Simple Living
Downsizing, Homesteading and Off-Grid Living
The following pages show my alternative off-grid life style, the unusual location (a forest), the log cabin and house I built, how I live in a tiny space, and make the best use of what I have. I try to live as sustainable as I can, and as self-reliant as possible. There is also additional information, which helps to make a self-reliant life style easier. Most of the pages will be overhauled shortly, both in presentation and content, some content culled, and in time, loads added. If you see some wildly differing styles, you have come to a page with the old style, not a different website.
Buildings
Learn how I built a log cabin with vertical logs and an earthship inspired house.
Includes photo gallery with description.
Power
An overview of the hybrid off-grid power supply which includes solar PV panels and a micro-hydro generator. These two systems perfectly complement each other through the seasons.
Solar Site Design
If you want to design a building or a site for optimum solar placement, or want to install a solar power system, you need to know if the sun will be shaded out by surrounding structures or trees in the winter months. In the winter you can simply look at the sun's position to see how high it is above the horizon. But what do you do if you are designing the site or want to install some panels in the summer. Will they still get the sun later in the year?
You can use the moon to find out. How?
Waste
The main areas covered here are/will be a dry compost toilet, urine recycling, kitchen compost, paper, grey water, general refuse, and other oddments.
Human Powered
A resource page with many links on human powered devices, including pedal generators, universal drivers, hovercraft and many more.
Related articles and sections
Wild Food section
Several articles on wild food as well as a downloadable foraging guide.
Productivity
It helps to be organised with all ventures. This section has many tools for the job.
Money
Running a small online business, or planning to? Find technical and other tips and ideas in this section. There is a green slant on some of the information.
Make it!
DIY and other home-made information.
Sometimes you just need that kick in the butt or inspiration to do it. Get it from the About page and the Empowerment article.
