tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11626279.post8784744812899862169..comments2024-01-19T09:04:03.601-08:00Comments on powering down: the utility-free, no um carbon-free, or maybe make that the fossil fuel-free weekendnulinegvgvhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05007178148902846658noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11626279.post-39053875879172566622011-05-31T08:47:08.160-07:002011-05-31T08:47:08.160-07:00I also love this idea. Instead of Earth Hour at 8:...I also love this idea. Instead of Earth Hour at 8:30 on Saturday, you're doing an entire Earth Weekend! great great, it seem so really amazing, thanks for posting this and sharing with us .Buy Viagra onlinehttp://www.iservepharmacy.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11626279.post-21275240918695278082009-03-29T07:08:00.000-07:002009-03-29T07:08:00.000-07:00We've been doing these kinds of weekends at our pl...We've been doing these kinds of weekends at our place for several years. We never cut the propane off since we have to heat with it and our stove is propane too. When we cut the power we lose the electronic ingnite on it. But we use matches to get the burners going. <BR/><BR/>With our kids it has become a much anticipated deal. Becuase then they have our full attention. We use alot of beeswax and soy candles. Play alot of board games or read out loud. <BR/><BR/>During the summer we do no electric weekends..and pitch tents in our wooded yard. Use water from our rain barrels to clean up and water gardens. The kids think it's a hoot to have to haul water to "flush". <BR/><BR/>It takes some sort of planning. Since we do this quite frequently it gotten more fun to go w/out electricity. <BR/><BR/>And yes its sheating if you used a radio with rechargable batteries! They have great solar radios out now. We got a solar radio/flashlight at Target 9 years ago. It can be powered by batteries or solar. We never did buy batteries for it. the flashlight is kinda lame but the radio works great. <BR/><BR/>Hope you had a great weekend!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11626279.post-36098586539174567992009-03-27T14:53:00.000-07:002009-03-27T14:53:00.000-07:00Hurricane Ivan gave us a crash course in going wit...Hurricane Ivan gave us a crash course in going without utilities for an extended period, and it wasn't all that bad (except for the hot showers -- we really missed the hot showers). Of course, we had the National Guard handing out ice and water and the Red Cross coming by once a day with hot meals, so we weren't entirely without. It was amazing, however, how well we got along without air conditioning, TV, and even flushable toilets (well, they did flush, you just had to fetch a bucket of water from the canal before visiting 'john'). And the neighborhood established a new tradition we carry on still today -- beer-thirty. That's the time of day when everyone is exhausted from hauling debris in ninety degree temperatures and ninety percent humidity. You pull up a camp chair (who cares if it leans a bit to one side and the back is probably in Cuba by now), pop open a beer (or a bottle of red wine if you forgot the ice for the ice chest), put your feet up, and watch the stars come out (you can actually see them when the lights are off!) Our community is much closer now, thanks to shared deprivation, and we're much stronger. We know we can do it if we have to. <BR/><BR/>But next time, I am going to make me a solar heated shower -- enough of that cold stuff!gaias daughterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11625781455690205927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11626279.post-17734536691344155522009-03-27T12:03:00.000-07:002009-03-27T12:03:00.000-07:00It is so cheating to use batteries to listen to th...It is so cheating to use batteries to listen to the basketball game. Now if you can charge them with a bike, I'd give it to you ;><BR/><BR/>I would think the biggest issue for two days is losing the food in the freezer. I wouldn't turn my power off. I'd tape the freezer shut so I couldn't use it maybe, but I'd keep it going. If I knew I couldn't afford to keep a freezer, I would can more and freeze less.Daphne Gouldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305049560953735881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11626279.post-47444325002548185542009-03-27T06:39:00.000-07:002009-03-27T06:39:00.000-07:00That's a great idea - you will immediately see...That's a great idea - you will immediately see areas where you're prepared less than you'd like to be! <BR/><BR/>>Is it cheating if I listen to a basketball game on the radio if I use rechargeable batteries and have them ready before sundown on Friday? <BR/><BR/>Unless your charger is solar - probably yes :) But using emergency radio with built-in manual generator is not.Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12551470688481404465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11626279.post-59549957409631836062009-03-26T21:50:00.000-07:002009-03-26T21:50:00.000-07:00I love this idea. Instead of Earth Hour at 8:30 o...I love this idea. Instead of Earth Hour at 8:30 on Saturday, you're doing an entire Earth Weekend!Ray Shemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08555603607430966599noreply@blogger.com