Homestead mailing list

[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

In addition to gasoline and propane prices, rising energy costs will  
push electricity prices upward. Have any of you developed cost- 
effective solar systems? Wood-fired or water-powered generators?  
Anything?

How about water pumping? My cousin, the log-house builder, started out  
with a system where a solar charger charged a twelve-volt battery,  
which operated a small pump that put spring water into an old milk  
tank on the hill above his house. Worked well, although he later  
drilled a deep well, for greater dependability, volume and pressure.  
The spring had become less and less dependable, likely due to land  
clearing in the hills above.