A Mountain Spring Update Video - #66

Recovering Accounts when all seems lost...

People. What the heck is wrong with them? :)

Shot taken Fall 2014

People. Hmm. What a broad spectrum that is. The hold so many hopes. Dreams. Wishes. Anguish. Fears. They hold a multitude of values. Common and common-sense. I personally love them. I am happy to live 30 minutes away from them in large groups as well.

You can say that we sort of run the gamut?

Some of my readers (if there are any left after my absence from Blogger while remaining on YT and Facebook) will recall that this page was about a Journey. One that started with the love of growing food. Independence. Maybe not even that. Perhaps it is own in taking your own steps in life. One of my favorite books has a character that is a homeless woman in NYC that is mentally divergent. Having snapped after the death of her child due to her alcoholism and a car accident. In the book, the characters favorite line is , "One foot forward and the next one gets you where you are going". That is how I see the big picture of LIFE. We as the human race are travelers. We are always going somewhere. Some people get a little clouded up by focusing on the goal or the attainable. For the others it is all about FUN. The fun of enjoying the ride. The journey. Can we look back and laugh... or cry (for the "earned" memory) at what it took to get to where we were going all along.

I'll let you all in on a little secret. Recently I was able to fiscally purchase an LPG (propane) On-demand water heater and shurflo pump. For the first time in 3 years I now have access to indoor plumbing. Ha! No... I still have bathed the whole time. Just now it no longer has to involve bird bathing it in a giant bucket. When I was setting the controls up for flow and water temperature vs gas I had my GF Samantha holding a shower head into a bucket to tell me when the water got hot. At first she replied that it was cold. Nothing happened. Then. *Click* *Poof* *Sounds of intense flames inside a metal box* A raging stream of water comes pouring out of that head and envelopes her in a giant cloud of steam before I can managed to pull the plug on the water pump. I think I may have teared up a bit right then and there.

I finally have accomplished what I have been seeking to do all along. Find a place that I belong. A home. Something stable. (As much as can be in our spinning world)

What is my point for this blog entry other than to note I am still alive and that we now have plumbing? Well, several years ago when I first "dried" in the cabin I took a bunch of video of the first winter and how I was holding up. What came about was a very long 20 minute video in which I talked about insulation, firewood, creeks, and horses with Cows as friends. It wasn't a very polished video in the slightest. Matter of fact, I went on about insulation far too long. Yes. Cloud. Insulation Insulates. It makes things either colder or warmer depending on the need.

That video has gone on to be viewed135,000 times. It has 299 thumbs up and 124 thumbs down.

Youtube and internet anonymity being what it is, it has garnered some nice discussions and also some rather forceful hate towards the subject and my overall ability as a videographer. Hahaha! My latest videos have gone onto be much better in that sense.

So, this morning I received a message from a Danish Electrician as follows :

Electrician here, not here to bash you, I just find your point funny. To me you don't sound like you know what you are doing money and material wise. I just stumbled across your video, so I haven't seen your solar setup yet. But putting $7500 in such a little building is a fucking stupid thing to do, when you haven't even insulated the house properly. From those $7500, not much was required to put in that last bit of insulation. And the value would be much better. A good 250w solar panel costs about $290 here in Denmark. So I don't know how the hell you can spend the amount of money you have done, on a solar setup. Just saying, that I find your money excuse pathetic, when you can spend $21000 on shit, yet not have insulated that little shed properly. That's the opposite world; construction wise, if you ask me. Take my point, or don't. I guess it doesn't matter in this case - just hope you could maybe learn to prioritize basic things and maybe live nicer that way.


In a bit of a taken-aback, irked reply I stated such :

Cursing makes you sound like a highly intelligent individual. I did not place $7500 USD in a "little building". I placed it in 2000 watts of solar panels. A battery bank of LiFePo4 battery cells. Outback inverter/charger. Midnite solar charge controller etc. That $7500 USD investment can go where-ever I do. I can ultimately sell my land (It has already jumped in value from the $8500 USD paid in 2013 to a current value of $17,200 USD) earn a profit and then take the solar with me to another parcel of land or a suburban house if I chose to do so.  Glad you found your 250 panels for $290. I paid $0.90 USD per watt for my own. Hence all 8 panels (2000 watts) cost me $1774 USD. I am not running a little dinky 12v inverter you get from an auto shop. This is a 3600 watt continuous, 5400 watt for 30 min, 7000 surge inverter. $1800 USD, mate. $2500 USD in Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries. Not cheap car or golf cart batteries that are going to die in three years. The system is using a MPPT charge controller. Not some $30 cheap chinese PWM block. It is fully programable to accept all types of different battery chemistries. Midnite Classic charge controllers are not garbage electronics and rightly so cost a bit of money.  If you are a Danish Electrician and do not believe in spending the money on quality electronics when it comes to your safetly and longevity of your system... IDK mate. That is upon you. I would rather take the money now and spend it on quality goods rather than bitch later when I hit a hard fiscal time and have issues with the system.  A PV system is not simply running wires from a PV array into the AC breaker box. It involves lightning arrestors, combiner boxes, cabling, conduit. Charge controllers, Batteries, Inverters, DC disconnects. Large DC breakers, AC breaker boxes, ac breakers... Solar panels require fasteners and struts to brace them etc...  As I have stated before, I own 3 acres of land OUTRIGHT for $8500 USD, 2000 watts of solar with 5 kWh worth of LFP batteries (better and much costlier than Pb cells) $7500 USD. I have a grand in my eventual gazebo. I have currently $5000 USD in my cabin. A 300 SF space that is insulated and drywalled. With wood heat and lpg. Running water w/ On-demand Hot water.  I fail to see your harsh "educated" take on my fiscal choices.  Over the last 3 years this property has appreciated in value. I could sign over this place (including solar) to a homeless family for a dollar and I never lost money. (Factoring in the cost of monthly rent in the city) It has already long broke even. IF i sell the property for its appraised value... I MAKE money. If I take the solar with me... I MAKE money in addition to having a fully functional electrical system at my next home. As a Dane, how much have you spent in order to live over the last 3 years?  I live quite happy. My lights never turn off. I have no concerns when the utility grid goes black. I am warm. I am debt-free. There isn't any mortgage here.  Feel free to live your life as you see fit, but you can take a running jump through a rolling doughnut when you start judging how everyone else on this planet should live.  Way to point the finger, Rich Man. Perhaps next time you should take a simple moment to read the title of the video where it clearly and concisely states this is a video from 2013 winter.  Thanks.  Cloud

Perhaps I went over-board. Who knows. But I think that we as people need to realize that we all have a journey and that it isn't the same one for us all. Yet, in the end, we all will end up getting to where we were going to be. Let us hope that we can cherish those "Journey-Memories" that were a bit part of how we got there.

Be Kind to each other. You all are amazing.

- Cloud

The Garden Shed Project

In this video, we are building a lean to Garden shed near the trailer/tiny house/cabin. Also, a few surprise guests show up... a herd of 33 deer just 20 yards (or so) away from the 2015 Garden. Oh, my! Going to be a great season. :) - Cloud

Temporary plastic on the roof until tar paper and metal.

200th Post. Where I have been. What I am up to. Video updates!

Pondering...

I've been dead a while on Blogger. My mind has been racing elsewhere. Taking care of various projects here in our 8500FT mountains. Transitioning to Spring. (Although the weather goes back and forth between it and winter) Today we even got some small hail?

Anyhoot. I've been working more at creating Youtube videos to document the progression of living Off-Grid. To pair up better with that I have created a Facebook page as well. http://facebook.com/thestayathomegardener

I believe that will allow me to interact easier with people as well as post photos and commentary between video updates. :-) 

As far as resuming blogger... I am not sure whether I will simply remove it or retain it as another platform to interact with such great and interesting people.

On the chance that a few of you have missed the Youtube channel, Youtube.com/user/cnypilot, below are a couple video links to recent happenings! #61 is a video about the start of the 2015 Garden season here at 8500FT/2560m in the mountains of Colorado. While #60 is a video flashback to when I first installed Solar electricity in 2013 and the journey started. :)

 

#60 - Beginnings of Solar

 

#61 - Changes (Gardening)

PS. In the upcoming #62 video I will be showing off the build of a Garden Shed that Samantha and I have been working on.

Garden Shed inspiration from Pinterest

Raising Walls.

Hanging about.

Coming along nicely, me thinks.

Stupid County does not plow roads !

On my way back from Denver last Sunday morning (enroute to help a guy set up his Off-Grid Solar system) I crested a hill at 25mph. Driving very cautiously in 4 wheel drive. Coming down the other side the rear end slid out and the truck came down the road sideways. The front end finally turned back to the correct direction I was going, but only long enough to drive me into the ravine, through several 4" thick trees, a metal post/sign, and all came to a stop when I cut a 40ft tall aspen (12inch thick) in half. Luckily, I walked away unscathed. The truck is dead. Hopefully I can find another similar so It can be used for parts (more valuable) than selling it as scrap. :-/

UPDATE: I had a gentleman come by and look at my Ranger. He is going to purchase it. Use it as a down payment on another he has and I shall make some small payments to him. Basically the same vehicle. One year newer and Silver.

Wintry Updates.

Heart beating, warm, and surviving. Life is certainly on the up-swing, folks! In the last 6 weeks, I have managed to find a new, loving relationship, purchased a mountain 4x4 truck, and even start a part time job for coffee money. (Plus a few bucks to finish cabin, check out the city on occasion, also eventually start that boat!)

Hopefully all of you are prepared for a nice winter season. What have you managed to accomplish lately? Have you attained your yearly goals and ready for a new year of additional ones? :) I am curious whether you all set goals for yourself each year to gauge what direction you are moving towards.

- Cloud

Hanging out with Mr. P

Hmm. That is not right...

I do not know about all of you, but I am beginning to consider it Winter.

68F Indoors | 0F outdoors

Playing with Weather, Mountains, and Time Lapse Photography

The Gopro is a nice camera for doing all sorts of things. It takes 12 mexapixel stills at 4000x3000 resolution. Decided to do some time lapse photography, much to the nagging of a friend of mine. Each segment, I would set up the camera to take a shot every half second. Then wait 30 minutes before shutting it down. That ended up being 2600 stills to be imported to the video editor and at a size of 11 gigs! Now do that a couple more times and you have some material to do something with!

That first clip of 2600 photos became a 1m26s clip in which I sped up to 20 second.

:)

Hope all is well with you all!

Oh. I might have a date tonight! (I say might, because I am always passive about the situation until someone actually shows up! Ha!)

Fingers Crossed.

Resurrection from the Dead.

If you recall around 6 plus months ago I had inadvertently dropped the GoPro Hero 3 camera into a tote of laundry and lots and lots of water. In the split second thereafter, it was snatched up, with my cursing, then fell silent. The camera was dead. $400 was no more.

That was last winter. As you can imagine, I was reluctant to dig into expensive electronics. It took months of writing it off until it came back up. Over the last couple days, I gave the GoPro to a friend to take apart. He noticed a bit of dried soap and corrosion inside. However, due to not having small enough Torx tools to open it further up, he had to stop. Luckily I had a T4 small enough. 

Removed all the ribbon cords. The lens. The printed circuit boards. Everything. Q-tip in hand, off I went. So much green copper corrosion on the terminals and powdery dried soap.

In the end, it was put back together as it came apart. Then plugged into the computer to charge the battery. After 15 minutes, the LCD screen beeped on. There she was. A Lazarus coming back to say hello!

:) Oh, happy day was yesterday!

Now I can return to getting better at making vlogs. Chronicling my journey over the years. Hopefully even some Plant growth Time-lapsing.

Hope all is well with you!

- Cloud

Video # 51 - Flashback - REI Tent Life Aug 2013

Tiny House - One Year Anniversary.

Today marks the one year anniversary of the solar powered Tiny House. That is all. :)

Amazing how many sono tubes fit in a kia sol

Drilling the holes for concrete piers.

Bare Bones

A year later. Coming along.

Still enjoying the good life!

Holy Moly.... Last night was cold!

What started out as a pleasant day to build a fence on the 11th. Suddenly, the 12th comes by (ok. ok. So it came its normal 24 hrs later. : P ) and drops the temperature 30 degrees.  Most of the day was hovering around 45F/7C. Evening was barely above freezing. Woke up this morning, checked the thermometer, states that last night low was 26F/-3C. Yuck. We managed to get our first snow about two weeks earlier than last year. This year was the 10th. Last year was the 22nd.

Happily today is much warmer. Plenty of sun shine to charge the batteries. (Used quite a bit of their capacity last night with the space heater. I'm holding off as long as possible with starting a first fire for the year. ) Should get up to 70 or so.

Took yesterday off. I wasn't feeling building a fence with such temps and overcast. Project for today involves painting the bottom 2ft worth of the cedar 6x6 posts that will be buried in the ground. Preventing a bit of rot over the long run. They are cedar, so should fair well already, but doesn't hurt to give it a boost. If I had access to a bit of Roof Tar, I would use that, but at the moment, on hand it is a 5 gallon pale of thick Behr paint. Angle cut the tops of the posts to shed water. Square. Plumb. Get the heights all leveled out amongst themselves. Then attach the 2x8 cedar boards at either 3 or 4 ft between each post.

Here is a video of what I managed to accomplish on the 10th :

These are my Amish lifting suspenders. I bench Amish in them.

Fences and fingers.

:) Hello everyone !

You all recall how my original build was supposed to be on concrete piers. Time passed by and it was switched to wheels. Not because the first was illegal. It was a permit exempt built structure after all. It was personal aggravation at the over-the-line county man.

In the original design, I had 6x6 rough sawn timber posts that were notched to accept 2x8 boards that would wrap around the inside of the structure as a focal point. Now that I have switched to converting the building into a gazebo, there remains a number of 8 foot posts and 2x8 cedar boards.

For months, I have pondered what to do with them. A local across the way wanted to trade me for them. Over the year, however, I have grown attached to my lumber. So, reluctant as I was... I kept them.

Today, the wind blew, and inspiration wafted through the air. I decided to build a fence! A year ago, in quickness to keep out the county and any other nosy people, I used metal posts and wire. Much the same as everyone around me uses. (Fencing multiple acres gets rather costly to build something beautiful)

" Had some rough sawn 6x6 cedar posts left over from when I decided to change my original building into a gazebo. Working on building a nice fence for the property entrance. "

" Holes are dug. Just have to saw the tops at an angle to shed water. Plum and square them to each other. Get the heights in line. Then attach the rough sawn 2x8 cedar boards I have at about 4ft level. Then add the electric wire to keep the trespassers out ! "

Tomorrow will be squaring them to each other, plumb, and attaching the 8ft lengths of 2x8 cedar board at 3-4ft height to create an actual fence.

Oh, and I smashed my little finger. It is all better now though!

- Cloud

#49 - Flashback. Take a flight with me!

Come take a Flight with me!

Bad. Bad! Kitty.

Mr. P got out Aug 31st. Decided to hide under the crawlspace at Judy's again. He wouldn't come out. My dumb self decided to shove my arm in the hole to pull him out. He did not want it. Bit down full force on my arm. Scratched me up pretty badly. Had to go get a bunch of thick socks to wrap up my arm so I could pull him out. Got a fever from it. Had to go to the hospital for antibiotics. Put on an IV drip for an hour or so. Tetanus shot. Blood work. At least I know that my kidney's and Liver are tip top !

Pickles is back to being super nice. (I put him in his carrier from 11am to 8pm that day. Then in there at night while I sleep as normal. )

What did I learn? Dumbass, do not shove your arm in a dark hole with a wild animal.

He goes over there because there is a female cat that lives there.

Guess I have to take him in to the vet to make sure he is not sick and on his way out due to wildly changing behavior in that instant.

I will be sad if I have to put him down. However, I cannot stand for abusive relationships.

Deep bite mark in the center with reddenning from infection.

Serious deep scratches. Photos do not do it justice.

Hospital souvenir - White admittance bracelet.

#48 Vlog - Metal Roofing and Painting.

Got a bit of painting done yesterday. I think I am going to carry on with it today. :)

PROJECT - Updated : Additional Pictures

Project - Paint some shit !

Updated: 4pm. Painted some stuff until it started the sprinkle. Then I got scared. Ran back inside. Then It stopped sprinkling having seen victory in chasing me off.

Weapons

Under Roof. Rim Joist. Testing look of trim area.

With Installed Loft Ladder indoors: I have a ladder to work!

#47 Vlog - Something a little Different

Here is something a little different. A musician friend of mine and I were playing around yesterday.

Video Blog #46. A Look Inside the House

Greetings and Salutations :

Posted a new video. I am still saddened at the lost of the GoPro and its wonderful video. The show must go on!

Did a bit of re-arranging the house the other day. Really feels like I added 100SF to it. It has a more open floor plan.

I think by not finishing it last year, it allowed me to actually see how it all flows together. Now I can build it to be much more functional.

- Cloud

Here is a couple shots of this afternoon with a lovely rain event and then the golden sun rays peering out thereafter.

The Concept of Economic Break-Evens.

" He is OK. He has a Hot Dog and Fire. "

 Howdy Doody and all that!

For some reason today, I have been pondering over the concept of economic break-even.

Mr. P and I were strolling about the yard. In my hand was a three prong garden pick/fork. Staring out into mountainous oblivion. Cat following happily behind me. Laying down in the shade created by my silhouette when I would stop to ponder again. 

Normally when folks make big purchases they attempt to see if it makes sense fiscally. Say, in the case of Solar electricity setups. The question is, why would I spend all that money. I can pay for a lot of KWH with that. It would take forever to pay it off. Would it ever break even or more importantly, make me money?

For my very specific instance. The cost (@$7500USD) already broke even with the decision of not paying the local utility to install a pole and run a line. In that circumstance, I would have paid a small fortune and not have anything physical to show for it. (That is, the ownership of panels, inverters, controllers, batteries, as well as 'owning' the future well-being of my own person with power-security)  This is a good thing because if you recall, I do not use a lot of electricity in my day to day life unless I go out of my way to use the 'excess' potential of the system during the day. To date, in over a year, I have used 1100KWH or around 2.5kwh per day. At roughly 12 cents per unit, if I already had access to the grid, it would have cost me $132USD. If I used the entire daily average potential of the solar system it would have come up to $438 (3650kwh) (Omitting all the other service and bogus tax charges or different tiers)

You can easily see my weird situation. I broke even by needing/wanting access to electricity and opting to not pay for a power pole to connect to. In the process I 'saved' money over that choice AND I get ownership of tangible items. I quote 'Save' because that as well is an abstract thought. How does one save money when they are shelling out $7500?? You have to understand that I am very confused when someone is elated that they 'Saved' 50% on some purchase when it is a BOGO item or the like. My immediate thought is how much money I 'Saved' by simply not purchasing ANYTHING at all. Ha!

Was it a wise decision to purchase land. Go off-grid. Purchase Solar. Live in a Tiny House.  

Let us break it down a bit. (Über-duper cost analysis below)

I am about in for around $21,000USD.

$8500 for a couple acres, $7500 for electricity when you figure the mountings and misc, the rest is building material costs between the two buildings. The original one on concrete piers and the one thereafter on a wheeled base. (I think I can finish it all up for an additional $2000) 

Was I crazy to spend all that money and live in a tent for 10 months all over the US to accomplish it. 

If I were to sell this place, no one could get a bank loan for anything other than basically raw land (unimproved) with an out-building or two. Shed's basically. Plus One mighty fine wheeled utility trailer. (I guess I am the Toy in this hauler) 

Hmm. Doesn't sound very good for building equity. 

WAIT. OK. If I was living in an apartment I would most likely be spending around $700 a month. $21,000 divided into $700 comes out to 30 months. All things equal, if I make 30 months here, then I 'break even' on cost for cost. But. No. At the 30 month mark I would have spent the same in rent as doing all this, however, I still have land and solar and some mighty fine outbuildings. 

Toss in $50 bucks a month in Electricity or so (300kwh) that cuts off $600 bucks a year. Bringing me closer to the parity between the two choices (Me living here or renting in the city) of around two years. 

This whole thing tells me that after two years, even if I walked away, never made a dime on it. Say, transferred it to a homeless person or family for a dollar, I would be no worse off than if I had rented in the big city. All without making a dime. 

So, when you think about the validity of homes on wheels and whether tiny houses make any long term fiscal sense... it behooves you to think further. Yes. There are those Tiny Houses in which people put $50 grand in them. Material choices and costs vary wildly! Pick what appeals to you. Regardless they will never be a $500 70s travel trailer as some YouTube commenter would tell you. They really are miniature houses. 

According to the county assessor, this land is already worth about $13,000. 

The solar panels are guaranteed out to 25-30 years. At which, they are supposed to still produce 80% of rated. 1600 watts worth after 30 years. It's doubtful that I have not increased it in size for an electric car and bigger house with larger loads or simply move to electric heating exclusively (just because I can). The thought is that you replace your inverter every 15 years or so. (Converts battery Direct current into Alternating in order to power normal things that plug in the wall) Right now, if prices remained, I would have to shell out $1800 for a new one. (This is a top line with the highest wattage Outback makes. To get bigger, you have to hook additional ones together. 48 volt/3600 watt constant/5400 for 20 minutes/ 7000 for a couple seconds.) In 10-15 years I probably will have to replace batteries as well. 

Another year of living the semi-retired Hobo life and I will have broke even. 

What are your thoughts and take on it all? Could you see the worth in purchasing something even knowing that it isn't going to be able to be sold later, but over all, the ability of using it to offset the very costly choices you would have made in its place, makes you money.

- Cloud

// The Trailer's main floor/living is 12'x14' (168SF). The Upstairs Loft is 12'x8' (96SF). 264SF Total //

Total INV

$21,392.01

OFF-GRID			Cost			Land
Land	2.88 acre		$8,500.00			$8,500.00
OFF-GRID			Cost			Solar
Panels–250w	8	$221.77	$1,774.16
Charge Cntr	1	$659.00	$659.00
Inverter	1	$1,877.43	$1,877.43
Lightning Arr	1	$95.81	$95.81
Combiner bx	1	$144.25	$144.25
Batteries	16	$149.00	$2,500.16	$116.16
Shipping			$223.01
						$7,273.82
OFF-GRID			Cost			Tiny House
Trailer	1	$800.00	$800.00
Fl/wall Spply	1	$591.75	$591.75
Roof/supply	1	$1,149.33	$1,149.33
Screws	1	$22.29	$22.29
Fireplace/Vnt	1	$175.00	$175.00
Door Material	1	$73.26	$73.26
Insltn-Paint	1	$480.50	$480.50
Clk-pnt-stpls	1	$17.26	$17.26
Windows	2	$88.96	$183.08			$3,857.79
Cork Floor			$365.32
OFF-GRID			Cost			Gazebo
Materials			$1,622.13
			$61.87
			$100.07
			$38.20
						$1,760.4