Off-Grid Island... 400 residents.

emdeengee · #21 01/31/13, 04:53 PM

Further up the Strait of Georgia is another wonderful island - Cortes Island. Located on this island is Linnaea Farm. This is a farm school. Sadly there is not enough interest and their ecological gardening and farming course is "taking a break."

My friend just completed their last course (permaculture) and was there for a year - said it was paradise on earth. They have electricity but the only way there is by ferry.

http://www.linnaeafarm.org/cgi-bin/farm/show_home.cgi

Farmer Dave · #22 01/31/13, 05:39 PM

I think I could really dig living that lifestyle. Being left alone and not having "big brother" telling me I can't do something on my own property when it's really none of their business.

chewie · #23 01/31/13, 05:44 PM

emdeengee, that does look good!

I would like to say I could do it, and well yes, I *could*, but honestly, there are several conviences that I very much love. hot water being a big one.

but I sure would love to give it a try for a year!

seedspreader · #24 01/31/13, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raven12

It has nothing to do with being big city or not. I live in the country and think they are odd balls. Well, in truth, idiots. But if some people want to live like they are in a third world country, then who am I to stop them?

Why the animosity and contention?

seedspreader · #25 01/31/13, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewie

emdeengee, that does look good!

I would like to say I could do it, and well yes, I *could*, but honestly, there are several conviences that I very much love. hot water being a big one.

but I sure would love to give it a try for a year!

I don't think you'd have to give up hot water... just re-think and re-engineer for it.

emdeengee · #26 01/31/13, 06:00 PM

Been there, done that and I sure missed running hot water, inside toilet and refrigeration. And toilet paper. The rest you can do without very easily. Hauling and heating water is an enormous and exhausting job.

If you want to see if this is the life for you just go camping for four weeks - far into the forest and with just the basic equipment.

naturelover · #27 01/31/13, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewie

emdeengee, that does look good!

I would like to say I could do it, and well yes, I *could*, but honestly, there are several conviences that I very much love. hot water being a big one.

but I sure would love to give it a try for a year!

Not everyone on the islands is totally off grid and without modern conveniences. Some people use solar, some use gas. Some of the islands have their own hydro generators, some islands have hotsprings on them and that gets used for hot water for personal use and for heating homes. Also, there are a few farming homesteads that use hot water that is heated inside coils buried inside compost piles. Some use wood fires to heat their water.

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Raven12 · #28 01/31/13, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emdeengee

Been there, done that and I sure missed running hot water, inside toilet and refrigeration. And toilet paper.

Exactly. Now imagine being stuck with the same people ALL the time. It isn't like the internet when you can step away. Overcast and rain is the norm. Talk about miserable living conditions. Nothing is worse than a constant dreary rain.

The hardcore off the grid wannabes are coming out of the woodwork. The problem is that the movement is based on a romanticized dream of a third world lifestyle. This isn't a camping or hunting trip. I see post after post from people who have no idea what they are talking about. They hear it, think it is cool, and want it. They haven't even done the basic research on the topics they are giving advice on. To give you an example of how out of touch with reality some homesteaders are - I have seen posts with people talking about being off grid and wanting tanning beds. Where are you going to get your nails done on an island full of sheep?

Yeah, so I think they are idiots. Big deal. My family comes from a long line of rural farmers with common sense. We say what we think. The problem is that we are stuck with a generation that believes every kid gets a trophy.

bruce2288 · #29 01/31/13, 08:09 PM

Idiots? Okay you don't want that livestyle, they probably don't want yours either. Just seems like a lot of venom for something that has no effect upon you.
I know for myself living there would be more enjoyable than New York or Chicago or LA. I guess I am a closest idiot.

lonelytree · #30 01/31/13, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruce2288

Idiots? Okay you don't want that livestyle, they probably don't want yours either. Just seems like a lot of venom for something that has no effect upon you.
I know for myself living there would be more enjoyable than New York or Chicago or LA. I guess I am a closest idiot.

My thoughts exactly.

I'll bet you don't want to ride 13 miles at 40 MPH in -48 degrees either. You don't have to. I choose to.

naturelover · #31 01/31/13, 08:15 PM

Party pooper at Raeven12.

Off-Grid Island... 400 residents. - Homesteading Questions

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GoldenCityMuse · #32 01/31/13, 08:21 PM

I like the old guy, Al. He is pretty funny.

It is not that bad, and they have focused on the the more out there people who live on the island. I amagine a majority have hot water and many of the modern conveniences.

It is there choice, and I respect them for it.

Lizza · #33 01/31/13, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raven12

Exactly. Now imagine being stuck with the same people ALL the time. It isn't like the internet when you can step away. Overcast and rain is the norm. Talk about miserable living conditions. Nothing is worse than a constant dreary rain.

The hardcore off the grid wannabes are coming out of the woodwork. The problem is that the movement is based on a romanticized dream of a third world lifestyle. This isn't a camping or hunting trip. I see post after post from people who have no idea what they are talking about. They hear it, think it is cool, and want it. They haven't even done the basic research on the topics they are giving advice on. To give you an example of how out of touch with reality some homesteaders are - I have seen posts with people talking about being off grid and wanting tanning beds. Where are you going to get your nails done on an island full of sheep?

Yeah, so I think they are idiots. Big deal. My family comes from a long line of rural farmers with common sense. We say what we think. The problem is that we are stuck with a generation that believes every kid gets a trophy.

Post after post from people who have no idea what they are talking about? Why do you think we have no idea what we are talking about? I have lived like this, with even less amenities then this, for a big chunk of my life.

Do you have a sad life Raven12 or just naturally an angry person?

HOTW · #34 01/31/13, 09:30 PM

We lived in BC for a few years , we hated not having much snow we had a dusting of snow 1 year for Christmas and my Mum said it was like we thought JC had come again! We were over th etopabout a snow that didn't last inb the ground but half a day and was maybe 1/2 inch at th emost. We werent used ott he climate and I think we were sicker than any other period of our childhood. I do remember being asolutely miserable with Chicken Pox and scratcing myself raw. It All depends onw hat you want. DH and I plan to buy a small holding and try to get it off grid in a few years just to make it easier in the long run.

Annex · #35 01/31/13, 10:37 PM

Thanks for that! I had forgotten how much I used to enjoy taking a shower with wild ducks flying past or sitting in the outhouse with the horses staring in at me!

romysbaskets · #36 02/01/13, 02:15 AM

On the island where we live, you can live off grid! We don't but have our woodstove and have had some interesting times out here. I know the one guy said he does not watch TV but you can on your computer so not sure about the completely off grid aspects..... They had gas powered items and batteries.... Off grid does not have to mean complete independence under that premise I guess but they are more off grid then me for sure! There are only about 50 people who live here full time with over 250 vacation homes. We have electricity lines under the water and no phone lines above ground either. We get to the mainland by boat, the ferry takes 1/2 hour to 45 minutes to get there. This time of year it is only once a week round trip. Our marina looked very much like theirs til they finished the expansion this month, they doubled the size? Not sure on that reasoning as the size they had was seldom ever full. To come here, you must know someone and reveal their name and lot number, be family or an owner just to board that ferry, no public are even allowed to dock boats here! This is very isolated despite having more conveniences most of us use. Should anyone desire to live as they do but here? Yes, they sure could! There are a few here that live pretty close to that... One guy around the bend from me dug his foundation by hand, built his home by hand with wood he planed and cut himself, cut out his cupboards by hand and of course sanded them so smooth you could not tell they were not professionally made! He has cisterns beneath his home, his water is heated by a woodstove in his separate shop which also heats his home. He had many of these 275 gallon water tanks to catch rain water...I managed to snag one for a little cash once...best investment I have made out here! While I was hand sawing wood and splitting some, I have reflected that yes, a wood splitter would be helpful but for now...we still can by hand. I pick the berries and fruit out here to can and harvest from the waters crab, shrimp and we fish, clams we dig....but there is choice in how you live here.... There is gas sold here once a week for an hour for vehicles.... I walked two miles to cut Nettles today, came home to do my kindling, hubby had some split wood I brought in....made homemade bread and had a nice cup of coffee.... The air smells wonderful here with pine and most often florals with eagles that fly daily over your head and whales that spout below during their migration! We came out here 7 years ago. I do not go to the mainland more than once a month, sometimes I will stay here a couple months...completely content...with no other human contact then my own family of four including me! Hubby goes off every week to shop usually without me...

That island looks very cool plus enticing and I like the size! I will have to show that to hubby!

There have been funny posts on this thread! Ok no businesses mean, no dining out (my home is compared to the best restaurant around which is a lovely compliment), I don't do my nails but I try to wear my gloves. My hair is not colored and it is cut when I visit my daughter who cuts hair. I make my own dog food, laundry soap, and when the deck is not so slick, I carry water in for my washer machine. I hand wash my dishes and my main interests outside my family are my handcrafts and herbs...my garden and my home. I do not hang out with the other islanders! You don't have to, there is a choice whether you even see another person outside your own family for long periods of time during Fall and Winter! The vacation home owners come out sparingly in Spring and mainly in the summer. I have my extended family of HT buddies!

Ok I admit I am one of those "Idiots" as I live here with a lot less people who I seldom see! Incidentally, my avatar is my view out my back door. Oops, my entire family were farmers...they would love my home and our family visits during their once a year vacation to come see the whales!

ChristieAcres · #37 02/01/13, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raven12

It has nothing to do with being big city or not. I live in the country and think they are odd balls. Well, in truth, idiots. But if some people want to live like they are in a third world country, then who am I to stop them?

Count me among the odd balls and idiots... Oh, FYI- I have NEVER been called an idiot before...a new one for me, LOL

ChristieAcres · #38 02/01/13, 02:58 AM

Here is how an idiot dries clothes:

Off-Grid Island... 400 residents. - Homesteading Questions

I save at least $50 per month.

My idiot DH designed a wood stove to heat our water. Our savings? I am sure it is over $50 per month, since we don't use a water heater. He also built the log splitter to split the larger 2nd growth logs, but splits wood by hand, too.

We are so foolish, we spend a lot of time fishing, clamming, gathering oysters, hunting, and gathering wild mushrooms. Even worse, a lot of time is spent on our garden, harvesting, preserving, and that includes our fruit orchard. Then, I do a lot of canning and dehydrating. Also, have sewn a lot of clothing, do my own mending, stay the same weight so I can wear the same size of clothing... And to think, I would like my life to be even more simplified.

Wow, what will you do when SHTF? LOL, but really, kidding around, not serious... Remember, some of us enjoy living very simple lives, but we are far from stupid

jwal10 · #39 02/01/13, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorichristie

Remember, some of us enjoy living very simple lives, but we are far from stupid

Exactly....James

Raven12 · #40 02/01/13, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorichristie

We are so foolish, we spend a lot of time fishing, clamming, gathering oysters, hunting, and gathering wild mushrooms. Even worse, a lot of time is spent on our garden, harvesting, preserving, and that includes our fruit orchard. Then, I do a lot of canning and dehydrating. Also, have sewn a lot of clothing, do my own mending, stay the same weight so I can wear the same size of clothing... And to think, I would like my life to be even more simplified.

And why do you think farmers in America don't do this? I live in the country. EVERYBODY lives that way. In fact, they have been living that way for ages. I have lived throughout the United States. That is the way country folks live.

I don't now why there is a faction of homesteaders who think they have cornered the back-to-the-land movement which is really just being a farmer. That they have discovered something special that nobody else is aware of. Prepping? Nothing new.

Why is there this cult like following of people who think you have to go without in order to count as being country? Why do they think that farms are only owned by big corporations? Everybody lives in cities except them? Why do they think they are the only ones that know what organic is?

There is such a naivete about how regular people live in the United States.