresh chard, zucchini, tomatoes, and peas.  With lots of other things still growing garlic, squash, beans, dill, carrots and I’m sure a few more things I have forgotten.

Solar panels up  

The solar panels are up and the batteries in their place as well as the ditch dug and wire placed in to go from the solar panels to the electrical room.   The water line is dug and water hooked up, and sewer well the backhoe issue has staled that project, but I’m pretty impressed with what has gotten done so far especially since we have both been working our day jobs too.

Speaking of those day jobs…..ugh well I think it may be time to retire soon.  Once most of the building supplies are taken care of, some serious thought will have to go into that…retirement.  Hmmm sounds good.  Just stay on the acreage and look after things here.  That sounds a lot better than driving 30-40 minutes on dirt roads and then another 30 or so to town.