DO YOU WANT TO
BUILD AND LIVE OFFGRID?

Living offgrid is to be free from mortgages and utility companies. An owner/builder with limited skills and knowledge can build a home that is structurally sound, comfortable, economical and like no other.

We are not engineers nor particularly creative. We had no prior experience when we built our home. My name is Jeanne and my husband is Ron. I'll be sharing our story with you. We wanted to be self-sufficient. We did not have a lot of money yet we still wanted a clean environmental life style. Anyone that says offgrid life is easy probably had someone else do the construction. Building offgrid is hard work.

Building our dry stack concrete block home offgrid in the desert started with searching the web for land. We narrowed the search to S.E Arizona for the climate. This view is from our dining room table. I call it Breakfast Mountain.

Ron and I looked at a couple of properties with a real estate agent. The desert valley that we chose was calm and serene. We both knew that this was home. Sometimes the sky is so blue and hazy that the heat waving off the desert floor looks like the ocean.

By this time I was desperately looking for information. I searched the internet, the library and book stores anything to do with owner/builders. I researched many different types of houses including wood framed, modular, manufactered, Structural Insulated Panels called SIPs, cabin kits, adobe and strawbale. Visit Construction Types

There was little information for the owner/builder living in the desert. Most of my research were colder climates. Then I came across dry stack concrete block house that a single man was building. I knew nothing about it, but, I was going to learn and explain it to Ron.

We take walks, watch the sunrise and sunset. We have 10 acres to run and play, well I walk and play. Our property is adjacent to BLM and close to San Pedro Riparian Reserve so we actually have miles to explore. There are hundreds of species of birds and wildlife. We bought ATVs to go exploring and exercise our dogs.

We have cookouts with our neighbors which are no less than 1/4 mile away. Once in awhile we leave our home and go into Tombstone to socialize. During monsoon season we don't go anywhere because we are stuck in the mud. The clay mud sticks to your shoes and you get about 2 inches taller.

March 02, 2008-Ron and I have been living in our offgrid home for a year now. Construction has been slow since we both had to go back to work. We love our home and we sit back and marvel sometimes that we are living in a home that we built ourselves. It doesn't leak, it didn't fall down and we are very comfortable. We have a lot of work to do as yet, but now each time we complete a task we really appreciate the accomplishment.

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POURING CONCRETE FOOTINGS FOR OFF GRID HOME The concrete truck got stuck in the mud. We were not going to start the concrete footings today.

Off grid concrete slab foundation Foundation concrete slab was poured at our off grid homesite by an outside contractor.

Surface bonding cement was applied to the dry stack concrete block Surface bonding cement was used on exterior walls and interior walls of our dry stack concrete block home. The fiberglas reinforced stucco gives the walls their strength.

Offgrid cooling vents are used with prevailing winds to move hot air out. Offgrid cooling vents were made by turning concrete block on their side with double the width at the top.

Building an offgrid storage shed on top of a concrete base We are currently building a offgrid storage shed to house the new inverter and the batteries which should be completed soon.

Offgrid solar power systems How we connected our offgrid solar inverter/charge controller, deep cycle batteries, wind generator. Some of the mistakes we made when calculating how much solar power we needed.

Solar schematic Diaghram of solar schematic

How to calculate offgrid solar battery storage Calculating offgrid solar battery storage is a crucial part of determining how much power you will have to run your home.

Drilling an offgrid well in the desert Drilling an offgrid well in the desert was one of the most stressful experiences

Solar well pumps Solar well pumps are located in the well house. Water lines run from the pump to get water to the house. The well pump and booster pump are both solar pumps. The well pump will run off of

Offgrid septic system is a closed system with square concrete recepticle Our offgrid septic system is a closed system, square concrete recepticle

Offgrid roof rafters were put up by two people The offgrid roof rafters were built by Ron and Herb (my brother).

Off grid rafters pictures Off grid rafters pictures

Laying the offgrid roof OSB proved to be a challenge The offgrid roof OSB was hoisted up to the roof from a ladder with clamps.

Offgrid construction styles are suitable for the desert. There are many different offgrid construction styles suited for the desert area. Adobe, stick built, SIPs, kits, straw bale, manufactured homes and trailers to name a few.

Dry stack concrete block walls were chosen for termite and rodent resistance. Dry stack concrete block with a surface bonded cement was used for our exterior and interior walls.

Dry stack concrete block were stuccoed with surface bonding cement. When working off grid with dry stack concrete block as the interior walls 8 inches of interior space is lost.

Our offgrid living room is open and inviting Our offgrid living room is an open, comfortable room that invites you to sit down and relax. The dry stack concrete block softens with the yellow paint.

Offgrid kitchen gives way to conversation Our first offgrid kitchen was this sink. This is what we had when we moved into our off the grid home. It is a utility sink that was figured we would be able to use in the laundry room.

Building the offgrid bathroom The offgrid bathroom ended up very differently than the plan due to poor selection and/or lack of local materials.

Finding the right material offgrid interior ceiling Chosing the right material for an offgrid interior ceiling with our limited resources at your disposal. Keeping with the rustic theme of the house, yet, bearing in mind that one person is doing the i

Offgrid daily living makes you aware of conveniences Offgrid daily living makes your daily life more aware of conveniences that we had taken for granted. Like laundry, water, electricity...If we don't watch, it will run out.

Offgrid bull what to do when you have a brahma bull in your yard Offgrid bull, a brahma bull in the yard. What do you do? Stare at him in disbelief, shue him away, yell at him?

The offgrid adobe ruins by our property was an exciting place to see. Visiting the offgrid adobe ruins, an old windmill and farm house that are near our property

Offgrid atv riding in the Arizona desert with five dogs is fun. Offgrid atv riding with the dogs every morning. It insures that the big dogs get enough exercise and the small dogs get out of the house.

Target practice is essential living off the grid especially with dogs. We target practice as much as possible, setting up a schedule for shooting targets would be more routine. The more practice shooting you have the more likely you will remain calm in an emergency

Killer bees have taken up residence in the trailer we used before the house was Ron went over to the trailer the next morning to find it engulfed in killer bees. There was a loud humming.

Dogs, big and small are wonderful companions Dogs offer us all of their loyalty, emotions, attention and respect. I hope to offer mine to them as well with these pages.

Dogs stories sent by visitors to share information Stories of dogs sent in by visitors wanting to share information and experiences with their canine friends

Airedale belongs to the terrier group. The directory of breed of dogs has stories and pictures of Airedale. Join us in sharing useful information.

Airedale puppy Sadie 4 months old Sadie is an a 4 month old airedale who lives in Ohio. She is happy and healthy puppy who is so smart she makes her owner proud.

Mastiff is the largest of all breeds usually referring to them as mastiff The directory of breed of dogs has stories and pictures of mastiffs shared by everyone with an interest in the huge and wonderful dog.

english mastiff george My english mastiff George is a 2 years old 200 lb. He has been sick the first year of his life and is starting to catch up.

Pugs are funny small dogs with an character and attitude The directory of breed of dogs has stories and pictures of pugs. Join us in sharing useful information regarding pugs.

Chase was my heart. Pugs come with many different personalities. Chase was the p As pugs go, Chase was perfect. He was warm, funny, loved everyone. Chase died from a rattlesnake bite. He was 9 years old.

Uno was our rescue pug , we were the third owner from the lady who bred pugs. The breeder where we got Uno had requested that all pugs be brought back to here in the event it did not work out. Uno was brought back twice.

Bugsy is a black pug who is nearly 7 years old Bugsy is our black pug. They do not have the double fur of the fawn colored pugs. He is sleek and active. Bugsy loves to watch TV. He barks at every movement on the TV.

Powerful Rhodesian Ridgeback noted for hair down center of back. The directory of breed of dogs has stories and pictures of Rhodesian Ridgeback. Join us in sharing useful information.

Mya is our Rhodesian Ridgeback. She is the baby of the family. Mya is abit shy w Mya is a 1 1/2 year old Rhodesian Ridgeback. She loves to run, chase rabbits and fetch. She is timid when taken from her pack. I have trouble walking her alone.

Dogs by Group Choose the dog you really need. Dogs are put into groups, sporting, pointers, spaniels, setters, sight hounds, scent hounds, cattle herders, sheep herders, working, terrier, toy, and non-sporting

Dogs in the Sporting Group help people in hunting birds, fowl and water fowl. Dogs in the sporting group help people in hunting fowl, water fowl and land birds. They will retrieve, point, find and flush fowl and other objects.

Dogs in the Non-sporting Group are sturdy animals. Dogs in the Non-sporting have as different personalities and appearances. The breeds in the Non-Sporting Group are a varied collection in terms of size, coat, personality and overall appearance.

Dogs in the Herding Group move animals, they do not protect animals. Dogs in the herding group move animals from one place to another without direction from people. They can cover very long distances. They will work all day, every day.

Dogs in the Working Group PULL. Dogs in the working group pull things. They spend all day working. They live in harsh conditions without people comforting them. These are rugged, hardy animals.

Dogs in the hound Group assist people in hunting a variety of animals. Dogs in the hound group aid humans in hunting many different animals such as small game, wolves, gazelles. They can chase and wear down prey without direction from humans.

Dogs in the Terrier Group are vermin hunters. Dogs in the Terrier Group are vermin hunters. They were used to hunt fox, otter, badger, and rat both above and below the ground.

Dogs in the toy Group are mainly for companionship and appearance. These are min Dogs in the toy group are mostly for companionship. Don't let their size fool you. Many toy groups are very tough. They are popular city dwellers because they do not take up much space.

Dogs Tips were researched or submitted by visitors Dogs tips and safety care can be invaluable when faced with the care of any pet.

Tick removal from dogs can be very painful and the head of the tick can remain. Tick removal from dogs can be very painful. Pulling the tick out with tweezers can leave part of the tick still in the pet.

Learning Dogs CPR is a valuable tool in saving a life. This is a step by step instruction for Dogs CPR. This knowledge could save your pets life in cases of emergency.

Dogs anaphylaxis is a rare, life-threatening, immediate allergic reaction Dogs anaphylaxis is a rare, life-threatening, immediate allergic reaction to something ingested or injected. If untreated, it can lead to shock, respiratory and cardiac failure, and death.

Conservation - Putting away for tomorrow Conservation is setting aside for a future time. Restricting use to insure enough for tomorrow. How much is enough for today? How do we say this is enough? How much will we need for tomorrow?

Water conservation acknowledge that there is limited water resources Water conservation is a popular isssue. Since it is still an issue, we are not doing enough. We first have to acknowledge that there is limited water resources. If you are not faced with this daily,

Collect water for the future through water harvesting in your own back yard Water harvesting for the future is a way to make use of our monsoon seasons in dry arid climates. It can be stored and prevent some pooling water of back yards in other areas.

OFFGRID DOGS DEN We waited a year before building our offgrid dogs den. It is the room where our dogs eat and sleep. It was very important that we get this room right. It is a comfortable area for our dogs and us

Dry stack concrete block spreadsheet Dry stack concrete block spreadsheet used to build offgrid home

Desert spiny lizard found shade from the relentless afternoon sun This desert spiny lizard was taking advantage of an undercover hide a way in our back yard. We had elavated the rain barrels with a concrete block and some stones. Perfect resting place for a desert s

Desert wildlife on or near our dry stack concrete block home These are the desert wildlife found on or near our offgrid desert home

Our offgrid house plans started with a computer program To design our offgrid house plans we bought a computer program. First I had to learn how to use the program.

Take a silver mine tour in Tombstone, AZ it is a cool 70 degrees below ground Silver mine tour is a great way to delve into Arizona's rich history, cool off and marvel at the accomplishments of people in the 1860's.

Offgrid desert living, friends, family, pets and work on the house Offgrid Desert Living updates

Thoughts on offgrid desert living Thoughts about living offgrid in the Arizona desert

Offgrid living doesn't have to be remote anymore Offgrid living used to mean that there was a small structure tucked in the wilderness far from all things except critters.

Published Offgrid Articles Articles published from offgrid desert living. Most are about experiences here on the property.

Visitor Survey Visitor survey

Offgrid house cleaning, an off the cuff view Offgrid house cleaning is different in the desert. The demons that you face daily is called dirt. Not just any dirt, but desert dirt.

Offgrid roof insulation is R-30 value Offgrid roof insulation in any desert off grid home is crucial

Offgrid construction adobe is probably the most efficient. Of the many offgrid construction adobe is one of the oldest located in the desert.

Resource library Resource library for types of construction

Directory of breed of dogs This directory of breed of dogs will list all breeds of dogs that everyone has a chance to submit their story and a picture of their dog.

Kisses are sometimes surprisingly welcome. Kisses are sometimes a total surprise but very reassuring. They come up unexpectedly from unlikely sources.

Dogs who love to swim. That describes Sassy a white labrador retriever Sassy is one of those dogs who can stay active all day. She is a labrador retriever and like most labs she love to swim and fetch. She is very energetic and enthusiastic about pleasing her owner.

Dogs of all ages enjoy a splash in a newly filled retention pond Dogs like Buddy are hard to come by. He is loving, protective and loyal. Buddy is nine years old yet he still keeps up like he was a puppy. He wears down a little bit on long walks but his heart is to

Gun safety is the most important issue when handling guns. Gun safety is always the most important issue when handling guns. No matter where you are target shooting always adhere to gun safety rules.

Nipper is a Chow mix with a reddish blond coat. Nipper is a chow mix who is 14 years old. When she was younger she loved to chase birds out of her yard. She was great at jumping and running.

The east porch was built from recycled and scrap lumber. Recycled and scrap lumber was used to build the east porch. It still allows views of the mountains yet cuts down on the sun's summer rays heating up the dining area.

This dogs natural fly repellent may help them be more comfortable in the summer. It is difficult to find a natural fly repellent products that are safe to use on dogs. There are fly repellents for horses, but I am not sure that they can be used on other animals.

gardening in the arizona desert Gardening in the Arizona desert reaping critters instead of vegetables. Container gardening or raised bed is the least destructive.

Solar watts calculation Solar watts calculation sheet

Materials to build offgrid dogs kennel Materials used to build an offgrid dogs kennel for our small dogs.

Wiring a solar junction box is not difficult Wiring a solar junction box in parallel is easy. Each junction box has a positive and a negative terminal. This picture shows red, blue and black wires. Any color of wire can be used.

Sonoran Desert Toad This Sonoran Desert Toad was under a board that was moved near our house.

Water recycling takes a little ingenuity and forethought Water recycling can be done with some planning. You can learn to recycle water with spending little or no money.

The north porch was constructed fairly quickly since I now had some experience. The north porch was constructed from recycled material as well. Since the lumber was twisted I used metal pole clamps to hold the boards down.

Monsoon season in the desert is flash flooding Monsoon season in the Arizona deser is about two to three months of flash flooding.

Offgrid crossword puzzle Test your offgrid knowledge with these fun crossword puzzles.

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