My, how time flies. One year today,, Dubs and I embarked on our off grid adventure. Little did we know the adventure we were getting ourselves into.
A year later, we have come quite a distance. We started by purchasing a lovely plot of land in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. After clearing a space for our 32' camper, we immediately set about getting situated in our new austere environment.
After the first couple of nights, we quickly realized what we were up against. To start with, we had no power, save for the battery in my trusty Rav4. The purchase of two 100 watt solar panels, a deep cycle battery, charge controller and a 3,000 watt inverter soon rectified the problem.
At the same time that we were grappling with power issues, we had the minor problem of hauling and storing enough water for 29 animals, as our land was not equipped with a well. Through the acquisition of two 300 gallon water tanks, and frequent visits to the local artesian well, we were able to ensure an adequate water supply
As the summer progressed, we continued to make strides toward self sufficiency. We fenced in a nice pasture for the horses, erected a shed and a chicken coop, and slowly began to settle into the pioneer, off-grid lifestyle.
The inevitable onslaught of winter forced us to address our next major concern, that of staying warm. Thanks to Dubs' ingenuity, we were able to equip our camper with a wood burning stove that Dubs meticulously crafted out of a used propane tank. As the snow began to fly, we were very grateful for our cozy, warm abode.
As winter stretched interminably on, we were forced to rely more heavily on our generator, if for no reason other than to keep the horses' water liquid. Those stock tank de-icers use a lot more power than one realizes.
Now, with spring upon us, (yes, spring in the Rockies doesn't start til June), we have much to accomplish. Our future projects include the erection of a larger outbuilding, the placement of a tiny house on the property, and the installation of a wind generator, to name a few.
In short, it's been a wild ride, full of bumps and turns. Dubs warned me that it would be. That's cool. I'll just tighten my seatbelt and hang on, like I always do.
Blessings,
Cece
Monday, June 15, 2015
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Springing Forward
After a long and arduous winter, this pioneer girl is finally ready to start blogging again.
The grass is growing, the snow has finally ceased and the first signs of spring are finally becoming apparent.
Tonight marks the first night since October that we haven't had to build a fire in our little propane tank turned wood burning stove. Dubs likes to joke that summer here in the mountains is the third weekend in July...both days! Sometimes, I think he may be right.
At any rate, now that warmer weather and longer days are on the way, we have much to accomplish. We plan to start building our little cabin in the immediate future, as we'd like to be boxed in before winter once again rears its ugly head.
Hauling water, since we don't yet have a well, continues to be a bi-weekly occurrence. I recently purchased a clear water pump, which will pump 9,000 gallons/hour. Previously, we were using 5 gallon buckets to fill our 210 gallon portable tank, so the addition of the water pump has been warmly embraced and appreciated by our aching backs.
Life in the wilderness is not without its trials and tribulations. Two days after Christmas, we lost our prize foundation mare, Jesi's Gold, to a ruptured colon. A couple of months later, our beloved Great Pyrenees, Sweety, was struck by a truck at the end of our driveway, suffering a shattered pelvis. The Wolf Skull Ranch pet cemetery reminds me on a daily basis of how rough life can be out here, both for humans and animals. Still, we continue to press on. With 5 horses, 6 dogs, 4 cats and 9 chickens, we have plenty of grateful mouths to feed.
Our solar panels continue to provide us with a limitless supply of electricity, and I haven't paid a power bill in over a year. We're hoping to install a wind generator this summer, as we typically have sustained winds over 20 mph every day. Eventually, we hope to have a hybrid energy system, relying solely on the power of Mother Nature and the sun.
All in all, it's been a long winter, with some ups and downs, but we made it! Look for more frequent blog posts, now that I'm not so focused on just staying warm and surviving.
Happy spring, my friends.
The grass is growing, the snow has finally ceased and the first signs of spring are finally becoming apparent.
Tonight marks the first night since October that we haven't had to build a fire in our little propane tank turned wood burning stove. Dubs likes to joke that summer here in the mountains is the third weekend in July...both days! Sometimes, I think he may be right.
At any rate, now that warmer weather and longer days are on the way, we have much to accomplish. We plan to start building our little cabin in the immediate future, as we'd like to be boxed in before winter once again rears its ugly head.
Hauling water, since we don't yet have a well, continues to be a bi-weekly occurrence. I recently purchased a clear water pump, which will pump 9,000 gallons/hour. Previously, we were using 5 gallon buckets to fill our 210 gallon portable tank, so the addition of the water pump has been warmly embraced and appreciated by our aching backs.
Life in the wilderness is not without its trials and tribulations. Two days after Christmas, we lost our prize foundation mare, Jesi's Gold, to a ruptured colon. A couple of months later, our beloved Great Pyrenees, Sweety, was struck by a truck at the end of our driveway, suffering a shattered pelvis. The Wolf Skull Ranch pet cemetery reminds me on a daily basis of how rough life can be out here, both for humans and animals. Still, we continue to press on. With 5 horses, 6 dogs, 4 cats and 9 chickens, we have plenty of grateful mouths to feed.
Our solar panels continue to provide us with a limitless supply of electricity, and I haven't paid a power bill in over a year. We're hoping to install a wind generator this summer, as we typically have sustained winds over 20 mph every day. Eventually, we hope to have a hybrid energy system, relying solely on the power of Mother Nature and the sun.
All in all, it's been a long winter, with some ups and downs, but we made it! Look for more frequent blog posts, now that I'm not so focused on just staying warm and surviving.
Happy spring, my friends.
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