Page 11 - Off Grid East Cost Spring 2017

Preparing a field at the future farm
Big dreams
Why do it? I have big dreams. I hope to be one of the early adopters of using renewable energy in farming – both by building an off-grid system and by taking the time to design both infrastructure and plant systems to reduce the need for energy in the first place. Forest garden design, for example, aims to work with nature by creating habitat for beneficial critters, building healthy soil, and incorporating native plants into the food system. These perennial food and medicine gardens create resilience against the pressures
of climate change by working with nature and just like a natural system, having the ability to ‘bounce back’ if damaged.
Can an energy system provide that
same reliability? Starting a farm is hard enough, but I believe that an off-grid farm is possible, even with the additional challenges this endeavor creates. The challenge is now, but what about the future?
About the Author
Estelle is a gardener, homesteader, plant enthusiast, medicine maker, and community educator, who is currently working to start an off-grid organic farm in Southeast New Brunswick. Estelle has many years of experience working with communities to grow food, conserve land, and restore ecology and hopes to use her skills
to bring nutrient dense food and
high quality herbs into the local food system. Estelle offers consultation services for homesteading, herbal medicine making, and food forest garden design.
Swiss chard and calendula
off the grid
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