Gratefully, the solar array is working as designed. Most days, it meets all our needs, keeps the batteries charged and sells power back to the grid. Our Sol-Ark 15k hybrid inverter is a marvel. It connects directly to our 200 amp service and feeds the entire breaker panel – no need for a separate critical load panel. …
With our primary residence mostly self-sufficient, Bob pivoted to ensuring the Cedar house was protected in the event of power loss, particularly as we had a refrigerator and two check freezers inside. Quite a few new products came to market since we began our build, so there were more options from which to choose, and …
With chickens, bees, and a young flock of sheep, we needed new LGDs quickly! Still heartsick with the loss of Elgie and Hank, we went back to work. We decided we would seek another pair of GP and/or Anatolian Shepherd mix pups one at a time and name them Bonnie and Clyde. First came Bonnie, …
On properties like ours, there is much to protect from unwanted predators. Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGDs) are a popular approach. We’ve always been (outdoor) dog lovers, so we looked forward to acquiring an LGD or two. We learned that several breeds were developed to have the instinct and temperament to be excellent LGDs. Two in …
Raising sheep is of little value unless they multiply. For that, we needed a ram. Last November, we invested in Rambo, a 2-year-old Katahdin. The timing was designed to breed our 8 ewes for May lambing when the weather is warming and the pastures lush. But May came and went – and not a …
Solar power had been part of our resiliency plan from the start, it just took a long time to come to fruition. Planning began before the house build. Our goal was to power the homestead in the event of an extended grid-down event, while reducing our dependence on the power grid. With the help of …
This was our first – and hopefully last – adventure building a home. In retrospect, it was a wonderful experience. With the build finally finished and the decorating started, it’s time for us to rejoice and rest a bit. OK, we’ll just rejoice… r We chose a very expensive time to build a new home …
A good dog is a great asset to any farm. The right dog who is well trained will protect both your property and livestock. However, if any of you knew Christi well in Marietta, she was VERY opposed to getting anymore dogs. As she used to say, “When this dog dies (referring to Kimmie), I’m …
One dream Christi has had for several years is to raise bees. In our last neighborhood, the boy next door was allergic to bee stings. Being (mostly) responsible neighbors, we opted to wait for a better location. Ninety-seven acres seems to fit that bill. Together we took an online bee keeping class over several weeks. …
From the outset, we intended to raise ruminants on pasture for our own food needs and to offset homestead expenses. The question was what to raise? Most folks around here raise cattle. There is a good market for the meat, the cattle thrive on the cool season grasses that grow here and they are …
