

Why Off Grid?
Chances are you’ve seen romanticized pictures of a nice cabin with a pristine wood stove in a peaceful setting in the woods. Everything is rustic but tidy and clean. It looks dreamy! “Off grid life” has become a catch phrase for the younger generation. Chances are, most of the images you’ve seen are from Instagram influencers or even fake images generated by AI. The term, “off grid” is one of those things that seems to mean something different to everyone. Some imagine a hut in the woods with no contact with the outside world, living like the Amish with no electricity or running water. Others may imagine very expensive and high solar power systems that run a home just like you would if you were connected to the grid. The truth is

The Great Off Grid Ozark Adventure: part 10
One of the systems I wanted to work on was water. We planned to buy a gas powered pump and a water tank that would fit in a truck or trailer to get water from the creek. I was frustrated when I drove a good distance to buy a pump and they were out of stock. They were also more expensive than I expected. Electric pumps were cheaper. I started looking into 12 volt DC systems that can run directly off solar but it started to get a little complex. I wanted a simple solution. I looked at AC pumps and they were way cheaper and had more selection. Then it hit me! We had a portable power station!

The Great Off Grid Ozark Adventure: part 9
It was clouding up and we could hear thunder in the distance so we figured we would go grab something quick like a peanut butter sandwich and keep working until the rain came. We headed back to the trailer and just as we started getting food, I heard a few rain drops hitting the trailer roof. I told Ethan I was going to go back to get the tools put away while he made food for us. By the time I got back to the build site, a large storm had rolled in. It was thundering, pouring, and blowing like crazy. I got the tools gathered but was 100% soaked by the time I got back. Water was already running on the ground and the heavens unleashed!

The Great Off Grid Ozark Adventure: part 8
Then it happened. The one difficult neighbor pulled up. She had a nasty look on her face and she pointed at me and signaled for me to come over. My first reaction was to totally ignore her. I didn’t really want to talk to her and I had set my boundaries through text. I didn’t want her to think that she could just summon me at her whim and I would obey like a dog. However, something happened that I wasn’t expecting. It was like a fierce lion sleeping deep inside me woke up and roared. I felt a strange power well up from within. Something told me to go deal with that woman.

The Great Off Grid Ozark Adventure: part 7
At this point, I felt like I had removed the obstacles needed to finally get some work done on the road. However, there was one more. This obstacle was a little more complex.

The Great Off Grid Ozark Adventure: part 6
… I felt like I had all these tools and they were all rebelling against me. It was another big disappointment. Finally, I sat down and I just prayed. I asked God what I needed to do to fix the tractor. The answer that came surprised me.