Monthly Archives: December 2009

What works: Frozen pipes in house plumbing

When you live in a remote home off grid, you will gain an appreciation for life's simple pleasures like running water and indoor plumbing for bathrooms.  This is especially true when these things temporarily unavailable.  You never really plan on them going away, but when they ...

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Our Real Life Internet Phone Experience

Being able to make phone calls using the internet has come a long way since 2003.  Companies like Vontage and Packet8 have made this service very usable.  Now Comcast, Cox, and Roadrunner cable TV systems offer their own phone service.  If you are off grid  / ...

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World's dumbest mistake with a 2 stroke motor

There are many skills that are helpful living in a remote setting.  Some  you have, some you can develop, and others its good to get help.  When it comes to snowmobiles, I know enough to run them, commute with them and get them unstuck in heavy ...

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Saving Power with Espresso [1]

The first dawn of morning's early light coming over the beautiful mountains, and the smell of fresh coffee!  Aaahh, one of my favorite rewards for some of the extra work I do to stay at our off grid home.   One of my morning luxuries is actually ...

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The Best Rattlesnake Control Workers

My son, Eric, has a soft spot for Guinea Fowl.  He has 22 of them.  He was down to 2 this summer, and some broody hens hatched  26 keets.  A few died but the rest grew up. If you have never been around guineas, then you are in for a treat.  They a

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Life Near the Brink of Winter

Preparations start early It happens every year.  Sometimes more or less than others, but it always happens.  It is not necessarily caused by off grid or remote living, but more by human nature.  I call it the Brink of Winter (BOW).  You see, I expereienced ...

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