It can be overwhelming to get started with solar power. Before we went off-grid in 2017, we went down so many solar rabbit holes from YouTube and DIY solar forums to books and blogs. To make things a little easier, this post is going to lay out our absolute favorite resources for solar power beginners….
Off-Grid Refrigeration: Propane vs. Electric (and our experiences with both)
Imagine with me…it was 2017, and we were working around the clock to finish our off-grid cordwood house so we could move in before winter set in. We’d just installed our first (quite tiny) solar power system with just 1140 watts worth of solar panels and a few lead-acid batteries. It was just about all…
From Lead Acid to Lithium: Our Off-Grid Solar Expansion
We originally went off the grid back in 2017 with a very small 24-volt system. Things went pretty well for three years with a mere 1140 watts of solar panel potential. We couldn’t run an air conditioner with it, but it kept the lights, cistern pump, water heater, radiant heat, computers, TV, and crockpot humming…
Can Homesteading REALLY Save You Money?
When my husband and I first dove into the world of homesteading nearly 20 years ago, so much of the conversation was about how homesteading could save you money. This notion of simple living as a money-saving venture became especially desirable as the Great Recession took hold. We made startlingly little money during that time,…
Beginners Guide to Buying a Quality Solar Power Kit
If you’re looking at installing a solar power system, you might be tempted by the vast number of solar power kits on the market. A solar power kit might seem like a super easy solution to your power problems. Just buy a kit, install it and BOOM you’ve got power!…right?? Well, not really. Just like…
37+ Low and Zero-Waste Gift Ideas For Every Budget
If you’re anything like me, you might be trying to live a more low-waste or even a zero-waste lifestyle. It’s important to you to reduce your plastic waste and lower your impact on the planet. And because of that, the thought of buying more useless plastic junk for the people you love just because it’s…
BOROUX Water Filter Review 2025-26: Our Complete No BS Review
Updated October 2025 We’ve lived off-grid since the end of 2017, and since shortly after we moved in, we’ve been filtering our cistern water with a Big Berkey filter. We’ve loved our Berkey! It has provided us with safe, clean drinking water without all the plastic waste of buying bottles. But when Berkey replacement filters…
What Happened to Berkey? Water Filter Options for 2026 and Beyond
UPDATED October 10, 2025 For years, Berkey Filters had been a trusted water filtration option for myself and for millions of families. However, recent circumstances have changed things. Is Berkey still an option? And if not, what alternatives are there for ensuring safe, clean drinking water in your home? Read on to find out. My…
Pros and Cons of Building With Cordwood Masonry
I once had a fat stack of Mother Earth News sitting in an ancient wooden magazine rack in my suburban living room. I’d pore over the endless photos of permaculture gardens, canning, and beehives. But the topic that most caught my eye was building with cordwood masonry. Cordwood masonry is a style of natural building…
30+ Ways to Start a Vegetable Garden for Cheap or Free
If you’re anything like me, you probably want to grow a food garden because it’s enjoyable. You love digging in the earth. You love watching seeds come to life and turn into something delicious. But gardening isn’t typically a free venture. It’s so easy to go to the garden center and spend a small fortune…