What is electricity useful for if you have land?

[Norwasian]

If you have a bunch of solar panels and are looking to make them useful with some empty land, I would suggest getting into the refrigeration industry. A large refrigerated warehouse could bring in some income as rented space for agricultural use. Alternatively, one might consider making ice for sale, if a good water source exists on that land. Ice, even in the days of refrigeration, remains in high demand for many purposes.

If you want to go super expensive...use your solar-panel-supported space for an MRI clinic. The MRI machine must stay super-cooled all the time, 24/7, whether it is in use or not. (Obviously, batteries would be required for nighttime use.). The electricity cost of this is what makes the MRI use so expensive, as those costs must be borne by the patients who use it.

It's pretty hard to store electricity. It's better to be using it.

 

[Rednecktek]

The downside of a vegan diet is energy density and nutrient availability. It can be done, and it's about what I figured you were aiming for. You'll have to be real particular about how much of what you plant to make sure you're not giving yourself any nutrient deficiencies (Scurvy anyone? Rickets?) as you go along.

Caloric intake is also going to be a challenge on a vegan diet. You're going to be burning a LOT of calories to perform all the labor required, which means a LOT more plants which means a LOT more field space. Pigs, rabbits, and chickens are the easy way around that as none of them require the huge amount of pasture that cows and sheep will call for.

Reading through the Wiki you posted a few things come to mind:

1: The basic concept groks fine, but their claims are pretty extraordinary (100% fertility improvement? 200% to 600% more food per square meter?) If those numbers were accurate then every farmer and their cousin would be doing it and making 200%-600% more yields.

2: There are a lot of marketing buzz words in there that always raise red flags. Why do my plants need synergy?

3: Even the basic write up calls for 60% of the land to be used for nothing but composting material and 30%-40% for usable food. Right there you're needing double the acreage which puts you back at zero if you're actually getting 200%+ greater yields. You're also going to need to factor in a bee hive or some sort of local polenator for your fields. Pest control will be a challenge but is just another habitat you'll have to figure into the plan.

4: The amount of labor involved would require a LOT of calories again which means a LOT more food. Meat needs to be on the menu.

Like I said, the system sounds plausable but those claims and the space allocation sound off. Being in your geographical area, a greenhouse would be a good plan as many plants that provide things like Vitamin C need hotter weather. Your greenhouse will need full spectrum lighting and active ventilation. Being married to a botanist I've learned a few things about NOT cooking your plants to death in summer and how airflow is important.

It'll definately be an adventure to say the least! I would heavily recommend rethinking the vegan path and look at rabbits and pigs at the least. Those take up almost no real estate and can be fed on the food scraps from your vegetables. The waste is also a good fertilizer source other than your outhouse.

Also, back to the OP, an outhouse with a shower is really nice. An on demand propane heater works well and your only power needs would be some lighting and exhaust fan. Just make sure to put in a way to secure water to the heater and blow air through it before it freezes. There's no way to insulate those and have them still functional. I've tried...

 

[fatjay]

The point is to do it GREEN.

Wait, what?

 

[Kid Solar]

Wait, what?

It was only seven words.

 

[Khabra]

The only think I can think of so far is a water pump.

What else can electric be used for?

I mean outside of the stuff I already have in my van for charging laptop, phone, heating, cooking and such.

What other uses if you have your own land? Haven't been able to think of anything really so far.

What else can electric be used for? - Setup a year around green house with heating, ventilation & plant Grow lights. This would be best use of any excess of electricity you may have. Self reliance model need four basic things - Land ,water ,Energy, Food. If you can have these four as your own you are like a king.

 

[fatjay]

The downside of a vegan diet is energy density and nutrient availability.

It's also counter-productive to human evolution. It's literally going backwards. There's a reason people eat meat. Besides that it's awesome, that is.

It was only seven words.

The point isn't to be green, it's self sustaining. There's almost nothing about solar that's "green".

 

[Kid Solar]

The point isn't to be green, it's self sustaining. There's almost nothing about solar that's "green".

My point was op can still wear clean clothes and have a shower everyday without impacting the earth in some ungodly way.

Not showering and only owning two sets of clothes is downright disgusting.

Imagine the impact op has when just walking down the street with all the other humans that roam this planet.

It's a big impact is my guess lol.

Op has excess power, pretty clear where some of it needs to go...

 

[fatjay]

My point was op can still wear clean clothes and have a shower everyday without impacting the earth in some ungodly way.

Not showering and only owning two sets of clothes is downright disgusting.

Imagine the impact op has when just walking down the street with all the other humans that roam this planet.

It's a big impact is my guess lol.

I think he's confusing thriving and surviving. I want to do a hell of a lot more than just not die.

 

[Rednecktek]

I think he's confusing thriving and surviving. I want to do a hell of a lot more than just not die.

Hey now, some days that's an accomplishment in itself!

 

[fatjay]

Hey now, some days that's an accomplishment in itself!

Sure, some days are harder than others, but I have long term goals beyond not dying.

 

[Gueyog8a7]

If you have a bunch of solar panels and are looking to make them useful with some empty land, I would suggest getting into the refrigeration industry. A large refrigerated warehouse could bring in some income as rented space for agricultural use. Alternatively, one might consider making ice for sale, if a good water source exists on that land. Ice, even in the days of refrigeration, remains in high demand for many purposes.

If you want to go super expensive...use your solar-panel-supported space for an MRI clinic. The MRI machine must stay super-cooled all the time, 24/7, whether it is in use or not. (Obviously, batteries would be required for nighttime use.). The electricity cost of this is what makes the MRI use so expensive, as those costs must be borne by the patients who use it.

It's pretty hard to store electricity. It's better to be using it.

These suggestions involve interacting with other humans which is what I am trying to rid myself of.

 

[Rednecktek]

Sure, some days are harder than others, but I have long term goals beyond not dying.

Well sure, Sanderson's starting a new series and R.R. Martin has been promising that new book before the TV show catches up.

 

[Gueyog8a7]

What else can electric be used for? - Setup a year around green house with heating, ventilation & plant Grow lights. This would be best use of any excess of electricity you may have. Self reliance model need four basic things - Land ,water ,Energy, Food. If you can have these four as your own you are like a king.

Yes but you miss the critical point here that in the winter when a greenhouse would be most useful then there would be no solar to power it.

The whole point was how to make use of solar when there is an excess.

 

[Gueyog8a7]

My point was op can still wear clean clothes and have a shower everyday without impacting the earth in some ungodly way.

Not showering and only owning two sets of clothes is downright disgusting.

Imagine the impact op has when just walking down the street with all the other humans that roam this planet.

It's a big impact is my guess lol.

Op has excess power, pretty clear where some of it needs to go...

I never said my goal was to be green, you have added that, and several other things I never said as my goals.

Having a small footrprint is nice but not my main motivator.

Main motivator is self sufficiency in order to limit human contact.

 

[Gueyog8a7]

I think he's confusing thriving and surviving. I want to do a hell of a lot more than just not die.

I am not confusing. What you are confusing is your goals with mine.

 

[Gueyog8a7]

Well sure, Sanderson's starting a new series and R.R. Martin has been promising that new book before the TV show catches up.

wtf, how did you manage to level that tangent into the conversation, albeit an interesting bit of information.

 

[Rednecktek]

Yes but you miss the critical point here that in the winter when a greenhouse would be most useful then there would be no solar to power it.

The whole point was how to make use of solar when there is an excess.

In the winter you don't need as much power so solar can drastically help. The lighting just has to "extend" the "daylight" the plants get so even if you have to shut them off at night (which you do anyways) those extra couple of hours of "daylight" will go quite a ways to making your plants happier.

It's in the summer getting that ventilation that actually uses more power, which you'll have being summer and all. Fans eat a suprising amount of power over time.

 

[Rednecktek]

wtf, how did you manage to level that tangent into the conversation, albeit an interesting bit of information.

Long term goals.

 

[Khabra]

Yes but you miss the critical point here that in the winter when a greenhouse would be most useful then there would be no solar to power it.

The whole point was how to make use of solar when there is an excess.

In that case I use welding set or Table saw to complete my small projects.

 

[Kid Solar]

I never said my goal was to be green, you have added that, and several other things I never said as my goals.

Having a small footrprint is nice but not my main motivator.

Main motivator is self sufficiency in order to limit human contact.

Then my suggestions are on point.

A small desal/ filtration system for water.

Aquaponic systems.

A sewing machine for your clothes.

Self sufficient items to make use of your excess solar power.

If it were me, I'd be buying a washing machine and some clothes before anything is done.

Like first thing you do when you wake up tomorrow.

 

[Daddy Tanuki]

This would be the same person who is responsible for picking up after their dog dumps in my yard?

unfortunately yes... My primary work title is dog poo picker upper... thankfully the cats use a box... with sand. My daughters? well I have not quite figured them out.

 

[fatjay]

Main motivator is self sufficiency in order to limit human contact.

Having 2 pairs of clothes will do wonders in accomplishing that.

 

[Daddy Tanuki]

Yes but you miss the critical point here that in the winter when a greenhouse would be most useful then there would be no solar to power it.

The whole point was how to make use of solar when there is an excess.

I disagree, a properly constructed and designed greenhouse can support veggies in the winter. not necessarily the most favorite ones... but possibly, the ones you need? I have been researching this as my final plans are to be self sufficient in all aspects by the time I retire. as such several very knowledgeable members including one who runs commercial greenhouses have chimed in with info.

large scale greenhouse with raised beds and LED gro lights... glass or plexi construction using a few panels to charge batteries and power the led gro lights...

same thing with a ground water heat pump setup to keep it warm... a few more panels and an inverter just for the geothermal heatpump and water pump to move water though pipes that are under the greenhouse but 6-9 feet down... just to add extra warmth.... screw all that and plant winter hardy plants for the winter months...

many options I am generally full of shit... just me I guess, but I am smart enough to take the germs of ideas from others and make them work... done it repeatedly and still doing it. you know that adage standing on the shoulders of giants? well its not a lie

 

[Daddy Tanuki]

I think he's confusing thriving and surviving. I want to do a hell of a lot more than just not die.

wait wait wiat.. according to some of your posts..... (do not get me wrong... I approve of them fully)... the way you eat bro is akin to a sacrificial lamb... I wonder what a fatjay pita sammich will taste like

 

[Daddy Tanuki]

gonna add this out their to piss of the vegans... if you want ot hunt and be good at it, you cannot smell like a crack whore in the gutter. ya gotta be neutral... that would be the smell of bathed body, rubbed with a squirrel and a rabbit to get their phermones on you and then buck naked... I think Scotland yard is looking for you... don't worry, they are not Irish.. you are safe from us.