I'm not quite ready for homesteading but I am certainly working towards it. This is one of my two projects trying to get an off grid, homestead lifestyle started. It is also my first post to this community so I hope it aligns with the guidelines.
This is my work in progress. Someday it will be an off grid home with animals, veggies, and fruits. At this point it is not quite there yet. Mangoes were planted but the person who was supposed to do the weeding used a torch instead. Coconuts were planted but someone came in the middle of the night to remove and eat the seed. There have been many setbacks but it is actually starting to look like something. So. If you are curious. Come in and take a look. I will say I'm actually writing notes to myself as I go along so I can look back later and see how big things are and what I need to work on. However if you are curious you are welcome to look :)
If you are curious feel free to browse but you will likely find it is kind of boring.
There are two bedrooms which are mirror images of each other. They open with a narrow doorway which is 30.5" across and opens to a rectangular main room.
The far window is located in a bay window idea with the idea that it should have a desk. Width:69" tapering out to 109" and Depth: 24"
There is a large south facing window which measures 69" x 53". It has metal grille which are non removeable. There are SIX 12 x 40" windows which can be opened to let in air and mesh in front to keep bugs out. Some are a little stick to open / close but with a little wedge everything closes up.
There is space on either side. 54" x 21" on the far side (west) and 30" x 8" on the near side before it interferes with the swing of the door. From floor to the base of window just over 30"
At 68" x 53" it has the same makeup as the south facing wall. Multiple smaller windows which can be opened manually and a bug screen to keep insects out.
There is 30" from the floor to the bottom of the window so if purchasing a desk something 68" wide x 30" tall x 24" deep should fit fine. There is a locking metal grate there to permit exit in case of emergency. It is only 13" wide so I better not get any larger if I want an emergency escape :)
There is a bed in the room
On each side there is 34" worth of space. Actually there is 37" on one side but there is that black pillar which each up some of the lateral space. The near wall is 48" wide before it opens out so the bed could be turned to face a different direction.
As for the bed itself? It's dimensions are 49" x 77". The actual space for the mattress is slightly smaller at 48" x 75". That means it isn't a typical mattress side so finding a mattress will be very difficult. Guess I'm going to have to try and find foam to sleep on which can be cut to fit. (sigh)
The vanity / desk is 72 high x 54 wide x 23" deep. It needs a mirror and the maximum size is 24 wide x 33 tall.
The light switch really needs to be installed.
and the light fixture really needs to be attached.
Then the bedroom will be complete :) (overall width 145")
There are two bathrooms and again each one is a mirror image of the other.
Overall shape is... irreular. Sort of like two small square connected by a little hall. One area is for the toilet. One area is for sink, shower and laundry. Perhaps with a longer hose the connector area could make a good place for the washing machine.
The "Shower area" measures 48 x 62"
The toilet area measures 45 x 51"
Of note there is a space beside the toilet which would make an excellent place for a towel rack or shelves. It is 20" wide (possible a fraction smaller) and 20" deep. The tiles go up 63".
There are of course things that need to be done.
The is no ventillation so having some way to air out the place and there are links to the roof.
Image: possible ventillation by the toilet and the light fixture needs to be secured.
The fixture in the shower area looks a little more promising and another shaft to the outside.
The electrical outlets have not been connected.
The light switches are not in et either.
As for the plumbing? Right now the toilet is manual flush. The sink is a drain only. There are two drains on the floor so shower water does directly to the floor to drain. Unfortunately it doesn't slope quite right so there is marginal pooling of water on the floor.
Final thought. The USB shower works but it would be much better if there was a dedicated place to hang it while having a shower and while not in use. It's current position is pretty bad.
That's it for the bathroom (at least the main one) for right now.
Only one room left to go but its a big one so I'll break it into parts.
The power center currently have a 3200W Hybrid Inverter connected to two LiFePO4 12V 100Ah batteries. It is connected to 6 x 100W 18V solar panels connected as 3S2P. Maximum input voltage is 400V and 80A. Max Power output to house 3000W. Usage of device itself 35W/hr max.
Now the two batteries absolutely isn't enough (I have space for ten) and 6 panes isn't enough, I'm aiming for 2-4x that many. As for the space itself?
The lower cabinet is 31"h x 38w x 13d with interior space for batteries of 10.25d x 36.5w x 9h (x2).
The upper cabinet is 25w x 55h x 9d and that houses the hybrid inverter, two batteries and the electrical panel.
And those wires have absolutely got to be better hidden than that. That is pretty bad. Works but bad.
Love this combination. Sitting at the computer writing for Hive and looking out at the view is awesome!
Okay, right now there is nothing there but it really needs a sofa. Somewhere to sit down, relax and listen to some music, read a book or watch TV.
There is an 82" space for a couch right there just waiting for the right piece of furniture :)
The shelves you see are just short of 8.5" deep and the area is 57" wide and 47" high. Perfect for a big TV hopefully with a soundbar to compete the set.
It doesn't look that big but it is 87" wide and the counter is 22.5" deep. It even has a little extra counter space on the sides with 13" width x 16" deep then tapering over the next 14" in a triangular shape. Of course there are shelves up top and underneath but the upper shelves are very high requiring a step stool in order to reach them.
On top? 29.5"w x 60.5l x 37"h. Need to get some bar stools to sit there. Regular chairs are just too short. Underneath there is some space that could double as storage but likely just a good place to put four chairs. Space under the island? The two sides are 7.5"w x 29.5"l x 34"h. As for the main space underneath? 36w x 29.5l x 34h.
On the far side there is 20" which space that could be used as a shoerack or place to put coats / footwear / umbrellas and the like. Not really visible in the photo but it is there.
I have a little table that comes out 20" here right now. The actual area is 54" wide and 71" tall. Easily enough space for a fridge or maybe some extra counter space. Personally I find the little table is nice there but in the end? Not sure what should be put there.
As with the rest of the house the electrical and plumbing isn't ready yet.
If all three light sockets could be (a) fastened to the ceiling and if the light switches actually were connected that would be huge. In addition getting water and fittings put onto the pipe would just be awesome!
Looks ok but not connected.
Looks bad but is connected.
Not even a fixture for this one.
One switch works and the other two are waiting.
And the pipe is waiting for a nice sink (17x18x10"). The interior piping is all ready to go but need to get a water tank connected to the pump well, then piping to the water inlet on the house.
140" wide x 100" deep the perfect place to sit and look out at the view below.
Yeah, not awesome to look at but its functional and so much nicer to have than not have.
My brother says he can sell the metal to the junk yard. I certainly hope so. Looking at it is just plain ugly.
Yes, the caretaker made this to cook. Ugh. Hopefully when we have more panels and batteries we can actually cook more inside. I have small rice cookers and other appliances to do indoor cooking but Angelo isn't comfortable using them.
The other half of the dirty kitchen. As well as a broken table (contractors broke it grr) and more empty paint cans and construction garbage (sigh).
More construction stuff (sigh)
Okay. This pillar looks pretty gnarly but I saw when it went in. It is at least 2m (6.6ft) deep so I'm not immediately worried about it. Making it look nicer and doing something about soil erosion is on my mind though.
Stairs and railings to the upper level give an even better viewpoint. They are on the to-do list and I hope we find contractor to get it done.
The solar panels really need supports and better positioning. I only hooked them up in a basic fashion so people could see that (a) they work and (b) they aren't rocket science. I'll be happier when they have supports and won't blow away in a typhoon though.
Banana and mangoes ... With guava in front. Need more trees but that's a start at least.
The beginning of a garden space
I really want a tank. I don't mind manually pumping the water to put into the tank but indoor plumbing and keeping all this junk out of the backyard is important. It isn't me using it, its my brothers cowboy, he's a good kid but... these bins and containers are ugly to look at.
On the plus side there is a fence to keep out the goats and cows (my brothers). On the down side... I want a nicer fence :)
It almost looks like a house .. so close.
And that's it. Welcome to my soon to be off grid home. Currently off grid, currently a home, but.... Noooottttt quite there yet.
Thanks for dropping by.
