Black Pearl for Sale. Living off the Grid..... Way off the Grid.

Only $750 k .... For Sale, a copy of the famous "Black Pearl", not only as it used to look but also with the same materials and in the same place where this famous ship was built 338 years ago! The wood used included the Santa Maria wood for the frame and the Pine for the sheathing.

The Black Pearl was constructed according to a primitive drawing by one of the sea robbers, who was sailing this ship. A lot of time was spent drawing and designing the ship, constructing and paying attention to all the details to preserve the original look of the vessel.

This ship will hold a capacity of 70 tourists and 8 crew members who can live aboard comfortably. The ship has 2 cabins with a bathroom and a toilet, two other smaller cabins and a cabin for a crew. It also has an equipped kitchen which is located in the bow. The ship also offers 2 public toilets for men and women. This ship has 5 huge canvases and is 27 meters long and 7 meters wide. A main pole is 25 meters high and a standby pole is 18 meters high. The ship has 3 decks and an underdeck. We believe that you will be as enthusiastic as we are after seeing this new pearl of the Caribbean Sea!

See here for more details : http://www.blueoceantackle.com/pirate_ship_for_sale.htm

Teepee for Off-Grid living in the Great White North.

We built this 15' diameter, 15' tall Teepee on the North shore of Lake Superior using the Plains Indians Teepee pattern below. We needed about 15, 20' Spruce poles that we easily found on our property where the trees were growing too close together. It took about a day to strip the poles, set them up, cut the canvas (recycled) and have everything hoisted to enjoy ! We will add a second layer of canvas to the interior and add some mosquito netting at the openings so that we can sleep over. Stay tuned. More photos to come .....

Off-Grid Cabin on 38 acres only $ 69,900, near Bancroft, Ontario Canada

Year round access, paved road and 1731 feet on Esson Creek ! 38 well treed acres adjacent to Crown Land. Property features 1 existing Timber cabin. Great get-a-way property! Perfect for an Off-grid home and or village on 38 acres of land, near Bancroft Ontario, north of Kingston.

Current Price $ 69,900

This could be a great Crowd-Funded Opportunity for an Off-Grid Village. Consider the following....

Kawartha Lakes - Algonquin Park Region - Off the Grid : 

38 acres of beautiful Eastern Conifer Forest .....   

For $ 2,000,  38 Off-Griders get 1 acre of land each to plan and build their own Timber, Stone or Canvas Teepee dwelling completely off the Grid. Winter heating could be provided via Central geothermal and micro-hydro from the adjacent stream. 

If you are interested please email me at: 
rborghese@aol.com

Living way off the grid in a Tall Ship ! The Peacemaker

So we visited the Tall Ships in Brockville Ontario last weekend (June 14-16) and my absolute favorite boat was the 150' long Peacemaker. You can learn more about this boat on their web site here :  http://www.peacemakermarine.com/

While touring this beautiful ship made entirely of worn-smooth and varnished wood I got to thinking what a wonderful way to spend one's life. Aboard a beautifully crafted ship completely Off the Grid. For Electrical and other energy consumption requirements many of these boats use Solar panels and wind Turbine and I started to think why not also hydro-electric ? The sails ensure the boat sails at a fair clip through the seas, why not convert some of that energy into electricity that can be used to trickle charge batteries to power refrigerators, laptops, ovens etc ? Maybe this is already being done. I need to investigate further. What do you think ?

Presently, the Peacemaker is used to travel between the communities of the Twelve Tribes while providing an apprenticeship program for their youth in sailing,seamanship, navigation, and boat maintenance.

The ship has a United States Coast Guard attraction vessel permit and is available for festivals and dockside hospitality events.  

http://twelvetribes.org/peacemaker-ship

The Peacemaker is taking part in the Tall Ships™ 1812 Tour, which is a pan provincial event that will travel throughout Ontario during the summer of 2013, commemorating the bicentennial of the War of 1812. 16 ports will participate in this event which is produced in partnership with the Tall Ships Challenge™ Great Lakes 2013 series. The first port of call for the tour will be Brockville, Ontario, June 14-16, 2013

The Peacemaker was built on a riverbank in southern Brazil by an Italian family of boat builders, using traditional methods and the finest tropical hardwoods. The ship which was launched in 1989 was intended to be a private yacht for the family of a Brazilian industrialist. After a short voyage in the Caribbean, the ship was docked in Savannah, Georgia where it languished until purchased by Peacemaker Marine and began life as a sail training vessel and a seagoing representation of the group’s desire to encourage Peace and Unity around the world..

Living off the Grid in Upper Canada Village. This is how it's done !

We visited Upper Canada Village today, a beautiful 17th Century village along the St Lawrence River east of Kingston Ontario. What an amazing place, stone and timber homes and shops totally off the grid.

"Traditional farming techniques are demonstrated through the growing of heritage vegetables and raising of heritage livestock breeds. 

Ornamental gardens throughout the village feature flora fashionable in the late Victorian era. Weavers, spinners and dressmakers demonstrate traditional handiwork. 

Aspects of late 19th-century social life, music, religion and politics are discussed and demonstrated by knowledgeable staff dressed in clothing of the period. 

Also offered are educational camp programs allowing children to experience everyday life in 1860s Canada."    Visit here :  http://www.uppercanadavillage.com/index.cfm/en/home/




Upper Canada Village Cook's Tavern

Upper Canada  Village School house.

Tesla and Airstream need to get together and build a Solar-Electric Camper Car

Solar Powered Camper Car Concept. For the ultimate Offgrid Living experience, I would combine the incredible Electric car battery technology of the Tesla car, the brilliant compact interior design of the Airstream and the latest Flexible Solar Technology. It's just around the corner.... Let me know if you are interested in this Concept !

OFF THE GRID from San Francisco to Vermont.

A message from Rob Greenfield :

Hello fellow off the gridders!
I am currently cycling OFF THE GRID  from San Francisco to Vermont. I'm halfway through my 103 day trip and haven't turned ...on a light switch, taken a hot shower, used water from on the grid, etc.

This 4,500 mile ride is an off the grid, solar powered, zero waste, eat organic, pure water, shop local and sustainable, seed planting, composting adventure! And it's bound to entertain, educate, and inspire!

Check it out at: www.GreenfieldAdventures.org

Tesla Model S - Rated Best car ever....

Is it finally time for an Electric Car ?

Maybe.....

If you had a roof of Solar Panels... definitely !

Consumer Reports  is calling the Tesla Model S the best car it has ever tested. The Model S, an all-electric plug-in car, earned a score of 99 out of a possible 100 in the magazine's tests.

Tesla Model "S"

A Tree house, a real house in the trees !

So, could you live here ? I think I could. I'd be a little nervous in a big wind storm though. What do you think ? A wonderful place to dream, a perfect writer's cabin.  Location will remain undisclosed.

"Simplify, Simplify " - Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau was born in Concord, Massachusetts in 1817. He graduated from Harvard in 1837, the same year he began his lifelong Journal. Inspired by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Thoreau became a key member of the Transcendentalist movement that included Margaret Fuller and Bronson Alcott. The Transcendentalists' faith in nature was tested by Thoreau between 1845 and 1847 when he lived for twenty-six months in a homemade hut at Walden Pond. While living at Walden, Thoreau worked on the two books published during his lifetime: Walden (1854) and A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers (1849). Several of his other works, including The Maine Woods, Cape Cod, and Excursions, were published posthumously.  

Available at Amazon.com $5.36

The Wisdom of Black Elk, Oglala Lakota

Black Elk Speaks .....

Cree Prophecy, Only after the Last Tree has been cut down ....

Flexible Solar Kit : HQRP Solar Charging Kit (45W Flexible Solar Panel 45 Watt Power 12V Mono-crystalline PV Module w/ 6 Stainless Grommets, 10A Solar Charge Controller / Regulator 12V / 24V) for Solar Systems + HQRP UV Tester

HQRP 45 Watt (45W) Flexible Solar Electric Power Panel.  
HQRP Solar Charge Controllers are high quality, efficient and reliable Solar Power Regulators. Suitable for all 12/24v DC Lamps. They are perfect for rural electrification system. 

HQRP controller can be used to control lighting systems which will help you reduce energy consumption and control the lighting operation. The controller monitors and stabilizes voltage, improves the quality of energy and therefore prolongs the lifetime of lighting devices by 1.5 - 2 times.

Regulations point: 14.4 Volts; Low voltage Disconnect: 11.1V Volts; Low voltage Reconnect: 12.6 Volts; Microcontroller digital accuracy; Type of Charging: Series PWM & stat of charge(SOC); 4 Stages: equalization, PWM, Boost and Float, temperature compensated charging; Electronic protections: Short circuit and over current-solar and load; Reverse polarity-solar, load, battery; Reverse current at night; Limits high voltage to protect loads; 

Lighting protection; Tropicalization: Conformal coated printed circuit board; Self-consumption: 6mA maximum. Solar Controller supports up to 150W of 12V Solar panels and up to 300W of 24V Solar panels. For 12V solar panels, please, use battery and load for 12V solar systems (For 24V solar panels, please, use battery and load for 24V solar systems).

Available at Amazon.com $174.95

The Renewable Energy Handbook: A Guide to Rural Energy Independence, Off-Grid and Sustainable Living [Paperback]

The Renewable Energy Handbook focuses completely on off-grid, sustainable living and rural energy independence. Author/engineer William H. Kemp, who is a leading expert in small- and mid-scale renewable energy technologies, designed and built his own off-grid home. The result is a house that has all the standard “middle-class” creature comforts while using less than five times the total fossil-fuel energy of the average North American house. The Renewable Energy Handbook focuses on the unique requirements of off-grid living and contains chapters on energy conservation; heating and cooling; backup power; domestic water heating; wireless communications; photovoltaic, wind, and microhydro energy generation; battery selection; and inverters. Since its release in 2003, The Renewable Energy Handbook has been a top-selling technology book and is recognized as the best book in its field. The book is augmented with hundreds of illustrations, line drawings, photographs, and appendices.   Available at Amazon.com

iPhone Solar Charger with External Battery Pack $48.99

ReVIVE Solar ReStore XL 4000mAh External Battery Pack w/Universal USB Charging Port & High-Efficiency Solar Panel for iPhone 5 , Samsung Galaxy S3 , LG Google Nexus 4 and More!

External battery pack recharges up to 1,000 times from the power of the SUN or USB power
SOLAR CHARGING TIME : 13 hours in direct sunlight - high-efficiency 300mA ; USB CHARGING TIME : 4 - 6 hours

4000mAh battery is ideal for giving mulitple charges to Android, iPhone, and Windows smartphones / MP3 players / E-readers and gives partial charges to tablets and other USB charging devices ;


Charges your device at a MAX rate of 2.1 amps
Package includes USB charging cable, window suction mounts, metal carabiner, solar panel extender(for future upgrade) ;
Additional features include 36-hour on-board LED light with FLASHLIGHT and EMERGENCY settings and LED capacity indicator
Works with ReVIVE Solar Restore XL Panels. ** 3 YEAR WARRANTY
Dimensions - 6.7"(L) x 3.6"(W) x 0.8"(H) ; Weight - 8 ounces

Available at Amazon.com

Cyber Model 100 Wind Generator Kit $100

 Bare bones inexpensive turbine lets you experiment for almost nothing.

we use 100% recycled packaging right out of the dumpster at the local post office :)

Comes in white, black and yellow depending upon what colors we are making at the time

Inexpensive, basic, no frills wind turbine that allows you to experiment with wind power

Maximum output is 25 vdc x 2 amps Great science project, alternative energy, wind power

Available at Amazon.com for $100

Learn about Wind Power by building your own small Wind Turbine. Excellent Educational Value.

Emergency Power - Ambient Weather WR-111B Emergency Solar Hand Crank AM/FM/NOAA Digital Radio, Flashlight, Cell Phone Charger with NOAA Certified Weather Alert $39.99

Available at Amazon.com $ 39.99

Dynamo Power:The hand crank generator charges the internal Lithium Ion battery

Solar Power: You can play this radio with sunlight or charge the Lithium Ion battery

USB Power: With the included adapter, you can play or charge with USB power from a computer
Rechargeable Power: 3.7V/800 mAh Lithium Ion Batery Included (non-proprietary) Maximum Power Consumption: 0.5W

Radio Bands:
AM: 525 KHz to 1710KHz
FM: 88MHz to 108 MHz
Digital 7-Channel Weather Band
Weather Alert Mode with audible and visual indication
Other Features:
USB Charging Cable
Mini, Micro and USB charging tips included (Apple™ owners can use the USB cable that came with your IPod, IPhone, or IPad)
3-LED Flashlight
Retractable Antenna
Audio line out (headphone jack)
Wrist lanyard
Dimensions: 5.5" x 3.0" x 2.0"
Weight: less than 0.5 lbs.

Benefits

• Ideal as an everyday radio, MP3/MP4 USB dock and an essential part of any preparedness kit. Always ready to provide vital information and illumination in any emergency.

• Rubberized finish makes the ADVENTURER comfortable to grip.

• Green energy - a sustainable product that's built to last. The WR-111 offers a real alternative to grid electricity or fossil fuels, so you can feel cleaner about your nature experience. Never worry about buying, carrying or disposing of batteries again.

• The ADVENTURER self-charge mechanism converts over 70% of your kinetic energy into stored electricity. Self-charge while playing anytime to top up the power - never miss the end of that song, the end of the game or that last item in the news report.

Solar-2-Go Portable Power - 10 Watts only $285.83

Power when you need it, where you need it. Whether you're drawn to Solar Power for the cost saving benefits or you're trying to live a greener, more sustainable lifestyle, solar systems are more affordable then before. Power when you need it, where you need it. Whether you're drawn to Solar Power for the cost saving benefits or you're trying to live a greener, more sustainable lifestyle, solar systems are more affordable then before. Solar-2-Go gives you a complete portable power station at your finger tips. Great for: Camping, Fishing, Hunting, or Boating; Beach or lake; Shed or Outdoor Lighting; Situations (Black Out or Medical equipment). Solar-2-Go Portable Power Station Includes: Solar Panel (High Quality, High Efficiency); Panel Stand; 300 watt Inverter; Charge Controller (micro processor controlled); 12V 8Ah Deep Cyclic Sealed Lead Acid Battery; 12V LED Light Strip; Storage Bag. Quick and easy installation with no maintenance. Applications: Laptop; Cell Phone; Radio; Digital Camera; Fan; iPod; Lighting; Use as Trickle Charger; And More.  Available at Amazon.com for $285

Learning to Live off the grid with Solar wind and geothermal.

Here we are, learning to live off the grid with Solar, Wind and Geothermal Energy. This is a sort of catalog of everything we have learned as we begin the process of living off the Grid.