Off the Grid
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An interesting documentary about living a self sufficient lifestyle.[^]
"The task of saving the earth's environment must and will become the central organizing principle of the post-Cold War world." Senator Al Gore Putting People First 1992 ------ "The sacrifice of personal existence is necessary to secure the preservation of the species." Adolph Hitler Mein Kampf 1923 ------ If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever." O'Brien to Winston George Orwell 1984 1949
I'm half way through so far, not a bad video. I find the well witch a bit off, but I guess a layer of bed rock can ruin your whole day. I think both survivalists and environmentalists might like the video. However I'm still trying to get my arms around how using lead acid batteries, water purifiers is like living off the grid. You still need spare parts.
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I'm half way through so far, not a bad video. I find the well witch a bit off, but I guess a layer of bed rock can ruin your whole day. I think both survivalists and environmentalists might like the video. However I'm still trying to get my arms around how using lead acid batteries, water purifiers is like living off the grid. You still need spare parts.
I think the best way to live off the grid is to make a self contained sustainable ecosystem. Food, water, power, and fuel (wood) can all be supplied from the land. It just takes a lot of money to buy and build everything you need. I'd have an extensive array of solar panels charging a battery array. That power would be used for lighting and electronics, water pumps, wheat combine, and tools. Horse power would be used for harvesting. If society blew up around me, I would still have power, water, food (veggies, meat, milk, cheese, butter), animal power, and of course I would need weapons and enough ammunition to protect my organic treasure that keeps me alive.
"The task of saving the earth's environment must and will become the central organizing principle of the post-Cold War world." Senator Al Gore Putting People First 1992 ------ "The sacrifice of personal existence is necessary to secure the preservation of the species." Adolph Hitler Mein Kampf 1923 ------ If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever." O'Brien to Winston George Orwell 1984 1949
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I think the best way to live off the grid is to make a self contained sustainable ecosystem. Food, water, power, and fuel (wood) can all be supplied from the land. It just takes a lot of money to buy and build everything you need. I'd have an extensive array of solar panels charging a battery array. That power would be used for lighting and electronics, water pumps, wheat combine, and tools. Horse power would be used for harvesting. If society blew up around me, I would still have power, water, food (veggies, meat, milk, cheese, butter), animal power, and of course I would need weapons and enough ammunition to protect my organic treasure that keeps me alive.
"The task of saving the earth's environment must and will become the central organizing principle of the post-Cold War world." Senator Al Gore Putting People First 1992 ------ "The sacrifice of personal existence is necessary to secure the preservation of the species." Adolph Hitler Mein Kampf 1923 ------ If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever." O'Brien to Winston George Orwell 1984 1949
CaptainSeeSharp wrote:
solar panels charging a battery array
That is not sustainable really, over a few years you would lose solar panels due to parts failure, also he was using Styrofoam for insulation, a helicopter to move material (as far as I got, will see rest tonight). Many of the modern technologies he was using under the scenario he had envisioned would not be available over time. 2 cents.
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CaptainSeeSharp wrote:
solar panels charging a battery array
That is not sustainable really, over a few years you would lose solar panels due to parts failure, also he was using Styrofoam for insulation, a helicopter to move material (as far as I got, will see rest tonight). Many of the modern technologies he was using under the scenario he had envisioned would not be available over time. 2 cents.
kmg365 wrote:
That is not sustainable really, over a few years you would lose solar panels due to parts failure, also he was using Styrofoam for insulation, a helicopter to move material (as far as I got, will see rest tonight). Many of the modern technologies he was using under the scenario he had envisioned would not be available over time.
True, I think solar panels will last indefinitely as long as none are damaged. The batteries will start to fail over a period of 2 years. The most important aspect of it is that you are no longer a cog in a machine and don't have to put up with carbon taxes and things of that nature. There are better documentaries on the web that are more of a true survivalist type. Survivorman is an example, their are plenty of others. This one is pretty cool, but probably not what most people would expect.[^]
"The task of saving the earth's environment must and will become the central organizing principle of the post-Cold War world." Senator Al Gore Putting People First 1992 ------ "The sacrifice of personal existence is necessary to secure the preservation of the species." Adolph Hitler Mein Kampf 1923 ------ If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever." O'Brien to Winston George Orwell 1984 1949
modified on Monday, July 13, 2009 8:52 PM
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I think the best way to live off the grid is to make a self contained sustainable ecosystem. Food, water, power, and fuel (wood) can all be supplied from the land. It just takes a lot of money to buy and build everything you need. I'd have an extensive array of solar panels charging a battery array. That power would be used for lighting and electronics, water pumps, wheat combine, and tools. Horse power would be used for harvesting. If society blew up around me, I would still have power, water, food (veggies, meat, milk, cheese, butter), animal power, and of course I would need weapons and enough ammunition to protect my organic treasure that keeps me alive.
"The task of saving the earth's environment must and will become the central organizing principle of the post-Cold War world." Senator Al Gore Putting People First 1992 ------ "The sacrifice of personal existence is necessary to secure the preservation of the species." Adolph Hitler Mein Kampf 1923 ------ If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever." O'Brien to Winston George Orwell 1984 1949
As someone else said, being 'off the grid' has to mean having no power, and being willing to die if you get sick or suffer a minor injury. If anything happened in this world, I could do that almost overnight, given the land i have, and the degree to which I am already building up fruit trees and a stock of chickens and sheep. I have plenty of woodland for firewood, also. But, as you say, the real issue is the other people who would come to try to take it all away. Unless you're willing to slaughter a lot of hungry people, you can't expect to survive any sort of apocalyptic event. The only reason I may be fine, is that where I live is sparsely populated enough that so long as some form of horse driven transport sprung up ( assuming there was no more gas, which would soon be true ), I think the state I live in could grow it's own food, so long as the seasons were reasonable ( that is, so long as there is enough rain ).
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
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As someone else said, being 'off the grid' has to mean having no power, and being willing to die if you get sick or suffer a minor injury. If anything happened in this world, I could do that almost overnight, given the land i have, and the degree to which I am already building up fruit trees and a stock of chickens and sheep. I have plenty of woodland for firewood, also. But, as you say, the real issue is the other people who would come to try to take it all away. Unless you're willing to slaughter a lot of hungry people, you can't expect to survive any sort of apocalyptic event. The only reason I may be fine, is that where I live is sparsely populated enough that so long as some form of horse driven transport sprung up ( assuming there was no more gas, which would soon be true ), I think the state I live in could grow it's own food, so long as the seasons were reasonable ( that is, so long as there is enough rain ).
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
from the Zombie Survival Guide (Max Brooks, [Mel Brook's son]) TERRAIN TYPES Examine a map of the world and find the best land and mildest climate. Overlay it with the densest population, and you will see a perfect match-up. Early humans knew what to look for when they began to build communities: moderate weather, fertile soil, plentiful fresh water, and a bounty of natural resources. These prime spots became the first centers of humanity, expanding outward into the modern population centers we have today. It is this way of thinking, this perfectly logical thought process, that you will have to completely abandon when choosing your new home. Back to the map. Say you find a place that looks immediately attractive. Chances are that several million people will be thinking the same thing when their time comes to flee. Combare this thinking with the slogan "harsher is safer," and to be as safe as possible, you will have to find the harshest, most extreme places on Earth. You will have to find an area that looks so unattractive, so inhospitable, that the last thing you would ever want to do is call it home... It's intent was to be funny, but I guess it's also true. :rolleyes:
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As someone else said, being 'off the grid' has to mean having no power, and being willing to die if you get sick or suffer a minor injury. If anything happened in this world, I could do that almost overnight, given the land i have, and the degree to which I am already building up fruit trees and a stock of chickens and sheep. I have plenty of woodland for firewood, also. But, as you say, the real issue is the other people who would come to try to take it all away. Unless you're willing to slaughter a lot of hungry people, you can't expect to survive any sort of apocalyptic event. The only reason I may be fine, is that where I live is sparsely populated enough that so long as some form of horse driven transport sprung up ( assuming there was no more gas, which would soon be true ), I think the state I live in could grow it's own food, so long as the seasons were reasonable ( that is, so long as there is enough rain ).
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
Christian Graus wrote:
As someone else said, being 'off the grid' has to mean having no power
Not quite. A small solar panel would be enough for a radio communication device. Such simple systems can last decades as long as it is kept safe.
Christian Graus wrote:
and being willing to die if you get sick or suffer a minor injury.
Not unless you are totally helpless. I have never been to a doctor or hospital for any flu and sickness. I've had my fair share of injuries too.
"The task of saving the earth's environment must and will become the central organizing principle of the post-Cold War world." Senator Al Gore Putting People First 1992 ------ "The sacrifice of personal existence is necessary to secure the preservation of the species." Adolph Hitler Mein Kampf 1923 ------ If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever." O'Brien to Winston George Orwell 1984 1949
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Christian Graus wrote:
As someone else said, being 'off the grid' has to mean having no power
Not quite. A small solar panel would be enough for a radio communication device. Such simple systems can last decades as long as it is kept safe.
Christian Graus wrote:
and being willing to die if you get sick or suffer a minor injury.
Not unless you are totally helpless. I have never been to a doctor or hospital for any flu and sickness. I've had my fair share of injuries too.
"The task of saving the earth's environment must and will become the central organizing principle of the post-Cold War world." Senator Al Gore Putting People First 1992 ------ "The sacrifice of personal existence is necessary to secure the preservation of the species." Adolph Hitler Mein Kampf 1923 ------ If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever." O'Brien to Winston George Orwell 1984 1949
CaptainSeeSharp wrote:
A small solar panel would be enough for a radio communication device. Such simple systems can last decades as long as it is kept safe.
And who you gonna call ?
CaptainSeeSharp wrote:
Not unless you are totally helpless. I have never been to a doctor or hospital for any flu and sickness. I've had my fair share of injuries too.
Things like antiseptic are also going to be hard to come by, if society crumbles. Things that are trivial to us now, and don't need a doctor, can be serious without those things.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
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kmg365 wrote:
That is not sustainable really, over a few years you would lose solar panels due to parts failure, also he was using Styrofoam for insulation, a helicopter to move material (as far as I got, will see rest tonight). Many of the modern technologies he was using under the scenario he had envisioned would not be available over time.
True, I think solar panels will last indefinitely as long as none are damaged. The batteries will start to fail over a period of 2 years. The most important aspect of it is that you are no longer a cog in a machine and don't have to put up with carbon taxes and things of that nature. There are better documentaries on the web that are more of a true survivalist type. Survivorman is an example, their are plenty of others. This one is pretty cool, but probably not what most people would expect.[^]
"The task of saving the earth's environment must and will become the central organizing principle of the post-Cold War world." Senator Al Gore Putting People First 1992 ------ "The sacrifice of personal existence is necessary to secure the preservation of the species." Adolph Hitler Mein Kampf 1923 ------ If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever." O'Brien to Winston George Orwell 1984 1949
modified on Monday, July 13, 2009 8:52 PM
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CaptainSeeSharp wrote:
A small solar panel would be enough for a radio communication device. Such simple systems can last decades as long as it is kept safe.
And who you gonna call ?
CaptainSeeSharp wrote:
Not unless you are totally helpless. I have never been to a doctor or hospital for any flu and sickness. I've had my fair share of injuries too.
Things like antiseptic are also going to be hard to come by, if society crumbles. Things that are trivial to us now, and don't need a doctor, can be serious without those things.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
Christian Graus wrote:
And who you gonna call ?
The other smart people who prepared.
Christian Graus wrote:
Things like antiseptic are also going to be hard to come by
Alcohol is not hard to come by, the back woodsman make something called moonshine. Its your kind of can't do attitude that will get you in big trouble if you were ever in a back to basics survival situation.
"The task of saving the earth's environment must and will become the central organizing principle of the post-Cold War world." Senator Al Gore Putting People First 1992 ------ "The sacrifice of personal existence is necessary to secure the preservation of the species." Adolph Hitler Mein Kampf 1923 ------ If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever." O'Brien to Winston George Orwell 1984 1949
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kmg365 wrote:
That is not sustainable really, over a few years you would lose solar panels due to parts failure, also he was using Styrofoam for insulation, a helicopter to move material (as far as I got, will see rest tonight). Many of the modern technologies he was using under the scenario he had envisioned would not be available over time.
True, I think solar panels will last indefinitely as long as none are damaged. The batteries will start to fail over a period of 2 years. The most important aspect of it is that you are no longer a cog in a machine and don't have to put up with carbon taxes and things of that nature. There are better documentaries on the web that are more of a true survivalist type. Survivorman is an example, their are plenty of others. This one is pretty cool, but probably not what most people would expect.[^]
"The task of saving the earth's environment must and will become the central organizing principle of the post-Cold War world." Senator Al Gore Putting People First 1992 ------ "The sacrifice of personal existence is necessary to secure the preservation of the species." Adolph Hitler Mein Kampf 1923 ------ If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever." O'Brien to Winston George Orwell 1984 1949
modified on Monday, July 13, 2009 8:52 PM
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Actually both links are benificial. Both sides of the issue, but as much as I hate to say it I'm with the envirmental wack jobs. They hava a better standard of living in the post-apocalyse. :-D
I think a lot of those Mesans are well meaning folk, but they don't have the constructive, structured, and organized mindset that is beneficial no matter what the situation is. I kind of see myself in some of those people, but I like to read, learn, and build just as much as I like to shoot stuff and blow stuff up.
"The task of saving the earth's environment must and will become the central organizing principle of the post-Cold War world." Senator Al Gore Putting People First 1992 ------ "The sacrifice of personal existence is necessary to secure the preservation of the species." Adolph Hitler Mein Kampf 1923 ------ If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever." O'Brien to Winston George Orwell 1984 1949
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Christian Graus wrote:
And who you gonna call ?
The other smart people who prepared.
Christian Graus wrote:
Things like antiseptic are also going to be hard to come by
Alcohol is not hard to come by, the back woodsman make something called moonshine. Its your kind of can't do attitude that will get you in big trouble if you were ever in a back to basics survival situation.
"The task of saving the earth's environment must and will become the central organizing principle of the post-Cold War world." Senator Al Gore Putting People First 1992 ------ "The sacrifice of personal existence is necessary to secure the preservation of the species." Adolph Hitler Mein Kampf 1923 ------ If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever." O'Brien to Winston George Orwell 1984 1949
CaptainSeeSharp wrote:
Alcohol is not hard to come by, the back woodsman make something called moonshine.
That's true. What about medicine in general tho ?
CaptainSeeSharp wrote:
Its your kind of can't do attitude that will get you in big trouble if you were ever in a back to basics survival situation.
I was thinking off the top of my head, my example was poor. I have thought about this, and I am sure I could survive, so long as I could survive the other people who wanted a slice of my pie. I just think it would be harder than you think.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.