Cabin life is coming into focus, one screw at a time (we really are partial to screws as opposed to nails. Amateur tip: they come out easily when you make a mistake!). We installed one of two small windows on the front of the house which will be topped off with solid triangle window panes. We have also started to dive into the whole process of finishing the roof off with fascia, j- channels and soffit stuff. With the miracle of YouTube, the process is starting to look pretty easy! I think once that is done, we will be darn close to sealing off the ports of entry for the mice. CLOSE. Not done, but damn close.
As far as power goes down at the cabin, our main goal is to be fueled by the sun. I think that is a very realistic goal, considering how much time we spend there currently and for how beautifully the sun hits the roof for a good part of the day. We are in the market for the Goal Zero, Yeti 1400 which, after some research, we found out will support at least two pots of brewed coffee per weekend. That, my friends, is amazing. Yes, we could walk up to the house to brew a pot, and we have. Yes, we can make a fire to boil water for the french press, and we have. Yes, we can boil that water on a grill. Let me tell you, non- coffee drinkers, there is nothing more wonderful then pouring water into your coffee pot and flipping the switch for a fast cup first thing when you wake up. No walking, no waiting, just brewing. It really is priceless. Be sure to click this link to see how powerful a coffee pot is compared to say, a full-size refrigerator. A coffee-pot is small, yet mighty!
Other than a coffee pot, other things we need electric for are simple: phone and computer charging, power tool battery recharging, BioLite BaseLantern (our source of light in the cabin) recharging, and in the future, maybe a t.v. We are going to need to be spending some serious time there for a t.v. to be given the gift of our precious electricity. We are not quite set on a way to heat the cabin yet, but it will either be from propane or wood.
What about refrigeration? We have recently been talking about getting one of those small cooler-type refrigerators. Camp Addict has a good rundown of a few options. But really, when the time comes, we may be best served with a mini-fridge running off of the solar powered generator. We can go into more details about that later, but for now, we just pack a cooler. Over the summer when it was super hot, it was challenging to keep things at the right temps with a cooler full of ice, so recently we have been to trying to pack more food that does not even require refrigeration and it has been fun trying to come up with different menu options.
Below are some ideas of things that you can bring with you on your next off grid camping trip! The freedom from ice is so liberating! The only catch for the things you cook, is that you might need to eat it all so you don’t take up any small cooler space for the leftovers!
Shopping List:
We do have a small stash of things that we keep there in jars within a sealed plastic tub: Oatmeal, coffee, italian seasoning, olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper, cinnamon, some jarred nuts, and a few bags of tea.
Here is a basic list of things we bring there on occasion:
Apples: Apples and pears pair so well with so many things. Cheese and nuts are some of our favorites.
Slice a tomato and toast some bread, and you have the breakfast of champions. In cool weather, butter can be kept nice without a lot of refrigeration which goes great with toast.
Oatmeal: all you need is some hot water! Top it with nuts, brown sugar, and raisins or any other dried fruit. Don’t be afraid to try some steel cut oats to change it up a bit. You can make it savory with some sauteed greens and a fried egg.
Peanut butter! Peanut butter is delicious and filling and oh so shelf stable. It is good for breakfast, lunch, snacks or dinner.
Farm fresh eggs: the beauty of fresh eggs is that they do not require refrigeration unless you had already washed and chilled them. They come with a nice coating on them called a bloom which keeps them fresh without the need to keep them cold. It is amazing! Pair it with some corned beef hash instead of bacon or sausage if you need some breakfast meat with your meal.
Tortellini, vacuum packed, with a marinara made from some canned tomatoes and sauce. Yes, you can just buy your own jar of spaghetti sauce, but as a grandchild of an italian immigrant, I am not allowed to recommend that. You could boil any type of pasta, but the tortellini is a bit softer to start with so it cooks nicely when your heat source is a little energy sensitive.
Speaking of cans, my dad would always make Dinty Moore beef stew when we went camping as kids. It has been forever since we have had it, but I might need to try it again for old time’s sake. He also made canned La Choy chow mein.
Other food in cans: Tuna (you need some mayo), all beans (make a bean salad), soups, veggies, and fruits.
Last but not least, don’t forget the fresh fruits and veggies. They really don’t need to be refrigerator cold if you are going to be eating them in a timely manner: Potatoes, onions, squash, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, garlic, apples, bananas, pears, peaches, citrus.
Homework: Try to use less energy.
Turn a light off when you leave a room, unplug some dead energy like a stove, microwave, or computer that is not in use. Adjust a thermostat when you are not home to enjoy it. I am totally preaching to the choir here because I need to do these things more too. It is not only good for the world, but good for your bank account too!
P.S. It is beautiful at our spot in the fall.
Making Time for Tipi 