Why you should be concerned about nuclear radiation in your food.

Doug Ford.

The name brings fear to the minds of many people in Ontario.

Doug Ford is the Premier of Ontario, and he is a jerk. A real nasty jerk. He wants to dump nuclear waste in Bruce County, close to the town of Teeswater. The Teeswater River (and the underground aquifer beneath the region) supplies the drinking water to:

• Tens of thousands of people.
• Dairy cows.
• Water for agricultural farming (corn, potatoes, soy beans and more).
• Water for Aquafina bottled water.
• Cattle, pigs, turkeys and chickens. Bruce County is the Beef Capital of North America, but it also produces a lot of other meat products.

If you live Ontario you've eaten food many times from Bruce County. Guaranteed. You've drank the milk. You've eaten the cheese. You've eaten beef, pork, turkey and chicken. You've eaten the corn, the potatoes, the soy products. You've drank Aquafina water.

Even if you are a vegan and don't eat milk and dairy, you should still care where your soy products and other vegetables are grown and where your bottled water comes from.

And that is why you should care.

If you care about what you eat, then you should protect what you eat. Learn more at:

https://www.protectsouthbruce-nodgr.org/

If you care write to Doug Ford. Tweet him. Phone him and leave an angry voicemail.

Share this post. Copy/paste it to other websites. Share it on Facebook. Share it on Twitter. Share the memes below.

Show that you care about your food and where it comes from.

Protect your food and your health from Doug Ford.

Off Grid Water Analysis

Few homesteads can survive without ready access to water.

The average home uses hundreds of gallons of water per day, not counting water needed for crops or livestock. There are essentially two ways that people looking to build a homestead can find water. The first is from water located under the property, such as an underground spring. People may be able to access this water by drilling a well. The second is water that homesteaders can collect from precipitation, typically rain. Rain collection comes in a variety of methods, and is popular for use in watering gardens. Some buyers may wish to purchase a property that has a stream or river running through it. However, they should keep in mind that water rights to this kind of water source may be controlled by the city, county, or state.

Water Table

Underground, if people dig far enough, rock and soil are saturated with water. The more water on the property, the higher the level of underground water will rise. The point just above the water line is called the “water table.” Although it may seem like this saturation line would be linear and consistent across a region, it may not be. People may encounter natural springs on or just below their land that indicates the water table is high. The water table tends to increase in the late summer and fall. It will drop again in the spring and early summer, due to natural evaporation caused by increases in temperature.

Properties with a water table very close to the surface may be at risk for flooding. If the water table rises to the surface, the ground will not be able to drain effectively. Experts recommend digging a small well and determining the depth of the water with measuring tape. Potential buyers can also research past measurements of the water table in particular areas. Although a high water table is not completely incompatible with crops, people should consider how it could affect the species of crops they can plant.

Well Water Potential

The kind of well people need for their homes depends on the geology of the property. Drilling through soil may offer more opportunities and flexibility than drilling through solid bedrock. There are three kinds of wells:

Dug/Bored: The hole is dug or bored using an excavator or auger, and rarely extends beyond 30 feet
Driven: The well casing is pushed through the ground, and may range from 30-50 feet
Drilled: A well created by a special drilling machine, which could run as deep as 1,000 feet

The first two methods are older technology that rely on a deep soil layer. Recent methods, including drilled wells, allow people to access water far under the surface. For properties with concerns about water contamination, the drilled method may be the only safe choice.

Buyers who look at homes with existing wells should ask the seller a few questions. Wells can last a long time, but they can also dry up without warning. Buyers should ask for information about the well’s age and condition. They may also want to test the groundwater on the property for the presence and level of certain chemicals or contaminants, before they determine the kind of well they want to dig.

Rain Water Gathering / Recycling Greywater

People may also want to consider greywater collection for their homes, especially for regions with minimal annual rainfall. Greywater systems are not unlike rainwater harvesting. Greywater denotes the water that people send down the sink that would otherwise be wasted. Greywater may contain traces of waste, such as food, soap, or cleaning products. As such, homeowners should only use it for watering purposes that do not touch edible parts of plants they are growing for food or grazing purposes.
Water Flow

Water on the surface, whether it comes from a stream or a heavy rainstorm, will flow downhill. Home buyers need to be sure that the grade of the property will flow away from structures and areas where they intend to keep a garden or livestock. Low spots on the land will collect water. If they cannot drain away easily or evaporate quickly, they become standing water that can promote the spread of bacteria and insects. Properties that position the home at the bottom will be more likely to flood.

Sometimes, the property grade is not obvious. People can measure the rise in slope by using stakes and string to create a right triangle between the highest point and two lower points. Homeowners should choose a higher position on the property for the home and land cultivation. Otherwise, they may need to use excavation and landscaping to change the grade to suit their purposes and prevent flooding.

Microhydro Electricity Potential

Water can become a useful source of energy for the property, as well as a vital component of daily survival. Microhydro power uses running water from a reliable source to generate energy ranging from 5-100 kilowatts. You don't necessarily need waterfront property to accomplish this—a stream may be enough. This may be enough to provide adequate electricity for the entire homestead, assuming that the system runs well and has constant access to the water source.

A minor change in elevation causes the water to move from high to low. Flowing water runs to a canal, which is often connected to a pipe that sends the water to a turbine. Homeowners need to establish this canal or pipeline at the top of the property, for maximum effect. The turbine creates rotational energy. An alternator takes that energy and converts it to electricity to power a generator that can run the home. People rely on the system to regulate the flow of water, so that energy production can be consistent and relatively predictable.

Many people are able to collect energy from moving water on the property. However, finding land with naturally running water may not be an absolute necessity for microhydro electricity. Home buyers do not need to purchase property with a waterfall or stream with a strong current to use this method. They may be able to take advantage of artificial approaches, such as creating a dam to trigger a waterfall. As they investigate equipment options, people should confirm that the turbine will work with the generator they want to use.

Analyzing Off Grid Properties Guide

• Off Grid Foraging and Vegetation Analysis
• Off Grid Soil Analysis for Farming/Gardening
• Off Grid Water Analysis
• Off Grid Solar and Sunlight Analysis
• Off Grid Wind Analysis and Wind Power Potential

How to turn a Beaver Dam into a source of Electricity

So I was watching the video further below and got an idea. What if a person added an overshot waterwheel generator to the outgoing pipe from draining a beaver pond? Or a water turbine inside the pipe?

It would provide electricity to any nearby home. Cheap renewable electricity.

The 2nd video shows the same pond months later, showing how it is still flowing - and could be providing electricity of the guy in the video (Kevin) had thought of installing a turbine or generator.

And I am apparently not the first person to have had this thought. I found a 3rd video where someone did indeed use pond overflow to provide electricity, roughly 174 volts worth. Actual voltage will no doubt vary on the amount of water flowing through the turbine and the type of turbine being used.

Busting a Beaver Dam and Draining the Pond



Return to the Beaver Pond



Pond Power

Cleaning your Clothes Off the Grid

I saw the video below posted on Facebook and then decided to share it here. The Drumi is an Off Grid Foot Powered Washing Machine for your clothes. (Although they should totally make a version for washing dishes too.)

The Drumi is available for sale via http://www.yirego.com/drumi

However if you were expecting it to be super cheap, think again. It is $265 CDN. Or $239 USD.

So that does seem awfully expensive at first glance. Certainly there are other ways to clean your clothes off the grid that cost less $$$?

So how does the Drumi compare with a more old fashioned version of a washing machine, the old washboard and wringer?

How to use a Washboard:



And the Pioneer Version:



You will note in the Pioneer Version that he doesn't use the soap directly on the clothes and just sort of sprinkles it on the water/clothes instead. I recommend using the method mentioned in the first video, which is putting the soap directly on the clothes so you are not wasting soap.

I saw other videos on this subject, but opted not to use them as I felt they didn't do that good of a job and were sometimes overly long-winded videos.

So how does that compare to the Drumi up above?

Well, I found a package deal on http://www.bestdryingrack.com/hand-wringer-washer.html which sells everything you see below (except for water and soap) for lumpsum of $439 USD. (Which means the Drumi is actually cheaper.) The one below is pretty fancy however. In theory you should be able to find an old used washboard and a wringer for significantly less.

Washboard and Wringer Package Set

10 DIY Outdoor Showers for Off Grid Homes

Below are 10 different ways to make a Do It Yourself Outdoor Shower for your off grid home, cabin, cottage, etc. So if you are looking for an interesting way to keep clean and hopefully not use up all your water, have a look at some of your options for an Outdoor Shower.

My favourite is the last one at the bottom. ;)

Things to do in April, check your Water Tank

April 30th 2014.

In the somewhat amusing video below a guy checks to see if his water tank survived the winter.



Essentially the message I want to get across here is that every April you should be checking the status of your water tank to see if there any damage to it, any leaks, any repairs that are needed, whether it is tipping in any direction (it could happen...) and the overall status of the water tank.

In the above video they used a tarp / rain water collection system, wherein the rain hits the tarp, flows into the water tank and is then stored. In theory if they ever needed more water capacity, they should simply add more tarps / a larger tank. The water is then filtered before using.

Back in the Autumn we can also assume that you took steps to make sure your water tank survived the winter in the first place. If you did not, sucks to be you.

Along with checking the water tanks you will want to check the pipes - to make sure there is no blocks or leakages.

And lastly, check your water filtration system. You may need to clean or replace any filters.

And as they say in the video: "You never miss the water until the well is dry."

In which case you we could paraphrase that to:

"You never miss clean water until the water filter breaks."

 Below are some sample off grid water systems other people have done.

The last one I really like as it is using water from a source further uphill and could potentially be used to provide electricity too.

Off the Grid Technology

The following is a list of technological things useful for making a green home that is off the grid.

ELECTRICITY
Wind Turbine
Solar Panels
Hydrogen Power Converter
Water Turbine / Water Wheel
Wave Power Generator
Battery System

HEATING / COOLING
Geothermal
Solar Thermal Collector
Biomass Stove

WATER
Water Tank
Water Pump
Water Filter
Hot Water Tank / Hot Water Heater

WASTE
Septic Tank
Incinerator

If your home is completely self sufficient you won't even need a connection to the electricity grid (and you pay less land taxes if you don't have the connection). However the cost of getting all of these fancy toys for your home can be daunting which is why many people prefer a DIY approach to Off the Grid living.

Water and Sewer Off The Grid

If you've decided to go off the grid one of the first things you probably did was hook up solar panels and wind turbines to a battery system for your home. Once you're done that you are getting your power from the sun and wind, so the next logical step is to get yourself a way to deal with your water and sewage.

The fabulous thing about water is that it's everywhere - it runs beneath your feet as groundwater and falls from the sky as rain. You can tap into both of these sources in order to go off the grid - even if you live in a city you can do this!

According to the American EPA, roughly 15 percent of homes in the United States get their water on their own, so there's no reason why you can't be one of them. (Most of that 15% is farmers with their own wells.) There are approx. 20 million homes in the United States that get their water from private wells.

The principle is simple - a hole is dug or drilled deep into the ground and a pump draws out the water using electricity or even wind power (Mennonites use windmills to bring up their water).

There are many government regulations that apply to private wells, so you should only use a licensed well driller. It's easy for harmful contaminants to leak into your well if it's not installed properly. The cost of a private well ranges from about $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how deep you need to go. The deeper the well, the more likely you'll find clean water from an aquifer. Add plumbing, install a filter for better-tasting water and voila, done!

Another benefit of a private well is that you'll be able to avoid local watering restrictions during periods of drought. It is YOUR well and you can decide what to do with it.

Another way you can provide your own water is by harvesting the rain with a cistern. A cistern is basically a tank that holds water. Home cistern systems have large above-ground or underground tanks made from concrete, steel or fiberglass. The water from your rain gutters is channeled into the cistern and then pumped back into your home as you need it. If your cistern is above ground and higher than your faucets, you can use the weight of the water as pressure to get it into your home. Below-ground cisterns require a pump to get the water to you, much like a well.

If you want a cistern, you need to live in an area that gets enough rain. If you live near a major source of pollution, like a major expressway or factory, then you should avoid going with a cistern because the water will be pretty disgusting.

If you want drinkable water, it's best to have a metal or clay roof because it's cleaner than a shingled one. Shingled roofs can be used, but they require a pre-filtering system before the water is deposited into the tank. If you're interested in harvesting rainwater, consult a local green building professional.

The best way to get off the grid's sewer line is to install a septic system.

A septic system is basically a large metal tank that collects and releases your waste-water. Bacteria in the tank break everything down causing it to separate naturally into a top scum layer, bottom sludge layer and middle liquid layer. As new waste-water flows in, the liquid in the tank flows out into a series of buried perforated pipes that release the water over distance into a drain field. Soil acts as a biological filter, keeping the harmful bacteria buried beneath the ground until it's eventually absorbed and becomes nutrients. The tank should be emptied and serviced by a professional once a year if its being used often.

Note: The plants growing above a septic tank system pipes always grow the best because they are getting lots more fertilizer and nutrients. So that is a great spot to build a greenhouse, over the pipes.