Solar Baby

When people discuss solar or wind power, they seem to be hung up on the fact that the equipment costs money. They will go on and on about the expense of purchasing the panels, the charge controller, the wiring, etc. They do not seem to register the fact that the monthly bill for electric from the utility company costs money too. Or that whatever you buy, even a car or a television costs money. Why is it such a big thing for that the equipment for their energy system costs money? Of course, it does!

In the long run, you will be able to eliminate the electric bill. Or at least a smaller one, if you are not going completely off-the-grid. If you have to charge the equipment, or get a loan for it, eventually it will be paid off. Then instead of paying an electric bill for the rest of your life, you will own your equipment. That means that your electric items in your house will be running for free. Buying a piece at a time, over time though, can be more affordable.  That way it will not hurt your budget or cause you to get in debt. That is the way we have done it.

The bigger you build your system, the more items you can power. You could build it as big as you need or want. How about powering your own electric vehicle? Now that would be really self-reliant! We already do that with our lawnmower. Powering a future electric vehicle is in our plans. I have added some items, such as a crockpot and will be adding more items that need energy, most specifically items for heating or cooking food. Not a microwave, but possibly a bread machine, an electric pressure cooker and some other things I have my eye on.

This summer we will be definitely getting our water into house. Then we can start using our brand new washing machine that I have been patiently waiting to use. Running water in our house will eliminate two jobs that I don’t like. One is washing laundry by hand (it is not as romantic as everyone thinks after you have done it for 12 years!) and the other is carrying water inside. My jobs always involve a lot of water. Since carrying the water has become too much for me, I have to ask someone to do it for me. I hate that. Now I try to be even more frugal with water, but when you are cleaning or cooking, you just need water!

Copyright © 2012 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2012 Kathleen G. Lupole

Moving our solar panels to our barn roof meant we gave up how easy they were to clean when they were on the ground in front of the house. Even I cleaned them back then. Now they are on the roof of the barn and it is really high. If you remember, last year, my husband fell from the ladder at the top of the barn. So he is being very careful now.

He had bought  the Garelick 89421 21-Foot Aluminum Snow Roof Rake With 24-Inch Blade with four extensions. It works very well for us. He stands in the back of the truck while he uses it. Being very careful of the panels. You do not want to damage them in any way, though they are tougher than most people think,

This morning we awoke to our first real snow of the year. It is the packing kind. We are not getting much sun to speak of, and have to run our generate daily. But you do not want to let the snow sit on the panels all day. It might freeze there and not melt off, even when we get some sun. So my husband got the panels cleaned off and the roof rake made it possible. Now to do it all over again tomorrow……….

Copyright © 2012 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2012 Kathleen G. Lupole

Copyright © 2012 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2012 Kathleen G. Lupole

In the old days, people used materials they found that were plentiful. That is why in different parts of the country, homes are built of various materials. In New York state and Pennsylvania you will find many old homes built of stone. Our ground here is rock. Every time you dig in the ground for whatever reason you find unlimited amounts of rocks. Most houses had field stone foundations, my own house included. Drive through Pennsylvania and you will go past one stone house after another.

Rocks are a very valuable building material. It is expensive if you want to build something made out of it and don’t have any of your own. Farms around us have sold off most of their old stone walls. Sad, I know. But most of them have huge taxes to pay on their land. So every bit helps.

We use them for our raised beds for our garden. They hold the heat from the sun that beats down on them all day. So at night, the plants are still warm from that sunshine. Kind of like a solar garden! Heat is generated by sun into the rock, which is a natural material. If you build a house with it by using a passive solar design, then your windows and house are heated by the sun all day. So you should be still feeling that heat in the evening.

When you go out for a drive sometime, look at the foundations of those old farmhouses. See how big some of those rocks were? I try to imagine those old time builders and how they built those houses. Those houses have survived for centuries. Built sturdy and for the long haul. How did they move them? I think by using leverage and brains. Maybe some animal power.

The cemeteries around us here, have  little fences and areas enclosed with stone. I love the look of them. It is too bad that now everything is fake. Even the rock and stones they sell. Man made rock? Who would want that? I like that natural resource of the earth……it is the real thing.

Copyright © 2012 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2012 Kathleen G. Lupole

Snow will  cover the woods soon!

Now that winter has finally arrived, we are in cold weather mode. Keeping the wood stoves cranking has become first order of the day. Making sure we have kindling, dry kindling that is, some paper for starting the fire and some nice dry wood for the fire. Some wood for both stoves. Keeping the chimney clean and safe. Not complaining though, firewood work means a nice cozy house! Sometimes I will use dried corncobs or dried pine cones for kindling. It works and is easy to find.

Essential Tools For Our Firewood Supply!

Many jobs are involved within the framework of getting your own firewood.  From learning how to use a chainsaw, to cutting the trees down, cutting the wood and then splitting it. And that doesn’t even cover transporting it and splitting it. Many people use splitters that are powered with gasoline or electric. My husband does it by hand. He looks it too…..nice muscles! Doesn’t have to work out at a gym for that.

Kindling for fire starting!

We like to collect dry kindling and keep it that way. It is one of the most important factors in starting fires in the cold weather. Damp or wet does not start a fire good. You have to really work at that. A little paper and some kindling is all you need to get your fire started. I have noticed that many people put big pieces of wood on top of the kindling. Don’t do that! Put smaller pieces, but bigger than the kindling, of course. Then when they start going, add the bigger logs. Slowly. Or you will smother the fire.

Pine Cones for kindling!

Try if you can, to stock firewood up, as well, as the kindling. Make sure you have all the essentials for keeping warm and cooking all winter. The chainsaw needs to be sharpened, so you need to learn how to do that. Have extra files for sharpening it on hand. Extra chains for each chainsaw you use. Gas mix is important also. Take good care of the chainsaw, and it will take care of you. My husband has had his one chainsaw since 2000. He still uses it the most, and it is a good heavy duty one. Respect it, and it will respect you back. They are very dangerous. I can speak with experience on that, he almost cut his foot off with his and had to go the hospital. Very, very bad!

Wood stacked!

Copyright © 2012 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2012  Kathleen G. Lupole

Since it is Christmas, I thought I would explore what all of us off-the-grid people would love to find under our Christmas tree this year.  At least what I would like! People buy gifts that are not useful many times. Remember those gifts you see in the stores that are for the last minute gifts? Things the stores or manufacturers promote for Christmas gifts. Many are cheap items that are not worth a tenth of what people pay for them.  I don’t know about you, but here are the gifts I’d love to find under my tree!

The Kindle Fire is a gift I received myself from my husband this year. It is awesome! I love it. For someone who loves to read and lives off-the-grid, it is very helpful. I can now read in the evening during this time of the year when we don’t generate much power for our system. Our lights are turned off unless in extreme need! We have two kerosene lamps going, but I want to read sitting on my couch for hours. Not at a table with a lamp on it! This is back lit so you can sit anywhere in the dark and read to your heart’s content. I love it and I highly recommend it.

A solar oven is something I cannot tell you how great it is……….because I don’t have one! I want one though. I am still in the stages of building one of my own and maybe next summer I will finally finish it and use it. But if someone put one under the tree for me this year, I would be estatic! Cooking outside in the sunlight would be another way to use the sunlight to give us free energy. What could be better?

Now ever since I have lived here, I have used one of these flashlights. We all have one of our own. Eventually they die. Then we just replace them. They don’t cost that much, so in the long run, they probably are cheaper than worrying about buying batteries. They are bright and fit right in your hand. I used to use one to read at night, I kid you not. My husband uses his when he goes outside to give the horses their night hay. If you look at them in the daytime, they don’t look so bright. But at night, they are very bright. A good stocking stuffer for everyone on your list. Good for anyone adding preps to their supplies.

A solar dehydrator is another useful tool for someone living off-the-grid. We listen to others talking about dehydrating their mushrooms, beans, fruit and jerky with envy! We want to do it too. This is the item I am saving my swagbucks for right now. Now wouldn’t you like it to be under your Christmas tree this year?

A solar motion light would be a great present for an off-the-grid homeowner. We need one of these. All these years, if someone pulled into our driveway, we have no way of knowing who it is on a very dark night. This light is something I want to buy myself. But if someone was to put one under the tree for us………..I’d be very happy, indeed!

Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole

Remember my book, My Homesteading Journey? I wrote it back in April of 2007. Actually, I sold a number of copies since then. Now though,  I have all three of my eBooks in the Kindle store on Amazon. I had to format them for the kindle. It wasn’t that hard to do. I use Open Office, which is an open source software, like Word. Then I put it in a PDF form and submitted them to Kindle Direct Publishing. They have been selling steady at $0.99 a copy. Not a lot of money, as I only make $0.35 on each one. But it adds up and it is money I wasn’t making before. My Homesteading Journey, was written for “modern homesteaders.” It is my husband’s and my story of  our journey to the “modern homesteading” life.

My Homesteading Journey

I have always loved the country life, having grown up in the country most of my life. Of course, like most country kids, I dreamed of living in the big city………..most especially, the big apple – New York City! I think it helped me come back to this life though. My parents and brother were always involved in country activities, such as fishing, hunting, swimming, boating, gardening and such. It didn’t take long for me to see that the country life is more satisfying in the long run. After my divorce from a cheating husband, I needed to find myself instead of living that fake lifestyle that depended on someone else to support me. My present (and last) husband and I have come into this lifestyle together. We have grown together and I try to portray that in my book.

I have tried to cover topics in my book that will appeal to people who want to become homesteaders, as well, as the serious off-the-grid people too. I detailed our small, affordable solar system. What it was like when we started off with just one solar panel, and how it has grown since. Our system is still quite small and affordable for the every day people like us. I wanted to tell my readers that it is possible to do. So many people want to live off-the-grid, and think it is beyond them, since they don’t have a lot of money. It can be done! I know, I did it!

Gardening For Food!

In this book I cover:

Homesteading In The Forest

How My Solar Energy System Works

Heating And Cooling Your Home

Heating With Wood

Transportation

How We Got To This Point In Our Lives

Buying Your Homestead

1. Finding The Perfect Realtor

2. Making Your Offer

Foraging For Wild Foods

The Pantry & Root Cellar

Building The Barn

Fencing

Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole

The differences between a home that uses grid electric and one that doesn’t, varies. Depending on the size of your system and what type of power you bring in. Some homes have very large systems and run pretty much like any other house in America. Residents with small systems, cannot use their power haphazardly. Every bit of energy is used and not wasted. We take care with not leaving a light on when we leave the room. We turn something off when not using it. If I can accomplish a job without using electric, I will. Unless it is during the summer, when we have much power…..sunlight hitting our panels.

Components of the system

When you pay the local electric grid, you seem to waste power. Not ALL people do this. Especially my homesteading friends! But I KNOW many people who put lights on in every room, televisions and computers in more than one room, are on all day. They don’t think anything of it. Many will say they only have the television on for the noise! Noise! I feel it is like when someone shops in the store and uses a credit card. They buy more items that they usually would buy, if they were shopping with cash. I know how it. I have done it myself. You figure you will pay for it later. It is still money out of your pocket or paycheck. Same with being wasteful with energy in your home.

Crockpot

Most kitchen gadgets use heat. Like a microwave, toaster or coffeemaker. I use a pyramid toaster and a coffeepot that perks on a burner, be it the gas or wood stove one. After it has perked we put it in a thermos. Can sit there all day and stays hot without using any power at all! It has only been recently that we have added a crockpot to our kitchen. I can use it if the generator is running. Later when our wind turbine is up, I am counting on being able to use it more often. I have been shopping for some other electrical items that I couldn’t have even considered before. I tried a bread machine at one point, but gave up on it. I used it for mixing and kneading, and then put the loaf in the oven to bake. I found it more trouble to wash the components than the mix and knead myself. I may try a newer more efficient model in the future.

Modern lights and fan, pails of water, coffee pot and coffee thermos

A mix of both!

There are many types of manual gadgets that can be used instead of electrical.  Pumping water and refrigeration are two things that use a lot of power. For the time being, as regular readers here, know, I do not have either. Pumping water from our pitcher pump out front. I really don’t mind the pumping it………what I hate is the carrying it!

Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole

One of the things I really didn’t like about living off-the-grid is that in the cold months, such as now, we don’t get as much power from our solar panels as I’d like. When our wind turbine is up, I am keeping my fingers crossed, that it will improve. Wind with sun, should increase it a bit. It is not that we use that much. But with my son back here with us for the time being, we now have 3 laptops to power. I like to read in the evening. Sometimes late into the night, depending on the book. With no electric lights on in the evening, makes it hard. We use kerosene lights in the kitchen, but they are not cheap! So I was exploring other options.

Kindle Fire

I found the Kindle Fire after one of my Facebook friends mentioned it. Thank you, Gloria! I researched it, and liked the fact that it had a light on it for reading. Before that, I thought it would be difficult to use. Or that not as good as a physical book. What I discovered instead was that it is easier to use. I can easily carry it with me in my purse or into another room. It is lit up for reading at night. No lights on at all in the living room and I am reading books out loud to my husband every night now. Not only that, but I can adjust the font and the brightness of the light for my eyes. Sometimes I need it dimmer, or the font larger. Just depends on how my eyes are that day.

Solar Panels Covered!

New technology keeps working in favor of us with alternative energy systems. New things come out that use less power. Things that make our home run smoother and easier and more efficient. I keep my eyes open for those types of items and the Kindle Fire is one of those items. Lighting is another I will be looking at soon. As we build our system larger we can add more items. Some items will make our life here so much easier and I can’t wait for those changes.

Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole