Tend & Keep Off-Grid Systems · Course home My library

Build · 8 lessons

Off-Grid Systems

Water, waste, solar and backup power, and the permitting reality behind all of it.

8 lessonsAbout 4 hours of reading8 hands-on family projectsCalculators included

0 of 8lessons complete

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Lesson 1: The rules come first

The regulatory landscape

Begin the course

The lessons

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1

The rules come first

The regulatory landscape

~35 min readPractice: Live inside a real footprint9 worksheet tasks

1 · Habitable vs. non-habitable 2 · Permitted vs. exempt 3 · Owner-builder 4 · Choosing your jurisdiction 5 · The building department Hands-on practice Worksheet

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2

Water

Wells, rain, storage, and the county

~30 min readPractice: The family water audit6 worksheet tasks

1 · How much you use 2 · Where water comes from 3 · The rain math 4 · Storage 5 · Clean water and the county Hands-on practice Worksheet

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3

Waste

Septic, composting toilets and greywater

~30 min readPractice: Read your soil6 worksheet tasks

1 · Three streams 2 · Septic 3 · Composting toilets 4 · Greywater 5 · Planning with the county Hands-on practice Worksheet

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4

Power

Solar sizing done honestly

~35 min readPractice: Become energy detectives6 worksheet tasks

1 · Your load list 2 · Sun hours 3 · Array and inverter 4 · Design choices 5 · Permits Hands-on practice Worksheet

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5

Storage and backup

Batteries, generators and the worst week of winter

~30 min readPractice: The power budget weekend6 worksheet tasks

1 · Usable capacity 2 · Sizing for the storm 3 · Where batteries live 4 · Backup 5 · Permits Hands-on practice Worksheet

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6

Putting it together

The site plan, the build order and the inspections

~30 min readPractice: Draw your master plan6 worksheet tasks

1 · The site plan 2 · The build sequence 3 · Inspections 4 · Keeping your permit alive 5 · Wildfire safety Hands-on practice Worksheet

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7

Budget and phasing

What it costs, what comes first, and what can wait

~30 min readPractice: The homestead budget game6 worksheet tasks

1 · What things cost 2 · Build your budget 3 · Phasing 4 · Lowering the cost 5 · Paying for it Hands-on practice Worksheet

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8

A real site, planned end to end

One piece of land, from the first walk to move-in day

~30 min readPractice: Walk a real piece of land6 worksheet tasks

1 · The first walk 2 · Research before you buy 3 · Sizing the systems 4 · The timeline 5 · Budget and surprises 6 · Move-in day Capstone practice Worksheet

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What you'll make together

Lesson 1: Live inside a real footprint
Lesson 2: The family water audit
Lesson 3: Read your soil
Lesson 4: Become energy detectives
Lesson 5: The power budget weekend
Lesson 6: Draw your master plan
Lesson 7: The homestead budget game
Lesson 8: Walk a real piece of land

How this course works

Work at your own pace. Each lesson takes about 30 minutes to read, plus an afternoon or two of hands-on practice.
Worksheets and records save on this device as you type. Use the same browser to keep your progress.
Mark each lesson complete when you're done. Your progress shows here.
Subjects practiced: Math, Civics, Reading, Design, Life skills, Science, Data, Health, Economics, Geography, Financial literacy, Speaking and research.

For your homeschool records

Course record

Student: — · Off-Grid Systems, Tend & Keep School

Lesson	Completed	Hours	Worksheet
1 · The rules come first	—	—	0 of 9
2 · Water	—	—	0 of 6
3 · Waste	—	—	0 of 6
4 · Power	—	—	0 of 6
5 · Storage and backup	—	—	0 of 6
6 · Putting it together	—	—	0 of 6
7 · Budget and phasing	—	—	0 of 6
8 · A real site, end to end	—	—	0 of 6
Total	0 of 8	0	—

Dates and hours come from each lesson's progress record. Detailed worksheets print from each lesson.

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