Practical articles, project walkthroughs, and seasonal guides for off-grid living.
From 12-month freeze dryer tests to a $400 gravity water system build log to wood stove comparisons run across four winters — this is documentation of what actually works on a working homestead, not a summary of what manufacturers claim.
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Articles fall into two categories: extended equipment reviews based on months or years of actual use, and DIY project walkthroughs with real materials lists, build costs, and lessons from doing it wrong the first time. The distinction from the guides section is depth and context — blog posts document the full story, including what failed and what we’d change.
All equipment reviews here are based on gear purchased and used on this homestead — no manufacturer samples, no sponsored content, no affiliate-first writing. When a number appears in a review (panel output percentage, filter flow rate, freeze dryer batch cost), there’s a measurement behind it. The testing methodology page explains how those measurements are taken.
New articles are published when there’s something genuinely worth documenting — not on a fixed publishing schedule. Subscribe below to get notified when something new goes up.
300 gallons per day pumped from our stream to a 1,000-gallon storage tank using a Shurflo 9300 diaphragm pump and a 160W solar panel. Full component list ($754 total), sizing math, and two years of operating data.
An 8x10 concrete block root cellar built into a north-facing slope, $1,211 all in, holding 400 pounds of produce at 33–42°F through winter. Complete materials list, ventilation system, and 12 months of temperature and humidity data.
Three cold frame designs ($0 straw bale, $44 basic, $119 cedar with polycarbonate), what to grow and when, and a full year of logged temperature data showing a 10–15°F night-time differential over outside air.
Three years of making biochar from our own wood waste. A $28 TLUD drum build, three production methods compared, charging protocols, and the application rates that actually move the needle in garden beds.
A cedar-enclosed outdoor shower with a 40-gallon solar tank for $255 in materials. Full build, grey water handling, and logged water temperatures across a summer season (peak 112°F at 3 PM).
A plastic bottle and a cheap thermometer will tell you more about your garden’s water needs than any weather app. How to build two versions of a rain gauge, what else to track (soil temp, frost dates, dry spells), and how three seasons of your own data changes every planting and irrigation decision you make.
Four stoves tested across multiple winters: EPA emissions ratings, firebox size, heat output, and real-world efficiency compared. Includes a sizing guide by cabin square footage.
A full year of off-grid freeze drying. What we preserved, real batch costs, power consumption on solar, and whether the $3,500+ price tag is justified.
Two years of daily dehydrating: herbs, jerky, fruit leather, and garden surplus. Real throughput numbers, energy use on solar, and what breaks first.
Most compost toilet problems trace to one mistake: wrong cover material. Get the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio right and a compost toilet is odourless and low-maintenance. Full setup guide.
A wood-fired cob oven reaches 700–900°F and bakes better bread than any electric oven. Under $50 in materials, lasts decades. Complete build guide from foundation to first loaf.
Five panels tested in real-world conditions: Renogy, ECO-WORTHY, Newpowa, Rich Solar, and SunPower. Ranked by real output, cost per watt, and build quality.
Four greenhouse designs from $200 to $600 using common materials. Siting, passive heating, ventilation, and which design works best in cold climates.
Five root cellar designs from $200 to $2,000. Site selection, temperature and humidity targets, ventilation, and what to store and when. The original no-electricity food storage system.
No pump, no electricity, no pressure tank. A 500-gallon hilltop tank feeds water to the cabin by gravity alone. Full build log with materials list, costs, and what we’d do differently.