Jeff has always wanted to live off grid, ever since we met almost 25 years ago I remember him talking about it and thinking it sounded exciting. When we moved to Ohio a few years ago we had the opportunity to buy an Amish farmhouse and give his dream the chance to be a reality. I was totally on board and ready for the adventure. I never could have imagined what would mean to our family.
Living without electricity, we gain more than we sacrifice. Sure, we have a few toasty days over the summer without air conditioning and I can't use my crockpot, but the things we gain as a family far out weigh the few discomforts. Of course we don't have an electricity bill and we are never affected by storms and power outages, but it's SO much more than that.
No electricity means:
No microwave, making it harder to reheat dinner so we all eat at the same time, usually sat around the table talking together.
No TVs in the bedrooms, we spend our evening time together not separated in our own space. Yes, even the teenagers choose to spend time together! I will say we do have a TV in the living room, it runs off our solar panels. We do not get regular TV, we only watch movies. After movies (sometimes the next day), we talk about themes and promoted dialog in the movie we watched, it's surprising how often the movie is geared to have the viewer rooting for the thief, lier and adulterer.
No kitchen gadgets. This one is an interesting adjustment because I really enjoyed my bread maker. However, removing the tools that seem to make cooking easier has made me realize they take away the skills of real cooking and replace with a reliance on a gadget to cook. There's not much can't be done with a cast iron skillet and elbow grease. The kids are learning to cook and bake with simple equipment, I'm proud of that.
No bathroom electronics. I always get asked how I do my hair. I don't and never have paid much attention to my hair. However we have hooked the blow dryer up to our generator on drivers license picture day! I also have a hair curler that's powered by one of those gas capsule things should the need for curly hair ever come to me. When Jeff mows his beard and hair we do that outside with the generator.
General technology, the kids have tablets and phones. We charge them through the solar panels. Our phones are the only way we get news if we wish to. I can tell you the world doesn't stop if we don't know about every tragic event. I would even say we are better off and keep fear in its place by not hearing the news. For those interested in God stuff ask Jeff and I how we often "hear" the news.
No electric heat- this is my super favorite thing about being off grid. I love to watch Jeff enjoy keeping his family warm. His pursuit of this begins at the end of the summer with getting our firewood supply, cleaning and repairing the chimney. There is something so wonderful about seeing Jeff in his element keeping the fire going 24 hours a day. He loads the fire up before he goes to bed and on the coldest nights gets up in the small hours to restock. Our kids (well two of them), have inherited the joy of fire starting and maintaining. Sofia is usually up first on a morning and takes the embers to resustinate (Websters needs to add that word, it's even fun to say) the fire, she's fantastic at this. I'm glad for this because it never enters my mind to even check on the fire, the city girl in me wouldn't even give it a passing thought until I was shivering and then wonder why. The kids job is to bring in firewood, they don't like it and long for warmer days, but they do it and I appreciate it. They usually work as a team bringing enough for a day or two at a time. Depending on the weather, they may bring in more if it's going be particularly wet or cold.
No air-conditioning, ok so for a few moments in some days we are plain hot. However, until fairly recently so did our ancestors and it didn't kill them. Also, a good portion of the world is still without a/c and manage just fine. I think the broader picture of a/c highlights a great error in the path of America. Comfort. We seek comfort, hold it in high regard and have it as an unshakeable goal. Comfort replaces our desire to go and do. As a Christian my hearts desire is to share the hope I have because of Jesus BUT comfort tells me "they may not want to hear and you'll be rejected". I throw comfort out the window by choosing no a/c but its about more than that, so much more. If we bring our children up to be uncomfortable they won't be confined by the goal and may very well reach dynamic higher goals!
We very often hear people say they wish they could live off the grid, it's their goal and dream. My biggest piece of advise is turn the TV off, log out of Facebook. In the quiet you will hear a beautiful stillness and from there your journey can begin.
Nina
https://FarmyardLivestock.com — Buy Healthy Livestock Online Across the USA.
https://farmyardlivestock.com/product-category/livestock/
Livestock You Trust. Utility You Need
Looking to buy goats, pigs, sheep, cattle, alpacas, or poultry
online in the USA?
https://farmyardlivestock.com/product-category/donkeys-mini-horses/
Discover https://PomskyNest.com – Where Companions
Are Born and Bonds Begin.
Looking to buy a teacup Pomeranian puppy in the USA?
Searching Pomsky puppies near me or want a Husky puppy for sale?
https://pomskynest.com/shop/
Our Poodles at www.PremierPoodleKennels.com are
Born of Pedigree, Raised with Love.
Adopt Toy Purebred Poodles USA
https://premierpoodlekennels.com/toy-poodles/
Bring home a Miniature Poodle
https://premierpoodlekennels.com/miniature-poodles/
Feel the Passionate might of Standard Poodles
https://premierpoodlekennels.com/standard-poodles/
Explore our well-socialized puppies and lifetime support.
premierpoodlekennels.com/shop/
Adopt from the best.
https://PomChiPals.com – Where Tiny Paws Meet Big Love
We’re a close-knit family of passionate home breeders specializing
in Pomeranians, Chihuahuas, and their beloved hybrid, the PomChi. With years of
dedicated experience, we raise each puppy with care, pedigree, and personality.
Come find your purrfect companion — healthy, well-socialized,
and ready to brighten your home — only at https://pomchipals.com/shop/
High Spirits, Higher Quality – https://HalloweedShop.com
Adopta tu cachorro toy hoy mismo con confianza en https://RoyalToyCachorros.comcaine in Canadawhere Halloween Spirit meets wellness.
We bring Halloween-inspired quality cannabis, kratom, and
relief products to the USA and Canada all year round.
https://halloweedshop.com/shop
Relief Meds Pharma ✅ https://reliefmedspharma.ca ) is a Canadian
online pharmacy offering
Buy Varied Wellness Medications
Buy Pure Cohttps://adoptexoticpets.com breeding of adoptable
monkeys, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, and bunnies
https://adoptexoticpets.com/hedgehog/
KhaleejiToyKilab.com جراء ألعاب فاخرة مخصّصة للخلي
ج والعالم العربي.
تربية أخلاقية، تنشئة ممتازة، واختيار دقيق لعائلات تقدّر الج
ودة، الثقة، والرفقة الراقية.
شراء جراء بودل الألعاب في قطر، والعثور على جراء بومي
رانيان للبيع في الأردن.
https://YorkshireAdelszucht.com – Wo Edle Linien Zu Liebenden Leben Werden
Pure Ketamine Ontarion
Acheter de la méthamphétamine à Québec.
Exclusive quality Products for Canadians only
Quick and safe delivery on Heroin Canada
Quality and pharmacy grade wellness products
for you.
https://reliefmedspharma.ca/shop/
https://puremoleculelabs.co
https://BanknoteCartel.com -Buy Cloned Cards (cc)
https://banknotenkartell.com/
tajlbisaas.com/shop/
https://MotorsAtlas.com – Prestige Cars, Worldwide
Buy Royal Heritage Kittens — Arabian Royalty,
Purrfection — https://TajAlBisaas.com
قطط أصيلة من سلالات مرموقة، نُربّيها بعناية وأخلاقيات عالية
— كل هريرة تجسّد سحرًا ملكيًا، صحة ممتازة، وأناقة مميزة
https://tajalbisaas.com/shop/
في جميع أنحاء الخليج، نقدم قططًا أصيلة ملكية تفوق التوقعات
— نربيها وفق أعلى معايير الصحة والجمال والطباع الهادئة.
https://MotorsAtlas.com – Prestige Cars, Worldwide
https://MotorsAtlas.com – Prestige Cars, Worldwide
New & used cars, rentals, swaps & door-to-door shipping.
EV, hybrid, diesel & petrol options with up to 5 years warranty.
MotorsAtlas.com – Driving trust, delivering excellence.
Premier USA registered home Sphynx & Devon Rex breeders
https://rexotickittens.com/ -Exotic Beauty. Purebred Purrfection
— Adopt exotic blue-eyed Sphynx kittens in the USA
https://rexotickittens.com/product-category/sphynx/
find Devon Rex beauties near me.
https://rexotickittens.com/product-category/devon-rex/
https://maltbichonhaven.com
https://adelsyorkies.com
https://adoptexoticpets.com breeding of adoptable
Adopta tu cachorro toy hoy mismo con confianza en https://RoyalToyCachorros.commonkeys, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, and bunnies
https://adoptexoticpets.com/hedgehog/
KhaleejiToyKilab.com جراء ألعاب فاخرة مخصّصة للخلي
ج والعالم العربي.
تربية أخلاقية، تنشئة ممتازة، واختيار دقيق لعائلات تقدّر الج
ودة، الثقة، والرفقة الراقية.
شراء جراء بودل الألعاب في قطر، والعثور على جراء بومي
رانيان للبيع في الأردن.
https://YorkshireAdelszucht.com – Wo Edle Linien Zu Liebenden Leben Werden
verbinden verantwortungsvolle Tierliebhaber mit außergewöhnlichen Gefährten
wie Affen und Sugar Glidern und legen dabei höchsten Wert auf ethische Herkunft,
fachkundige Pflege und kompetente Beratung. Wir betreuen Kunden in Deutschland,
Österreich, der Schweiz und darüber hinaus mit Leidenschaft und Professionalität.
Schlüsselwörter: exotische Haustiere Europa, Affenverkauf,
Sugar Glider Europa, www.ExoTierShop.com
Adoptieren Sie gesunde Englische und Französische Bulldoggenwelpen europaweit
mit https://champion-bulldoggen.com/shop/
. Wir bieten flexible Adoptionspläne und kostenlosen Versand in viele Städte.
Entdecken Sie verfügbare Welpen unter https://champion-bulldoggen.com/blog/
und https://champion-bulldoggen.com/
Unlocking the Potential of Ketamine: Relief, Therapy, and Research in Europe
https://KittensPalast.com
Mehr Informationen zu unseren Adoptionsplänen finden Sie hier:
https://champion-bulldoggen.com/adoptionsplane/
Vergleich aller Optionen: https://champion-bulldoggen.com/vergleich/
https://euroketarelief.com
https://homeraisedparrots.com/ – ╬EXTENDING OUR COLORFUL FEATHERS OF FRIENDSHIP╬
Looking for a feathered companion? At https://homeraisedparrots.com/eclectus-parrots/
we hand-raise well-tamed, healthy parrots, perfect for any home.
Explore our vibrant Macaws, affectionate African Greys, a
nd social Indian Ringnecks.
Möchten Sie einen Anwalt beauftragen, um Ihre
Dokumentenangelegenheiten ohne persönliche
Anwesenheit vor Gericht oder bei Behörden zu klären?
Wir sind eine der führenden Kanzleien Europas,
spezialisiert auf die Lösung sämtlicher Dokumentenhürden –
einschließlich Führerschein & MPU
( https://dokumentekanzlei.de/mpu-hilfe/ ).
Wir interpretieren, überarbeiten und
erstellen alle Arten von Verträgen.
https://dokumentekanzlei.de/ein-leitfaden-von-dokumentekanzlei-de/
Hagen Sie rechtliche Probleme mit Dokumenten?
Auch bei Anfechtung von Rücknahmen oder Sperrvermerken auf offiziellen
Dokumenten stehen wir Ihnen zur Seite.
https://dokumentekanzlei.de
https://PermisPasseport.com – Documents officiels discrets
Achetez votre permis de conduire, carte d’identité ou passeport
en France, Belgique, Suisse, Luxembourg et Monaco — rapide,
sécurisé et confidentiel.
Sans stress. Sans paperasse. Juste des documents authentiques
et vérifiés, livrés directement entre vos mains.
Who We Help at https://ZertifikatDirektKaufen.com
Our clients include:https://nordokuments.com/
Students applying to German, Austrian, and Swiss universities
Skilled workers and job-seekers across the EU
Families applying for reunification visas
Migrants needing verified language credentials for integration
Travelers and expats requiring proof of language skills for long-term stay
Über uns – https://BanknotenKartell.com
https://BanknoteCartel.com
Was wir anbieten:
Nicht nachweisbare, hochwertige Banknoten mit
fortschrittlichen Sicherheitsmerkmalen
Premium-Klonkarten für reibungslose Transaktionen
Zuverlässiger und diskreter Versand in ganz Europa
https://BanknotenKartell.com – Ihre Nr. 1 Quelle
für sichere, authentische Währungslösungen in Europa.
Kontaktieren Sie uns noch heute für exklusive Angebote!
https://fuhrerscheinlegitimkaufen.de/registrierte-eu-fuhrerscheine/
– Kaufen Sie den deutschen
Führerschein, alle Kategorien,
nur registrierte Führerscheine, exklusiv bei
https://fuhrerscheinlegitimkaufen.de
https://fuhrerscheinlegitimkaufen.de/eu-fuhrerschein/
https://GlobalCargoArks.com
Buy new & used shipping containers – durable, sustainable,
and ready for delivery.
Order Mobile EV Homes, luxury living containers, and secure storage solutions
with global shipping direct to your location.Buy. Ship. Deliver. All in one place
Competitive pricing, transparent deals, and fast dispatch—.
https://globalcargoarks.com/product-category/container-homes/
https://greenpromeds.com
https://ChimieSoulagement.fr – La Chimie du Soulagement Premium
Votre référence en France pour des produits de bien-être purs
et testés en laboratoire — des stimulants et antidépresseurs à
la cocaïne, héroïne et substances de recherche.
www.ChimieSoulagement.fr
Profitez d’un service discret, d’une livraison rapide et d’une
qualité fiable à chaque commande.
Pureté. Puissance. Tranquillité d’esprit.
https://chimiesoulagement.fr/sirop-contre-la-toux/ –
là où la chimie rencontre le bien-être.
store https://kyusaikagaku.com
feel the chemistry, live the relief
https://kyusaikagaku.com/product/2-fluoroamphetamine-for-sale/
Buy methamphetamine/crystal meth with 95% purity in Korea
東京で高品質グレードA+の研究用化学物質を購入