Post by esterling on May 16, 2005 17:21:48 GMT -8
Hi!
So I'm your basic newbie... I've been reading about various aspects of more sustainable living for a few years now. I actually lived "off grid" in El Salvador, but that was because there was no other choice there at the time. The one thing I learned from that experience was that it's not such a big deal. BUT, since I've gone from reading about stuff and experimenting with growing a bit of food in containers and p-patch type gardening to actually looking for a place to BUILD an off-grid home, things have gotten a bit more over my head.
In short, everyone I talk to, friends, family, builders, say that it can't be done. You can't put a homemade windmill up on the Palouse. You can't build inexpensively with scavanged materials. You can't this that or the other thing. But, clearly someone CAN because people HAVE. So, I'm looking for help either from those who have been there and done that or people who have a clue where I should go digging for the REAL information about things like rules and regs regarding building and living in off-grid property here in Latah county (or any county, really).
What I can offer... Well, I'm a sort of generalist. My academic background is in Linguistics, Anthropology and History. (I used to spend my days tracing human migration patterns for fun and profit.) Then I got into tech and helped build some of the Web applications you probably use (Amazon.com, WellsFargo.com, and a few others...) Then I said, "To heck with this!" and I've been kind of a bum for the last three years. No, just joking. Not a bum. A homeschooling mom. Kinda like a bum, but busier.
In June I'm opening up an herb shop in Elk River, ID, and I hope to open a second shop in Moscow, ID in the fall. (The Elk River clientelle are decidedly seasonal, and Moscow empties out over the summer break, so it should work out...) I'll have a basic herbal apothecary with herbs for all needs plus herbs for the magickal community and various herbal preparations such as tinctures, soaps, and tea blends. If you have q's about herbal medicine or 19th and early 20th century pharmaceuticals, I can probably answer them, or help you find the answer.
So I'm your basic newbie... I've been reading about various aspects of more sustainable living for a few years now. I actually lived "off grid" in El Salvador, but that was because there was no other choice there at the time. The one thing I learned from that experience was that it's not such a big deal. BUT, since I've gone from reading about stuff and experimenting with growing a bit of food in containers and p-patch type gardening to actually looking for a place to BUILD an off-grid home, things have gotten a bit more over my head.
In short, everyone I talk to, friends, family, builders, say that it can't be done. You can't put a homemade windmill up on the Palouse. You can't build inexpensively with scavanged materials. You can't this that or the other thing. But, clearly someone CAN because people HAVE. So, I'm looking for help either from those who have been there and done that or people who have a clue where I should go digging for the REAL information about things like rules and regs regarding building and living in off-grid property here in Latah county (or any county, really).
What I can offer... Well, I'm a sort of generalist. My academic background is in Linguistics, Anthropology and History. (I used to spend my days tracing human migration patterns for fun and profit.) Then I got into tech and helped build some of the Web applications you probably use (Amazon.com, WellsFargo.com, and a few others...) Then I said, "To heck with this!" and I've been kind of a bum for the last three years. No, just joking. Not a bum. A homeschooling mom. Kinda like a bum, but busier.
In June I'm opening up an herb shop in Elk River, ID, and I hope to open a second shop in Moscow, ID in the fall. (The Elk River clientelle are decidedly seasonal, and Moscow empties out over the summer break, so it should work out...) I'll have a basic herbal apothecary with herbs for all needs plus herbs for the magickal community and various herbal preparations such as tinctures, soaps, and tea blends. If you have q's about herbal medicine or 19th and early 20th century pharmaceuticals, I can probably answer them, or help you find the answer.