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Living off the grid in Southeast MN: Highlighting three sustainable families

Southeast, MN

There are more people than you’d think living off the grid in the Southeast CERT Region, and we’re happy to share their awesome stories!

  1. Adrienne Tryan and Adam Kidney live off the grid in a small cabin they built from reclaimed materials
  2. The Huelskamps live in a solar- and wind-powered geodesic dome on an organic farm that is off the grid and power their car and tractor with biodiesel fuel
  3. The Dedens retrofitted their woodland home to achieve a carbon-neutral lifestyle through major energy efficiency improvements and a grid-tied solar array

We are proud to note that Rich Huelskamp and Joe Deden have also been long-time members of the Southeast CERT steering committee!

Read about the motivations and challenges for these three southeast Minnesota families striving to live more sustainably in a great article from Alexandria Fisher at Winona 360, a community news site.

Also, for a little off-the-grid blast from the past, check out this video from our 2011 Clean + Green Video Shorts Contest:

This video features Project Licht n’ Stein, an off-the-grid, off-the-furnace, off-the-well, year-round residence in southeastern Minnesota with a wind generator and photovoltaic cells with batteries, passive solar design with radiant heating and rainwater harvesting. Christian Milaster is the resident and architect. To learn more about the house, visit http://www.lichtnstein.org. Video by Aleshia Mueller, Reel Nomad Productions, Minneapolis, MN.

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