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Off-Grid 101

The Woodland Way – Book review

The Woodland Way is one of those rare books that bridges the gap between the theory of conservation and its practice, and does it well. It sets out author Ben Law’s thesis and original vision for sustainable woodland management in Britain. It is an inspiring book in its practicality and “do-ability”.

1856230090-01-_scmzzzzzzz_-9907879The Woodland Way: A Permaculture Approach to Sustainable Woodland Management – Buy it from Amazon US

The Woodland Way: A Permaculture Approach to Sustainable Woodland Management – Buy it from Amazon UK

(NOTE: WOODLAND WANTED – PREFERABLY IN UK – CARPENTER WANTS 2 ACRES TO TURN INTO SUSTAINABLE HIDE-OUT. WRITE TO JULIENNE@OFF-GRID.NET)

The author, writes from the heart and has a very deep commitment to practical sustainability. In fact he lives in his own woodlands, ‘Prickly Nut Wood’ in Lodsworth, UK …

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May 24, 2005 No Comments
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Mobile

Brende and friend
Better off? The Brende family

John Locke, whose philosophy influenced the US Constitution, introduced the notion of individual rights and individual property to its pre-eminent place in Western political thought.

According to Eric Brende in his fascinating book Better Off Flipping the switch on Technology, Locke’s approach had the unintended consequence of raising property, and hence technology, to the same legal status as people, with rights and responsibilities of their own. As a result we have become enslaved by the technology we created.

0060570040-01-_scthumbzzz_-7491912Buy the book from Amazon. Buy the UK edition here.

Logically this argument is flawed, but that does not matter since it is Brende’s intellectual journey we are interested in, rather than Locke’s. Whatever the reason, we have become enslaved by some aspects of our technological existence. Brendes course in the sociology of technology at MIT leads him on an experiment, to go live in a back-to-the earth religious movement in Maine and see how little technology he really needs to enjoy life to the full.…

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April 24, 2005 No Comments
Off-Grid 101

Have you seen one of these?

futuro house
Real people live in these

This is a REAL HOUSE! If you know the locations of any like it, please email us (news@off-grid.net)

They are called Futuro Houses — designed by a leading Finnish architect, but no longer in production. They were manufactured around the world.

Off-Grid is delighted to assist in the mission to find remaining examples of these rare and beautiful structures. The Off-Grid team want one for an office and to live in.

Rick Pisani of Futuro House, takes up the story: In 1965 Dr. Jaakko Hildenkari asked the Finish architect Matti Suuronen to design a sky cabin. Ploykem Ltd. of Helsinki, Finland began producing the final design in March 1968. …

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April 9, 2005 3 Comments
Off-Grid 101

Off-grid hotel – 10% discount

room with a view
You can see for miles and miles

The Alpujarra with a Difference is a truly off-grid multi-activity rural retreat based at a secluded farm 5,403ft above sea level in the Sierra Nevada Natural Park. In the high Alpujarra, rush hour is a herd of goats! Off-Grid have negotiated a 10% discount on the published tarriff. Just mention us when you book.

Water is from two springs which are fed from snow melt on the mountains. Hot water is heated by solar panels. Power is from solar panels converted to 220 volts by an inverter. In the winter hot water is backed up by butane gas and power by a generator. Effluent is via septic tanks.

The chalets sleep four and cost 500 a week in high season. The discount applies to room only. British hotel owners specialise in catering for walkers, runners, ornithologists, horse riders, and athletes seeking high-altitude training.…

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April 8, 2005 1 Comment
Off-Grid 101

Wild Camping

wildcamper
Wild Camping is free

Wild Camping puts the free into freedom. From Chicago to the Lake District, from the Rockies to Rouen, whether you want to sleep in a cave or in the more traditional tent, wild camping is the best way to see the world — when the weather’s good.

Lower down the page, Simon Willis tells you how to get started and where to go in the UK. And Climb365 web site tells you all about interpreting the weather and knowing what to carry and where to camp as a result …… essential to your enjoyment.

And wherever you go you need to know the local laws and customs as regards pitching your tent in any quiet spot that takes your fancy. …

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April 4, 2005 1 Comment
Mobile

4×4 car rental in the UK

Get into the car
Let’s go off-road

Want to explore the British countryside by car this weekend? Why not make it as adventurous as possible, and more fun, go off the main tracks to some of the most remote and rugged parts of the country – here are the best 4×4 car rental places online.

If you are worried about eco-impact – specify diesel and then fill the tank with biofuel. Remember to travel the wild parts of the country responsibly. Stick to rights of way and leave no permanent trace behind you.

In the UK try shb.co.uk for rental of rugged 4×4 cars, pickups or people carriers: fill an enquiry form online or email 4×4@shb.co.uk. For luxury 4×4 cars email Scotland@shab.co.uk
Tel. +44 (0) 1236 765566 Fax. +44 (0) 1236 755760…

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March 27, 2005 1 Comment
Land

DARYL HANNAH ON BEING OFF-GRID

Daryl Hannah has a massive commitment to the environment, and unusually amongst the Hollywood A-list, she puts in real time and effort to forward her beliefs. In this exclusive interview she spoke to Off-Grid’s Steve Spence.  Off-Grid 2005

Daryl Hannah and Charris Ford
Daryl Hannah & Charris Ford – promoting biodiesel (Jason Hudepohl)

Actress Daryl Hannah is often referred to as the Blonde Goddess of Hollywood, but as far as we’re concerned she’s the Green Goddess of the Rocky Mountains. Hannah lives there, off the grid, and she spoke to us about her setup and why she got into that life. The details were fascinating, from the technology of her farm-tractor to the soft couch in her living room made of moss covered stone.

She was in New York with Charris Ford who has lived off-grid for the past 18 years. They are on a tour to promote use of bio-diesel fuel, one of the issues that most concerns her. She started learning about the environment as a pre-teen, and she found nature to be the thing that has centered her, where she can think about things.

Charris, who runs Grassolean Solutions , got Daryl into bio-diesel as a way of reducing energy consumption on the planet, and now, as is well known she drives a bio-El Camino as well as running a bio-truck, and a bio-tractor on her farm in the Rockies.

But Hannah is not a one-issue campaigner. Her whole way of being is all about the interconnectedness of things and her favourite saying is on that theme: …

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March 4, 2005 13 Comments
Events

Green Home Loans

Ecology office
Ecology Building Society eco-offices

The Triodos Bank is one of few UK lenders to look kindly on loans for off-grid properties. Borrowing on unusual properties is made harder by big lenders like Nationwide and Halifax — they charge extra-high interest rates for the loans, while the Triodos offers a normal rate — for them the use of solar and wind energy is a plus.

While it is unlikely you will find cheap loans on Green properties, there are also a few local councils, for example Burnley’s Community Credit Union, offering averagely-priced loans for home improvements to save energy — but none are as wide-ranging as The Ecology which is “dedicated to improving the environment by promoting sustainable housing and sustainable communities.” The building society is focused on energy efficient housing; ecological renovation; derelict and dilapidated properties; small-scale and ecological enterprise and low-impact lifestyles (i.e.providing finance to those living off the grid).

The Ecology granted its first discount mortgage on an earth-sheltered dwelling in 1998. Earth sheltering combines low energy use and minimal disruption to land and flora. The mortgaged property forms part of the Hockerton Housing Project in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, one of the most advanced developments in sustainable housing in Europe. …

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March 3, 2005 1 Comment
People

Women for a Clean and Healthy America

Keely Shaye Smith
Keely Shaye Smith

The Environment 2004 kickoff in LA drew a strong slate of celebrity environmental activists including Pierce Brosnan, Melissa Fitzgerald of “West Wing” , and Blythe Danner, star of “Meet the Fockers.” Brosnan’s wife Keely Shaye Smith spent the evening talking to Danner, mother of Gwyneth Paltrow and a new grandmother.

Keely Shaye Smith told the crowd that she had stopped Brosnan’s son from eating tuna fish sandwiches because it elevates mercury levels. It’s about our health and the health of our children.

More Info:…

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February 12, 2005 No Comments
Land

Back to the Land by Charris Ford

Charris Ford (aka the Granola Ayatollah of Canola)
Charris Ford (aka the Granola Ayatollah of Canola)

My passion for all things Eco started when I was 18 in the hills of Tennessee, where I spent ten years running the family’s Organic farm, living with solar power home, harvesting rainwater, chopping wood and hauling spring water. I have lived off-grid for nearly 20 years.

I was a student of Permaculture and apprenticed with members of a nearby Amish community. The Amish taught me how to work my team of Belgian horses and they reinforced my love for doing things by hand. My fondest memories of Tennessee are of driving the horse drawn wagon, mowing with a scythe and foraging for wild food & alternative medicine.…

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February 6, 2005 No Comments
People

GREEN ECONOMICS

Dennis Weaver
Dennis Weaver

GREEN ECONOMICS

Ecolonomics is the word expressing the understanding that ecology and
economics are two sides of the same coin. Ecolonomics is a movement away
from behavior that is ecologically and economically destructive towards
activities that protect our environment and nurture our economy. …

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January 11, 2005 No Comments