Sunset Ranches Off Grid Living (Sierra Blanca: house, transfer, to buy)

[Yellow post]

I'm building an off grid home in the desert. I'll share my ideas and dreams, and I'd like to hear yours. if you're building or thinking about it chime in.
I'm about 10 miles out hwy. RM 1111, from Sierra Blanca, and 2 miles out on dirt roads. I have an empty shed 12x34. Which I'll build a bathroom, bedroom, kitchen and living room. 200watt solar kit, a 330 gal tank. Now I can put it together. I'll use An old satellite dish to mount my solar panels on so I can track the sun. I only have one deep cycle battery now, but I'll get more. I'll also have to get more panels. For $650.00 I can get a 600 watt wind generator. I'll need at least 12 batteries for a good start.
My water tank I'll mount near the cabin and as high as I can to help with water pressure. A small R/V water pump will be my start up water system. I'll need another tank that I can run into town for water, then transfer it into my stationary tank.
For now my sewage will be into a holding tank which I'll have to transport to the R/V park in town. A receipt will be proof for the inspector that I'm not dumping raw sewage illegally. By the way sewage is the only thing that there is regulations for. Which I don't mind. No building codes, you can make your dwelling what ever you want. Cardboard and pallets if you want.
A few lots have electric at a premium price, but most lots don't have electric. And no lots have water. This is definitely Off Grid Living.

[katzpaw]

By yourself?
What do you plan to do way out there?
No internet?

[Yellow post]

I'll have sat tv soon. I do have cell phone at my lot.

[Yellow post]

By the way, the purpose of off grid living is to get away from the Internet and city living.

[lvoc]

Really want to go off grid? No water and no electric. Now you are off grid. Internet is probably more off grid than either.

[Yellow post]

Off grid only means not using the national grid system. No wires coming to your house from the electric company. It doesn't mean doing without electricity. I'm making my own. It's the challenge to see if you're up to it. Many people are out here doing this, and most have different ways to provide for themselves. Internet is a very useful tool, but not a necessity. Television is really not necessary. I know I stated earlier that I might get sat TV, but that was more a statement as to what I could do. I'll probably never get sat TV.

[Violet West]

I'm glad to know you are planning to buy supplemental water, because it's not going to rain enough to meet all your water needs. What about a composting toilet?

bookshelves. you're gonna need books so you don't go crazy.

[Yellow post]

Rain for water is definitely not an option. I can buy water from Sierra Blanca for about $36. A month for the first 2000 gals. At 330 gals I can make 6 trips a month. That's a lot of water. As for books, I have plenty, but I won't have much time for reading. There is too much work to do. The only regulations are for sewage, so I don't think composting is an option there.

[lvoc]

Originally Posted by Yellow post

Off grid only means not using the national grid system. No wires coming to your house from the electric company. It doesn't mean doing without electricity. I'm making my own. It's the challenge to see if you're up to it. Many people are out here doing this, and most have different ways to provide for themselves. Internet is a very useful tool, but not a necessity. Television is really not necessary. I know I stated earlier that I might get sat TV, but that was more a statement as to what I could do. I'll probably never get sat TV.

YOu are kidding yourself. You are not off grid without a reliable local source of water. The roads have to work, You truck has to work. Your water supplier and its water supplier has to work. That is all part of the "grid".

If you have access to the electric grid you should probably take advantage of it. You can back up with a limited local capability to run at a primitive level when the grid is down. But the grid is very cost effective compared to local energy storage.

[Yellow post]

Ivoc, your last post really doesn't make any sense. You say to be off grid you have to have a water supply. ??? The grid refers to the electric power grid, the power poles. The Grid Has nothing to do with water or Internet. But I didn't start this thread for you to try to knock me. It's really simple if you don't agree with what I have to say, just don't say it. Go your own way, I'll not knock you for your opinion. Have a good day.