I just recently made the leap off grid in north west mi its been a .........crazy start almost everything went all kinds of bad lol bit were makin it happen and things are starting to settel down. I no theres lots of off grid people in the area and would love to share notes and experience  im currently running a lithium batt and solar / wind  with well water and septic  i plan to make a RMH this comming summer  as well as start a garden and bee colony the gf is looking to get a few chickens  as well but atm we are just getting the important bits working.    also when we moved off grid we also moved out of our house in south east mi and moved 4 1/2 hrs north to the new place on 20 acers

Hi Ryan, I'm assuming you are in the north west part of lower Michigan?  

Yes about 40 min south of trav city  

Hey Ryan,
I'm a lonely permie in Gladwin county, probably an hour and half south of you.  I've been living with my dad here for the past 2 years.  I'm also a transplant from Southeast MI.

Since the day after thanksgiving I've been fervently working on building a Rocket Mass Heater in a pole barn.  It's a slow process.  I've learned that if you build a RMH in an uninsulated building you might as well just use a "traditional" wood stove.  I finally have the walls insulated where the RMH heater will sit.  Yesterday I did a dry fit layout and will be installing the chimney in the next few days.  My goal is to have the heater built by the end of the month but I don't know if that's realistic.  I hope to boil down some Maple syrup this spring.

Aside from that I'm obsessed with permaculture.  I've been sheet mulching, composting, worm farming, brewing up compost tea and living frugally.

But like I said it's a lonely endeavor.  Most folks around here don't know what permaculture is and are outright ignorant/skeptical of it's potential.  I've tried to find permaculture people in the area through social media and craigslist but have come up short.

If you're ever passing through the area feel free to stop by.  I'd love to show you around our homestead and talk permaculture.

Rich

I am in kaleva about two hours West of you and a touch North i use kik massanger name Ethereal3600 I'm always up for meeting new permies and I do go that way when I head down south try the family purposes or moving the last of my stuff from the old house

I would love to see your rocket mass heater I've got some design ideas for a giant Beast of a Mass heater but I am in a mobile home and I will need to reinforce the floor to make it work it's an old mobile home I get for a good price and it was the best way to satisfy legal minimums to obtain an address but I'll probably build a underground home into the side of the hill my current house is sitting on over the course of the years
But im 31 as is my gf i have been dreaming of making the off-grid leap since I was 18 and I've stuck to a financial plan to do so for some time so I was able to afford to bring some more modern Comforts while still living off grid      

And yes I'm interested in pretty much everything you just said there are people that live off-grid in this area I have found two of them but most off graders tend to be very private

I take the 115 to Clare and then get on the 127 South that's as close as my Drive South gets to you

You may be able to make some contacts through local solar installers.  At least chat them up and maybe they can connect you to some others.  I met other like-minded people at the farmer's market.  

Not a bad idea lol now I have this image of myself prowling farmers markets for fellow off griders like a desperate man at a bar looking for a date

.....i feel creepy already lol

I know, it's weird finding other people in a new city.  The best approach I found was to start a homesteading club.  

Yeah I think once I settle into the new place I'll try something like that make a little michiganders off-grid club or something

Hey rich ill be makeing a trip south next week and ill be passing by close to your place  tuesday i think

Oops did not mean to double post anyone else in northern Michigan or near