One of the less simple joys I have forced onto myself is living with alternative energy. My aunt and uncle, whos farm I inherited, were free spirited people in the truest sense of the word. They would never be tied down to a monthly payment if they could help it. So they lived simply on this farm with no electricity, lighting with oil lamps, washing their clothing by hand, using an outhouse, and hand pumping their water. When my then husband and I inherited the farm I have to admit going to college at the UW Madison had spoiled me. I wanted a modern life with all the trappings of energy flowing through little copper wires in my walls. But not only were we broke, with students loans and a new daughter, we so in debt we had to look up to see broke. :) So for a good many years we too lived simply, pumping our water first by hand and then with a windmill. Freezing our bums off in the outhouse on cold Wisconsin winter days. When we did decide we had a little money set aside to bring electricity into our home we were shocked at the cost. $18,000.00 to run a line in from the grid. We had a little money, but nothing like that and our student loans kept us wary of creating more debt with a mortgage. Enter fate. William, my then husband, had a friend, who had a friend, who had a friend....who could hook us up with a few alternative energy systems, costing us a bit here and a bit there. We started by hooking up three outlets onto the back porch through several huge and bulky 1970s wind turbines. The power was spotty at best, but for us it was a blessing. I remember my cousin hooking up a motor to my then hand crank wringer washer and suddenly laundry did not take a whole day set aside and muscles aching. Making toast did not require lighting a fire in the stove, heating up the toaster, and then carefully turning the bread for a few minutes to get it even. I still remember the first day when toast was not a luxury anymore. Over the years we added to our odd collection of different wind and solar arrays, every one of them making life a bit more simple and complicated all at the same time. Yes, I could finally have a radio without buying out the local hardware store of their battery supply, but I had to step down then wind generators if strong storms were coming in. Yes, I could have lighting at the flip of a switch as I headed out to the outhouse, but I had to wash the solar panels constantly to keep them at their peak. Sometimes the trade off was worth it, other times our tweeking of used systems seemed more bother than gain. Then, after my life had changed so much, in 2001 I was told there was a whole alternative system I could buy that would run my farm like I was on-grid. It would cost me $9000.00 but then I would be set for the next 25 years and beyond. I couldnt pass it up. A long, frustrating summer later and I had a hose hooked up in the milking house, I had a sink with a faucet in the house, and I could put up Christmas lights if I wanted to. I was almost normal. The system that I currently have in my home is one that even most beginners could handle working with without pulling their hair out, and by that time I was far from a beginner. When I began to date Ryan, an alternative energy expert, my electricity woes were over. He keeps my system up to date while saving the world one off grid system at a time. But one thing about living with an off grid system is I am closer to the natural world than most. I know sunny days because when we have long strings of them I dont have to worry about the water pump or the freezer or the refrigerator, I can have every light on in the house at night, run the washer, the TV, the toaster, make bread in my bread machine...anything electrical without blinking an eye. On breezy days I am free to flip on as many switches as I please without worrying I will be draining my batteries. But coming up on the winter solstice means I have to be aware of the darkness of the days, the stillness of the air. If the days are cloudy and the wind not blowing, the power on my batteries is drained and one by one I have to shut off electrical appliances to conserve energy. I do now have a propane generator, but I have to admit my frugalness does not always allow me to run it non-stop as some would. This late fall, and it looks like into the early winter has been dark. We here in southern and central Wisconsin has not seen much of the sun. Clouds have covered our skies not for days but for weeks, with only the occasional blessings from Ol Sol for an hour here or there. And the air is still. A blessing for the lack of storms weve had, but for an alternative energy system based on sun and wind, it means little electricity is being created. My farm is going dark as the energy wanes. Now, for the most part I dont mind. I can light with oil lamps, much of my life can easily revert back to those days without power. It is cold enough that the freezer is not needed, and the back porch makes a good refrigerator too. An outhouse is no longer needed to suffer through because we have a composting toilet and I find a romance in lighting my way with oil lamps for a little while. Funny thing is that the dairy, with its need to be clean, gets to use the most electricity on the farm. Basically the cows get more power than the people. :) But some things I do miss a bit, most of which are a sign that I have spoiled myself over the years. I like having a phone that I can carry with me instead of being tethered to the wall. I have to go to it, not it come with me. Toast, yes I miss pushing down the lever and listening for it to pop while I get something else done. Now I must watch the bread, flip it when one side is done. *sigh*. But most of all I miss the internet. I miss talking with far away friends and seeing what they are doing in their lives. Im hoping that all is well, because some were ill, some had family who were ill, one had a new pup, some had gone through those harsh storms of the west coast, others had noreasters to contend with, and many Im sure are sharing their wisdom and I am missing out of it. But for those of us who live a more self sufficient lifestyle, we know that winter is the time for rest and reflection. This year winter seems to be demanding it a bit more than I expected. The dark, still of the solstice has descended onto this farm, quieting us and forcing us inward. One of the complications and rewards of the life I chose. So, while we run the generator for a few more minutes so Ryan can get some of his work done, I came on to explain my absence, and to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy and Healthy Yule, Happy Hanukah, Joyous Solstice, and (just in case the sun doesnt come out) a Peaceful New Year. While my farm may be dark and still, I know that all of you are shining brightly in the universe and the birth of The Son or rebirth of The Sun will bring me back online soon. Happy Holidays to all!
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 09:27:38 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015