Comments for Homestead Geek

Comment on It’s Fun to Shop Locally by Erin D.

Erin D. — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:10:26 +0000

Hi there!

I’m actually working on a blog post about that very dichotomy in my life – supporting local businesses, yet being an affiliate for online businesses like Amazon.

As for the fiber arts, I’ve not yet mastered crocheting myself, although I did get a personal lesson from a dear friend. For me YouTube is a vault of endless instruction! There are some really great tutorials out there.

For me, learning to knit/crochet using diagrams or photos is just impossible. Videos make it a bit easier.

My friend Nancy surely makes crocheting look super-fast and super-easy – I think I’m just getting in my own way, really.

I hope you find something great to spend the card on!

Comment on It’s Fun to Shop Locally by Tribalmama

Tribalmama — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:06:07 +0000

Wow I wish we had a neat shop like that here.
No kidding, I was looking at using that Amazon gift card for some crochet needles and yarn. Being a newbie myself, I heard crocheting is easier to learn than knitting…I would love to have someone to teach me, being a visual learner.
As for local, it just makes sense! ;o)

Comment on No Solar Leasing in Michigan? by Bob D.

Bob D. — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:57:16 +0000

Best of luck – thanks for the link to the Michigan-based solar company. The wife and I are thinking of going solar next year, and keeping it all local would be great!

Comment on And the winner is! by Erin D.

Erin D. — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:10:44 +0000

You are very, very welcome. Enjoy!

Comment on No Solar Leasing in Michigan? by Erin D.

Erin D. — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:47:30 +0000

Thanks for the feedback, folks!
eforeverything – I only know what I’ve heard and read on other states’ programs, and they haven’t gotten into the legal nitty-gritty and ordinances. My primary concern with a loan for a permanent installation is the likelihood we’ll sell our house within the next 10 to 20 years for a place with more land. If we sell before the system has paid for itself, we likely won’t be able to recoup the cost in a sale.
choseph – very interesting idea, thanks for that link.
Marissa – Thanks for signing the petition!
Jackon – I agree it’s unlikely big business and most government officials will do the right thing just because it IS the right thing to do. We have to make it appealing to them on some level, such as attracting new industries, jobs, income streams, and residents. My hope is if enough people get on board with a grass-roots movement (which is never an easy thing to get started,) officials may be forced to listen. Thanks for the input, much appreciated!

Comment on The Unlikely Homestead by Tribalmama

Tribalmama — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:15:43 +0000

Your acreage and town are both delightful…looking forward to what you will be doing with your land.

Comment on And the winner is! by Tribalmama

Tribalmama — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:08:16 +0000

Oh wow, what a blessing! THANK YOU!

Comment on No Solar Leasing in Michigan? by Jackson Trebuli

Jackson Trebuli — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:47:58 +0000

Wishing you the best of luck in this endeavor, but having been down this road on a number of green issues, my gut tells me you’re pissing in the wind (no offense.)

There’s simply too much money pouring into various pockets from petrol-based fuels and products. Michigan is not in especially good financial straits currently, right? Do you think your governor is going to want to give up any of his precious state income, even “for a good cause?” Six percent of however many thousands of dollars get put into solar/wind/etc is probably not an insignificant sum.

Comment on No Solar Leasing in Michigan? by Marissa T.

Marissa T. — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:21:53 +0000

Thanks for putting this up on FB! I live in Ohio but will gladly sign your petition! It’s stupid the government doesn’t support green energy better.

Comment on No Solar Leasing in Michigan? by choseph

choseph — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:14:58 +0000

What is the realistic payback there though? I still think it would be better if there was a bond market specifically for solar installations where I could buy in to partial ownership — not through leasing an installation on my house with crappy solar exposure, but through leasing an installation on someone elses house where there was ideal solar exposure and payback timelines. It might be better for your wallet and the environment if you were buying into solar installed in some other state.
http://www.reddit.com/r/SomebodyMakeThis/comments/bnvlj/smt_residential_solar_partial_ownership/