Darin Hamel

My home is a toss up between a sandbag dome and an underground bunker style home. I'd like to build something really cool that will last a hundred years or more with little maintenance. I really like the strawbale homes but I don't trust them. I like the artistic side of these eco-friendly homes, too. Some of the domes I have seen are really beautiful.

S Bengi wrote:Solar cell, broilers, roofs, fruit tres etc only last about 20 years.
So build everything now, find ways to streamline activities/hravesting/etc.
And save money for a big overall in 20yrs when you are ready to stop working for money.

Do you see yourself killing/processing a 2000lbs cow or a dwarf 50lbs goat or a 3lbs fish/chicken in 20-30 yrs.
Are you going to climb a 30ft apple tree.

I dont want to do any of that now! I do plan on chickens because of the tick problem up there. As for the rest... I was raised on a farm. In 20 years I will be 66 and I have seen much older people doing the things you described and who lets their apple tree get 30 feet high? If you prune the thing you get a ton more apples. I plan on 20 years of trial and error research plus getting advice for the next twenty years. I have lived off the land a lot in my life, for months at a time. Twenty years of planning should make this a really, really nice retirement spot.

About 15 miles north of Newberry in Tehquamenon Woods and about 5 miles west of the Falls. I'm in Luce county.

I'd really like to meet up with other Michigan Permies because I just bought 10 acres in the U.P. and I want to build a retirement place there totally off the grid but super comfortable with hot showers and electricity, Wi-Fi and every conceivable amenity. I have 20 years to plan and build so I am in no hurry. So If you dont mind visitors I'd like to stop by and see what your doing and get ideas for my place in the U.P..

I love this rocket stove idea. I think this is the way I am going to go. Especially not that I might get hot showers and be off the grid at the same time. I love my hot showers. In fact I love to be in the woods but I hate "roughing it." I am all about comfort. Thanks for this post!