Six months off grid. Too hot or too cold

Actually its more like nearly 8 months off grid. I have not been posting very frequently because we have been mostly hunkered down on the farm. A good lot of rain and one snow fall have made it harder to get off the grass and onto the road.


So finding a spot with good enough internet coverage to post has to wait til we come into the township.

Could easily slide down the hill to the dog pens on a rainy day. Love the dogs but I don't want to share their accommodation.



I have been contemplating the management of temperature off late.



So... In the caravan surviving the temperatures is all about windows, ventilation and shade. Funnily enough the principles for hot and cold are similar. Shut the windows to keep the temperature air you want in or out. Cover the  sections you want to protect and run the fan to ventilate and dry out moisture.



Ok it is a bit more complicated than that.

In the hot NT we close windows during the day, open them at night and have shade cloth  over the exposed walls to protect from direct sun. If all else fails we fire up the generator and run the air-conditioner for an hour or two. Shade cloth over the fridge side off the van  helps the poor thing cope. Cold  drinks live in the fridges.Our caravan wears its summer annex. Shade cloth walls pegged out wide to catch the breeze.



Right now, with the snow fields only a two hour drive away the caravan is wearing its winter coat. Shade cloth over the hot water heater side to keep off the frost and thick canvass walls on the annex. These keep out the rain and on sunny days heat up to create a heat source that can be let into the caravan. We open up windows and vents when the sun shines and shut them all as soon as the temperature drops in the afternoon.

If all else fails fire up the generator and run the air-conditioning on heat.



Managing humidity is the same no matter what. Run the fan, use dehumidifying crystals and check  the cupboards regularly.



Mind you if you had seen me washing all the dishes in a saucepan this morning from a kettle of boiled water, pouring a bit more in every minute or so you might have got the impression that managing the cold is not quite as easy as I make out. You see we run the gas water heater for showers then turn it off to save gas. By morning the water is if not frozen then pretty close. The stainless steel sink is about that cold too. So I wash dishes in a tiny container and top it up.



All is wonderful however cos Mr Fix It has installed a second hand wood fire in the shed. Somewhere warm to be till bed time.



Morning views make it all worth while.



Cheers Sue

A Ferg on the Move