Self-sufficiency and all that.... (15)
Lagoona22:
Have you ever done anything to liberate yourself from dependency on the power grid??
Have you ever done anything to liberate yourself from dependency on the power grid??
Yes, I tried it in SA ..... Its a Full-Time Occupation, from dawn to sunset, and all your friends and anyone else you get to know believe you`re a total nut-case. The upside is that you get to be extremely healthy and strong. The downside is as I said ... Nutter classification.
I also found out that the human body is not designed to adopt the stance of a chicken ... to plant seeds in large areas gives one extreme back-ache! To get up at dawn to milk the cow and then go hoe the weeds ..... that is total insanity .... when produce is available at affordable prices, why punish oneself?
To be successful, I believe one simply has to have an Old Fashioned Extended family living in a Village-like setting .... where different people do different chores. In this modern world, to do everything oneself (even with a partner to help) in totally impossible!
Sooo..... I reckon that only the Amish or Quakers living in their self-sufficient communities, in isolation, witih no engines or modern equipment, plus the knowledge passed down thru generations, can do this now? We are too used to our "addictions and habits" to regress back centuries.
The best we can do is to do the little bits, like learning to not waste water/electricity, and to grow what we can, and learn to walk/cycle instead of driving......?... and to not become too much of a general consumer!
Lagoona22: So in this age of rising food prices, godzilla gas prices, rampant inflation, and rilly rilly expensive utility bills, how about this scenario:
You install a giant trampoline net over your roof- that way, the sun keeps from baking it like an oven, and less cost to keep it cool.
All the rainwater is caught, and runs into a well under the house. That supplies all your water needs, except drinking water.
On the roof, you have an entire set-up of solar panels, which generates all your electricity needs.
You rent a vegetable patch and become grocery-independent.
Is this nostalgic hogwash or do people actually do this sort of stuff??....
Self-sufficiency kinda fascinates me, but I have no experience with the practicalities thereof.....
Have you ever done anything to liberate yourself from dependency on the power grid??
You install a giant trampoline net over your roof- that way, the sun keeps from baking it like an oven, and less cost to keep it cool.
All the rainwater is caught, and runs into a well under the house. That supplies all your water needs, except drinking water.
On the roof, you have an entire set-up of solar panels, which generates all your electricity needs.
You rent a vegetable patch and become grocery-independent.
Is this nostalgic hogwash or do people actually do this sort of stuff??....
Self-sufficiency kinda fascinates me, but I have no experience with the practicalities thereof.....
Have you ever done anything to liberate yourself from dependency on the power grid??
At least I thought about it..
Like I am not into sports or so,
but if I could power my telly
by sitting on a bike trainer,
or make the bike trainer
produce power for my dishwasher
well ... I'd be Iron woman
do good to the environment
and save cash
What a really great idea, a wind up telly. You just get on your trike start pedalling and on comes the box.....wind up fridge,cooker, woman
maybe not, had a wind up woman,bloody thing wore me out so she did.
maybe not, had a wind up woman,bloody thing wore me out so she did.Ulimaroa: At least I thought about it..
Like I am not into sports or so,
but if I could power my telly
by sitting on a bike trainer,
or make the bike trainer
produce power for my dishwasher
well ... I'd be Iron woman
do good to the environment
and save cash
Like I am not into sports or so,
but if I could power my telly
by sitting on a bike trainer,
or make the bike trainer
produce power for my dishwasher
well ... I'd be Iron woman
do good to the environment
and save cash
I love that one Uli! My younger sister, who is always battling with her weight, bought his huge excercise bike, parked it in her lounge, and made the promise that while she watches her sit-coms she`s gonna peddle...... ..... the last I saw ... this bike was in the backroom gathering dust!But if she HAD to peddle it to power the TV ....... Wow, that would have worked!
I would do it for the Dishwasher, for sure!
Imagine doing that to power the battery for ones car? ..... equal to the distance you planning to drive!
Brilliant idea.....the only way to power the TV is thru the exercise bike....simple magneto producing electricity.....imagine, you want to watch the average hour or 2 a day, you'd have no more fat people about....and half the gyms in town would go out of business.....briliiant!!....
smoky: I love that one Uli! My younger sister, who is always battling with her weight, bought his huge excercise bike, parked it in her lounge, and made the promise that while she watches her sit-coms she`s gonna peddle...... ..... the last I saw ... this bike was in the backroom gathering dust!
But if she HAD to peddle it to power the TV ....... Wow, that would have worked!
I would do it for the Dishwasher, for sure!
Imagine doing that to power the battery for ones car? ..... equal to the distance you planning to drive!
But if she HAD to peddle it to power the TV ....... Wow, that would have worked!
I would do it for the Dishwasher, for sure!
Imagine doing that to power the battery for ones car? ..... equal to the distance you planning to drive!
Lagoona22: Brilliant idea.....the only way to power the TV is thru the exercise bike....simple magneto producing electricity.....imagine, you want to watch the average hour or 2 a day, you'd have no more fat people about....and half the gyms in town would go out of business.....briliiant!!....
Doesn't look too good for Human Power:
Available muscle power
Road cyclist
The average "in-shape" cyclist can produce about 3 watts/kg for more than an hour (e.g., around 200 watts for a 70 kg rider), with top amateurs producing 5 watts/kg and elite athletes achieving 6 watts/kg for similar lengths of time. Elite track sprint cyclists are able to attain an instantaneous maximum output of around 2,000 watts, or in excess of 25 watts/kg; elite road cyclists may produce 1,600 to 1,700 watts as an instantaneous maximum in their burst to the finish line at the end of a five-hour long road race.
One Horsepower is equal to 75kg/meter/second or 0.7457 KW
1 kilowatt = 1.34102209 HP
Storage Batteries would be in Order,and they are a Dirty Business
Seems we just can't win for losing
Lagoona22: So in this age of rising food prices, godzilla gas prices, rampant inflation, and rilly rilly expensive utility bills, how about this scenario:
You install a giant trampoline net over your roof- that way, the sun keeps from baking it like an oven, and less cost to keep it cool.
All the rainwater is caught, and runs into a well under the house. That supplies all your water needs, except drinking water.
On the roof, you have an entire set-up of solar panels, which generates all your electricity needs.
You rent a vegetable patch and become grocery-independent.
Is this nostalgic hogwash or do people actually do this sort of stuff??....
Self-sufficiency kinda fascinates me, but I have no experience with the practicalities thereof.....
Have you ever done anything to liberate yourself from dependency on the power grid??
You install a giant trampoline net over your roof- that way, the sun keeps from baking it like an oven, and less cost to keep it cool.
All the rainwater is caught, and runs into a well under the house. That supplies all your water needs, except drinking water.
On the roof, you have an entire set-up of solar panels, which generates all your electricity needs.
You rent a vegetable patch and become grocery-independent.
Is this nostalgic hogwash or do people actually do this sort of stuff??....
Self-sufficiency kinda fascinates me, but I have no experience with the practicalities thereof.....
Have you ever done anything to liberate yourself from dependency on the power grid??
Yup. Hogwash as far as you are concerned. Empty bellies, devastating weather, privation, disease for many many others...but go on, carry on with your jokey romance.
Jovian: Yup. Hogwash as far as you are concerned. Empty bellies, devastating weather, privation, disease for many many others...but go on, carry on with your jokey romance.
What's Up Doc???? 
I think some Bran-Flakes are in order.....this post has all the hallmarks of constipation and crankiness....please mix in some Leinsamen (german)....does wonders for your insides...before you know it, you'll be joking right along with us, and pedalling your exercise bike to drive that TV....
Conrad73: What's Up Doc????
Conrad73: What's Up Doc????
I'm sorry. I did not mean to hurt you.
But I wonder if we realise how privileged we are, how extremely extremely priviliged. In our life time we have not know destitution, hunger, war...and yet for three quarters of the world's population it is a daily reality.
This is not the place to sound like Jehovah. I am not one. But consider that while all resources shrink, while the weather gets wilder...who would bear the brunt of it?
I personally am not doing anything to adjust or care or be generous for the wretched of the earth. I am acutely conscious of that. Perhaps some day I will do something altruistic. That means some sacrifice - not just parting with some unused wealth.
I think that unless all of us living in prosperity drop their complainsance and begin to see the wider aspects of things - until it ceases to be what a friend of mine said "India and China are taking our oil, metals and eating our food!" Until then there will be little hope of surving together.
Once again. Sorry about being abrupt and rude.
Lagoona22: I think some Bran-Flakes are in order.....this post has all the hallmarks of constipation and crankiness....please mix in some Leinsamen (german)....does wonders for your insides...before you know it, you'll be joking right along with us, and pedalling your exercise bike to drive that TV....
Castor-Oil????
Sir,
Thank you for your intelligent and measured reply. IN spite of that, I think we have crossed lines. The thread is about sef-sufficiency in matters of energy. And you seem to be going on about rich and poor, or environmental issues. Have I missed something,or are we talking about the same issues here...
sincerely,
Bob, the happy Eco-Hippy
Thank you for your intelligent and measured reply. IN spite of that, I think we have crossed lines. The thread is about sef-sufficiency in matters of energy. And you seem to be going on about rich and poor, or environmental issues. Have I missed something,or are we talking about the same issues here...
sincerely,
Bob, the happy Eco-Hippy
Jovian: I'm sorry. I did not mean to hurt you.
But I wonder if we realise how privileged we are, how extremely extremely priviliged. In our life time we have not know destitution, hunger, war...and yet for three quarters of the world's population it is a daily reality.
This is not the place to sound like Jehovah. I am not one. But consider that while all resources shrink, while the weather gets wilder...who would bear the brunt of it?
I personally am not doing anything to adjust or care or be generous for the wretched of the earth. I am acutely conscious of that. Perhaps some day I will do something altruistic. That means some sacrifice - not just parting with some unused wealth.
I think that unless all of us living in prosperity drop their complainsance and begin to see the wider aspects of things - until it ceases to be what a friend of mine said "India and China are taking our oil, metals and eating our food!" Until then there will be little hope of surving together.
Once again. Sorry about being abrupt and rude.
But I wonder if we realise how privileged we are, how extremely extremely priviliged. In our life time we have not know destitution, hunger, war...and yet for three quarters of the world's population it is a daily reality.
This is not the place to sound like Jehovah. I am not one. But consider that while all resources shrink, while the weather gets wilder...who would bear the brunt of it?
I personally am not doing anything to adjust or care or be generous for the wretched of the earth. I am acutely conscious of that. Perhaps some day I will do something altruistic. That means some sacrifice - not just parting with some unused wealth.
I think that unless all of us living in prosperity drop their complainsance and begin to see the wider aspects of things - until it ceases to be what a friend of mine said "India and China are taking our oil, metals and eating our food!" Until then there will be little hope of surving together.
Once again. Sorry about being abrupt and rude.
Conrad73: Doesn't look too good for Human Power:
Available muscle power
Road cyclist
The average "in-shape" cyclist can produce about 3 watts/kg for more than an hour (e.g., around 200 watts for a 70 kg rider), with top amateurs producing 5 watts/kg and elite athletes achieving 6 watts/kg for similar lengths of time. Elite track sprint cyclists are able to attain an instantaneous maximum output of around 2,000 watts, or in excess of 25 watts/kg; elite road cyclists may produce 1,600 to 1,700 watts as an instantaneous maximum in their burst to the finish line at the end of a five-hour long road race.
One Horsepower is equal to 75kg/meter/second or 0.7457 KW
1 kilowatt = 1.34102209 HP
Storage Batteries would be in Order,and they are a Dirty Business
Seems we just can't win for losing
Available muscle power
Road cyclist
The average "in-shape" cyclist can produce about 3 watts/kg for more than an hour (e.g., around 200 watts for a 70 kg rider), with top amateurs producing 5 watts/kg and elite athletes achieving 6 watts/kg for similar lengths of time. Elite track sprint cyclists are able to attain an instantaneous maximum output of around 2,000 watts, or in excess of 25 watts/kg; elite road cyclists may produce 1,600 to 1,700 watts as an instantaneous maximum in their burst to the finish line at the end of a five-hour long road race.
One Horsepower is equal to 75kg/meter/second or 0.7457 KW
1 kilowatt = 1.34102209 HP
Storage Batteries would be in Order,and they are a Dirty Business
Seems we just can't win for losing
Ahhh Herr Professor Conrad ....... Is it not possible to - as you cycle you generate the power? If you slack off then your power fails ........ so to watch your TV you gotta Cycle like mad?! Like a crank handle type of thing?... Maybe with a "belt" attached to the appliance?
Or could be an alternate form of income for top athletes .... Hire themselves out as Generators of Electricity!!!
Ooops forgot .. they earn so much, they dont need alternate employment - specially of That sort!Jovian: I'm sorry. I did not mean to hurt you.
But I wonder if we realise how privileged we are, how extremely extremely priviliged. In our life time we have not know destitution, hunger, war...and yet for three quarters of the world's population it is a daily reality.
This is not the place to sound like Jehovah. I am not one. But consider that while all resources shrink, while the weather gets wilder...who would bear the brunt of it?
I personally am not doing anything to adjust or care or be generous for the wretched of the earth. I am acutely conscious of that. Perhaps some day I will do something altruistic. That means some sacrifice - not just parting with some unused wealth.
I think that unless all of us living in prosperity drop their complainsance and begin to see the wider aspects of things - until it ceases to be what a friend of mine said "India and China are taking our oil, metals and eating our food!" Until then there will be little hope of surving together.
Once again. Sorry about being abrupt and rude.
But I wonder if we realise how privileged we are, how extremely extremely priviliged. In our life time we have not know destitution, hunger, war...and yet for three quarters of the world's population it is a daily reality.
This is not the place to sound like Jehovah. I am not one. But consider that while all resources shrink, while the weather gets wilder...who would bear the brunt of it?
I personally am not doing anything to adjust or care or be generous for the wretched of the earth. I am acutely conscious of that. Perhaps some day I will do something altruistic. That means some sacrifice - not just parting with some unused wealth.
I think that unless all of us living in prosperity drop their complainsance and begin to see the wider aspects of things - until it ceases to be what a friend of mine said "India and China are taking our oil, metals and eating our food!" Until then there will be little hope of surving together.
Once again. Sorry about being abrupt and rude.
Dear Mr Jovian, I have a most excellent newspaper article, written by a Black Nigerian journalist - in reply to a White journalist who raised the ire of the Black nations in what he said. I would very much like to forward this to you, if you are interested in the plight of the "destitute and wretched" of the earth. It explains a lot. Would you like me to mail this to you?
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You install a giant trampoline net over your roof- that way, the sun keeps from baking it like an oven, and less cost to keep it cool.
All the rainwater is caught, and runs into a well under the house. That supplies all your water needs, except drinking water.
On the roof, you have an entire set-up of solar panels, which generates all your electricity needs.
You rent a vegetable patch and become grocery-independent.
Is this nostalgic hogwash or do people actually do this sort of stuff??....
Self-sufficiency kinda fascinates me, but I have no experience with the practicalities thereof.....
Have you ever done anything to liberate yourself from dependency on the power grid??