If you can see this video then you know the winner of our 1st Annual Labor Day Free Give-Away. We are thinking of a harvest drawing as well. We were thinking about giving away some of our Saskatoon jam and other cool stuff from our homestead. Sorry about the video quality everyone. I am using … Continue reading Winner of the 1st Annual Labor Day Free Give-Away
sustainable living
From dust and weeds to lawn
After much debate, we decided to put in a lawn in front of our house. I spent the day using a rototiller to prepare the soil. I added aged compost from the chicken coop and raked it in. I them planted the seed and added water. Now, I am waiting for the grass to grow. … Continue reading From dust and weeds to lawn
Our gardeners, the chickens, and other tales
When picking out our flock 4 years ago, my wife and I went to the local co-op and chose several varieties; Buff Orpington, Red Sexlinks, Amber Star, Ameraucana. We have since settled on the Buff Orpington since they seem to be the most easy going and don't tend to pick on the other chickens. My … Continue reading Our gardeners, the chickens, and other tales
The toilet, a topic we don’t like to discuss…
Having a flush toilet has been by far one of the most rewarding, peace of mind additions to our home. We installed our flush toilet back in 2013 and have no regrets making the move away from our compost toilet. Now, I must admit I never converted my AC composting toilet to DC. I hooked … Continue reading The toilet, a topic we don’t like to discuss…
Snow Plow Madness Continues…
If it isn't the truck, it's the plow. If it isn’t the plow, it’s the truck. For the first few weeks of January, the truck has been running great and pushing snow like a champ, that is, until this past holiday weekend. With the three day weekend, I worked at moving heavy, slushy snow from … Continue reading Snow Plow Madness Continues…
Facing Due South
When designing an off grid sustainable home, it is best to design the majority of the windows facing south to utilize the most amount of solar gain. During the winter it is crucial to let in as much natural light as possible. This cuts down on the use of electricity and the need for electric … Continue reading Facing Due South
The Battle: Sustainable Living versus Doomsday Preparedness
What is the difference between sustainable living and doomsday preparedness? A person with the sustainable living philosophy chooses to limit their impact on the environment, live within their means, and tries to grow food for themselves to not only save money, but to eat healthy. On the other side of the fence is another group, … Continue reading The Battle: Sustainable Living versus Doomsday Preparedness
Phantoms of the Home
When picking out an appliance, a person in an off grid home is constantly asking, "Does this appliance have a phantom load?" A phantom load is an appliance that draws power when it isn’t being used and even when it is turned off. For example, your old VCR that had the clock display that flashed … Continue reading Phantoms of the Home
