jeff burkinshaw

It's not often that off grid infrastructure ends up being easier, cheaper and better than anticipated..... but this is it! We installed this ram pump in about 2 hours, it cost a couple hundred bucks and has worked perfectly, providing water to our gardens and livestock!  It uses a 6-8' drop in a wee little creek we've got and pumps about 1000' over and 50' up to our hilltop cistern.  I would highly recommend this pump from Seth Johnson at Land to House.

This video is not a how-to but it should give you a good feel for the technology, the simplicity of installation and the possibilities of a steady flow of water on your homestead:

We finally got around to trying a little horse logging and the experience was terrific.  It had all the hallmarks of homesteading; a little hard work, a little invention, time with family and of course....firewood. We'll definitely work towards the right gear and develop some skill at it.  This is not a how-to but more of an encouragement if you've ever wanted to try it, hope you enjoy:



Jeff, Rose and the girls

This is not a how-to, but I hope it's helpful if you're just trying to get a feel for different types of solar power systems.

We used a cheap, simple 12VDC system in our house for the last 9 years.  It was just what we needed.

A few years back, when we could afford it, we installed a 3kW solar array, 4500W inverter and 14kWH (~260AH) of Li-ion batteries in our shop.  The new system can run a water pump, deep freeze, fridge and all the normal lights etc.  The batteries in the house system were getting very old and it was time to permanently cut in the new AC system from the shop.  This is that story...

 

Hey All,

Stage one of our northern climate root cellar is complete!  As our gardens grow we have found ourselves in real need of a root cellar, and this time we decided to go big and ugly and permanent.  This was our first suspended concrete slab and it went great, a little honeycomb, but it should hold.

Next stage will be to cover the roof with a waterproof membrane, throw down some foam, and bury!  You can get a feel for the construction and design in the video here:



Hope it helps,

Jeff and Rose and the 5 girls,

Hey All,

We just finished the same project earlier this spring. 1000G tank, 4' off the ground.  We used used regular treated fence posts (3-4" 7 foot) sunk 3' in the ground topped with 6x6 spruce beams and decked with 2x6.  Has been fully loaded for the last 3 months with no sign of shifting.  We actually just made a video of the whole off grid gravity water system, you can check it out here:



And a few pics.... wait, how do I insert pics??  I'll get back to you with the pics.

Jeff and Rose

Joel,

Glad you enjoyed the video. I sorted through the odds and ends at a small local metal shop and that's the best material I found.  I also tend to err on the heavy side given the lack of "engineering" on my projects.

Thanks,

I'm glad you enjoy the videos Timothy, we try to post a new one every second week.  Any more often and I think the quality and value would go down.

Karl Urban.... I don't think so.  I'll look into it, he must be something special!

Hey all, we just had a great experience building and using a broadfork for the first time.  We broke up new ground on our homestead in northern BC, Canada.  If you're interested in the process or the results check out the video:



Jeff, Rose and the girls

We've successfully introduced young pigs to a pen with chickens and had them co-exist happily for the whole season.  We've also introduced chickens to a pen with pigs that are a little bigger (~40lbs?) and they were quickly eaten.  I think the key may be put them together when the pigs are very small.  At that point the chickens are too big to be considered food.

Hey all, our little herd of milking Nubians (and Lamancha) goats had very successful births recently and we made a little video documentary.  We got it all; from checking ligaments, to labour and some very graphic birthing and post birth "activities".

As always, its a little informative and a little fun all mixed together, check it out here:



I hope you enjoy,

Jeff, Rose and the girls