That is sounding like a better idea all the time. We just received an update from our neighbors, the Offenburgers. They have 8 foot snow drifts on their property from the last blizzard. Their electricity and phone were out for 48 hours!

We have always planned on being “off the grid” but this recent event reveals another reason for this strategy. Survival. My parents would kill us if they had to come chip our bodies out of a 10 foot snow drift in the dead of winter.

Our plan involves starting with a generator for work tools, etc. Buying batteries as we can to increase storage capacity. Then, we would move to hooking up wind turbines and solar panels to generate the electricity. Our heat would come from several sources. A corn burning boiler will fuel radiant heated floors. We will also have a traditional wood stove in the main living area. The design of the living spaces allows for complete air flow to both the upper levels of the corn crib for circulation.

In addition, we will have some passive solar design aspects. Our south wall will be a greenhouse with a concrete mass floor that will store heat in the winter. The heat generated in this way will not only be useful for the greenhouse, but will also mean that we won’t be trying to heat the living space directly above an unheated utility space. We are also throwing around the idea of incorporating a trombe wall into that south facing greenhouse wall to deliver additional passive solar heat to the living space.

We’ll also be getting a plow for the front of the truck!

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