I am looking for some ideas & or suggestions on building a box lined with foam-board to be able to have under a shelter but outside during the winter to store root crops in. I live in US growing zone 6a. We sometimes get -10°F in the winter. Last year we only got down to -6°F for about a week. I am not sure how much R-value (layers of foam board) it would need to keep the root crops from freezing during the winter.

So where I live, when you dig down you hit solid bedrock. It varies from 2 inches deep to 25 inches deep. Since all the water drains on the rock, when you dig a hole it fills up with water every time it rains.

So the idea of building a root cellar is pretty much out of the question. It can be done but the idea of spending 4 to 5 digits to create something to store root crops in just doesn’t make financial sense for me. I do have a crawl space under my house but it is very short & crawling under to drag a box out & get things out of it only to put it back is a pain & i know that the items won’t get used much. I also am not looking to make mounds & hills all over the place by creating a raised root cellar or trying bury old freezers or metal barrels.

I generally Can up over 1,000 jars of food for us per year (mostly pints because it’s just me & hubby). Generally i always Can all of my root crops but i would love to be able to create this & be able to stop canning all the root crops.

Any suggestions would be very helpful.

Hello!

Not sure if this is the right place to ask this, if not please point me in the right direction. This question has been in the back of my head for a while.

Assuming you do not need to worry much about water and power and have 1-2 large windows; what level of food self sustainability can be achieved in a small sub 400sqft apartment for one person? What combination of food production/growing methods:hydroponics, aquaculture, soil, mycology,aquaponics,etc would achieve some level of self sustainability in a small space.

Please let me know if this is possible or just a very dumb idea.

Thank you!

This is my first post, I've read a lot of posts & have been building up the nerve to post. I really don't know if I'm asking the right question or even posting in the right place. My first attempt was blocked by admins.

I am 100% an introvert, have been my whole life, so not trauma related.

I 49F was married & then divorced years ago. I did the whole single living my best life thing. I tried dating seriously but I only attract cheaters. They either want to cheat on me or cheat with me.

I have been single for a very long time, I don't feel like I "need" to have a life partner, but I also don't feel that this isolated life is natural. All I do is work & sleep. It would be nice to feel motivated to socialize on weekends, however, I just have no idea how to get out there.

Hello everyone! I’m working on an exciting new project related to sustainable living and creative hobbies, and I’d love your input! Your feedback will help shape something meaningful (and hopefully inspiring!) for people who enjoy hands-on projects, eco-conscious living, or simply learning new skills.

It’s completely free to take part—just fill in this quick Google survey: https://forms.gle/XYeptbwkrk5hBdj36.

It takes only 5 minutes, and your answers will really make a difference. There is zero commitment and nothing to buy, I'm not selling anything either. I am purely doing research at this stage, and if you don't ever want to be contacted again, that's absolutely fine 👍

Thank you so much for helping me out—I truly appreciate your time and insight.

P.S. Admins, please feel free to remove this post if it isn’t suitable for the group.

off grid cabin build - gutters, support beams, rainwater tanks

Earth berm home in the heart of Jackson, Michigan!

This unique property offers a rare opportunity to own a thoughtfully designed earth home on a stunning 27-acre farm. As sustainable and energy efficient as they come, the 1,400-square-foot earth berm home consists of a primary suite with walk-in closet and ensuite bathroom; and additional full bath and bedroom; an open kitchen concept; and a two-car attached garage with laundry. The sale includes everything needed to run a farm, plus negotiable farm animals, including about 20 goats and one pet cow named Hazel. Conveniently located near I-94 and US-127, the farm is perfectly serene yet still only five minutes to modern conveniences like Meijer and Aldi, and only 10 minutes to everything downtown Jackson has to offer. Known for its diverse art scene, Jackson is home to Bright Walls, Art 634, Ella Sharp Museum and Planetarium, Jackson Symphony Orchestra, Jackson School of the Arts, and much more. Located only 30 minutes from Ann Arbor and Lansing and an hour from Detroit, Kalamazoo and Toledo, Jackson is one of Michigan's most centrally located and up-and-coming cities.

Additional pictures can be found on zillow. No land contracts. Serious buyers please contact Daniel Ericksen with O'Connor Realty, 248-376-2231.

Hi Everybody - for two years I have been losing over 10 degrees C per night from my hot water tank. I am struggling with Viessmann - my equipment supplier -- and with the registered installer because of the unacceptable overnight heat loss in the system. They have been no help at all, but I have carried out all possible tests and can confirm I have no leaks in the system, and that it is not the tank itself which is losing the heat. What seems to be happening is the water is pulled out of the top of the tank at night due to a temperature differential. I have a 300 litre double coil tank, plus a 3KW solar thermal panel on the roof and a solar pump taking the glycol around. At the same time as I added the solar thermal I also added an extra bathroom to the system, a couple metres above the tank. The installer says he was just following the Viessman instructions, and Viessman say they are not liable for any heat loss in the system since it is the installers fault. Can anyone advise on a possible solution - One suggestion I have had is to create a drop in the main hot water outlet pipe from the tank, since this might use gravity to stop the siphoning. The pipe in the photo is the main outlet from the top of the tank and the suggestion is to create a drop. Will this help? Any other ideas? many thanks.

https://preview.redd.it/2np0ur1py91e1.jpg?width=1512&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e6f82011c27c429a950742301e1fda6c7a4dbb1d

I think we all recognize that the current food system leaves much to be desired. More and more platforms are emerging with the goal of encouraging people to support local food sources. A common barrier I hear is that many people say they simply can’t find local food. What do you think? How can we push back against the dominant food system? How can I help others see that there are efforts underway, and people are really trying to make a change?

The free platform I’ve created offers a space where users can form communities to buy and sell local food goods, but it’s a bit of a chicken-and-egg situation—these communities need to grow in order to work effectively. My excitement is growing because, just recently, the first community was created on the platform, and I can’t wait to see how others begin linking up their goods.

In five years or less, I truly believe the way we access food could look drastically different from what it does today. The potential for change is there, and it starts with all of us working together. What do you think the next step should be in helping spread the word and build more local food systems?

I’m looking for anyone’s expertise on a great mason jar vacuum sealer. I’m just getting started! Hoping for the scoop on a Black Friday deal if anyone knows of one!

i have money for homestead but i would need a job is there some online job thing that will or maybe hauling trash or being a farmhand but i’m from the suburbs so i would probably be semi useless; any help is appreciated