Off grid building ideas

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My favorite book on rainwater catchment is "Rainwater Collection for the Mechanically Challenged" by Suzy Banks. It's limited in scope, but It's a good place to start to get an understanding of things, as it is straightforward and simply written. Then you can modify the components to fit your needs.
 
I am planning on starting off by getting a pole frame up and roof on then building under it. Backwards I know but . . . I really hate working in bad weather etc.

That only sounds backwards...when you build a pole house you have that option. I used it too and was able to stay out of the blazing sun. Another benefit of Pole Houses!
 
Here is a list of 29 Tesla vehicle fires. Most are after crashes but several happened while parked, charging, or while being driven. This is only one brand and I'm sure a search of similar vehicles will produce similar results.
https://www.tesla-fire.com
That is interesting, and kind of scary, as far as I can tell the company can still remote moniter the battery bank operation in real time, not a lot they could do is a crash, but the rest seem kind of like they should never have happened.
Not disputing that the whole electric car thing is pretty stupid in the first place unless one were to have an abundance of natural hydro electric power near by to charge them with. There is a local guy with one, and it costs him more to drive it, if he uses metered electricity at home,than it cost me to run my 500 cubic inch gas crew cab dually.
Batteries ALL of them are inherently dangerous.
 
IBC totes are a great resource for a homestead, the cages make great firewood storage, if you cut the tank in half diagonal you can cover 2 cages with a nice thick plastic roof. cut the floor out of the tank and you have a nice covered storage pallet, if the tank is stained no one is going to see what is inside. clean tanks are a great start to a catchment system.
 
IBC totes are a great resource for a homestead, the cages make great firewood storage, if you cut the tank in half diagonal you can cover 2 cages with a nice thick plastic roof. cut the floor out of the tank and you have a nice covered storage pallet, if the tank is stained no one is going to see what is inside. clean tanks are a great start to a catchment system.


I second that.

And raise you one. If you remove the cage it makes a nice 2 man work bucket for the FEL. Granted I have forks for mine.
 
Batteries ALL of them are inherently dangerous.
True but some are more dangerous than others.

In all the years of working with lead/acid batteries I only blew one up. I was stupid and destroyed a battery. I also ruined a new pair of pants. No, not that, the acid ate holes all over them.
 
We are in the planning stages for building on our property and want to be completely off grid. Looking at solar and wind power, well/septic (scheduled for spring).
Also planning on building a shop, root cellar, good garden space/orchard, chicken coop, dog area, greenhouse and summer kitchen for canning/cooking.
Any thoughts on must haves for those of you who already live off grid? I am thinking we need a battery room close by (or part of) the house. Would also like to have a cold room/pantry and gun safe built in the house. Thinking the cold room should be a basement.
We are planning on building a small guest house first to live in (anywhere from 800-1000 sq feet) and then a larger home (about 2500 sq feet) in a couple of years. I am planning that my mom will likely need to come live with me once my dad passes.
This is the house plan I want to build first. We will live in this one while we save more money to build the bigger house. Thinking the storage area would be good for battery area, or maybe should build a separate shed next to it? Thanks in advance!
https://markstewart.com/house-plans/lodge-house-plans/freedom-45/
i buried a 63 merc station wagon, it lasted better than 30 years
 
one big thing to consider when planning to go off grid is to avoid multiple phase changes, IE if you are going to heat with solar, use it directly, IE heat collection panels, for hot water etc, and store the heat in well insulated tanks.
Solar electric into a electric hot water tahk is probably about as efficient of a phase change as you are going to get, but it all requires a lot of research
 
[QUOTE="Tirediron, post: 407579, member: 118"
one big thing to consider when planning to go off grid is to avoid multiple phase changes, IE if you are going to heat with solar, use it directly, IE heat collection panels, for hot water etc, and store the heat in well insulated tanks.
Solar electric into a electric hot water tahk is probably about as efficient of a phase change as you are going to get, but it all requires a lot of research
[/QUOTE]
Electric water heaters are huge current users, just to have enough to run them on solar power would add thousands of dollars, a glycol solution (anti-freeze) from heat collecting panels to water heating system storage would be far better, Tirediron is right on the mark. Always keep in mind that anything that needs large amounts of current to run is not solar compatible, all electric clothes dryers, all electric stoves, high wattage electric bathroom or bedroom heaters, these things will draw down the solar storage batteries fast, especially after the sun goes down.
 
Not off grid but relating to food storage. We couldn't really do a basement for several reasons. One is our water level is 24 inches in winter. We also considered a separate block house but that was a little too conspicuous. While reading this thread it occurred to me we could use part one of our cargo containers. I was thinking we could frame out a room 8x15 or so on all sides like a cube and add lots of insulation. It would be out of sight and pretty secure.
 
If I was to build again, I would build a pad a foot or so higher than the surrounding area, then build like I was building a basement, with the plan to mound the perimeter, except for where windows and doors would go, then probably do a well insulated metal roof, so that the effect would be kind of like a basement with a loft. 0eliminating all of the below grade headaches while using the earths thermal mass.
 
When I build again I will build a basement - underground house - with steel and concrete from base to ceiling. Then I will build a home on that foundation. Access to the buried part will have to be from the outside, through a tunnel or some such thing. As far as the county knows it is a foundation and not a basement. I will likely heat it and supply lighting and water but it will never be a comfortable living area.
 
If I was to build again, I would build a pad a foot or so higher than the surrounding area, then build like I was building a basement, with the plan to mound the perimeter, except for where windows and doors would go, then probably do a well insulated metal roof, so that the effect would be kind of like a basement with a loft. 0eliminating all of the below grade headaches while using the earths thermal mass.
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Yup.

The Princess would be happy with that had enough room for her books and my shop.

Ben
 
If I was to build again, I would build a pad a foot or so higher than the surrounding area, then build like I was building a basement, with the plan to mound the perimeter, except for where windows and doors would go, then probably do a well insulated metal roof, so that the effect would be kind of like a basement with a loft. 0eliminating all of the below grade headaches while using the earths thermal mass.
A friend has a house where the water table is a foot or two down. There is a trap door and a hand dug well. The water is very high in tannin and really not something you want to make your coffee with. It is suitable for flushing in an emergency but will stain the commode if used for very long. A Berkey or Katadyn would probably do the trick. Their water is mostly rain catchment into a 5,000 gallon plastic cistern.
 
lloyd kahn runs a interesting outfit, Shelter Publications there is a lot of off grid , "alternative stuff there. lots of ideas and things a person might not otherwise think of
 
Hello, I have lived in our remote cabin for 3 months straight but could go much longer. And am setting it up for being able to be comfortable while being off grid.
I'm getting older n don't care to go outside at 40 below to go to the bathroom. And I like my beautiful wife to be comfortable. So here's what I did or is in the works.
The bathroom. I installed an Incinolet incinerator toilet. I can burn it in this or just put a sturdy plastic garbage bag in it like the bucket ones. I think I will put a honey bucket system in
We built with 3 sided 6" logs. 16x24 and 10' tall side walls. So we would have more head room upstairs. Since there is no road n everything has to be freighted in during the winter months. Like 50-60 thousand pounds of freight. So took a couple years. But it was fun. My beautiful wife has foot problems so I am planning a 12v lift chair for the second floor powered by an atv winch. So she doesn't have to use the steps. Having food sources from moose to lynx to salmon n trout. Kazillion geese, duck swan n sandhill cranes come through.
For water I have a sand point well started. I tried doing it by hand but couldn't get it far. But will pound in with a jackhammer. It's placed in the end of the cabinets for access. I have a 12v pump like in a moterhome for lifting the water n plunbed to the kitchen sink. Just like home. We also have a MSR water purifier we use now until I get the well finished. Planning for the future it will also pump water to the 30 gallon water tank in the upstairs. That that will sit above the wood stove with a water jacket in it . Water will flow down into the water jacket in the stove n back up with convection. Then plunb the hot water to the shower n back to the kitchen sink. Running hot n cold water at the tap. And a hot shower. For now I use a hot water bath canning pot. Set it on the wood stove a few hours n it's hot. Use the 12v pump hooked up to a shower head. I put a clear shower curtain up to see out the window n stand in a 4' tote I empty outside. Works OK.
Also catch rain water. Wood heat but thinking about putting an oil fired drip stove in. So I could use wood or fuel.
I first built the 8x12 generator shed. It's insulated. I now have a small air conditioner to mount on it for a walk in cooler. So we can process a moose out there. I brought our old vacuum sealer out there too. And will bring out a small chest freezer to act as a refrigerator. Use generator when needed. I freight out a hundred gallons of gasoline a year to keep some on hand. We use premium gasoline in our coleman lanterns and some wheelers I have out there for work like skidding logs.
In the summer. We are 2 miles north of an uninhabited lake that we charter a bush plane on floats to get to. And use the wheelers to get back n forth. Always treading lightly n keeping the trail near the edge of the woods where it disappears.
In winter we use snogos. I enjoy learning about trapping so have been doing that. We are transplanting rhubarb n raspberries plants out there for food n moose don't eat them. The raspberries get pruned automatically. I have also taken the time to learn about every plant near us n how it can be prepared processed n used for food or medicine. And process what is out there like chaga or tree sap.
I believe we could be pretty comfortable n off the grid. But it doesn't just happen. Well for me I kinda just happened as I have a thing for being in the bush.
I know I feel very comfortable after we have harvested a moose to go with the salmon. Add a bear or 2 a few lynx n beaver. Lots of birds seasonally so would need to process. No problem.
Wish I was there now.
Although we are planning on finishing out the inside. TnG pine for the upstairs lid. Knotty pine kitchen cabinets, I will make them. And make doors for the pantry n storage shelfs. Using 1x6 pine to match the walls, so they will all kinda disappear. Then sand all the walls n topcoat everything a couple times with a clear coat. I love the look of wood n this will help to keep them a nice yellow. Not turn dark. Caulk everything.
Going to be some work. I will enjoy the time on my snogo the most. Chugging along with a load of freight behind me, cool temps but I have good gear. And have only had to walk out a few times. Stop in the middle of an open area on the tundra. Turn everything off n look up. Look up at the northern lights dancing overhead. Maybe take a little slug of comfort. It's magical.
But the weather n terrain can get a bit touchy n take you out fast. Machines break. Trails get clogged with trees full of ice n the snow is up to your neck . It's all part of the package.
I'm blessed to be able to live in a place where I can still do this. And I did. Gotta stay positive n believe that there's nothing in this world you can't do.
Hope that maybe gives a bit of perspective. This cabin has taken near 15 years. Now I can go out n chill , be comfortable n in my happy place with my beautiful wife n great family
And I'm not near done
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When we first moved to our property I designed a semi-earth bermed home, I still have my drawings around somewhere, anyway I poured 9 yards of concrete for the cantilever connection of the back wall and footings for two of the half wall sides, the 10" thick walls were poured by leapfrogging the two sets of concrete forms, I hand poured all the concrete. We've backed off building the semi-earth berm home as it would have been far too costly but if I'm strong enough to build a shed using the walls I may end up doing that, as it is I ended up building a super insulated home of nearly 1,400 square feet that a small wood stove puts out so much heat that my wife complains and has to open windows to make it livable. I had it in mind to build a Russian wood stove to heat the earth berm home because I saw one that a guy built for his earth bermed home, all you have to do is burn one hot fire per day and the mass of the stone stove provides heat all night.
 
Home is different, even if some people would use a Conex as a house.
But for an off grid building and storage, I vote Conex, best thing I ever did.
However if you can not get a semi into you land, then that's out.
 
I prefer raised foundations.....no water issues, keeps the snakes and al lot of varmints out. Room for storage underneath if ya get it high enough. Only disadvantage would be stairs for those with issues,
 
If I had to do it all again, and had flat ground, I would be very tempted to build in the style of a traditional Japanese farmhouse. I almost went that way when I started, and still think its a good idea for a comfortable, cheap, fast house .
 
If I had to do it all again, and had flat ground, I would be very tempted to build in the style of a traditional Japanese farmhouse. I almost went that way when I started, and still think its a good idea for a comfortable, cheap, fast house .
Made me look it up:
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...I'm most worried about my husband. I always turn lights off behind him.

Welp.. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lutron-...ion-Sensor-Switch-White-MS-OPS2H-WH/203202128 ..That oughtta fix That 'issue'.. :)

Was going to give my usual 'plug' for going Strawbale (and suggest you talk to This Gent: https://www.homesteadingforum.org/members/aerindel.2821/ ...But I see he's now posted, herein, so I'll shuddup and let him type for himself on that front.. :cool:

..We, however, have plans to go 'Log / Strawbale hybrid', with walls of straw / stucco, but Roof of Log / metal.. ie:

Dreamhouse.jpg


..because.. Reasons. :) (can detail more, but this isn't my thread...)

.02
jd
 
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@DrJenner Have you made any more plans? How's it going? Haven't heard too much from ya.
Sorry @LadyLocust I had been working this really long stretch of nights and have basically been sacked out doing odds/ends around the house when I'm not sneaking in a nap (exhaustion finally caught up)!
Still looking over plans, I'm hoping to list our house in the next week or so if the realtor doesn't want to buy it. I'll definitely keep you posted!
 
Dr Jenner- Have you considered cargo storage units? I considered them but getting them to our location made it a no-go. I had drawn up some nice plans for using them, wish I coulda done it....
yeah, we are looking at those for short term storage until we build while we live in the RV. Need to get the road in first, and the weather (on our days off) hasn't been so great! I'm afraid we will run out of time.
 

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