Our Starter Solar Power Set Up
Our Journey Off Grid In South Africa: Testing out our starter solar power set up that’ll be our only source of power on our off grid piece of land until we’re able to upscale it.
A Bit About Our Beautiful Area
We found the perfect piece of off grid land to build our sustainable homestead on. Here’s some info on our beautiful area, and it’s rich history.
The Cabin Is Up! But… Oh No…
The next installment of our journey to living off grid and sustainably in South Africa continues! In March we camped on our land for the first time and organized to have a budget wendy house put up the next month. This is the story of how no plan survives first contact.
Our Tiny House Layout Plans
We’ve bought a piece of off grid land in the Western Cape, and we’re putting up a little wood cabin on it for us to live in. Now all I need to do is squeeze a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, lounge, office, two humans, three dogs and a cat into a 3m x 6m (18m2) space. Aaaaaaaand go.
Preparing To Live Off Grid: How To Research and Plan Effectively
The most important skill you need when preparing to live off grid is to research & plan effectively. These 4 critical checks teach you how…
Our First Off Grid Building: The Budget Wendy House
Our plan for the first building we’ll erect to live in while we develop our off grid home. We’re going with a budget wood wendy house that will later become the shed, once we’ve built the main house. Here are the details…
First Camp On Our Land
Our first camping experience on our land, meeting people in the community and so much more.
Compost Toilet – First Trial
I was super excited to try out our new composting toilet with urine separator which had arrived from Sulvantutch just in time for our first camping stay on our land.
So, how did the experience go, you might want to know?
Short answer: Not so great.
Insulation & R-Value
What is insulation, what it does and how to know what thickness insulation you need for your home. South Africa insulation R-value requirements and zones.
Rocket Stoves: Cookers, Space Heaters & Mass Water Heaters
The amazing simplicity and efficiency of rocket stoves as space heaters, stoves and mass water heaters. What is a rocket stove, how does it work and how to make your very own rocket stove, covered here!
Solar Geysers With Back Up Options
Looking at back up systems & alternative heating solutions to combine with a solar geyser.
Solar Geysers / Water Heating Systems – Part 2
In part 2 we look at environmental and climate considerations to help choose the right combination of solar water heating systems and collectors.
