Building Our Dream in Remote Colorado

by Wood, Stephen L.

• ISBN13: 9781450233958
• ISBN10: 1450233953
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-07-15
• Publisher: Author Solutions

Summary

In 1971, after buying their acreage in a very remote area of the Colorado Mountains, the Wood family began to develop their dream ranch. The history and wild life of the area provides a fascinating backdrop for their story of adventure and discovery in the wilderness. From the first Americans to the mining era and the building of the railroads, Colorado is steeped in the glorious history of the Wild West.The property was located in the middle of a cow pasture with only marginal access and the closest electrical lines were over twelve miles away. With no means of communication and the closest town twenty-two miles away, the family had their work cut out for them. After surviving a devastating blizzard with thirty people in their home, they understood the importance of understanding survival techniques. Their crazy but true experiences are recounted with frankness and humor.By sharing his experiences and newly-gained knowledge, Wood has saved many of his friends hundreds of dollars, offering his advice on energy systems and the challenges of building in a remote area. Through perseverance and good old-fashioned hard work, he and his family built their dream ranch in the beautiful mountains of Colorado.

Excerpts

>I was compelled to write by many people most of whom I have had some input on their off grid systems or have given suggestions in the building of their cabins or homes and have advised many of my friends for on grid systems in case of power outage or bad storms that would cause major disruptions in the normal flow of their lives and saved them hundreds of dollars in the process. My only qualifications is fifty years of experience and my building abilities and common sense approach on understanding and applying that knowledge to actual products and techniques. I have read many books about products pertaining to building and solar or wind technology and have either totally disregarded their content or have used some of their best ideas and incorporated them into my needs. I have found in most all product advertising it is not what they say, it is what they don't say one should be aware off.>I built our ranch from a remote piece of land containing only stickers and sagebrush, using only generators and hand tools in the early days to solar and wind today.>Being in a remote area made building a challenge, not only in getting materials here but fighting the temperatures that can range from seventy degrees during the day to minus ten degrees below zero at night with snow accumulations of 30 inches or more in the winter, all adding to the way in which I had to build. Frost levels can penetrate six foot down or more causing constant heaving of the foundation and has a direct affect on sewers, water systems, and gas lines that are all installed underground.>I don't claim to be an expert but by learning from my mistakes and improving on my accomplishments I believe I have some very sound advice that will give a much better prospective on issues I am sure at some time will impact some ones life. with a little planning and using my simple systems and emergency preparedness suggestions it could soften the impact some what, whether it is a power outage, water main break, gas failure, or floods to blizzards, to hurricanes a little planning will go a long ways in making coping much easier.