This has been in the works and plans now for over a year.
So what are we waiting for?
Currently we have grandbaby 2 on the way (in a couple more months), and one of our daughters will be getting married soon as well.
We are doing our best to pay off bills, save money,, fix up our 1920s home to put on the market, and learning as much as we can about gardening, building, and animal husbandry.
Our off grid quest is one that we are hoping will help promote a healthier lifestyle for all of us. Knowing where your food comes from, being responsible for your land and your food, makes you appreciate it all the more. We are interested in food forests, permaculture, and using animals to help on the farm, by doing rotational grazing. We want to live a more substaible life, where we can depend on our hard work and the land to produce what we eat. If you want a good example of what we want our farm to be like, watch the show The Biggest Little Farm. We want a smaller version than that, and we do not want sheep, we prefer cows, and of course there will be other differences as well, but the idea of living in harmony with the land is one that brings much excitement.
We have been asked several questions so we will try to answer as many as we can.
1)WHAT does it mean to go Off-Grid?
Being off-grid means that you are not connected to city/town utilities. This means no city water, or electricity, gas, etc. We will have a well dug if one is not on our property already and use that, as well as water catchment for water usage. We will use solar and a back up generator for electric.
2) WHY do we want to go off-grid?
We have been asked several questions so we will try to answer as many as we can.
1)WHAT does it mean to go Off-Grid?
Being off-grid means that you are not connected to city/town utilities. This means no city water, or electricity, gas, etc. We will have a well dug if one is not on our property already and use that, as well as water catchment for water usage. We will use solar and a back up generator for electric.
2) WHY do we want to go off-grid?
This is a long time dream of mine. Growing up some of my favorite shows were the Mountain Family Robinson and other shows like that. After visiting my great uncle's farm I fell in love with cows and always dreamed of having my own. At the age of 21 I visited an Amish farm and fell in love with the way they lived. I dreamed of being able to live like that one day. Then I discovered an amazing documentary about a man named Dick Proenneke who lived off grid. He went off and started his own little place up in the Alaskan wilderness. I think I have watched it at least 50 times and never get bored of watching it. I dreamed one day I would be able to have my own piece of land in the wilderness complete with a homestead.
Our desire to go off-grid has a lot to do with being tired of throwing our money down the drain. We are currently connected to everything. We pay for our electric, we pay for water, sewer, garbage, and recycling. These are all things that not too long ago people provided for themselves. In addition we want enough land that we can grow and harvest our own food. We put so many things in our bodies that are processed. We currently have a small garden at our house now but it is not even close to large enough to feed our family. Another reason we want to move is because we want to buy a large enough piece of land that our children who will always be living at home can have their own space on our property if they want to.
3) WHAT will we do for plumbing, electric, heat, garbage, etc if we are off-grid.
Plumbing - we are planning on buying land and then having well water. We plan on using a composting toilet and setting up a humanure system
Electric- we will be using solar for anything we need powered. For a backup we will use a generator.
Heat - we plan on having an indoor kitchen and an outdoor kitchen. We will use the indoor kitchen in the winter time when we want to warm the house and we will keep our wood burning stove running during the winter months. During the summer we will be using the outdoor kitchen so we are not heating the house during those times.
4) WHERE are you planning on moving?
Our current plan is Missouri
5) WHY Missouri
One of the reasons we like Missouri is the growing season. We also have extended family in Missouri. We also like their homeschooling laws, and Missouri is a good state for people who want to live off-grid. The cost of land is also another factor. Currently where we live it would be very expensive to buy the amount of land we want. We want to do this all debt free so cost is a big factor.
6) WHEN are you planning on moving?
Hopefully by Spring 2022
7) WHO will build the house?
We will be hiring someone to pour the foundation and they will be doing most of the structure of the building but we are going to be doing a good bit of the interior work ourselves.
8) Can you tell us more about your family?
We are a large family, our oldest daughter is 31 and our youngest daughter is 9. We currently have five children still living at home. All five of our kids at home have special needs.
9) WHY have you decided to make a blog about your journey ?
Mostly so we have a diary like of our lives for ourselves, family, friends, and anyone else who might be interested in this way of life. We CAN do this, our kids can do this, and we want to offer encouragement for others who have considered this kind of journey as well.
10) What are your beliefs?
We believe in God and do our best to learn and grow in His love daily.
3) WHAT will we do for plumbing, electric, heat, garbage, etc if we are off-grid.
Plumbing - we are planning on buying land and then having well water. We plan on using a composting toilet and setting up a humanure system
Electric- we will be using solar for anything we need powered. For a backup we will use a generator.
Heat - we plan on having an indoor kitchen and an outdoor kitchen. We will use the indoor kitchen in the winter time when we want to warm the house and we will keep our wood burning stove running during the winter months. During the summer we will be using the outdoor kitchen so we are not heating the house during those times.
4) WHERE are you planning on moving?
Our current plan is Missouri
5) WHY Missouri
One of the reasons we like Missouri is the growing season. We also have extended family in Missouri. We also like their homeschooling laws, and Missouri is a good state for people who want to live off-grid. The cost of land is also another factor. Currently where we live it would be very expensive to buy the amount of land we want. We want to do this all debt free so cost is a big factor.
6) WHEN are you planning on moving?
Hopefully by Spring 2022
7) WHO will build the house?
We will be hiring someone to pour the foundation and they will be doing most of the structure of the building but we are going to be doing a good bit of the interior work ourselves.
8) Can you tell us more about your family?
We are a large family, our oldest daughter is 31 and our youngest daughter is 9. We currently have five children still living at home. All five of our kids at home have special needs.
9) WHY have you decided to make a blog about your journey ?
Mostly so we have a diary like of our lives for ourselves, family, friends, and anyone else who might be interested in this way of life. We CAN do this, our kids can do this, and we want to offer encouragement for others who have considered this kind of journey as well.
10) What are your beliefs?
We believe in God and do our best to learn and grow in His love daily.
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