Has I stuffed a turkey this morning, I was wondering what the true pioneers did when it came to stuffing a turkey. I think they mainly had geese rather than turkey and of course they had an old cookstove or wood heat.

They didn't have electricity has we now have it and so would have had to cook the turkey or goose quickly or have a ice box to store it in during the hot summer months. If they froze it outside during the winter months, then they had to worry about a wild coyote or animal getting it.

Working the cookstove was another matter all together. Often they used dung for heat or straw when they had no wood.

Would you be able to live this way. Totally off grid? We know a couple who live in Idaho that are living off the grid completely. It was too costly to get electricity put in so they have a generator for their computer and a few electrical appliances but the rest is pioneer living.

How do you think you would cope if you had to do this? Is is something you've ever thought about?

It is something i have thought about and my xBIL and his girlfriend did this while they were building their house. I personally could never do it. I would be lost without my computer, and telly, and all the other luxuries that i so take for granted, Camping is fine because i know that i am going home to a real bed and going to get my shower in eventually, so i know i couldn't do it.

I have thought of this, and I would hope that I could rise to the occasion if challenged. Would I want to live this way by choice? I think not. Can you imagine giving up your washing machine? or your toilet that flushes with a push of a button? However, having said that, I would like to make some changes in my life, go back to a simpler way of living, so that in the event that I would have to live off the grid, I would be better prepared. Good thought provoking thread CJ!

I could never give up what we have in life today.. I would like to live a simple life but e-mail would have to be part of it, so would electricity in general, running water in the house and all other things I am used to....

Eileen

I think if I *had* to, I could for a limited amount of time. I would go nuts without either a phone or a computer, since we have no close neighbors to visit with, but I could do it. We're looking to get closer to off-the-grid living than we are now, just because we are so out in the boondocks. He would like an outside wood burning furnace, I want a soapstone woodstove and a hand pump for the well. We're agreed on the generator to run the freezer, the fan for the furnace, and the puter.

No, not me! No thanks! It gets pretty toasty in Kansas in July and August without air-conditioning. I would not want to give up the computer or the refrigerator, or the washing machine.

Deb

I know we all could if we had to..... I know I could and if this was the way life was for me..well then there would no issue...110 years from now, people will wonder how we ever got along this way... I have often thought about all the work that went into it.... Till the soil, plant the seed, tend the field, harvest the crop, thrash the wheat, grind the wheat,milk the cow, make the butter or lard, fetch the water, chop the wood, light the stove, mix the dough, bake the bread..... Now bread is ready.... What else is for dinner ??? Sounds like Homestead Mama's bread actually !

If I had to yes I guess I could.
Of course I would have to either move to Canada to be near CJ or she would have to move to TX to be near me.....
maybe I better rethink this
Actually, the only thing modern I would really truly hate to be with out is running water

Yes I could, if I was phscially able too. When we were building we only had a cell phone, I had to haul water in gallon jugs everytime I went somewhere to fill the 5th wheel. It was for 6 months, in dead of winter. I was freezing pouring the water in one gallon at a time. But I can give my kids a bath in one gallon of water, not counting hair washing. lol

I would like to think that I could but to be honest, I don't think I could give the comforts of air conditioning, indoor plumbing and of course the computer. I love camping all year round but we have a motorhome (oldie but a goodie 1976 Georgie Boy Cruise Air) so we tend to take the comforts of home with us, air conditioning, heating, running water and indoor plumbing, lol. So I guess that i would have to say (blushing) no.

Blessings,
Kathy

I think that I would fit right in. The only problem would be the no computer thing. I have come to love mine, esp when it comes to the village.:D