Day 323 -- The inside scoop on the outside poop -- Masa Off Grid

svkuanyin Says:

Feb 9, 2012 - If one dried the ' poop' couldn't it be used as compost for a garden ? I believe their is a young woman in Haiti has done something like that . Of course there is lots of sun in Haiti year 'round .

N4trambl1k Says:

Feb 9, 2012 - you dont need much of an income once you go fully self sufficient,try growing a food forest and sell some organic fruit to farmers markets, or grow chronic herbs :)

masaoffgrid Says:

Feb 9, 2012 - - Caliherbs, that is a real challenge in rural areas. Many of the people here are underemployed for their qualifications (one guy who's looking now for a new job has an Ivy League Phd in neuroscience). Many crib together two or three jobs to make it work. Or start their own business. The internet service is very slow here and we pay for usage (in the middle of the island, they only have dial-up) so it's an extra barrier for knowledge workers who want to work remotely.

masaoffgrid Says:

Feb 9, 2012 - - Part 2 - There are people who have interesting arrangements. One of the residents is a well-known German opera singer who is at that stage in his career where he can pick and choose his jobs. He travels to Europe for his work and it takes him off-island for weeks at a time but he often brings his family and makes the lifestyle work. But really, people just make it happen.

masaoffgrid Says:

Feb 9, 2012 - - Part 3 - A new neighbour showed up on island a few months ago, flat broke (he was living almost exclusively on a simple bread that he was baking himself and hunkering down in a friend of a friend's unheated shack in town). He took building jobs that the other builders around here wouldn't take and worked for a lesser rate. But he had a truck full of tools and serious carpentry skills so he's as busy as he wants to be.

masaoffgrid Says:

Feb 9, 2012 - - Part 4 - I would have thought though that he would have had a tough time since there are so many builders out here. I know that in some BC small towns there's a serious underground economy with people growing bud. Haven't seen or heard of anything like that here. The income question is something that I'll have to answer myself if I want to stay.

masaoffgrid Says:

Feb 9, 2012 - - Part 1OldQuirkySaab (I picture a nice navy blue 900 turbo convertible with tan interior), Housing, rent or what you pay toward a big mortgage, is a major expense of living in the city. Reducing that cost goes a long way to relieving economic pressure. But you're right, land and building costs are still a big hurdle out here.

masaoffgrid Says:

Feb 9, 2012 - - Part 2 - You might try finding somewhere where land is still cheap or look to make a good deal with someone who has had their land on the market for a long time. People here have reduced costs by splitting land with others. I got around having to buy land by making a deal with a landowner to build on their land but then they can rent out the cabin during the summers.

masaoffgrid Says:

Feb 9, 2012 - - Part 3 - There are many people who started out with similar "5-year-deal" type arrangements or squatted. If you talk to some of the folk around here, they came with nothing, lived in vans or uninsulated shacks, even with children. Now they own property with houses they built on them. They just went out and did it. As they say, necessity is the mother of invention (or really, 'necessity is a mother....").

masaoffgrid Says:

Feb 9, 2012 - - Part 4 - One couple whom I'm looking to interview soon, bought an inexpensive piece of land and lived in what was essentially a plastic shack while they earned the money to build a more solid structure. They figured that they didn't pay more than $8,000 for all of the materials in the cabin that they're living in now.

masaoffgrid Says:

Feb 9, 2012 - - Part 5 - The other stuff may seem expensive (chainsaws, tools, hunting gear, surf boards etc) but they last and really just replace the things that you otherwise might have spent money on in the city (utilities, clothes, restaurant meals, drinks at the bar). If there's a community around you, you can also beg, borrow, trade for what you need (without hopefully, wearing out your welcome). You'd be surprised how much people do with very little.

caliherbs Says:

Feb 9, 2012 - Wow masa THANK YOU so much for your response.. Your like a celebrity to me lol.. ive watched ALL your videos and stayed up until the sun came out watching them lol... My plan would be to grow herb off grid.. I have looked at solar panels and generators becuase i love indoor meds.. If i ever happen to move out though I'll come back and thank you for your advice!

masaoffgrid Says:

Feb 14, 2012 - - There is a bit of a stigma against using humanure as compost for edibles but it does get used. Apparently it produces some plump, flavourful tomatoes.

masaoffgrid Says:

Feb 14, 2012 - - Hey caliherbs, glad to have you watching and I hope you can make it happen. Best of luck with all your endeavours (and I really do mean that). Be sure to come back and share with any developments. Masa

masaoffgrid Says:

Feb 14, 2012 - @OldQuirkySaab - Sounds like it was a beaut. Must have been difficult to part with. @ OldQuiky Saab - Part 1When I see what folks here achieve with so little, I would say that the people who want to do something like this but don't, aren't so much lacking something but rather it's what they have (fear, doubts, insecurity) that holds them back.

masaoffgrid Says:

Feb 14, 2012 - - Part 2 - Of course, everyone's situation is different, with different resources, responsibilities etc. but some will just get stopped by an unwillingness to embark on something that they think society at large views as marginal. My intention was always to make this experience the basis for a first book. Hope that you'll read it when it comes out!Masa

masaoffgrid Says:

Feb 17, 2012 - - I think that you'll enjoy the next week's video post and my interviewees views with regards to "success" and home ownership.

masaoffgrid Says:

Feb 17, 2012 - - as far as the States go, Bishop, California or somewhere else in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada has always appealed to me (I really dig that terrain and know some very good people there). I had no idea that there were such restrictive laws in the US of A! (no harvesting rain water?)

sok8888 Says:

Feb 18, 2012 - What do yo do in an open air outhouse during mosquitoes season? Not that you can run while sitting on the throne, you know. :-)

masaoffgrid Says:

Feb 21, 2012 - - The water situation must be getting dire in Utah and Colorado. But Washington? And anti-home gardening legislation? I'm interested to read more.

masaoffgrid Says:

Feb 21, 2012 - - sok8888, haven't been through a bug season yet with that outhouse. Now that you mention it, I may have to make some alterations.

ElectricalRevolution Says:

Feb 26, 2012 - @OldQuirkySaab...You're aware that Haida Gwaii is in British Columbia, Canada? Not Washington state, USA

Teka381 Says:

Mar 1, 2012 - is it possible to request the editing team to reduce the volume on the background music? it tends to over power your voice making it difficult to hear you.that aside, i've very much enjoyed following your adventure and am a huge fan of homesteading and being self-sufficient. i've been modifying my pretty modern life and gearing up to build my own home within the next 5yrs :)

masaoffgrid Says:

Mar 6, 2012 - - eka381, the editing team also administer the social media so I think your message has been received. Thanks for following along. If you've put a timeline/deadline on your own building project it will happen!

LibertyHippy Says:

Mar 20, 2012 - Google the Humanure Handbook. You'll be enlightened.