6 OAK TREES TIMBERED/STARTING ON THE SOLAR ARRAY/MY JOURNAL~~A HOMESTEAD UPDATE
IT'S BEEN A REAL BUSY WEEK
We've had a bit of cold followed by a few day that were pretty nice. So, not to let any day go to waste, I take advantage of both.
I spent the cold snowy time immersed in increasing my knowledge and finding resources. It was during this time I decided on the chainsaw I was going to buy to use for milling all my lumber.
- It's a Stihl MS391...whatever the heck that means exactly.😁
But I do know this... it's horsepower and displacement specs(along with the 25"(0.66m) cutting length) were well above what I need to do the job have ahead of me. So I modified it the same way I modified my previous, much smaller saw. You can click this to see my first time using it as well.
THINKING ABOUT OUR ENERGY NEEDS
To start out, we will be using a small solar array to supply our needs. So while online I delved into locating components for our own personal "power station". I have done a bit of calculating and if i am right having a 4 battery system with between 400-600 watts of power production from the panels will serve all our needs easily. This small system will allow use to stay on the very economical side of an install. After researching, I bought our first component for the system.
This is a 1000 watt inverter and while it would never run an entire modern house, it will easily provide all our needs. This is the part of the system that turns our battery voltage(12.8v-14.3v)into our regular 120v. This voltage will be used for heavier loads such as the refrigerator and deep freezer. However we will be having everything that we can, use the 12v system. So all lighting will be 12v LED bulbs. Along with all pumps and fans as possible.
#TOO MUCH FOR MY OLD MIND
Maybe it's just me, or maybe not. But making the move to freedom and self sufficiency is a very multifaceted program...
Enter, my journal...or log...or personal organizer... Be it whatever it is, I couldn't keep up with all the thoughts, needs, wants, necessities, numbers, projects and such...so I found a notebook and put pen to pad. It's really helping a lot and I wish I would have thought of it earlier.
Lots of good stuff in here...How many of each size board needed to complete the house, the solar system planning. Along with things concerning the spring, livestock, garden and orchard and so much more.
SO WHAT ABOUT THE NICER DAYS?
Oh, I spent those are sing that new chainsaw. I cut a total of 6 Oak trees and a few others that were dead and dangerous to be left standing. This equalled up to giving me at least 4 of the 39 needed stilts for the house. I also believe one trunk is big enough to be used as a ceiling rafter. That would take care of one of 13 needed rafters. I also now have enough wood stock to build a small fenced in area.
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Awesome!! Thank you my dear friend! I really appreciate the show of love and support.🤗
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Followed!
One day I want to do exactly the same as this, the world much nicer innawoods where you can build everything yourself. Self-sufficiency is so rewarding.
Yes, it's going to be extremely rewarding. I look forward to it a lot! However, I am realizing once again the full depth of how much work this is going to be. we are currently attempting to move logs from where they were dropped to where the house will be built in having a massively hard time with it. We just broke two trucks last night trying. 😁😁 Thank you for the follow and for your support. It truly is appreciated. 🤗
No need to thank me :-)