Living Offgrid Affordably: Breaking More Than Ground

Reader Contribution by Jeff Chaney
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In the last article Paying For It All, we discussed collecting materials, making payments, and waiting for lumber to dry. We wanted to enjoy this property since it is in the country and very secluded. I now chose to build a campsite to enjoy on weekends, starting with a screen house and fire pit.

It was at this time that I began to understand the usefulness of having some quality tools. A solution had to be devised to address the problem of getting work done without having electricity. I purchased a cordless five and one quarter inch circular trim saw, with drill/driver and spare battery and charger as a set. This proved to be a wise decision, as I am still using these tools today.

I obtained a large tarp from a golf course that had been used to cover and protect tees against frost. At  24 feet x 48 feet, it was large enough to cover the entire site of the future storage building. We attached the tarp to four existing trees, with a cut tree trunk in the center a couple of feet taller than the edges, to aid in rain and snow melt run-off. A folded old rag was placed on top of the trunk to prevent water from soaking through. Under the tarp was placed a tent, chairs, coolers, firewood, and a small table. A fire pit was constructed just outside the tarp, from large rocks gathered on site. We constructed a “cooler box” 2 feet x 6 feet, using 2 x 4’s and plywood, with six inches of insulation on all sides. Now, we have the beginnings of a homestead. Home, sweet home!

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