Off the Grid, but Still Online
motherboard.vice.com
Off the Grid, but Still Online
1–10 of 171 posts
Re: Off the Grid, but Still Online
#2Joey Hess is a developer in rural Tennessee with similar problems that we city folk don't have to think of (running everything off a 12V DC battery, collecting your own water). http://joeyh.name/blog/entry/notes_for_a_caretaker/ is a good place to start for some of the things that need to be taken care of.
Re: Off the Grid, but Still Online
#3Joey Hess is a developer in rural Tennessee with similar problems that we city folk don't have to think of (running everything off a 12V DC battery, collecting your own water). http://joeyh.name/blog/entry/notes_for_a_caretaker/ is a good place to start for some of the things that need to be taken care of.
Came in to this post thinking of Joey as well. I use multiple utilities he's written. All on a small laptop and solar power. I don't know how much has changed since '12, but there is a nice summary of his infrastructure here: https://usesthis.com/interviews/joey.hess/
Re: Off the Grid, but Still Online
#4Joey Hess is a developer in rural Tennessee with similar problems that we city folk don't have to think of (running everything off a 12V DC battery, collecting your own water). http://joeyh.name/blog/entry/notes_for_a_caretaker/ is a good place to start for some of the things that need to be taken care of.
Came in to this post thinking of Joey as well. I use multiple utilities he's written. All on a small laptop and solar power. I don't know how much has changed since '12, but there is a nice summary of his infrastructure here: https://usesthis.com/interviews/joey.hess/
> If it doesn't have a keyboard, I feel that my thoughts are being forced out through a straw.
Wow I've been feeling this exactly but never had such a good description. Great interview, thanks for posting.
Re: Off the Grid, but Still Online
#5Every time I read about living off the grid, I think about Ted Carns. He's done incredible things in off-grid living. If you've never heard of him, check out this documentary:
Re: Off the Grid, but Still Online
#6[deleted]
Re: Off the Grid, but Still Online
#7What's really the big deal? Folks have been living like this for much of mankind and million of folks still do around the world. First world amusement if you ask me.
Re: Off the Grid, but Still Online
#8[deleted]
Re: Off the Grid, but Still Online
#9What's really the big deal? Folks have been living like this for much of mankind and million of folks still do around the world. First world amusement if you ask me.
It's pretty unlike anything I have ever experienced as someone born and raised in the developed world. Despite what people have done for much of mankind, it is still fascinating to me, whether that makes it first world amusement or not.
Re: Off the Grid, but Still Online
#10Don't underestimate how much effort and devotion to the lifestyle it takes. Most of us just want a "turnkey" lifestyle, buying whatever on a whim and expecting it to just work (plug-in gadgets, packaged foods), with even our "staples" coming in such perfect condition (box of nails from Home Depot, beautiful fruits at Whole Foods, etc.). To the contrary, off-the-grid requires devotion to the act of surviving from basics, and integrating technology therein takes additional effort/patience/tolerance. It can certainly be internalized to the point of being "normal" and "comfortable", but still requires that focus - not sleeping in, driving to work, then grabbing a frozen pizza on the way home 'cuz you didn't have time to maintain the garden.
I rant on this because of a taste this weekend, trying with mixed-to-poor results to get my BioLite Camp Stove (otherwise highly recommended) burning a good fire suitable for charging electronics via its built-in thermocouple generator (using the compact solar panels was pointless given cloud cover), and even now a separate solar self-charging battery is sitting on top of my car recouping from the draining usage on the trip (oops, left something on).
I grew up in a semi-self-sufficient family, growing food and heating with wood et al. Seemed easyish then, but in retrospect my folks put a LOT of work into making it work smoothly. Going completely off-grid and still staying connected does seem a desirable state (a la "first world amusement" and "TEOTWAKI prepared"), but yikes it's a lot of work - moreso if your immediate companions aren't wholly devoted as well.