Solar Energy for homesteaders in an infographic
I am researching alternative power including solar energy. If alternative power and off-grid living interest you, feel free to follow along.
Source: extraspace.com via Joybilee on Pinterest
Infographic about solar energy –ย I found this on Pinterest.ย This answers the question, what would happen if the communities we lived in installed solar power on every roof?
What happens when the power goes out?
In BC the smart meters are coming.ย BC Hydro has already begun installing them in the Lower Mainland.ย Our electrical provider is Fortis, which used to be Kootenay Power.ย We don’t have smart meters in the pipeline yet.ย Joybilee Farm doesn’t want a smart meter.ย ย Smart Meters give off wireless radiation 24/7.ย They cannot be turned off.ย Even if you throw your power switch, the wireless continues to give off low amounts of microwave radiation.ย The meter is on the other side of the wall from my head when I am asleep.ย This is a big concern to me.
By the time the Smart Meters are installed, if we are unable to opt-out of the plan for Smart Meters, we will be shutting off our connection to the power grid.ย So for the next few months, I am researching alternative power.ย We don’t get enough sunshine in our valley for solar energy to provide 100% of our power needs, however, it could provide some.
I’ll be writing about my search here, too.ย So if alternative power and off-grid living are of interest to you, sign up for my RSS feed.
Photo credit: Creative Commons Michaelll, Parial Solar Eclipse.
1. Several years ago, we noticed a sutble shift in the way things were going in society. We felt it important to become more self-reliant. Learning to do things for ourselves, and by hand has been our focus for about 6 years now.2. We currently have 5 horses, 2 donkeys, and 3 chickens (adding more in the Spring). We are leasing this property, so any other additions will have to wait until we get to our permanent farm. We are hoping to add some pigs and cattle. We have had horses for the last 15 years, we ride recreationally, but also take in rescues. The donkeys were added when we moved our herd out to New Mexico as guard animals and are quite effective. The chickens are for eggs. We will also have a greenhouse at our permanent homestead, so I can garden year round. For now, we will have two large raised bed gardens this year, where I hope to raise a large part of our food for the coming year. I just started canning and drying foods this past year and hope to do much more in the Fall of this year. I plan on planting a row or two of raspberry canes, and perhaps some other berries. We are limited out here due to the temperature swings and the wind.3. Our homestead is currently on the Eastern Plains of Colorado. We are a mile high in elevation. We relocated here form New Mexico for my Husband’s job and have fallen in love with the area. Our animals are all healthy and happy. We hope to be able to find 40 acres somewhere in this area as our permanent homestead.4. My day starts when I hear our donkeys start to bray in the morning (NO need for an alarm clock on this farm!) about 6AM. I start by feeding our dogs and cats, I then move out to the barn to feed the horses, donkeys and then move on to the chickens. Next I move back in the house to make coffee, and cook/make breakfast and start dinner preparations such as soaking grains, defrosting meat, starting kefir, etc. After breakfast I spend about an hour and a half on the computer, connecting on Facebook, checking email and writing on my blog. Then it is onto my workout which I do 6 days a week. On my down day I volunteer at a local donkey rescue. After my workout, I head back out to the barn to clean up manure, re-stock hay, fill stock tanks and feed the horses and donkeys lunch. Then it is time for my lunch, usually something cooked and hearty. I then spend an hour or so working on home things, cleaning, shopping, etc. After I am sort of caught up around the house a couple days a week I spend time grooming the horses and donkeys and working with them, or riding. When I through, if I have time, I may get back on the computer to spend some leisure time playing games, or I may spend some time reading. The feeding cycle begins again about 4PM, I feed the dogs and cats, then head out to the barn to feed and fill stock tanks for the horses an donkeys. I tuck in the chickens usually with a green leafy snack, then head into the house to make dinner. We do a final feeding of the horses and donkeys during the cold months at about 9PM. And then we usually head to bed about 10Pm, read for a bit before going to sleep.5. My chores and my labor are my way of celebrating life. I love that I am lucky enough to live where I do, and how I do. And I love that I rely on myself to get things done.6. Our biggest challenge here is probably the weather. It can be quite changeable with wide temperature swings and one must be able to adapt to those often rapid changes. We do have some predator issues, but between the donkeys and our both being adept with firearms, we keep those to a minimum. Part of living where we do means accepting the challenges that we face head on and learning from them. 7. We do use modern technology, but we also have and use many manual back-ups. For example, I have an electric grain mill, but also have a manual one. I also have a hand crank coffee grinder besides and electric one. We ditched our electric coffee pot several years ago, and use an old fashioned camp stove model now. I have an all-in-one mixer/blender/food processor, but usually opt for mixing/chopping, etc. by hand. I have an electric dehydrator, but also use the sun when I can for drying. I have an electric clothes dryer, but hang clothing out during the warmer months. I do not own a hair dryer, or curling iron. Outside, we do use a tractor with a bucket, manure spreader and a harrow. Our gardens are all raised bed, no till. 8. Our choice to homestead is both a philosophical one and a spiritual one. We believe in being self-sufficient, that it is both practical and the right thing to do. The spiritual aspect is learning to be the best stewards of the God given land we live on and care for the animals who depend upon us. Raising animals for food comes with it a great responsibility to honor that animal who will feed your body. There is great satisfaction in doing for yourself, and knowing that you are caring for your animals.
Nice to meet you, Mako.