5 ms·

Joey Hess (of git-annex fame, and HN user) lives in quite similar setting. To have an idea of this home habits, have a look at the notes written for caretakers

by gioele 12y ago

Joey Hess (of git-annex fame, and HN user) lives in quite similar setting. To have an idea of this home habits, have a look at the notes written for caretakers of his home while he is away: https://joeyh.name/blog/entry/notes_for_a_caretaker/ https://joeyh.name/blog/entry/notes_for_a_caretaker/

unwind 12y ago
Interesting. This stood out, for me: Consider brushing the cat, with the folding saw, on the left-side porch steps, every other day. Hairballs.. What? He brushes his cat with a saw? I haven't ever had a cat, but that sounds af it might make the cat somewhat upset. Or perhaps the saw is fantastically dull? Interesting. :)
- bsdshepherd 12y ago
  In urban areas one uses a shedding blade. 'Out here' the concepts of modularity and reuse are vital to survival.
bsdshepherd 12y ago
Thank you for the link. I live much the same way for the same reasons and this: > drain water from trays of salt underneath the pantry shelves, and run the fan. is going to be a game changer.
- 33W 12y ago
  Can you explain this one? I'm trying to picture why one would have a tray of salt under the shelf, why it would have water in it, and how to drain the water without draining the (assumed to be dissolved) salt.
  - oftenwrong 12y ago
    My guess is that it is being used as a dehumidifier. The salt will absorb moisture from the air since it is hygroscopic. However, I can't imagine there being a significant effect without a lot of salt. The salt probably would not dissolve entirely, so you could strain it. Some dissolved salt would be lost each time. You could also cook/boil off the water, but that would require a lot of energy for an off-the-grid cabin.
    - bsdshepherd 12y ago
      > My guess is that it is being used as a dehumidifier. Yes. > without a lot of salt. 25 & 50 pound bags are fairly common to buy and store. > You could also cook/boil off the water, but that would require a lot of energy for an off-the-grid cabin. Or moved outside into the sunshine under glass to evaporate. A large mistake I used to often make was trying to design self contained solutions. Keeping modularity in mind, and moving things about during the day solves a huge range of problems. A cast off sliding glass door makes an excellent alternative to herbicides - just lay it down on the grass. It also aids in heating water, drying clothes, meat, herbs - what have you.
chadgeidel 12y ago
Can someone explain or link to the "fridge" that he has that appears to be some sort of heat-powered device? (light/chimney/warm to touch) I've never heard of such a thing.
- Johnythree 12y ago
  Absorption refrigerator http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absorption_refrigerator http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absorption_refrigerator
- bsdshepherd 12y ago
  > heat-powered device? Propane gas appliances such as refrigerators and freezers are common 'off the grid'. As one would 'fork' off a code base (e.g. before systemd), the same can be done with farm / self sufficient technology. Check out _Farm Tools_, by Michael Partridge. Everything I did when I moved to a rural area was wrong because I was using a late 20th century mindset. The late 1800's had tremendously better ways of doing things. Try thinking of the Amish as late adopters, instead of being backward. Some of the things they do, such as converting electrical tools to use compressed air, will give some great insights.

by gioele 12y ago

unwind 12y ago

Interesting. This stood out, for me: Consider brushing the cat, with the folding saw, on the left-side porch steps, every other day. Hairballs.. What? He brushes his cat with a saw? I haven't ever had a cat, but that sounds af it might make the cat somewhat upset. Or perhaps the saw is fantastically dull? Interesting. :)

bsdshepherd 12y ago
In urban areas one uses a shedding blade. 'Out here' the concepts of modularity and reuse are vital to survival.

bsdshepherd 12y ago

Thank you for the link. I live much the same way for the same reasons and this: > drain water from trays of salt underneath the pantry shelves, and run the fan. is going to be a game changer.

33W 12y ago
Can you explain this one? I'm trying to picture why one would have a tray of salt under the shelf, why it would have water in it, and how to drain the water without draining the (assumed to be dissolved) salt.
- oftenwrong 12y ago
  My guess is that it is being used as a dehumidifier. The salt will absorb moisture from the air since it is hygroscopic. However, I can't imagine there being a significant effect without a lot of salt. The salt probably would not dissolve entirely, so you could strain it. Some dissolved salt would be lost each time. You could also cook/boil off the water, but that would require a lot of energy for an off-the-grid cabin.
  - bsdshepherd 12y ago
    > My guess is that it is being used as a dehumidifier. Yes. > without a lot of salt. 25 & 50 pound bags are fairly common to buy and store. > You could also cook/boil off the water, but that would require a lot of energy for an off-the-grid cabin. Or moved outside into the sunshine under glass to evaporate. A large mistake I used to often make was trying to design self contained solutions. Keeping modularity in mind, and moving things about during the day solves a huge range of problems. A cast off sliding glass door makes an excellent alternative to herbicides - just lay it down on the grass. It also aids in heating water, drying clothes, meat, herbs - what have you.

chadgeidel 12y ago

Can someone explain or link to the "fridge" that he has that appears to be some sort of heat-powered device? (light/chimney/warm to touch) I've never heard of such a thing.

Johnythree 12y ago
Absorption refrigerator http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absorption_refrigerator http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absorption_refrigerator
bsdshepherd 12y ago
> heat-powered device? Propane gas appliances such as refrigerators and freezers are common 'off the grid'. As one would 'fork' off a code base (e.g. before systemd), the same can be done with farm / self sufficient technology. Check out _Farm Tools_, by Michael Partridge. Everything I did when I moved to a rural area was wrong because I was using a late 20th century mindset. The late 1800's had tremendously better ways of doing things. Try thinking of the Amish as late adopters, instead of being backward. Some of the things they do, such as converting electrical tools to use compressed air, will give some great insights.