Bob's Corner? Yes or No

Well, it seems that the writing bug bit Bob... he asked me to create a poll asking my wonderful readers if you would like to see the semi-regular messages written by him?

Take the poll on the right, it ends in one week from today.

I assume that most of you will want to hear from Bob, so let's start the ball rolling, what questions would you like to ask Bob? Post them here in the comments, after I get enough questions, I'll have him answer the questions. :)


To read all of my messages on Off-Grid.net, click here:
http://www.off-grid.net/section/wretha/

Wretha

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Well Duh!

The headline reads "Free Range Chickens More Prone To Disease", just Google it and you will find page after page of the same story, it seems that "someone" is trying to prove that free range chickens are no better or possibly worse than caged chickens. And I am ticked off about it!



Read the rest of the story here:
http://www.off-grid.net/2009/01/25/well-duh/

To read all of my messages on Off-Grid.net, click here:
http://www.off-grid.net/section/wretha/

Wretha

Thanks for visiting, Please leave all comments on the Off-Grid site instead of here, all the messages from this blog have been moved to the Off-Grid site, thanks!
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Travel Trailer/Redneck Games pt 1

It took 3 days, lots of sweat, nerves of steel, and a lot of that Archimedes factor to get a small travel trailer from one side of the creek to the other. Should be easy… that’s what I thought!

Read the rest of the story here:
http://www.off-grid.net/2009/01/20/travel-trailerredneck-games-pt-1/

To read all of my messages on Off-Grid.net, click here:
http://www.off-grid.net/section/wretha/


Wretha

Thanks for visiting, Please leave all comments on the Off-Grid site instead of here, all the messages from this blog have been moved to the Off-Grid site, thanks!
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To My Loyal Readers

I have some of the best readers in the world IMHO, some of you have followed me from nearly day one, some of you have just found me... I am curious about how you found me, I have a tracker and can tell where some of you came from (links), but I'd like to know more, so if you wouldn't mind, would you kindly leave a comment and answer the questions below? As always, this is strictly voluntary, you do not have to disclose anything you don't want to.

1. How did you find this blog?

2. Tell me something about yourself

3. Where are you located (feel free to give as much or as little as you wish, but please remember that the whole world potentially reads this)

4. How long have you been reading my blog?

5. If you are a repeat visitor, what brings you back?

6. What would you like to know that I haven't covered?

7. Is there anything about me that you would like to know that I haven't talked about here? (I can't guarantee that I will answer, but feel free to ask)

8. Anything else you would like to add.

I would like to thank each and every person who takes time out of their busy day to visit my blog, you have no idea how much it means to me. :)

Wretha

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Lemonade Stand Award

Hello everyone, I just received the Lemonade Stand Award from Johnson Family Farm, thanks Chris! I don't know how I got so lucky, but I'm happy to receive this award. This is the first such award I have received for this blog, and I am honored to have this one. :)

In order to accept this award, I must follow the rules of the award:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post

2. Nominate 10 blogs that show gratitude or great attitude or both

3. Be sure to link your nominees within your post

4. Let them know they have received this award by commenting on their blog

5. Share the love and link this post to the person whom you received your award from

With that being said, here goes, I nominate, in no particular order:

Keep It Simple Survival

Food Storage... A Necessary Adventure

High Desert Gardening

Down To Earth

Razor Family Farms

Stop The Ride

Handmaiden's Kitchen

Make It From Scratch

Survival Lady

Stealth Survival

I have many blogs that I follow, and this is by no means the complete list, but since I could only pick 10, I had to narrow the list down to these. Thanks everyone! :)

Wretha

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Doom and Gloom...

…it’s coming to a station near you. I’m not one for doom and gloom, though anyone starting a sentence with “I’m not one for doom and gloom…” probably has a bit of it on the brain. I don’t have a TV therefore I get very little in the way of news and such. A good thing as far as I’m concerned, who needs it! It’s generally full of D&G, dozens or more channels telling us how we evil humans are destroying the planet, global warming, bovine flatulence and such, while bombarding us with commercials and infomercials on the latest fashions, diet adverts and penile enhancements…


Read the rest of the story here:
http://www.off-grid.net/2009/01/07/doom-and-gloom/

To read all of my messages on Off-Grid.net, click here:
http://www.off-grid.net/section/wretha/

Wretha

Thanks for visiting, Please leave all comments on the Off-Grid site instead of here, all the messages from this blog have been moved to the Off-Grid site, thanks!
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Homemade Pasta - Yes You Can!

Homemade pasta, it’s easy, it’s cheap, it’s tasty, did I mention it’s cheap? I had found several recipes on line for homemade egg noodles, I had a pasta roller that I had purchased many years ago, I had the ingredients I needed, so why not give it a try?



Read the rest of the story here:
http://www.off-grid.net/2009/01/02/homemade-pasta/

To read all of my messages on Off-Grid.net, click here:
http://www.off-grid.net/section/wretha/

This is the pasta machine I have and use.



Wretha

Thanks for visiting, Please leave all comments on the Off-Grid site instead of here, all the messages from this blog have been moved to the Off-Grid site, thanks!
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Simple Solar Homesteading Book Review

Before our big move off the grid, I did a lot of research to learn everything I could about living off grid. I used the internet as my main source of information. I quickly found a great source of info at LaMar Alexander’s website. In following with my Off Grid – On The Cheap message, this is a very practical, hands on approach to how to get off the grid without having to spend lots of money. Who is LaMar? I can tell you that LaMar is genuine, he is one of the few people talking and teaching about living off grid, who is actually living the off grid lifestyle. I’d say that LaMar knows what he is talking about. LaMar has taken all of his experiences and put it all together in an ingenious book called “Simple Solar Homesteading” This book comes as both a hard copy and in digital format. It is written in a down to earth language, complex ideas are broken down into easy to understand solutions. You don’t have to be a professional to understand and follow the directions found in this book.
The book is well laid out and easy to navigate. It covers a myriad of subjects ranging from how to build your own cabin to dehydrating food and many other great ways to live off grid and be more self sufficient.
Here are a few of the how to projects in this book:

• How to build a solar cabin
• How to build a solar panel and generator power station
• How to build a solar composting toilet
• How to build a rain water and gray water recycling system
• How to build a solar oven
• How to build a food dehydrator

LaMar’s Cabin

When you open the book, the first thing you see is a picture of LaMar’s cabin. This cabin was designed and built by and for LaMar. He lives here full time, so it has to be functional, yet it is also has a simple charm and style that easy to customize to fit your own needs and tastes.

The book is full of step by step directions as well as lots of pictures. LaMar includes many tips and tricks to help you get things done quicker and cheaper. Not only does he show you how to build your cabin, he also helps you to figure out the best location and proper orientation. The price of this book is incredibly inexpensive, both the hard copy and the digital, it would be a bargain at any price though. It’s very clear that LaMar is more interested in passing on his knowledge than getting rich.
The book also contains LaMar’s history, how he became interested in living off grid, he discusses his childhood living in his grandfather’s and father’s homestead. It certainly is clear where he got his inspiration and interest in cabins and being independent.
What is my favorite project in the book? It has to be the solar composting toilet, or is it the solar oven? What, you expect me to pick just one???
I was able to talk LaMar into taking a few minutes out of his day to answer some questions, a small interview if you will. :)

Why did you decide to build your own cabin, of your own design and go off grid?
I was raised by homesteading parents so this lifestyle was in my blood. Since I was a teenager I have had a dream to build my own small solar cabin and when I quit teaching high school and moved back to my home town the timing was perfect.
When did you do this?
I started living off grid about 15 years ago in RV campers and small cabins but I built the solar cabin I live in now about 5 years ago.
Who is your biggest inspiration?
My grandparent and parent who were true homesteader that lived in cabins and supplied their own food through 3 wars and the great depression.
Is your cabin complete or are you still working on it?
My cabin is always a work in progress as I add things all the time. I recently rewired my lights for fluorescents and will be building an extension next year.
What are you working on now?
I am busy getting www.homesteadernews.com up and running thru winter and in spring I plan to build a deck and room extension. Lots of stuff to do!
What is your next project?
see above
What is the hardest thing about your off grid lifestyle?
Going out in the cold to feed and water animals. I am working on self feeders and waterers.
What surprised you the most about living off grid?
Peoples reactions to my cabin as they think it looks small from the road but once they get up close and see the inside they are amazed at how much room and all my amenities.
If you had this to do all over again, knowing what you know now, what (if anything) would you do different?
I don’t think I would do anything different as I am very happy!
Is money were no object, what would you like to do?
Money has little meaning to me and isn’t a desire but it would be nice to travel to foreign countries.
What do your friends and family think of your off grid lifestyle?
At first they thought I was crazy but after seeing my cabin they were impressed and two of my brothers want to build one for vacation homes.
How far is your property located from your nearest neighbor? Town?
I am ten miles from a small town and a mile from neighbors which are family.
Living in your cabin, space is a premium, what do you do to combat clutter?
Throw stuff away that I don’t need. I give away stuff all the time and keep my necessary items to the bare minimum.
What do you do for fun?
I play guitar and write songs, write books, hunt, fish, play pool, and spend time with Patty and the dogs.
What would you like everyone to know about you?
I enjoy helping people to simplify their lives.
Learn more about LaMar and his book here:
http://www.freewebs.com/simplesolarhomesteading
http://www.homesteadernews.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/simplesolarhomesteading

Wretha

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Click here to read my book review process.

Survival Chick, where are you?

Hey, does anyone know what happened to Survival Chick? A week or so ago, her blog was running just fine, now it's blocked except for those who are invited only... I miss my Survival Chick! Hello? Anyone?

Wretha

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Off Grid - On The Cheap

It seems that the “green” (or brown) movement is growing faster and faster. It used to be the realm of unwashed hippies, tree huggers and other so called “degenerates” who lived off the grid, in the wild, on the fringes of society.

Lately, I keep reading about how more mainstream people are jumping in, purchasing solar panels, adding passive solar rooms, collecting rain water. I read about people who build $300,000+ green homes, that price doesn’t include the price of the land it sits upon! It’s all fine and dandy for those who have lots of readily available cash sitting around, or worse, they get loans to bankroll their ubergreen homes.I have no complaints about those who can afford the extravagant green homes, if you are wealthy and can afford to do it, then by all means go for it. But what about all of the rest of us, living on fixed or small incomes? Is it possible to live the green dream if you don’t have a cool million sitting in the bank? The answer is YES, you can!...

Read the rest of the story here:
http://www.off-grid.net/2008/12/15/off-grid-on-the-cheap/

To read all of my messages on Off-Grid.net, click here:
http://www.off-grid.net/section/wretha/


Wretha

Thanks for visiting, Please leave all comments on the Off-Grid site instead of here, all the messages from this blog have been moved to the Off-Grid site, thanks!
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