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“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.” ~ John Muir
By Corey Lynn and James White
This edition of the Solution Series tackles “off-grid” living. Although we suspect our audience is well-informed about what that term means, we first define what it is and what it entails. Unsurprisingly, when someone describes themselves as “living off-grid,” they mean precisely that, describing the decision to live outside the municipal grid and voluntarily forego city services that most Americans take for granted like electricity, water, gas, and so on.
Our guest, Rich Scheben, is one of those folks. Disgusted by the direction in which corporate America was headed, mountain man Scheben left the rat race and a successful New York career as a pharmaceutical rep for a major drug company, moving to the wide-open spaces and raw natural beauty of Northwest Montana. Scheben calls his large parcel of pristine property, located about an hour outside of Montana’s Flathead Valley, “Rich’s River Ranch.” As he says, “It’s all about nature” and “everything is synergistic.”
Having lived off-grid for 15 years—and highly skilled and efficient in all areas of the practice—Scheben is the real deal. Don’t miss this one!
Money & Markets
In Money & Markets this week, John Titus and Catherine will cover the latest events and discuss the financial and geopolitical trends Solari is tracking in 2023. Post questions at the Money & Markets commentary here.
Related Resources:
One New York Man’s Journey to Off Grid Living in Montana
Off-grid what do you give up in terms of modern conveniences? Anything that involves running hot water, unless you have a propane on-demand water heater. Also, hair dryers, clothes dryer. You use freezers instead of refridgeraters.
https://www.youtube.com/c/WildWonderfulOffGrid
Check out Erin and Josh commercial electrician
Check out James with food forest on 1/3 acre amazing you tube channel. Hoop https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef_TS19TRQg&list=PLolHW-7lK70RLXjVXR7yYgLjIynp-2tR9&index=11
We have learned so much from James. My wife grew up on farm.
We have 8 – 4’X 8′ raised beds with 6′ fence on South side of the house.
The beds were filled with soil from sod farm delivered and placed with fork lift.
https://plantsod.com/garden-soil-and-compost/
We visit the Amish market Thursday thru Saturday. Free range and NO additives cooked chicken $10 and two dozen eggs $10. No staying home for livestock. Meat order canned chicken, pork, turkey, beef from Lehmans $500 for a one year supply.
My take invest in labor saving solutions and let the experts provide services, relationships when needed. I was a master plumber at 21. Rich does not have plumbing in the cabin. All that excess solar could provide AC with mini split or hot water with electric hot water heater or appliances run during day.
My all electric 2000 sqft house on 2 acres is powered by the cooperative $0.12 per KWh, annual bill $2000 or one dollar per sqft per year an absolute bargin. Our choptank cooperative has the second most underground lines in USA in 22 years one outage > 2 hours. Hey I am biased 35 years chief electric system chemist, HV analysis supervisor, lab supervisor and large transformer SME. These off the grid folks are fine as long as they are healthy but waste life on the small stuff. I always LOL when the OG folks say my electric stuff cost $20K to $50K. How much to maintain and value of hours messing around with this unreliable stuff. Another consideration electricity can kill even experienced mechanics. I live on eastern shore of Maryland 2 miles from a wonderful town with everything. Fun fact 2000 to 2022 property/school taxes $1200 to $1700/ year. Maryland if over 65 then $32k of pension or SS exempt from state income taxes. Many independent living options are available, look before you leep. Keep Smiling ! Steve
Amazing! SO much info! I like how he talks about the veggies and the soil. Something we worry about every year and the reason in Los Angeles, near the freeway, we mostly grow indoors or under a cover in a raised bed. I have a guard dog which we need because of the amount of theft around here. My dog is big, mean and loves his family. ; ) We do get coyotes from the hills that are known to eat kitty cats. Our biggest issue in this crazy city? We have to keep our trash neat and tidy due to a couple of raccoon families, that Mama raccoon is BIG and her little ones make a mess of our street. LOL This Solution Series is very uplifting and makes me think my family could figure out how to live without the grid. If my kids are hungry I would kill a meat source if need be, I wouldn’t enjoy it, but I would do it. Thank you Rich, James and Corey!
Resources for green house or hoop house plastic https://www.greenhousemegastore.com/collections/plastic-film
Kits for green house or hoop house. https://www.farmersfriend.com/p/classic-caterpillar-tunnel
There are a lot of places to get the above supplies, but note as he said don’t buy reg plastic, you might not even get a yr out of it.
In the Fourth Turning Human Winter we all need to think about all he said.
I have been a happy customer of Farmers Friend for years, its nice to see Solarians learn about these resources.
Also, Rich Scheben wrote this book back in 2013, this is not a new author, soooo, is his publisher about to republish this book? Otherwise, good luck finding it. The man is living my dream of moving to Montana, I mean I am doing it, but not in Montana and I still have to hold down a day job.
As someone who just started off-grid living, I appreciate this post.