Remote Living Archives

Blog Archives

Chilcotin Modular Cabin “Zombie Cabin”

Chilcotin Modular Cabin: A Remote Build with Significant Barriers to Construction

For years I’ve been wanting to push the boundaries of what we build, build something different, build something really remote, build something really cool.

Pushing the boundaries of design, location and material choices I’ve had a particular interest in RUST. Rusty Weathered Corten Steel siding that is.

Inspired by a recent article I saw on Inhabitat.com about a pair of Weathered steel and reclaimed wood-clad cabins on a Navajo reservation I made a post on our Facebook page “Please Lord, help me find a client that wants Corten Steel on their building!” I put it out there into the universe to see what we could find.

Just 4 days later I received an email from one of our recent clients who had referred one of her friends to us. It was the perfect project; an incredibly remote property in the heart of the Chilcotin Valley. The family had owned the 5 acre property for over 30 years but it has three major barriers to construction the last of which turned the families existing cabin into a pile of smoking ashes. Read more ›

Tesla Energy – Elon Musk… Smartest Cookie on the Planet?

Listen to this man, follow this man, learn from this man.

Yesterday I spent 18 minutes of my afternoon watching Elon Musk CEO of Tesla Motors announce the creation of Tesla Energy and the Tesla Power Wall amongst other products.

Tesla Energy

I believe Tesla Energy is truly a world changing technology allowing people to break the chains of the “grid” as we know it and no longer beholden to coal fired power plants.

I don’t say that lightly in the slightest… Elon is probably one of the more brilliant members we have of the human race we have on the planet these days. A true visionary.

He has the knack of taking what looks like an overwhelming challenge and makes it very easy to understand and most importantly shows us the way through the maze of naysayers and get straight to the solution.

“We have this handy fusion reactor in the sky… the sun… you don’t have to do anything… It just works… shows up every day and produces ridiculous amounts of power.”

Watch the Vidio, listen to this man, follow this man, learn from this man. One smart cookie. http://www.teslamotors.com/powerwall

Lasqueti Island – Secluded Paradise?

Lasqueti Island – Off Grid Living at our Backdoor

Imagine an island so secluded there’s no electricity, there are no paved roads and in many cases, no plumbing. That island – called Lasqueti Island – is home to 400 people and less than an hour away from Vancouver. Global TV’s 16×9 crew traveled there to see what it’s like to live off the grid.

Lasqueti Island is an island off the east coast of Vancouver Island in the Strait of Georgia, Powell River Regional District, British Columbia, Canada. A passenger-only ferry connects the island to the community of French Creek, near Parksville. The ferry makes two to three runs per day, five days per week, weather permitting.

The island had a population of 426 in the Canada 2011 Census, up 18% from the Canada 2006 Census,^[2] and a land area of 73.57 km² (28.4 sq mi).

Saturna Island Cabin Delivery

Saturn Island Cabin Delivery – Remote Property

Some of you may have been following the recent sale we had for our Tradeshow Demo Unit.

Due to some changes in our business model we decided it was time to part ways with this beauty and pass her down to someone who could get more use out of it than we currently were.

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Once the high bidder was selected it was time to start figuring out how to get this building to it’s new home on the Southern Shores of Saturna Island.

Goal Zero Off Grid Power Made Easy

Goal Zero Off Grid Power

So you’re going camping for the weekend or escaping to your Gulf Island / Gambier Island cabin… But you forgot to charge your cell phone or camera.

NO PROBLEM!

The Goal Zero Extreme 350 Adventure Kit is a good option for folks wanting super-easy solar energy. It’s portability and ease-of-use make it a good companion while on the go, or around the house.

Need more power? Just daisy chain up to 3 units together and there you have it.

GOAL ZERO is an innovator of portable solar power systems that power a variety of USB, AC and DC devices anywhere and at anytime. Providing a perfect blend of portability, power, and ease-of-use, GOAL ZERO products feature full solar energy systems—solar panels, power packs and accessories—each designed to work in concert with each other.

Buy: Goal Zero

Prefab Gulf Island Cabins – Galiano Island

Gulf Island Cabins:

Who wouldn’t want their own pair of Gulf Island Cabins?

A client came to us recently with a challenge. He wanted us to design and build two remote cabins on Galiano Island (on a relatively tight budget) to serve as a meeting place for friends and family to escape from the hustle and bustle of busy city life.

Galiano Island is located in the Southern Gulf Islands between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. There are a couple of factors that make Galiano Island so appealing for a Gulf Island Cabin getaway. Read more ›

Orcas Island Getaway – Remote Living in the San Juan Islands

Orcas Island Washington

Orcas Island Getaway

Resting atop a hill, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Randy Dixon and Deborah Haensli’s Modern-Shed is the perfect getaway from hectic city living.

Randy, an accomplished member of Seattle’s theatre world, and his wife, Deborah, who works in business, lead a fast-paced, active life in the Emerald City.

But at least once a month, and more in the summer, they enjoy escaping to their home in the San Juan Islands.

Gambier Island Homesteaders – Remote Island Living

Q&A with Gambier Island homesteaders James and Lara

Gambier Islanders Homesteaders – James Spouler and Lara Kehler

Gambier Island

January is that time of year where people take stock of their lives and ask that all important question: “What am I doing with my life?” Usually this results in a few trips to the gym and then it’s back to business as usual. But for some, it leads to something more radical.