Category: Building a New Homestead

Our off grid house is becoming more of a reality everyday. We are getting pretty far along with the architect and now have a virtual model to walk through. I thought it would be fun to show you around! Apologies in advance for the poor screen capture, my capture software wasn’t working with this virtual modelling software.

We are thinking of SIPs for the roof, double wall construction for the walls, ICF for the basement, and spancrete for the floor. We managed to get the number of doors opening directly to the outside down to just one. Many windows will be fixed and all the operational windows will be tilt and turn. Most of our windows will either be triple or quad paned, except on the back porch, which will likely be double paned glass since it will not be heated or cooled.

Still lots to do, but we are getting close. I hope to have more driveway updates soon, but things are looking promising! Thanks for watching!

driftlessinwi

This video gives a detailed look at the power systems involved in our off the grid energy system. We did not want to significantly alter our lifestyle, so we are trying to build a system and house capable of providing the basic luxuries we have become accustomed to. Basically, we just want to live the same way we would in a grid tied system.

When you go off grid you need to think of redundancy since you can’t outsource your power needs to someone else. If a system breaks, you need another to take over. We are planning on using solar, wind, propane, limited gasoline, firewood, and even Vehicle to Home (V2H) to generate all the energy we need.

This is version 1.0 and we will continue to tweak and modify as more experts get involved, and as we better understand the energy demands of the new house. Thanks for watching!

driftlessinwi

In this episode, I drive the proposed driveway route (most of it). It will be over 3300ft long and starts at an elevation around 770 ft above sea level and rises to over 1010 ft. We have requirements of staying under 13% grade to get our driveway approved. The surveyors just marked off the lot lines and performed a topographic study. We should get the results in the next few weeks. If all goes well, we will be able to get up to the hilltop build site.

The long distance from utilities has incentivized us to go completely off grid. Just running the electric line to the house would cost close to a full solar power setup. We are currently working with an architect to design a smallish 4 bedroom passive house (1700 sq ft). I will be sharing more of that process as we get further along. Thanks for watching!

driftlessinwi

After moving to the country 10 years ago and establishing our current homestead, we are planning to build an off grid home and establish a new homestead on a property about 3 miles from our current location. This is the first episode in what will be many videos on how it all happens. We are estimating 1-2 years before we actually move in.

In this episode I am clearing out buckthorn to open up the build site so we can at least conceptualize how things will be.

Lot’s of work to do in establishing the new homestead, including:

-Getting surveys done

-Town and county approvals

-Building a driveway, a really long one! 3300ft

-Making an off grid home -Building a garage

-Building a solar power array and off grid energy setup

-Fences for cows, goats, horses, and alpacas?

-Planting an orchard, vineyard, and wildflower garden

-Setting up a bee hive

-Transplanting my entire workshop and sawmill

-And likely…much much more!

I will try to be as transparent as possible with the steps involved and the costs associated with everything in case you decide to do this someday 🙂

Thanks for watching! driftlessinwi