Download or read book Off Grid and Free written by Ron Melchiore and published by . This book was released on 2016-02-11 with total page 354 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Off Grid and Free: My Path to the Wilderness is the story of the journey Ron Melchiore undertook as a young man from the city, first to homesteading in northern Maine and then to living in the bush of northern Saskatchewan. He has lived off grid since approximately 1980 and speaks candidly about the joys and the tribulations of his chosen lifestyle. In this adventure, Ron shares the diversity of his experiences in an easy-to-read, humorous, and sometimes harrowing narrative. The book includes his hiking of the 2,100 mile Appalachian Trail in winter, bicycling across the United States, homesteading off grid, the terror of being surrounded by a wildfire, surprise encounters with bears, and more. For readers with an outdoors spirit, people with an off grid and self-sufficiency bent, and dreamers who like to read about adventure, Ron hopes to inspire others to "take the road less traveled."
Download or read book Woodsqueer written by Gretchen Legler and published by Trinity University Press. This book was released on 2022-02-15 with total page 289 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Woodsqueer” is sometimes used to describe the mindset of a person who has taken to the wild for an extended period of time. Gretchen Legler is no stranger to life away from the rapid-fire pace of the twenty-first century, which can often lead to a kind of stir-craziness. Woodsqueer chronicles her experiences intentionally focusing on not just making a living but making a life—in this case, an agrarian one more in tune with the earth on eighty acres in backwoods Maine. Building a home with her partner, Ruth, on their farm means learning to live with solitude, endless trees, and the wild animals the couple come to welcome as family. Whether trying to outsmart their goats, calculating how much firewood they need for the winter, or bartering with neighbors for goods and services, they hone life skills brought with them (carpentry, tracking and hunting wild game) and other skills they learn along the way (animal husbandry, vegetable gardening, woodcutting). Legler’s story is at times humbling and grueling, but it is also amusing. A homage to agrarian American life echoing the back-to-the-land movement popularized in the mid-twentieth century, Woodsqueer reminds us of the benefits of living close to the land. Legler unapologetically considers what we have lost in America, in less than a century—individually and collectively—as a result of our urban, mass-produced, technology-driven lifestyles. Illustrated with rustic pen-and-ink illustrations, Woodsqueer shows the value of a solitary sojourn and both the pathway to and possibilities for making a sustainable, meaningful life on the land. The result, for Legler and her partner, is an evolution of their humanity as they become more physically, emotionally, and even spiritually connected to their land and each other in a complex ecosystem ruled by the changing seasons.
Download or read book Off the Grid written by Nick Rosen and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 292 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The grid is everywhere, sending power to the light switch on the wall and water to the faucet in the kitchen. With energy prices soaring, the housing market in shambles, and unemployment looming, more and more Americans are choosing to free themselves from dependence on the grid.
Download or read book The Stranger in the Woods written by Michael Finkel and published by Vintage. This book was released on 2018-01-30 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The remarkable true story of a man who lived alone in the woods of Maine for 27 years, making this dream a reality—not out of anger at the world, but simply because he preferred to live on his own. “A meditation on solitude, wildness and survival.” —The Wall Street Journal In 1986, a shy and intelligent twenty-year-old named Christopher Knight left his home in Massachusetts, drove to Maine, and disappeared into the forest. He would not have a conversation with another human being until nearly three decades later, when he was arrested for stealing food. Living in a tent even through brutal winters, he had survived by his wits and courage, developing ingenious ways to store edibles and water, and to avoid freezing to death. He broke into nearby cottages for food, clothing, reading material, and other provisions, taking only what he needed but terrifying a community never able to solve the mysterious burglaries. Based on extensive interviews with Knight himself, this is a vividly detailed account of his secluded life—why did he leave? what did he learn?—as well as the challenges he has faced since returning to the world. It is a gripping story of survival that asks fundamental questions about solitude, community, and what makes a good life, and a deeply moving portrait of a man who was determined to live his own way, and succeeded.
Download or read book Off Grid and Underground written by Steve Rees and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2014-03-05 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is a unique look into one of the most unusual building techniques - underground installation of shipping containers - finished out into a very modern, energy efficient home that has proven to be a delight to live in. Detailed how-to instructions from start to finish give the reader a real handle on how they could build this home for themselves successfully and enjoy the wonderful benefits of living underground and off the grid. A real must for those who are considering cutting the city ties and venturing out into the country to establish a successful homestead. Well worth a read!
Download or read book Cabin written by Lou Ureneck and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2011-09-15 with total page 177 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Inspired by his From the Ground Up New York Times blog, a beautifully written memoir about building and brotherhood. Confronted with the disappointments and knockdowns that can come in middle age-job loss, the death of his mother, a health scare, a divorce-Lou Ureneck needed a project that would engage the better part of him and put him back in life's good graces. City-bound for a decade, Lou decided he needed to build a simple post-and-beam cabin in the woods. He bought five acres in the hills of western Maine and asked his younger brother, Paul, to help him. Twenty years earlier the brothers had built a house together. Now Lou saw working with Paul as a way to reconnect with their shared history and to rediscover his truest self. As the brothers-with the help of Paul's sons-undertake the challenging construction, nothing seems to go according to plan. But as they raise the cabin, Ureneck eloquently reveals his own evolving insights into the richness and complexity of family relationships, the healing power of nature, and the need to root oneself in a place one can call home. With its exploration of the satisfaction of building and of physical labor, Cabin will also appeal to readers of Robert Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Matthew Crawford's Shop Class as Soulcraft, and Tracy Kidder's House.
Download or read book Landslide written by Susan C. Conley and published by Vintage. This book was released on 2022-09-13 with total page 289 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This beautiful portrait of a family in a fishing village in Maine is "a fresh look at marriage, motherhood, and the wondrous inner lives of teenagers. A truly beautiful and unforgettable love story of a family on the brink” (Lily King, author of Writers & Lovers). A must-read from the critically acclaimed author of Elsey Comes Home. “I loved Landslide. You are right there with them in a fishing village in Maine, feeling the wind, the sea, the danger. Smart, honest, and funny, this is a story you won't forget.” —Judy Blume, best-selling author of In the Unlikely Event After a fishing accident leaves her husband hospitalized across the border in Canada, Jill is left to look after her teenage boys—"the wolves"—alone. Nothing comes easy in their remote corner of Maine: money is tight; her son Sam is getting into more trouble by the day; her eldest, Charlie, is preoccupied with a new girlfriend; and Jill begins to suspect her marriage isn't as stable as she once believed. As one disaster gives way to the next, she begins to think that it's not enough to be a caring wife and mother anymore—not enough to show up when needed, to nudge her boys in the right direction, to believe everything will be okay. But how to protect this life she loves, this household, this family? With remarkable poise and startling beauty, Landslide ushers us into a modern household where, for a family at odds, Instagram posts, sex-positivity talks, and old fishing tales mingle to become a kind of love language. It is a beautiful portrait of a family, as compelling as it is moving, and raises the question of how to remain devoted when the eye of the storm closes in.
Download or read book Simple Solar Homesteading written by LaMar Alexander and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2008 with total page 99 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This book is for anyone who is thinking about or already living off grid and wants to learn how to build simple solar homesteading projects to make life easier. Included in this book are complete plans for several projects and all plans include pictures, step by step directions, cost and material list. Also included is an invaluable resource list for homesteaders to find just about anything they need under the sun. 1. a sturdy solar cabin for under $2000 2. a solar panel and generator energy system for under $1000 3. a solar composting toilet for under $50 4. a solar batch water heater for under $50 5. a solar food dehydrator for under $50 6. a super solar oven for under $50 7. a sturdy garden cart for under $50 8. a portable chicken tractor for under $50 x. resource and vendor list for all kinds of homesteading supplies."--Publisher's description.
Download or read book Lawns into Meadows written by Owen Wormser and published by Chelsea Green Publishing. This book was released on 2020-07-02 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Lawns Into Meadows, landscape designer Owen Wormser makes a case for the power and generosity of meadows. In a world where lawns have wreaked havoc on our natural ecosystems, meadows offer a compelling solution. They establish wildlife and pollinator habitats. They’re low-maintenance and low-cost. They have a built-in resilience that helps them weather climate extremes, and they can draw down and store far more carbon dioxide than any manicured lawn. They’re also beautiful, all year round. Owen describes how to plant an organic meadow that’s right for your site, whether it’s a yard, community garden, or tired city lot. He shares advice on preparing your plot, coming up with the right design, and planting—all without using synthetic chemicals. He passes along tips on building support in neighborhoods where a tidy lawn is the standard. Owen also profiles twenty-one starter grasses and flowers for beginning meadow-makers, and offers guidance on how to grow each one. To illuminate the many joys of meadow-building, Owen draws on his own stories, including how growing up off the grid in northern Maine, with no electricity or plumbing, prepared him for his work. The book, part how-to guide and part memoir, is for environmentalists and climate activists, gardeners and non-gardeners alike. Lawns Into Meadows is part of Stone Pier Press’s Citizen Gardening series, which teaches readers how to grow food and garden in ways that are good for the planet.
Download or read book Solar Hybrid Systems written by Ahmet Aktas and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2021-04-23 with total page 370 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Solar Hybrid Systems: Design and Application discusses the key power generation characteristics of solar systems and explores the growing need for hybrid systems. The authors use real-life examples to explain the disadvantages of solar systems without hybridization and to demonstrate the various applications hybrid solar systems can be used for, paying special attention to its integration with energy storage systems. The book also discusses the impact of hybridization and how this can improve power generation quality along with investigating novel and advanced hybrid solar systems. This is a useful reference for engineers and researchers involved in both the development and application of hybrid solar systems, and features topics such as solutions for the intermittence of renewable energy sources; on-gird and off-grid solar hybrid systems; the simulation, design and application of hybrid solar systems; the role of energy storage systems in solar hybrid applications; and the future of electric vehicles using solar hybrid systems. Demonstrates the benefits of hybrid solar systems and why they are needed Features practical advice on designing hybrid solar systems Includes key findings and real-world examples to illustrate the applications of hybrid solar systems
Download or read book Nine Mile Bridge written by Helen Hamlin and published by Islandport Press. This book was released on 2010-08-18 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this critically acclaimed Maine classic, first published in 1945, Helen Hamlin writes of her adventures teaching school at a remote Maine lumber camp and then of living deep in the Maine wilderness with her game warden husband. Her experiences are a must-read for anyone who loves the untamed nature and wondrous beauty of Maine's north woods and the unique spirit of those who lived there. In the 1930s, in spite of being warned that remote Churchill Depot was 'no place for a woman', the remarkable Helen Hamlin set off at age twenty to teach school at the isolated lumber camp at the headwaters of the Allagash River. She eventually married a game warden and moved deeper into the wilderness. In her book, Hamlin captures that time in her life, complete with the trappers, foresters, lumbermen, woods folk, wild animals, and natural splendour that she found at Umsaskis Lake and then at Nine Mile Bridge on the St. John River.
Download or read book Living Off the Grid in Maine written by Anthony R Carver and published by . This book was released on 2019-06-02 with total page 122 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 6"X9" 120 blank lined pages in this journal that's so much more than a notebook. The perfect size for that person on the go. Students, professionals, friends and loved ones will use this journal to diary lessons learned, new goals, accomplishments, and action plans moving forward. Upgrade from the spiral notebook and bring along any place you find inspiration. Scroll up and click the button to BUY TODAY! No need for electricity Won't break if you drop it It will never expire or need software updates The gift that's actually useful Looks great on a bookshelf The right size for everyone Thoughtful affordable gift Click on the author's name for more great journal gifts!
Download or read book We Were an Island written by Peter P. Blanchard and published by UPNE. This book was released on 2010 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A couple set out on a bold and vigorous quest for independence and a more essential way of life on a Maine island
Download or read book A Handmade Life written by William Coperthwaite and published by Chelsea Green Publishing. This book was released on 2007-03-07 with total page 146 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: William Coperthwaite is a teacher, builder, designer, and writer who for many years hasexplored the possibilities of true simplicity on a homestead on the north coast of Maine. In the spirit of Henry David Thoreau, Emily Dickinson, and Helen and Scott Nearing, Coperthwaite has fashioned a livelihood of integrity and completeness-buying almost nothing, providing for his own needs, and serving as a guide and companion to hundreds of apprentices drawn to his unique way of being. A Handmade Life carries Coperthwaite's ongoing experiments with hand tools, hand-grown and gathered food, and handmade shelter, clothing, and furnishings out into the world to challenge and inspire. His writing is both philosophical and practical, exploring themes of beauty, work, education, and design while giving instruction on the hand-crafting of the necessities of life. Richly illustrated with luminous color photographs by Peter Forbes, the book is a moving and inspirational testament to a new practice of old ways of life.
Download or read book My Life In The Maine Woods written by Annette Jackson and published by Pickle Partners Publishing. This book was released on 2016-10-27 with total page 157 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: My Life in the Maine Woods recounts Annette Jackson’s North Woods experiences during the 1930s when she, her husband and their children lived in a small cabin on the shore of Umsaskis Lake. Jackson, an avid sportswoman and nature lover, writes of hunting, fishing, campfire cooking, and the sounds of the wilderness through the seasons. She visits trappers and woodsmen, and tells what it’s like to sleep on a bed of pine boughs under the stars that shine on the legendary Allagash.
Download or read book The Unsettlers written by Mark Sundeen and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2017-01-10 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “An in-depth and compelling account of diverse Americans living off the grid.” —Los Angeles Times The radical search for the simple life in today’s America. On a frigid April night, a classically trained opera singer, five months pregnant, and her husband, a former marine biologist, disembark an Amtrak train in La Plata, Missouri, assemble two bikes, and pedal off into the night, bound for a homestead they've purchased, sight unseen. Meanwhile, a horticulturist, heir to the Great Migration that brought masses of African Americans to Detroit, and her husband, a product of the white flight from it, have turned to urban farming to revitalize the blighted city they both love. And near Missoula, Montana, a couple who have been at the forefront of organic farming for decades navigate what it means to live and raise a family ethically. A work of immersive journalism steeped in a distinctively American social history and sparked by a personal quest, The Unsettlers traces the search for the simple life through the stories of these new pioneers and what inspired each of them to look for -- or create -- a better existence. Captivating and clear-eyed, it dares us to imagine what a sustainable, ethical, authentic future might actually look like.
Download or read book Off the Grid written by Phillip Vannini and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2014-10-30 with total page 249 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Off-grid isn’t a state of mind. It isn’t about someone being out of touch, about a place that is hard to get to, or about a weekend spent offline. Off-grid is the property of a building (generally a home but sometimes even a whole town) that is disconnected from the electricity and the natural gas grid. To live off-grid, therefore, means having to radically re-invent domestic life as we know it, and this is what this book is about: individuals and families who have chosen to live in that dramatically innovative, but also quite old, way of life. This ethnography explores the day-to-day lives of people in each of Canada’s provinces and territories living off the grid. Vannini and Taggart demonstrate how a variety of people, all with different environmental constraints, live away from contemporary civilization. The authors also raise important questions about our social future and whether off-grid living creates an environmentally and culturally sustainable lifestyle practice. These homes are experimental labs for our collective future, an intimate look into unusual contemporary domestic lives, and a call to the rest of us leading ordinary lives to examine what we take for granted. This book is ideal for courses on the environment and sustainability as well as introduction to sociology and introduction to cultural anthropology courses.
