Going off grid

[southernsis]

Well, we are finally going to be making a move. We are leasing out our house and office building. Market is so slow, can't find a buyer.  Oh well, it will give us some income this way.
We are planning on becoming caretakers for a property in Idaho. There is a 1300 sq ft cabin and about 160 acres. It is off grid and has solar panels,batteries and the rest is ran from propane. There is a large wood stove for heat. There is a well, plus a generator to run it, if there isn't enough water in the storage tank. If any one has some good advice on things we should have, I am open to all suggestions. Things like must haves, might need, etc.
We are going to have to get us a rifle or 2 to hunt. Been a long time since my husband and I have hunted. Does anyone know much about propane freezers? Need to get one so we can keep well stocked.
Thanks everyone.

[glenn kangiser]

Make sure your propane capacity is enough if it is hard to get there.  Propane fridges at least use quite a bit over the year.  Our freezers are electric then we increased the size of the solar to compensate for each of them.  I'm not sure how well that would work in Idaho.

[MountainDon]

http://www.lpappliances.com/Blizzard-freezer.html

The stats indicate 1.2 to 2.4 lbs of propane per day.

There are approx 4.2 lbs in a gallon of propane

[southernsis]

I believe it is a 600 gal propane tank. The solar panels are enough to take care of running a computer, microwave, tv and a few things like that. The heat would be wood unless there was a need to turn on the propane heater. The lights are also propane. There are a couple of generators and we also have a generator. I am wondering if we were to sit our electric freezer up in the wood room and run the generator once a day to the freezer if we could get by without buying a propane freezer. When our power was out last year for a month, we kept everything frozen in the freezer by running it off the generator for about an hour per day.

[MountainDon]

You already did the field trial on the generator and freezer. For a while at least it may be more cost effective to run the generator and forgo the large expenditure for a new propane freezer. But the regimen of needing to run the generator daily will more than likely become onerous after a while.

What altitude will you be at?

[southernsis]

about 1400 it gets very cold there in the winter. Not too hot in the summer

[Bob S.]

can you tell me what part of Idaho you are talking about?

[glenn kangiser]

More batteries could help you to go more between running the generator but we run ours every week or so in the winter.  It is good to keep the charge up well to prevent sulfation and battery damage.

[pagan]

Keep the freezer outside in shed.

[gandalfthegrey]

Here is a link to the Solar SUNFROST freezer.  Pricey...


http://www.solardyne.com/sunfr19cufof.html

[peternap]

I don't know if the owner will allow it, but an old fashioned root cellar would do 80% of what you need.

[southernsis]

The property is west central Idaho. We are planning on putting in a root cellar. Owner has no problem with that. We may add more storage batteries to those that are there at the solar panels. We would keep the freezer out in an unheated area, so except for time in the summer, may have to run generator more often, should be able to maintain a nice temperature.
I am really looking forward to this. I love challenges and this will be one. We have always lived simply anyway.

[glenn kangiser]

Will you have any internet access so you can talk to us, Sis?

[southernsis]

Yes Glenn, we will have internet. I will finally be able to grow a garden, no more oak trees sapping everything out of the soil. I have really miss the North west. I will finally get to see my youngest granddaughters. They are 3 and have only seen pictures. I am getting excited about this move.

[glenn kangiser]

Great, Sis - then we can keep up with your adventures.

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

Southernsis, congrats on the move!  I am very much looking forward to reading about your adventures!

[southernsis]

Thanks everyone. It looks like we will be making the move in about 8 weeks. We are selling some things and getting the rest of it packed. Have to start interviewing people to rent the house and also the business property. Hopefully will get there in time to plant a small garden. Might be able to get a few things before the weather turns cold. Have to get the fire wood cut also. . Will keep everyone posted.

[southernsis]

It looks like we will be moving at the end of May. Now to start packing and interviewing renters for our house and business. So much to do. We are very excited.

[glenn kangiser]

Sounds like fun -- all except the actual packing and moving...

[Bob S.]

planting season is not till mid may here in Idaho. So your garden should work out fine. We usually use store bought tomato plants as they are late if we use seeds.
Our growing season usually runs fairly late into the fall.
  But we are down at Nampa at lower elevation. Up at Stanly a garden might not be a option.

[southernsis]

 I Plan on building a green house and some cold frames. Also have some good size south facing windows.
Bought the book Square Foot Gardening. Sould be easier to manage and keep grasshoppers off and protect from the frost.

[peternap]

You'll love the Square foot method. Crazy Mel has some great ideas.

[rick91351]

Not to misdirect this thread but I see where Mel has a new book All New Square Foot Gardening Cookbook: Taking the Harvest to the Table.

I really like some of his ideas.  Amazon also has a video plugging his book.

Hey southernsis we do grow a lot of stuff up here in Idaho besides potatoes, sweet Spanish onions and malting barley.

A dozen or two free range chickens will take care of your grasshoppers and lot of other insects as well and their eggs a class of there own.  You might have to pen them out of the garden spot for a while.  We at one time had a few Buff Cochin Bantams and they were the best at insect extermination you ever saw.  Where we live now with all the neighbors dogs and all I doubt they would survive.  I know we have some more in our future when we move. 

[southernsis]

Only 7 more days till we pack the truck and hit the road. I am really looking forward to getting to Idaho. We have a couple of young guys to load the truck and a couple more to unload when we get there. We have decided we are to old to load and unload anymore. We have done that too many timesWe are going to have long days driving, so we don't have to spend many nights in a motel. Hate them.

[glenn kangiser]

The thought of packing is enough to keep me from moving anywhere...