Debt-Free West Texas Estate

[Palumboism]

Seven years ago John Wells sold his heavily-mortgaged home in upstate New York and bought 40 acres in West Texas for $8000. The area (Brewster County) is so isolated there are no codes or zoning restrictions so Wells built his own tiny home (in 9 days with $1600) relying on his set-building experience.

Not wanting to rely on outside labor, Wells has continued to build his own services: a solar shower, a basic composting toilet, a bike-powered washing machine, an Airstream guest house, and a huge greenhouse which also houses 4 shipping containers he hopes to convert to housing/office space.

Wells named his homestead (now 40 acres, he bought a second 20 acres for $500) the Field Lab (short for “Southwest Texas Alternative Energy and Sustainable Living Field Laboratory”) and he likes to experiment with off-grid solutions: one of his latest is a more-powerful solar oven.





He says what it cost him to live in New York for 8 days he can live on his homestead for a year.  $300 a year in property taxes compared to a thousand dollars per month in New York.

Is anyone on Getbig considering doing something like this?

[HTexan]

fuck no, i need internet .

[SF1900]

Vince Goodrum, CSN, MFT, HHP, CEO, is planning to live off the grid.

I think his plan is still in the works.

It's only a matter of time.

[denarii]

Vince Goodrum, CSN, MFT, HHP, CEO, is planning to live off the grid.

I think his plan is still in the works.

It's only a matter of time.

he could get mixed up with a feral hog in the Georgia back woods...

[Jamaal]

Vince Goodrum, CSN, MFT, HHP, CEO, is planning to live off the grid.

I think his plan is still in the works.

It's only a matter of time.

CEO of...

Oh right.

[Vince G, CSN MFT]

Vince Goodrum, CSN, MFT, HHP, CEO, is planning to live off the grid.

I think his plan is still in the works.

It's only a matter of time.

Still the plan.  I actually spoke with John a few years ago about advice.  Its actually a lot more work than people think.  He usually works a 12 hour day in caring for his animals, plants, and weather reports.  He almost got killed in an accident a year ago...leg was a complete mess but fortunately he pays yearly for helicopter medical service which is 50 bucks. 

[Explorerspl]

Seven years ago John Wells sold his heavily-mortgaged home in upstate New York and bought 40 acres in West Texas for $8000. The area (Brewster County) is so isolated there are no codes or zoning restrictions so Wells built his own tiny home (in 9 days with $1600) relying on his set-building experience.

Not wanting to rely on outside labor, Wells has continued to build his own services: a solar shower, a basic composting toilet, a bike-powered washing machine, an Airstream guest house, and a huge greenhouse which also houses 4 shipping containers he hopes to convert to housing/office space.

Wells named his homestead (now 40 acres, he bought a second 20 acres for $500) the Field Lab (short for “Southwest Texas Alternative Energy and Sustainable Living Field Laboratory”) and he likes to experiment with off-grid solutions: one of his latest is a more-powerful solar oven.





He says what it cost him to live in New York for 8 days he can live on his homestead for a year.  $300 a year in property taxes compared to a thousand dollars per month in New York.

Is anyone on Getbig considering doing something like this?

Is john wells a Melvin Goodrum alias?

[Dave D]

I also spoke with John, via satellite phone, and he said he's planning on buying more land and becoming more self sufficient. He eventually wants to be grid free and plans on wiping his whole identity from existence.

[SF1900]

Still the plan.  I actually spoke with John a few years ago about advice.  Its actually a lot more work than people think.  He usually works a 12 hour day in caring for his animals, plants, and weather reports.  He almost got killed in an accident a year ago...leg was a complete mess but fortunately he pays yearly for helicopter medical service which is 50 bucks. 

Vince, will you be living off the grid in NC?

[Tapeworm]

Is anyone on Getbig considering doing something like this?

I own a pantech box - the kind trucks use to deliver refrigerated goods.  It holds a 10 degree C difference from outside for about 5 hours but I'm going to fit it with yet more insulation (styrene), maybe wallpaper it for pretty.  Kitchen, shower, and bed.  No toilet because I ain't in the shit hauling business.  Propane, water, D generator, and AC unit.  It'll be a camper so also a spare 300l tank of diesel.  Maybe some fold-out canopy type stuff.  Wind up jacks to get on/off the truck.

I'm looking at 5 acres with a house on it at the moment but had originally planned to get 100-200 acres of land and live in the camper box while building.  All my stuff under a pallet rack walled tarp shelter.  

Living off grid means supplying all your own infrastructure.  That's more costly than just paying for hookup to existing services.  Imo people kid themselves about how they're going to rough it and be just fine.  Air conditioning on a 110 degree day is nice.  Heat in the winter is nice.  You're gonna want that.  I agree you don't need automated, illuminated touch pad controlled, multi zone, whisper quiet indulgence but at least pulley drive something off a damn honda that you can turn on once a day.

You need water.  You need power.  You need communications.  You need a real kitchen, not a soup can heater.  You need a flush toilet.  Come on.  You're not an animal.  You don't want to live a life of pooping in buckets.

You're going to DIY it.  Are you truly autonomous?  How you gonna get all that shit out there to the middle of nowhere?  Do you own a truck?  Can you really do everything yourself or are you going to have to pay people a premium to work for you out in the sticks?  Concrete?  Excavation and access?  Are you going to have a workshop so you can maintain your stuff?  Things need maintenance and repair all the time.

That dude spent a lot of money buying all that shit and getting it out there.  The off grid/tiny house folks are always yapping "I built this house for $1500!!!"  No.  You built a box big enough to stand up in for $1500.  All the living considerations that make it a house is what costs money.

Imo harsh weather calls for underground space.  Dude should have dug in and used the basement to cool the [heavily insulated] above ground portion.  Guess he doesn't own an earthmover.  Could have put those tanks in as well and avoided all the amoebic meningitis or just concreted in a quarter million liter reservoir.  Bet it would have been cheaper than the purchase and delivery of what he has now.

Evidently he has no need to generate income.  Not all of us can live 3 hours from the nearest stoplight.    Although I live about 50 minutes from one.

[ESFitness]

40 acres and not a single woman.