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From the lens Homesteading-Living Off Grid.

Misty Morning Revisited- mousepad
Misty Morning Revisited- by WhiteOak50

  • GramaBarb Apr 21, 2012 @ 11:45 am | delete
    Love this lens! I have the 'homesteading spirit' running in my blood! Wait to you read my SquidQuest: Squidcademy next week and you will see why :)
  • gypsykitschpress Apr 14, 2012 @ 12:39 am | delete
    Amazing lens on homesteading and I personally really liked the sheets and thought they fit right in to the theme!
  • JustinDoody Apr 2, 2012 @ 12:27 am | delete
    great lens, word of advice no offense but sell less bed sheets and more stuff related to homesteading, like for instance canners or anything related to self sufficient homestead living, I would think people would be less focused on sheets but heavily focused on prepareness items for these times we live in.
    Have a great day and again no offense to your lense just would like to see homesteading items.
    http://www.emergencyhomesteader.com/
  • WhiteOak50 Apr 2, 2012 @ 5:33 am | delete
    No offense taken. But when you are living off grid and do not the ability to turn up the heat when you are cold, you are going to have warm sheets and warm blankets (which both can be purchased at a thrift shop). I believe I did list some items you need when you homestead. I listed things I personally had but I did add some other things that are as important, besides I do have canners listed. Thanks for visiting
  • athomemomblog Mar 30, 2012 @ 9:09 am | delete
    I would love to homestead, though I am not interested in being 100% off the grid. I need my Internet! That being said, I live in a small village in Guatemala and so my life is far simpler than it was back in Canada. Your journey is fascinating. Thanks for sharing!
  • freeelectricity101 Feb 21, 2012 @ 10:27 am | delete
    I admire your courage. It definitely not easy. As for me, we live in a longhouse, it's a village, a communal living. We have electricity but that's about it. We collect rainwater for bath etc or go to a nearby stream to collect water. It's tough but I do love its simplicity.
  • cottagecrafts Feb 5, 2012 @ 5:44 pm | delete
    Thumbs Up form Cottage Craft Works! We are all about self-sufficient sustainable living.
  • ColorPetGifts Jan 1, 2012 @ 1:31 pm | delete
    Hubby and I hope to be there someday too :)
  • RinchenChodron Dec 25, 2011 @ 10:46 am | delete
    Good for you - well done. Great story. I do have one friend with a cabin off the grid. It is a challenge.
  • nightbear Dec 19, 2011 @ 7:54 pm | delete
    I love the stories of your homesteading days. I just could never have done it. But you make it seem so doable. Your art is gorgeous as are you. Well done. Blessed.
  • WhiteOak50 Dec 24, 2011 @ 1:45 pm | delete
    Thank you Susan
  • burntchestnut Dec 18, 2011 @ 12:27 pm | delete
    Great information and links to other sites. Thanks!
  • The_Idea_Gal Sep 7, 2011 @ 9:43 pm | delete
    What an amazing and inspiring story. I too believe we can live with less and be appreciative of so much more. But I have to admit, the main thing I would miss living off the grid is the Internet, so I can read inspring stories like yours on Squidoo! :-)
  • Bindelstiff Sep 7, 2011 @ 8:59 pm | delete
    Great lens!
  • GreenfireWiseWoman Aug 8, 2011 @ 6:14 am | delete
    Thank you for such an informative lens. We are thinking of homesteading and it is interesting to read your experiences.
  • sousababy Aug 4, 2011 @ 8:59 pm | delete
    Ha, loved your response about the 'heat winning'. . . I know I'd be saying the same thing. There is something so enriching about being closer to nature. Living off the grid is definitely something to strive for. I love your photos too. Take good care, Rose
  • luvmyludwig Aug 4, 2011 @ 7:31 pm | delete
    a cross between homesteading and regular life sounds like heaven to me, but not a full self sufficiency. This was wonderful to read, and am so glad you got to experience this.
  • RenaissanceWoman2010 Jun 27, 2011 @ 11:44 am | delete
    Every journey, every risk, every adventure, every opportunity to try new things is worth it. I can appreciate all that you shared. Luckily, even though this is desert where I live off the grid, it is high desert. The elevation certainly helps in terms of temperature comfort. I'm glad you shared the ups and downs of homesteading. Very realistic and honest account.
  • ohcaroline Jun 11, 2011 @ 9:25 am | delete
    Thanks for sharing your experience. There's always something to learn from others.
  • mike Jun 9, 2011 @ 11:56 pm | delete
    I would like to now do you still have the cabin I like everything in the story and your experiences that you told on hear I appreciate reading it thank you
  • LikinTrikin Jun 9, 2011 @ 7:28 pm | delete
    What a beautiful story and a lovely lens. Thanks so much for sharing your dream with us, at least you can look back at the memories and experiences, instead of saying "I wonder...what if?". You did it!!!
  • Heather426 Jun 9, 2011 @ 4:40 pm | delete
    The idea of homesteading is very appealing to us too. Thank you for sharing your story.
  • pheonix76 Jun 9, 2011 @ 2:05 pm | delete
    Sorry to hear things didn't work out for you in Missouri. Would you ever consider going off the grid again? I would love to simplify my life, but don't think I could survive homesteading! Thanks so much for sharing your story with us, the important thing is that you followed your dream!
  • Graceonline Jun 5, 2011 @ 4:52 pm | delete
    I'm sorry you had to give up your dream, and I appreciate so much your telling the tale. What an adventure! Your experience encourages me to think of way we might make something like this--not so extreme perhaps--work in our retirement.
  • mayapearl May 29, 2011 @ 4:46 am | delete
    This is one of my dreams, I have already lived in a off the grid house but I now look forward to my own self sufficient home. Great lens
  • vallain May 19, 2011 @ 6:09 pm | delete
    I'm adding this as a featured lens on my Woods Cottage: Caring for a Home in the Forest.
    Lots of information here. Thanks!
  • Pastiche Jan 21, 2011 @ 10:34 am | delete
    Wonderful story and inspiring lens - I'm featuring this lens in the Independent Lifestyles voting plexo at Eco-Friendly Tiny Houses and given it my personal vote UP.
  • WhiteOak50 Jan 23, 2011 @ 7:49 pm | delete
    Thank you so much.
  • marsha32 Dec 25, 2010 @ 8:54 am | delete
    Homesteading is one of my dreams, although I'm sure not TOTAL homesteading. I love the video. I've been to this lens before and I know I will come back again and again to read your story.

    This time I stopped back in to give you a Squidoo Angel blessing....and to wish you a Merry Christmas!
  • steveffeo Oct 6, 2010 @ 5:06 pm | delete
    I am sorry to hear you sold the Homestead but can understand with 105 heat. I am still working on buying land
    Blessed by an angel
  • marsha32 Jun 4, 2010 @ 5:10 pm | delete
    I just couldn't do without electricity....to run my computer of course :)
    I would, on the other hand like to try my hand at homesteading......and on another hand....I would not be able to hunt for my own meat, so that would have to be bought :)
  • Missing_Link Feb 15, 2010 @ 9:29 am | delete
    A very good read, I enjoyed it immensely, my Uncle lives in B.C off the grid and grows his own vegetables. It certainly takes courage and soul to live this way. Many Blessings to you.
  • sittonbull Feb 9, 2010 @ 11:22 am | delete
    The appealing and romantic vision of homesteading off the grid is not without discomfort and medical and safety issues. Thank you for your honesty in describing the reality of both sides of that vision. I can relate as I recall that in my youth, I took pride in seeking out and stoically withstanding most any physical or mental discomfort in my sports pursuits, and in hunting, fishing, camping and backpacking. Today, I could still stoically withstand much of the same discomfort, but age certainly is a big factor in my admission that given the choice, I will opt for a more comfortable journey. I will continue to endure a fair amount of discomfort to enjoy most any wilderness experience I have the opportunity to participate in, but, unlike homesteading, they are only for short periods of time. I particularly like that you carry the experience and the lessons on with you as positive ones. Excellent lens.
  • ElleDeeEsse Feb 3, 2010 @ 7:56 pm | delete
    This was really interesting and I am sure that you are richer for the experience.
  • ChapelHillFiddler Jan 20, 2010 @ 8:24 am | delete
    Spirituality's question was mine too, thanks for answering. I was spellbound by this lens. When I built my house, I built it with a perfect south-facing roof for solar panels, but it turned out to be too expensive to go "off the grid" as i wanted too. Maybe some day. what a great adventure this was for you. hope you're enjoying your current path too...
  • tcinvestor Jul 5, 2009 @ 2:13 pm | delete
    I love Mother Earth News. Getting off the grid is a great aspiration & happy for anyone who can do it.
  • steveffeo Jun 21, 2009 @ 5:56 pm | delete
    Beautiful lens, I am going to build my homestead a bit farther North to battle the heat.
  • Demaw Jun 6, 2009 @ 8:33 am | delete
    Many people urban homestead because of some of the reasons you mentioned. A major one is age and health. I know of people who left rural areas because they were too far from health care. No doctors, pharmacies or hospitals nearby when they had a medical emergency. Some needed electricity for medical equipment or air conditioning because of the real issue of heat related deaths.They still can have raised gardens (easier on the back) Raise some animals, freeze or can food, recycle, compost etc. Even with arthritis it is hard to do many things much less hand cranked can openers, radios and even hand washing. You do what you can and utilize technology when you need it. Thanks for the bittersweet story. 5 star lens.
  • ss834 Jun 1, 2009 @ 5:35 pm | delete
    Wonderful lens! Thanks for sharing your experience.
  • C-Joy Mar 23, 2009 @ 12:49 pm | delete
    Good for you! Loved this lens - linked it to my own gardening lens:)
  • poutine Feb 22, 2009 @ 3:38 pm | delete
    Love reading about your lifestyle and will check some of those links about homesteading that you gave in your lens.
  • Intuitive Feb 1, 2009 @ 9:18 pm | delete
    Missouri can be amazingly beautiful and even somewhat mountainous to those of us in Iowa, one of the neighboring states.

    When I was a little kid in small town Iowa in the 1960s we were all kind of homesteading it. Very few people had color TVs or electric washers and dryers and dishwashers. Most of us lived in nice old two story houses rather than cabins but just about everybody grew their own vegetables and fruit and preserved them every year. And neighbors always shared their excess bounty. So homesteading was just normal Iowa life for me.

    Ironically, my little town of 3000 "hicks" was one of the first of any sized city in the entire state to have local Internet service in the early 1990s. And we will soon be one of a very small percentage to have fiberoptic cables. We were the 1st or 2nd in the state to have an elementary school dual language (Spanish/English) program. And people still grow their own vegetables. Great lens! 5*
  • Ramkitten Feb 1, 2009 @ 7:00 pm | delete
    Good for you for giving the do-it-yourself lifestyle a chance. At one time, my husband and I grew almost everything we ate, hand-milked cows, made butter, cheese, grew wheat and baked bread in an outdoor cobb oven, and so forth. That's not our lifestyle now, although we still incorporate some of those skills and it feels good to know we know how to do those things. We'll probably go back to some form of that life eventually. I enjoyed your lens very much.
  • spirituality Dec 9, 2008 @ 4:01 am | delete
    Great lens - but I'm wondering (with all the hints) how did it end?
  • GrowWear Dec 4, 2008 @ 8:14 am | delete
    Thoroughly enjoyed reading your story. I've read a couple of books people wrote about their homesteading lives. One couple had bought an island to try to make a life on -- seems like it was upper East coast, USA. Great reads -- just can't think of the titles right now.
  • MerryM Dec 3, 2008 @ 10:32 pm | delete
    Thanks for bringing my attention to this lens, and to Countryside. When I get a moment to breathe (I'm a returning student in the middle of finals) I'll definately check it out.

    As for lessons on the snoopy dance, just throw your hands out and dance like mad in one place! (Humming the Peanuts theme song gets you extra points.) For futher instruction I highly recommend renting a Charlie Brown movie to observe the master in action. ;)
  • Jewelsofawe Oct 29, 2008 @ 1:10 pm | delete
    I lived like you did before. I hated it. The heat can be unbearable.
  • Oct 27, 2008 @ 10:46 am | delete
    very nature lover.
  • Karen_Miller Oct 19, 2008 @ 3:06 pm | delete
    A Very interesting and entertaining lens! I love your granola bars recipie! I'm planning on moving to Nevada this summer and my goal is to be completely solar powered. You have given some great resources for me to check out! Thanks for your story!
    Karen
  • jpetals Oct 19, 2008 @ 9:05 am | delete
    what a great story and great lens. :) Thank you for sharing. It is mine and my husband's goal to be off the grid in the next ten years. We plan on purchasing land like you have done.
  • Jewelsofawe Oct 18, 2008 @ 7:30 pm | delete
    Great lens. My husband wants to live off the grid.
  • KimberlyDawnWells Oct 17, 2008 @ 2:36 pm | delete
    Great info! Countryside Magazine is published in Medford, WI, where I live. :) They just keep growing and growing!
  • Evelyn_Saenz Aug 22, 2008 @ 3:54 pm | delete
    What an incredible experience!

    Thank you for joining us on A Walk in the Woods.
  • quartzcreek Aug 7, 2008 @ 8:03 am | delete
    Of course, I really enjoyed reading this lens. You captured your experience wonderfully. I can see lots of similarities to what you did and what we are beginning to do. Take care.
  • Rayhawk Jul 17, 2008 @ 6:40 pm | delete
    You are in an inspiration. My family wishes to find some rural undeveloped unrestricted land in which to homestead and also have a natural habitat for our disabled pet rescues.
  • GoodInfo Jul 11, 2008 @ 3:21 pm | delete
    You and your husband are brave souls indeed and you have my utmost respect and admiration! Thank you for sharing your experience. I have no doubt it has been of the utmost benefit to you both! Five Stars!

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WhiteOak50

I am Eva aka WhiteOak. I have been with Squidoo since February 2008. I made Giant Squid in my first year with Squidoo and in my second year I made... more »

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