Comments on: Do you want to live off-grid? http://www.treehuggingfamily.com/do-you-want-to-live-off-grid/ Family Life On The Green Side Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:07:19 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Karen http://www.treehuggingfamily.com/do-you-want-to-live-off-grid/comment-page-1/#comment-5482 Karen Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:31:21 +0000 http://www.treehuggingfamily.com/?p=4108#comment-5482 Wow, that was cool to watch, thanks! While I don't see my family living as the family in the video did, I do think that there will be more and more ways in the future to incorporate their ideals into our lives. Being the pioneers that this family was and still is, I believe them when they said their lifestyle could be difficult and isolating at times. I applaud them for becoming sustainable in a world that wasn't. I see them as the folks who have laid a foundation for more and more of us to find ways to become sustainable that are less difficult and isolating. I think this is already happening, and even small things give me signs of it. When I was using my canvas bag at the grocery store the other day, I was reflecting back on when I started to do my own grocery shopping in my early 20s. If I had brought a canvas bag to the store then, the cashier would surely have been confused about what I would need it for. Now it's not only acceptable, it's chic to bring your own bag, which is a very cool thing! Karen. Wow, that was cool to watch, thanks! While I don’t see my family living as the family in the video did, I do think that there will be more and more ways in the future to incorporate their ideals into our lives. Being the pioneers that this family was and still is, I believe them when they said their lifestyle could be difficult and isolating at times. I applaud them for becoming sustainable in a world that wasn’t. I see them as the folks who have laid a foundation for more and more of us to find ways to become sustainable that are less difficult and isolating.

I think this is already happening, and even small things give me signs of it. When I was using my canvas bag at the grocery store the other day, I was reflecting back on when I started to do my own grocery shopping in my early 20s. If I had brought a canvas bag to the store then, the cashier would surely have been confused about what I would need it for. Now it’s not only acceptable, it’s chic to bring your own bag, which is a very cool thing!

Karen.

]]> By: Jeannine http://www.treehuggingfamily.com/do-you-want-to-live-off-grid/comment-page-1/#comment-5562 Jeannine Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:40:39 +0000 http://www.treehuggingfamily.com/?p=4108#comment-5562 In Alaska plumbing difficult in many places because of the perma frost. And also many people who are off grid here have to pack into the land and so this really limits what you can have. Most people have holding tanks for water if they are on the road system. It works. I to would prefer to purchase and renovate. I dated a guy when i first moved up here who was off the road system. To get to his house we had to park the car. Hike in a few miles, cross a river, and then hike deeper. So to get large household items in he would wait for winter and pack it in on sleds with a snow machine. One spring when i visited I had to get back for work and couldn't wait any longer to leave but it was not ideal because it was break up (snow melt and ice breaks up in the river). The hike out is pretty steep anyways and then with the melt off i was basically climbing up hill while muddy water rushed over my feet and hands It was so slippery that every step i would just grab on to trees and brus to keep from sliding back down the hill. An adventure I guess. When I buy a place a definate prerequisite is to be able to drive up to atleast the driveway to my house. I was visiting a friend last night who is completely off grid. No holding tank, a root cellar for a fridge, composting toilet, and for power they use a combination generator, solar, and wind. She does have internet when the generator is on and cell phone coverage if she stands at the end of the driveway. But its a beautiful place and they don't mind the work involved. Everyone i know who I've gotten to watch Off the Map thought it was depressing and the beauty was completely lost on them. I'm glad to hear there is someone else who enjoyed it. I should just buy it as i rent it every 6 mos or so! In Alaska plumbing difficult in many places because of the perma frost. And also many people who are off grid here have to pack into the land and so this really limits what you can have. Most people have holding tanks for water if they are on the road system. It works. I to would prefer to purchase and renovate.

I dated a guy when i first moved up here who was off the road system. To get to his house we had to park the car. Hike in a few miles, cross a river, and then hike deeper. So to get large household items in he would wait for winter and pack it in on sleds with a snow machine. One spring when i visited I had to get back for work and couldn’t wait any longer to leave but it was not ideal because it was break up (snow melt and ice breaks up in the river). The hike out is pretty steep anyways and then with the melt off i was basically climbing up hill while muddy water rushed over my feet and hands It was so slippery that every step i would just grab on to trees and brus to keep from sliding back down the hill. An adventure I guess.

When I buy a place a definate prerequisite is to be able to drive up to atleast the driveway to my house.

I was visiting a friend last night who is completely off grid. No holding tank, a root cellar for a fridge, composting toilet, and for power they use a combination generator, solar, and wind. She does have internet when the generator is on and cell phone coverage if she stands at the end of the driveway. But its a beautiful place and they don’t mind the work involved.

Everyone i know who I’ve gotten to watch Off the Map thought it was depressing and the beauty was completely lost on them. I’m glad to hear there is someone else who enjoyed it. I should just buy it as i rent it every 6 mos or so!

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.treehuggingfamily.com/do-you-want-to-live-off-grid/comment-page-1/#comment-5561 Jennifer Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:21:01 +0000 http://www.treehuggingfamily.com/?p=4108#comment-5561 Hey :) Actually I LOVE Off the Map, but no one else I know likes it. I thought the house was amazing too. I know some other folks who did off-grid in Alaska, but for some reason the homes there that are off-grid do seem to lack plumbing. In Humboldt and New Mexico I saw a lot more sophisticated off-grid homes. We built a passive solar home on this mountain in New Mexico and had we stayed, we were planning on adding some panels and other self-sustained features, but we moved. Building a house by hand was really hard though. I think the next time, I'll get a existing home and revamp it to be off-grid. That's so cool you like that movie. Except now that it came up I'm going to have it stuck in my head til I watch it again. Hey :) Actually I LOVE Off the Map, but no one else I know likes it. I thought the house was amazing too. I know some other folks who did off-grid in Alaska, but for some reason the homes there that are off-grid do seem to lack plumbing. In Humboldt and New Mexico I saw a lot more sophisticated off-grid homes.

We built a passive solar home on this mountain in New Mexico and had we stayed, we were planning on adding some panels and other self-sustained features, but we moved. Building a house by hand was really hard though. I think the next time, I’ll get a existing home and revamp it to be off-grid.

That’s so cool you like that movie. Except now that it came up I’m going to have it stuck in my head til I watch it again.

]]> By: Jeannine http://www.treehuggingfamily.com/do-you-want-to-live-off-grid/comment-page-1/#comment-5565 Jeannine Sun, 28 Jun 2009 18:10:32 +0000 http://www.treehuggingfamily.com/?p=4108#comment-5565 Yes. It was a major factor in my move to Alaska. In some fashion I have lived off grid for most of my time here (since December 2001). It's allot of work though. It often feels like a full time job unto itself. This summer I decided to take a break and succumbed to city life. I rented a normal home in town with full plumbing. I do still have a small garden space though. And when it gets dark again I'm sure I will miss my midnight walks to the outhouse, just me and the moon! This life is much easier but i don't see myself living in town forever. I definitely want to be completely off grid at some point in the future, probably when i'm all finished with college. Have you seen the Campbell Scott movie Off The Map? It's very inspirational for anyone dreaming of the a simpler life. The house is amazing - straight out of the book Shelter. Definitely one of my all time favorite movies. Yes. It was a major factor in my move to Alaska. In some fashion I have lived off grid for most of my time here (since December 2001). It’s allot of work though. It often feels like a full time job unto itself.

This summer I decided to take a break and succumbed to city life. I rented a normal home in town with full plumbing. I do still have a small garden space though. And when it gets dark again I’m sure I will miss my midnight walks to the outhouse, just me and the moon!

This life is much easier but i don’t see myself living in town forever. I definitely want to be completely off grid at some point in the future, probably when i’m all finished with college.

Have you seen the Campbell Scott movie Off The Map? It’s very inspirational for anyone dreaming of the a simpler life. The house is amazing – straight out of the book Shelter. Definitely one of my all time favorite movies.

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