off the grid in the Norhteast?

[writer]

Hello everybody,
I'm a writer working on an article about people who are living completely off the grid and preparing to survive the worst. I've been reading through the posts on this board, and I'm amazed at the amount of knowledge here. If you live off the grid anywhere near NY and would be willing to be interviewed, please contact me as soon as possible.

I want to emphasize that the point of this article (which is not for the MSM) is not to laugh it off or portray off-the-gridders as freaks. It's actually a way of life that I personally think a lot about trying (esp. after walking home over the Brooklyn Bridge through a pillar of toxic smoke on 9/11). I just want to know more about what I've already learned on these boards -- how people are preparing to be self-sufficient, and why.

Please let me know if you have any questions at all, and please contact me!
Thank you,
Ben

[NYCBOY]

Hey Ben, grew up most of my life in Queens ny, living off the grid has always fascinated me. I just don't have the know-how

[NYCBOY]

or the " BALLS " to do what these people do !! They are truely special !!

[333]

Peace,

Subscribe to the magazine and back order all the info you want then read it, you will know how we do it, plenty of great info in the ads , they will also send you free brochures about the available techology, other then that its all about perspective and life choices. Hard physical back breaking yet exhilerating, liberating, trial and error work work work.

Peace

[ArmySGT.]

Homepower has an excellent article on basic PV setups. The Jackie Clay columns in the magazine or google her name. She is a writer to and may help you out if you politely email her.

[humbug]

I am not in the northeast but have lived off grid. I don't feel that there are any drawbacks to it. With the right system and some conservation anyone can adjust. My power never went out, and I loved not having a monthly power bill. I think too many people are waiting until they are off grid to conserve. Everyone should conserve!!!! We as a society use energy carelessly without considering where it comes from and the fact that most energy sources are not renewable. A renewable energy system has very little maintenance. We had twenty Koressa's 85 watt panels and a whisper 900 wind generator. We also had a propane back up generator. We never used it after our first year when we were still adjusting to the system. Our major power draw was our well where we pumped water up 245 feet. For household use we would have had enough water. But for the garden, livestock and shade trees we required additional water. (I live in the desert )We solved this problem by using a water pumping windmill and pumping water into a 5000 gallon storage tank. I used drip lines and lots of mulch to help retain moisture. The maintenance on our system was minimal. We checked and tested the batteries every month, adjusted the panels seasonally and monitored our use. I hope someday to go back to an off grid system. I really believe in them.

[12vman]

I went off grid because I had a choice to make. Spend 7k to get the lines to me and have a monthly bill or invest in a personal system that I control.. 8)