High Desert Homesteading

"From Middle-Class, Big City Dwellers to Late Middle Age, Off-Grid Homesteaders"

High Desert Homesteading > The Unexpected

The Unexpected

"Into every life a little rain must fall" - "Every cloud has a silver lining" - yada, yada, yada.  Bottom line is stuff happens that you were not expecting and really wish never occurred. But it does and you deal with the best you can.  Below are a few unexpected events that, if nothing else, put us way off schedule in time and budget on some other projects into which we would have much rather be putting our energy.

Dead Batteries = $10K

— Jun 13, 2013

The heart of a decent Solar PV system is the batteries. You need a way to store the electricity produced by the Solar Arrays or backup generator. Improperly maintained batteries can get expensive. [Read Complete Post]

The Well Goes Dry

— Sep 16, 2013

Extended Drought = Dry Wells. The West has been in an extended drought. In the city this means brown lawns. In rural areas, this can well mean not a drop to drink. [Read Complete Post]

The Lights Go Out - AGAIN!

— Dec 3, 2013

Is the light bulb half bright or half dim - either way, it's not like it should be. Another critical failure in the Solar PV system brings us down to half power. [Read Complete Post]

When Wood Boilers Turn to the Dark Side

— Feb 11, 2014

Last year we installed an indoor wood gasification boiler as the primary source of Winter heat and hot water - but it turned to the Dark Side. [Read Complete Post]

 

"I have always grown from my problems and challenges, from the things that don't work out, that's when I've really learned."

 Carrol Burnett

"Most people spend more time and energy going around problems than in trying to solve them."

   Henry Ford

"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort."

   Herm Albright