Welcome to the CORAC Sustainable Living Team conversation. We’re delighted that you’re here and welcome any comments and resources that will help edify and strengthen this community. Please share where it is most appropriate –– under pertinent posts if available –– or under this “General Discussion” area if a specific post topic has not yet been introduced by the Sustainable Living Team lead.
Growing Beets
On the Sustainability Signal thread, we have had discussions about growing three different kinds of beets: sugar...
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Seeking advice re: Generack (or other?) Solar power generator. Considering Home Power One or Home Power Two for OFF-Grid facility. Want power for 20 cuft freezer and well pump. Any suggestions or ideas? Contact Dan Brown (factinc@mtco.com)
Generac is solid. You make also want to look at CPE. This one is top rated overall and runs like a champ: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HG9VVRZ/?tag=best-home-generator-20&asc_source=browser&asc_refurl=https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-home-generator
I’ve been studying the topic of offgrid power, and this is what I learned:
A gas powerred generator is good for emergencies.
It’s not efficient to run a 120V AC freezer through inverter off a battery bank, the conversion to DC is 50-80% efficient. If your freezer is 12 volts DC, you just need a dedicated solar or deep cycle battery & solar cells. 12 Volt freezers are expensive, but exist. There’s also conversion kits to convert a regular freezer into a 12V DC freezer, if you’re lucky, sometimes it’s as simple as swapping out the compressor. You know any refrigeration technicians?
For the well pump, how far away will it be from your battery bank? A 12V one is more energy efficient. A backup hand pump would be wise too.
Have you considerred a above ground water stoage tank? The well pump can fill it on sunny days reducing the stress on your battery bank. You don’t want to drain the battery bank too much, as it reduces the life of the batteries when the voltage drops below 12 volts.
Hi all,
I’d like some input if you would be so kind.
I have a question for discernment that I would like your prayerful input on.
I have the means to buy a couple strong work horses and some horse drawn agricultural equipment, like a plow, cutter, harrow, etc. I am trying to discern whether that would be prudent and I thought I’d reach out to get your prayerful thoughts.
I am wondering about Charlie’s (and your) thoughts on how long and how complete the breakdown of society will be. I saw Charlie’s last video message which addressed how complete it will be.
The reason is that I have cattle and sheep (just 20 sheep and 10 head of cattle) and will need to feed them. I have some good acreage in pasture for the summer and hay for the winter, but will need to cut and harvest the hay for the winter. I may also need to seed more acreage in hay if this is a prolonged collapse (or re-start) that will make fuel powered ag equipment useless.
So, I’m thinking of picking up some living, breathing horse power and equipment to go along with it, but that would really be a waste of resources if the diesel is going to start flowing 6 months after it shuts off.
Any thoughts you might have would be greatly appreciated.
Good day to all! I just finished joining Corac at the recommendation of my sister. We just took out a HELOC loan in hopes of finding some land to get out of the city. We are in Wauwatosa ( Milw. Co. ) We would like to get off the grid looking for land with hard wood and a water source, stream , springs etc.as well as hunting and a place to grow own food.But really would like to find like minded people for this but also a faith based community within 1- 3 hrs. of where we are – more North & west Wisconsin.We hope to sell in the next 5 yrs. As that is when my husband can retire unless he can find more mobile work or barter trades to allow to do sooner.There is a free Exit & Build summit on line May 13 & 14 where we hope to gain more info. Thanks much & many blessings, J & R.
Reach out to the Regional Coordinator for the area at region9@coracusa.com. For prudence sake, I deleted your names. Thx.