Monday, May 26, 2014

Our Fourth Year Living Off-Grid...

1:14 pm - 58 degrees - mostly cloudy, windy...

This weekend marks our fourth year living off-grid...and we’re slowly continuing to work on our dream.




















These past four years have been by no means an easy feat.  It has required a ton of self-discipline, determination, hard work and sacrifice.  Sometimes living the “simple life” isn’t so simple.  Tasks are harder or take longer.  But in the end we’re gaining self-sufficiency and a greater sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Sustainable Preparedness Expo...

6:51 pm - 47 degrees - raining...

Today Tony and I spent the day at the Sustainable Preparedness Expo at the Portland Expo Center.  While wandering around we bummed into some friends – “Mr & Mrs Wranglerstar”.  They were impressively surrounded by many of their YouTube followers, so we just stopped to say a quick hello.


The Expo was full of vendors, hands-on workshops, and training sessions on preparedness, homesteading, and sustainable living; which attracted people from all walks of life.  The focus of this Expo was quality education.  It’s about serious training – not entertainment. 

Robert Norris - Beekeeping 101

Titan Ready USA
Water Storage Systems

Glenn Meder - Treating Water in an Emergency

Tactical Woodgas
Power your generator from wood smoke!

Matt Crume - Micro-Hydro Basics: Generate Free Electricity From a Creek
  
The large attendance at this Expo workshop just goes to prove that people are HUNGRY for knowledge.  They know something’s wrong – with our government, with the economy, with their vulnerability when it comes to empty grocery store shelves after any disruption – and they want to learn more about how to help themselves.

This was the first Sustainable Preparedness expo we have attended.  More and more people are waking up to the fact that our economy is not as stable and trouble-free as they have been led to believe.  It’s encouraging to see people actively seeking information on how to help themselves.

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Fire Pit...

8:49 pm - 63 degrees - light layer of clouds...

My parents had a section of an old steel heating oil tank sitting at their house; I asked if I could have it since they had already cut off part of it to use as a fire pit at our beach property.

After Tony brought the round chunk of steel home, he spent a few hours working on it.  First he measured out his cut marks, cutting off the one uneven end and then cutting the left over section in half.  We ended up with two 16” high rounds that we’re going to use for fire pits.





Of course we just had to try it out as soon as he finished cutting it.


We also decided to use one of the old orchard crates that we picked up last year to store the firewood in. 


Now all we have to do is gravel the fire pit area, and that section of the yard should be done.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Happy Mother's Day...

8:05 pm - 58 degrees - blue sky...


Happy Mother's Day to every "Mom", those that have had babies and those who have not!