Living off the grid in Hudspeth County (Wink: houses, buying)

[Winkelman]

I have been reading some of the posts from folks who have moved to or are planning to move on to undeveloped acreage in Hudspeth County.

As far as electricity goes, generators, solar or wind? I would imagine generators would be the cheapest as far as the initial expense, but expensive to operate with the current high fuel charges and they are noisy.

Anyone install solor or wind power? Are they capable of fully powering a house?

[RockyJoe817]

You may find the answer by asking one of the bloggers who actually live out towards that area.

Here is a small list of just of those people and how they live off the grid.

The Field Lab

The Shady 80 Life off the Grid

Terlingua or Bust

the desert rose

[Winkelman]

Originally Posted by RockyJoe817

You may find the answer by asking one of the bloggers who actually live out towards that area.

Here is a small list of just of those people and how they live off the grid.

The Field Lab

The Shady 80 Life off the Grid

Terlingua or Bust

the desert rose

Thanks for the links. I have been perusing them this morning, quite facscinating.

[joqua]

Originally Posted by Winkelman

Anyone install solor or wind power? Are they capable of fully powering a house?

Wind generators have been in use by ranchers (and others on remote sites) for the last century. But people did not have to have refrigerated air and all-electric houses back then. If a person today chose to live like ranchers have done for ages, then it's going to be a lot easier to supply the demand of basic needs - like lighting.

[vjsoto]

True off-grid living involves living more like the old pioneers did. Unless you have gobs of free money to spend of a solar/battery/wind project, expect to use a lot of kerosene or propane for heating and lighting at night, throw in some candlepower and expect to have absolutely no A/C. You could opt for a generator, but buying gasoline for that on a weekly basis would become quite expensive. Also plan on hauling in your own water and plan to take a bath less frequently. Installing a well is an option, but a very expensive one, and then somehow pump the water out of the ground (more energy required). Oh, and let's not forget about sewage. If you arn't storing it in a tank and emptying it on occassion, you will need to have a septic tank installed (another very expensive option).

If you are really up for it, there are plenty of resources on how to do it effectively. Just do a search on Google.

[Winkelman]

Originally Posted by vjsoto

True off-grid living involves living more like the old pioneers did. Unless you have gobs of free money to spend of a solar/battery/wind project, expect to use a lot of kerosene or propane for heating and lighting at night, throw in some candlepower and expect to have absolutely no A/C. You could opt for a generator, but buying gasoline for that on a weekly basis would become quite expensive. Also plan on hauling in your own water and plan to take a bath less frequently. Installing a well is an option, but a very expensive one, and then somehow pump the water out of the ground (more energy required). Oh, and let's not forget about sewage. If you arn't storing it in a tank and emptying it on occassion, you will need to have a septic tank installed (another very expensive option).

If you are really up for it, there are plenty of resources on how to do it effectively. Just do a search on Google.

On top of that your food choices would be limited to items that don't have to be refrigerated.

Actually I was trying to understand the mindset on undertaking something like this and people who are happy with this lifestyle. I would think the savings on buying undeveloped land would be highly outweighed by the expense of off the grid power, water, etc. Living in a building without any power and limited water with several months of hot 100 degree weather would seem unbearable.

Seems to make more sense instead of buying 40 acres 100 miles from town, buying a couple acres 20 miles from town with utilities. Probably about the same price and almost the same solitude. Then jobs, shopping and medical care is accessible.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by vjsoto

True off-grid living involves living more like the old pioneers did. Unless you have gobs of free money to spend of a solar/battery/wind project, expect to use a lot of kerosene or propane for heating and lighting at night, throw in some candlepower and expect to have absolutely no A/C. You could opt for a generator, but buying gasoline for that on a weekly basis would become quite expensive. Also plan on hauling in your own water and plan to take a bath less frequently. Installing a well is an option, but a very expensive one, and then somehow pump the water out of the ground (more energy required). Oh, and let's not forget about sewage. If you arn't storing it in a tank and emptying it on occassion, you will need to have a septic tank installed (another very expensive option).

If you are really up for it, there are plenty of resources on how to do it effectively. Just do a search on Google.

Or don't have a septic tank and just have an outhouse instead and use the gray water for the garden or trees.

I'd have to have window fans and trees but I wouldn't need an air conditioner.

[vjsoto]

Originally Posted by malamute

Or don't have a septic tank and just have an outhouse instead and use the gray water for the garden or trees.

I'd have to have window fans and trees but I wouldn't need an air conditioner.

Can't build out-houses in many areas due to zoning, and in many counties, permanent outhouses are outlawed. Any sewage site requires a permit, even if it is for personal use. If allowed by the county, out-houses, just like septic tanks, require percolation testing to evaluate potential issues with water supply contamination. Nothing is easy when it involves permits.

How will you water those nice shady trees? Gray water irrigation implies you have a plentiful source of waste water, which implies you have a plentiful supply of water. Without a well, where does the water come from? Again, if you rely on trucking water in, you probably have a limited supply, which might not be enough to grow large trees/plants. Also, keep in mind there are restrictions regarding what kind of gray water can be used for irrigation. In Arizona, you cannot use waste from a kitchen sink or any kitchen appliance that may contain food wastes as gray water. You can use washing machine runoff, bathroom sink, or shower/bathtub runoff. Check local laws and zoning restrictions before you consider building something like that else you might end up paying some heafty fines if you are caught with an illegal system.

[corvettsrock]

do you need a permit to build a home on the land that you buy thats off the grid and zoneing free