Halfway to the North Pole

Widows Son

Well-known member
#1
I have been living essentially "OFF-Grid" above the 45th parallel for the past 13+ years now. I have 16 solar panels which charge 24 six volt batteries in a 48-volt system. I have a 3500-watt wind turbine but I took it down to get it repaired and won't put it up again until I REALLY NEED it...IYKWIM.
Life at this latitude and 1900 MSL offers a very challenging set of experiences. I have watched hundreds of YouTubes on off-grid living and things related to my "lifestyle" but they all live in warm/temperate locations where winter is a short, reasonable part of the year. Winter here frequently lasts 7-8 months of the year. My growing season is just over 110 days or so. The remainder of the year is still too cold to grow many crops.

I'd really like to see if there is any interest here in starting a group for folks who live NORTH of 45.
If you are interested, please answer this post or send me a "PM" so we can get a chance to discuss things that are peculiar to our environment. This is by no means an attempt to "lure folks away from the usual threads here, but I think living this far north has challenges that the rest of the folks just can't relate to, particularly issues of growing season, winter damage to the farm infrastructure, snow removal, etc.
Cheers,
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Widows Son

Well-known member
#5
I did a little research and found this, " approximately 13 million Americans live north of the 45th parallel – or 4% of our population. " so this is probably a little ambitious to find folks that far north. Still, it is a challenging place to live. One thing is certain, there is a definite reason that the population in my state has hovered at about 800K for almost the entire time it has been a state. You gotta be tough to live and survive up in these parts. We don't get much grief from the libtards here but we still have a few bouncing around trying to "improve our moral character" by introducing us to the "logical economic theory of Karl Marx..." to which I say, "Save your breath...go where they WANT to hear your drivel..."
 

HandLoad

Twinkle Me, LORD
Brass Subscriber
#6
I would venture that Seattle and the other cities around the Puget Sound are a big part of that percentage. WS, and that We are "cheaters" on the climate part of Your chosen Demographic. Maybe only "Associate Membership" for us. You folks see MUCH harsher Winters.

Heck, I have Three Citrus Plants that are each more than Four Years here. Might be sble to raise bananas in the Greenhouse!
 
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240Geezer

Old dude with a ‘tude
Gold Subscriber
#7
42.7 here. Love to move further north but I will say the climate and terrain start changing about 30 miles north of here.
A hundred miles north and decent size tracts of flat ish land are less than abundant. Temps tend to run 5-10 degrees colder as well. A frost in late May or early September is not uncommon.
At that latitude, here, we are starting to lose the effect of the Gulf Stream. Elevations are rising. Some areas are actually in the Presidential range.
Sooo...... considering heading south.
 

240Geezer

Old dude with a ‘tude
Gold Subscriber
#10
Couple of years ago we did tomato seeds inside and when they needed to go out it was still cool.
I started putting the trays out to toughen them up because they were getting leggy by then.
Went out for a lunch with wifey and was looking out the window. Is that rain?
No hail!
Most survived but barely.
 

Widows Son

Well-known member
#12
62*F today. First time in a year for this. Snow is still quite deep in places but trending away.
Nice to know how things are going in Your neck of the woods!
 

Widows Son

Well-known member
#14
I am sick in my heart tonight.
I have been putting off getting one of the fields mowed which is now full of thistle over four feet high. I finally got out the sickle mower and hooked it up to the JD 3520 today. That part shouldn't make me feel bad. But, while I was mowing I got a glimpse of one of my 4 guinea fowl but only got that glimpse in all that deep thistle after the mower had amputated both of the feet of that bird. I got off the tractor and tried to pick it up but it tried to escape me with its wings. I finally caught it (which really wasn't all THAT difficult) and picked it up. That is when I was able to see both legs with both feet missing at exactly the same level. I knew what had happened.

To make things even worse, I decided to go back and finish mowing that field some hours later. I really didn't think those guineas would still be there. So I got going and all of a sudden I saw another guinea but this time it was only moving a little. I picked it up and found one foot almost amputated but the abdomen opened. There was no option but to "send her over" rather than make her die in pain. I was devastated and still am. WW was with me for the second of the two. She was watching for the guineas but by the time I saw the one, it was too late. Why they were out in that thistle infested field is still a mystery to me but there they were.
Later I saw the other two and they were fine.

I cried for quite a while...and am still unhappy about it. I didn't finish mowing that field either. WW said, just wait till you know where they are before you go back and finish mowing...so I left. That really took a bite out of what was otherwise a good day...

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HandLoad

Twinkle Me, LORD
Brass Subscriber
#17
As far as crops that are hardy and near zero maintenance this far North, I am impressed by Yukon Gold Potatos, Rhubarb, Himalayan Blackberries, and Rosemary. Plant once, harvest forever, with My most laissez-faire care profile of all.
 

240Geezer

Old dude with a ‘tude
Gold Subscriber
#18
Sorry to hear that WS. I understand your pain. It hurts me when I unintentionally damage some creature. I.E. roadkill.