I still cringe whenever I mention we live 100% off grid. It seems like, at least according to social media, that living off-grid means you’re either a fanatic or homeless. While I am slightly fanatical when it comes to my garden or decorating, we’re overall no different from any of our neighbors.
For us, off-grid simply means that we aren’t reliant on any public utilities. We have two wells, a septic tank, and most importantly…solar power with a battery backup bank that powers the whole farm. I guess you could argue (as many have) that using cell phones and the internet (although satellite) doesn’t make you “off-grid”. Those people should probably kick rocks because they are also posting online, but who am I to argue with a troglodyte in a public forum. To each their own….but to the majority of people, we would be considered an off-grid farm.
But I digress.
The renovations on the cottage have been going very well. Every day we manage to unpack a few boxes and continually knock out little projects. Most days have been rainy and overcast, so we have focused on inside tasks. Although, we will be putting up the rest of the solar panels this week on the first clear day we get. We still have five panels hogging up the barn, and this girlie needs to set up a milking area ASAP. Squatting in the pen with the milk machine has been….interesting.
But besides everything looking like a construction zone, the cottage and the farm as a whole is running as normal. Honestly, you’d never know we were not connected to any utilities unless we said it. I have a 1950’s retro fridge (you know I needed those vintage cottage vibes), a freezer, washer, your standard pile of little appliances, a TV and gaming set-up, A/C when needed….etc. Basically everything we had at our old house, is moved here and set up just as it was before. It’s an odd feeling and a polarizing subject.
I guess my main takeaway from our first month here is that the only thing that has changed is my perspective. Our first week and a half here, the internet wasn’t hooked up yet, and cell service is bad at best. I noticed that I suddenly didn’t care about the world outside of our community as much, and I certainly stopped caring about the online rat race. It was a much needed detox and allowed us, as a family, to spend the days working on dreamed about projects and the evenings meeting neighbors while sitting around a bonfire watching the kids play long after the sun has set.
Nostalgia. The feelings of long forgotten memories of how it was growing up in our little farming community came flooding back in the best way possible. I already love this farm and the direction we’re heading in. Because of that, I’ll be spending less time on social media platforms, and more time blogging here. I feel that as a whole I’m yearning for a simpler season, a moment to slow down and be more intentional with my time.
It could be finally moving, it could be achieving a lifelong dream, it could be that the kids are getting older…or maybe I’m just getting older. But yea. The first month has come to a close. It wasn’t perfect, and there was an intense amount of work that has been done, but I wouldn’t change a thing.
Now, if you’d excuse me….The Roomba is stuck on the rug and it’s time I start some supper. Some things just never change.
Apple Tree Farm 
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