I had a dishwasher in every house we lived in. The problem is my wife (foreigner) found it to be more trouble than it's worth. Now in my 80's I'm the dish washer. Lol. It's just the two of us now.

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

LOL, I don't blame her! I (Kathie) only use the dishwasher if we have company and a lot of dishes. Otherwise we wash by hand and let them air dry in the dishwasher. It's a whole different world when it's just you and your spouse :-)

I’ve been watching you for a few years and love all of your videos. I appreciate your honesty and the way you present your content.

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

Well we not only appreciate that you follow and watch, but that has to be one of the nicest comments ever!

My Grandparents lived most of their lives off grid. I think they got power sometime in the '40's. They also got an indoor bathroom in that time period. After the morning clean up, the bathroom was cleaned so it would be ready in case company popped in. Then we had to use the outhouse after that. You know with the assortment of catalogs, newspapers, and magazines... My grandmother cooked on a wood burning stove. They also had a pot belly stove in the hallway beside the staircase. The house was built in 1886. Balloon frame it was. 🙂👍👍🇨🇦

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

Wow! They definitely lived a simpler life :-) Thanks so much for sharing!

Great video ! So many people just don't understand the word GRID ! It is simply your powerline that's it !! I have been OFF Grid for over 10 years & started with not much & slowly building things the way I want, Like you said it's only as hard as YOU make it 😃Your kitchen looks awesome, Hope your able to catch my video that will be up Sun.

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! We will definitely check out your channel :-)

Love the kitchen cabinets as your backdrop, lovely.

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

Thanks so much! 😊 There is still more to do, but we are getting there!

Love the kitchen. Have you considered offering consulting services to those who may purchase the same/similar dome kit on their plans since you two have learned so much and gained practical knowledge? Just a suggestion.

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

Thanks, and actually we haven't thought about that but we do always joke that we could be for hire contractors for building these homes now!

Roofs, porches, carports. Sounds like another busy year ahead. Looking forward to it.

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

Always busy! But we try to have a little fun too :-)

You get used to the routine pretty quickly, and it becomes the norm before you realize it. We keep an eye on our solar system, battery levels, etc., we keep our wood rack filled since we heat only with a wood stove, we look for ways to minimize waste, and utilize energy saving equipment wherever possible. And we've only been off-grid for under two years but looking for many more to come. We'll also be setting up a raised garden enclosure that will double as a greenhouse during the long, cold winters here in the upstate. Life is what you make it, and we like being as self-sufficient as we can be as well as reaping the benefits of not having all those utility bills, huge mortgage, and most of the other expenses we left behind..

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

We think just like you! Also hoping to get some gardens started this year and hopefully some chickens but a greenhouse is almost a necessity in these cold climates for some winter self sufficiency :-) It is a simpler life, but simple doesn't mean easy!

Your kitchen looks great!

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

Thank you!! 😊

Great video...the kitchen looks fantastic!

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

Thanks so much!

Great explanation! While I agree I did mine a bit different. I decided what my expected loads would be and based my calculations on winter solar production on the panels we already had. I then decided the allowable charge rate based on the battery limitations. Now this all went well the limitations were way higher than I ever anticipated. I have recently found a flaw in my plan though. I did not maximize my output to save money initially and planned to add two more 3600 watt inverters so I would have enough capacity to handle the surge of a 5hp pump at 760' deep and 90' above the well. The rub was that the available inverters today were no longer compatible with my old 2007 vintage inverters. So I will need to replace the two I have before adding or buying a total of 4 replacing the two I already have. I also back then had no idea that lithium ion was going to be reliable and cost effective so I bought 12ea 4v batteries that are based on what was used in WW2 submarines. They have performed flawlessly and I have not yet had use my generator to charge the batteries. I focused first on can I get water! Once I had water I knew the power requirements of said well pump. Since I knew I was going off grid solar. I focused on the solar power. I knew I needed AC in my Avion trailer so adequate power was what I focused on. Lets not forget solar was a dollar for dollar credit on your tax bill. We drew out our 401k in 2007 and avoided the crash but also paid no taxes on what we drew out of the 401K. Since the system was in service in 2008 we qualified for the credits. So power was my first major expense. I need a system that could power my RV and daily construction needs. I have a 15KW Kohler generator using a propane powered V4 Wisconsin air cooled engine and a 110 gallon propane tank beside the generator both mounted on a small trailer. This has faithfully powered my well since 2004. We knew we didn't want to have to run the generator to fill a pressure bladder tank. So we put a 3500 gallon tank about 90' above and 60' behind the home. It gives us about 28 to 32psi using just gravity. Now for the logistics of building our home. We did not want to slowly ramp up our solar system and generator. We got a 12K propane backup generator at the same time we got our batteries and solar hardware. One problem I ran into was that off grid solar was so rare in 2007 that the county was behind the curve. I designed my own system and had a bit of an uphill challenge to get the county to allow me to be my own solar engineer. They also didn't believe me that I created my own plans and drawings. We got through that but only based on the system passing their chief commercial electrical inspector inspections. He said he was told to run through the system from top to bottom with a fine tooth comb. He said they wanted him to fail me but he said he couldn't find anything wrong. So long story short we had our full home power system before we were even close to breaking ground. It was the core of our being able to live and work on weekends without any need for fuel or a generator. We have one bank of solar panels @ 3060 watts the other bank is 3960 watts. I have a ton more panels yet to be installed. I have not needed them yet but when I put the well on solar and get all of our electrical installed in the garage and home we will likely put those in service one set @ 8625 watts to be split into two banks and one set @ 4000 watts. Currently they are stored in a shipping container.

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

Sounds like you had a great plan. It’s hood and bad how quickly things change these days. The panels we bought aren’t even made anymore 🤷‍♀️and the ridiculously expensive batteries we bought are now half the price! Lol

Hope your feeling better. Like what you did for the coffee cups 👍

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

Thank you, and yes, slowly but surely feeling better!

You two are so kind!♥️

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

Awe, thank you so much :-)

A good explanation. We have our own well & septic, but we are on the National Grid. I almost took the plow off the UTV last week. Good thing I changed my mind. Looks like you actually got more snow than we did (about 8" here). Pretty much melted now. Love that kitchen!!

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

Thank you. And I still wouldn't take that plow off because they are calling for more snow after Easter Sunday!

@Ed-hz2um

3 ай бұрын

@@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid Yeah, I saw that. Any plans for the eclipse?

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

@@Ed-hz2um Yes! I will message Shelly

Your Kitchen turned out great!

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Very good / interesting presentation. A variation for you - we are "Off-Grid In The City". We have 14kw solar / 100% electric home, 20,000gal annual rainharvest system, Starlink internet backup, and other but we freely use city services as needed. Winter is not enough solar to be 75F warm but we have propane and generators and other to address the 4 months of winter if we had to. We use city water to water our grass but enough for comfortable living without the city if need be and the grass can turn brown. Our goal was to have a livable home with no city services while still being in the middle of the city and... after ~8 years of working on things we're in a good spot. :)

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

Thank you and that sounds like a great setup you have! It's amazing what can be done when you want to :-)

Lol Remember you decided to move to the Adirondacks, snow in the Adirondacks I'm surprised lol. Kitchen came out great.

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

Yes! And we love the snow, we just can't wait to get started on all the projects we want to complete this year :-) and we are not quite done with the kitchen, but we are loving having one!

Nice sum up. It never crossed my mind that someone would worship off grid living. To me it has always been just a practical and desirable living style suitable for some scenarios. As for legal point,Interestingly enough, I can build a house here only connected to the grid (even if I don't use the utilities and will have no contracts); at least that's what my architect says.

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

I don't know about worship, but it is definitely a practical way to live. Yes, my sister has a cabin in the Catskills and whether they use electric or not they have to pay a fee every month. No getting around it.

@oakld

3 ай бұрын

@@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid Oh, I poorly expressed my point 😀. I meant worship to a point to criticize others for their choices. I think it's up to anyone to what degree or not he/she goes off grid. I believe I don't have to pay any bill; the same way I disconnected from gas when I got heat pump in my current house, I could disconnect from electrical grid. But I will have to invest into getting some utilities to the house, namely electricity, water and sewage, even if I won't use them. In case of electrum it actually make sense to connect even if I won't use it 9 months a year, it's gonna be still cheaper than diesel or propane generator.

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

@@oakld LOL no worries! And not paying any bills is a good thing, but being connected with a backup is a great idea too!

Love this 💚😎

Excellent analysis. The, so-called, experts that tell you what off grid REALLY means, prolly don't live off grid themselves, otherwise they couldn't be watching you, right? I call them arm-chair experts. Shawn James,(My Self Reliance channel), is on the other end of your sliding scale, yet he needs gasoline, vehicles, led lighting, etc. to effectuate the life he wants to live. So there is no one way to live off grid, as you clearly illustrated. Thanks for this honest review. If you look at it as WHO will be able to survive after SHTF scenario, possible few. Those who didn't prepare will attack those who did for their 'stuff'. Cheers!

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

Thanks you :-) And they can try! LOL

You forgot living off grid means having fun. Hard or easy if fun you want to make it. I have love / dislike for your channel. Some episodes I love (Like this one ) some i dislike. But what keeps me coming back is the fact that the two of guy are always having fun and make the most of it. Turthly I don't care if you are off grid kinda off grid or living in your parents basement. You are having fun and living life

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

Yes! Fun is the most important. Thank you for reminding us 😁👍 more fun coming soon!

I just discovered last month that we couldn't legally disconnect from the electric grid. We'd need to double the solar and like 80 kw more batteries, so it's not realistic...

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

It's absolutely crazy. I was telling someone else that my sister has a cabin in the Catskills and even if they use no electric, they are still billed a fee every month

I find self reliant a more true answer than off grid. You provide instead of public service provided living. You have the steering wheel and more control over your future.

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

Interesting! And a very good point! Thanks 👍😊

It’s funny how many people think that living off grid means living in swamp, raising chickens and distilling your own moonshine lol.

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

I like the distilling part the best!!! LOL

Are you have any problems with erosion on your roof ? Like your show

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

Thanks, and we had a little bit of erosion (landslides) on the roof, but not as bad as we thought might happen so we aren't disappointed because we knew we would have more work to do up there this year anyway.

Really just matters how much money you have Some live very simple, some like rockstars and some in between

@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid

3 ай бұрын

True, but there are ways to make it work either way. We will be sharing how much our system cost soon, but the system our friend the electrician has didn't cost him more than a few thousand and he has all the comforts he needs! If theres a will there's a way :-)