Practical Off-Grid Living

Seven years ago John Wells sold his heavily-mortgaged home in upstate New York and bought 40 acres in West Texas for $8000. The area (Brewster County) is so isolated there are no codes or zoning restrictions so Wells built his own tiny home (in 9 days with $1600) relying on his set-building experience. Not wanting to rely on outside labor, Wells has continued to build his own services: a solar shower, a basic composting toilet, a bike-powered washing machine, an Airstream guest house, and a huge greenhouse which also houses 4 shipping containers he hopes to convert to housing/office space. Wells named his homestead (now 40 acres, he bought a second 20 acres for $500) the Field Lab (short for “Southwest Texas Alternative Energy and Sustainable Living Field Laboratory”) and he likes to experiment with off-grid solutions: one of his latest is a more-powerful solar oven. http://thefieldlab.blogspot.com Original story: http://faircompanies.com/videos/view/from-gotham-to-isolated-codes-bt-free-west-texas-estate/

Meet a man who turned his entire life into an experiment in self-sustaining, off-the-grid survival. At the Field Lab, John Wells uses new technology and old-fashioned craftsmanship to get by in Big Bend. Read John's blog - www.thefieldlab.org From Texas Country Reporter # 1123, 3/7/2009.

In this episode, I explain how I make my living from numerous different sources. By doing so, it enables me to maintain the independence I desire for my off grid lifestyle. On my channel you will find videos on homesteading, gardening and living off the grid with helpful DIY projects for self reliance and emergency preparedness situations. Sharing knowledge from over 30 years of living in the woods