Commitment to Sustainability where high and low tech meet

My commitment to power sustainability is deeply rooted in my childhood. Back then gas cost just a quarter for a gallon of gas. In the early 70’s there was a blackout that lasted over 2 days. We pulled the batteries out of the cars to light up an old auto headlight so we could play games and cook on the camp stove in the kitchen. The concept of alternate energy, electricity not from a wire but from a storage source always resonated with me.

In the 90s when we built out our old RV, I had a large battery bank installed behind the rear diff, 4 big L16s with a Trace 2500w Inverter. We traveled all around North America in it with our 2 dogs. We even built our house using that battery bank running Chop saws and Table saws from it.

While traveling we looked at different types of homes like Cobb/straw bale, log cabins and domes. When we first saw a 45′ dome we really like the open concept and high cathedral ceilings. We found a Dome Kit Manufacturer called Timberline out of Berkley CA. It’s specialty was steel hubs that connect the structural 2×6 studs and this was one of the selling points.. Plus nothing weighed over 20LB and it literally bolted together. Plus being a kit really reduce the stress of building with your partner.

The Dome has only 3 different size triangles. This means you can stack a bunch of sheets of plywood and cut them exactly the same. Same with 2x6s. Set up a jig and away you go.. Other than a few obscure compound angles it was really THE FUN PART. It took us a week to put up the basic support frame.

I inherited the handy gene, and before I started this journey I had a lot of experience doing some major home renovations on other peoples houses. My partner alas had not had any experience, but she tackled building with enthusiasm. Once she discovered pneumatic tools, things went a lot better for her.

I’ve always enjoyed being around animals and nature. My wife’s history with horses is one of the things that drew us together. Her ideal life was a farm, horses and a place to ride. She is a lucky lady for sure, when environmentalism really started. I was a nature boy hanging out in the local green spaces. Back then solar panels were just a dream, something that the space station had… Remember Skylab ?

Nothing every comes easy

Our early life on the farm was difficult. People we trusted were not honest, Neighbors denied us access 3 times to our property while trying to pulling a subdivision behind our back. They even used and forged my name in a Hydro drop to satisfy a government grant. When they demanded 20K plus for their mistakes I got a good lawyer and he’s the one that squashed their subdivision with a call to MOT who paid us a visit, saw our homestead and then forced them to resubmit their application. Karma in action.
Needless to say, we have nothing to do with these people and call them out when they trespass where they do not belong.