We were able to visit the "off the grid" Homestead School [Archive] - AmityMama.com

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dreamseeds
03-22-2006, 11:46 AM
What a fabulous visit. We get to see this couple when OCW has their annual meeting. But while in Oklahoma City this past week we were able to go see their life on their land.

They run off solar power, a windmill generator, an old water pump windmill, and have a beautiful garden. Their broccoli was about done in their small hoop house and they also had beautiful lettuces in their cold frame.
The bees were buzzing about. A couple chickens running around and a cat.
Just a happy humble people.

I saw my first composting toilet. Quite interesting I'd say.
They cook on a woodstove inside in winter. A propane cookstove outdoors in summer for cooking and canning.

They use a solar dehydrator to dry their garden goodies. They also use a solar water distiller for their drinking water.
We got to see their solar oven.
They use a Sun Frost refrigerator.

Another cool thing was that they took a bicycle and hooked it up to a grain mill. So they excercise while they grind their grains. Cool, huh?

I wish we could have spent more time with them, but in between basketball games that day...we ran out of time.

If anyone ever wants to visit their land, pm me for the info. It sparked new ideas in dh and I.

MotherMoon
03-22-2006, 12:02 PM
I would LOVE to live like that. But, DH loves his TV and AC too much.

Katie
03-22-2006, 12:10 PM
I would LOVE to live like that. But, DH loves his TV and AC too much.
ditto that.

Sounds just wonderful tho.

dreamseeds
03-22-2006, 02:44 PM
They actually have TV.Probably dont watch it much though.
For AC, they use awnings in the summer. They open windows at night adn close them in the morning and use celing fans. Apparantly it works really well and keeps their house about 15 degrees cooler than outside.
Isn't that cool! literally :lol:

harvestgirl
03-22-2006, 09:55 PM
sounds lovely!

BlueRoseMama
03-22-2006, 10:44 PM
How cool! Sounds heavenly...

ZenMama
03-23-2006, 03:19 PM
Excellent! My kind of place. I'll bet those people were happy being simple, living life the way they want and working hard in the fresh air. Yahoo!!

Check out my blog for pics from our trip to Cob Cottage yesterday. Their homes are handbuilt with mud, they live off the grid and do the composting toilet thing as well.

Thanks for sharing Kristerae. Did you snap any pictures?

Makai
03-24-2006, 01:44 PM
that sounds alot like the Sustainable Living School that we have here on the Island. I took my son there and he loves it. They also have 4 chickens, worm compost bin, stream fish,compost pile,gray water system,soloar oven and bio -diesal classes and classes on how to live green. there house is completely sustainable. The teacher Miss Betty is wonderful and want's to homeschool my son in trade of me working in here garden. i will hopefully start up again when we are done with our month long string of visitors :hbeat:

knittingmomma
03-24-2006, 02:07 PM
Thank you for sharing. How wonderful to see it in "real life". We are working towards sustainable living and sometimes it can seem overwhelming. This year we are concentrating on a large enough garden for ourselves (canning, cold storage) and to sell a bit as well.