Building a One-of-a-Kind Off-Grid Solar Panel Platform: Our Remote Island Homestead | S2 Ep45

[@Mrs.CreeksideMaples]

Ah… the song of the Jenny as she runs out of fuel…SO many similarities we share !!😊

[@mywildholm]

Ohh yes! The sound seems so out of place though. We don't hear anything when the solar is running and so we really do appreciate the quiet - this is why the positioning and access to the wide open sky and SUNSHINE is so important to us! We may also take a look at 'wind' power in the future as well. We feel like it's not a bad idea to have a back-up of some sort other than fuel dependent generators. -Ryan

[@Mrs.CreeksideMaples]

Amen friends… We build our House on the ROCK! 👊

[@mywildholm]

Yes!! The only thing that will stand the storms! 🎵

[@Mrs.CreeksideMaples]

That VIEW never gets old eh…. Peaceful and serene on the water 💦

[@mywildholm]

I mean, I know I talk about it a lot - but I just can't help myself. It's right there ALL the time! I never miss an opportunity to take it all in and I am truly filled with a grateful heart. 💖

[@John-w9m8d]

Around 19 mins, what a beautiful shot of the Indoors. You folks built this right ! Its Beautiful..

[@mywildholm]

Aww... that is really kind of you to say. I do realize that it's a bit chaotic still but we feel like we might be getting 'somewhere'... little by little 💚We thank you for watching!

[@16cents561-aka-Cindi-Rice]

It always fascinating to watch you work and listen to the process and see the progress ❤❤❤❤

[@mywildholm]

It's kinda funny but we actually enjoy watching the process all over again. It seems that we do a lot of that... talking it over and then working to make it happen. Thank you for your support - we really appreciate you!

[@CoffeeWalksandWhatever]

I had to rewind a couple of times to look at the shoes on the front step. Glad to see I’m not the only one who walks on the back of my shoes. 😄 ~ Deb ☕️🇨🇦☕️

[@mywildholm]

😜That'd be Ryan! He's a funny one and you can often see him trudging around with this shoes like that... I probably do it on occasion, but not quite as much.

[@Mrs.CreeksideMaples]

Melody… there’s nothing quite like stepping into our quaint Cabins and feel the warmth of a cozy fire eh?

[@mywildholm]

Ohhh it's the very best! ALWAYS!

[@1968alaskan]

Had a friend show me a trick, that I really liked. When laying out a floor (i.e. chalk lines etc) after the layout is done, immediately Thompson water seal it. Chalk lines stay, and plywood is water resistant! Worked very well while there was no roof, and still building.

[@ClubberLang-k9k]

@@1968alaskan you have to have warm weather for Thomason seal, above 58° and no Rain until it's dry

[@1968alaskan]

@@ClubberLang-k9k Good Point!

[@mywildholm]

That is a good idea and for a large build I can definitely see it's merits. -Ryan

[@aspendell209]

That works for plywood in warmer weather, but OSB flooring has a wax coating already applied to protect the strands for 3-9 months, if you don't walk on it. Applying Thompson's type products usually create a splotchy gooey mess on those.

[@mywildholm]

Good to know... thank you for the additional intel. -Ryan

[@edwardpoll4259]

Going to be good for power . Ryan does good job.

[@mywildholm]

Thank you so much for watching Edward! We appreciate your comments. 🌟

[@PieterOosthuizen-wc1ej]

Halo Ryan and Melody, looks fantastic, what u can do is dril holes at the back of construction. Fill up with concrete and put hurricane brackets in, then u build ur back building next to that one , attached the two. Then u got more than enough space for solar panels

[@mywildholm]

Yes, I do plan on adding sonotubes filled with concrete behind the structure to act as anchors that I can attach the posts to. The tubes will allow the piers to extend up above grade, which will make it easier to tie the structure to them. -Ryan

[@davidasimkosr4641]

Great job, looks professional, and we had no accidents....and winters comming soon, like looking at snow ,but i dealt with it for 30 years and I love my warm weather from Florida...God Bless ..,

[@mywildholm]

Hey there David! It was a relief to get those panels right off the ground and high up - it's made a huge difference with so many things! You're living the life there in Florida... hope all is well. Thank you for watching! God bless 🙏

[@ClubberLang-k9k]

Are you putting up a ladder to be able to clear off the panels from snow??? Also are you going to insulate and heat your battery bank so your batteries don't freeze ? Since you are far North?

[@ClubberLang-k9k]

You could use half for wood storage, half for tool storage or your little forklift or your Kabota

[@ClubberLang-k9k]

@@davidasimkosr4641 but even Florida has it's weather drawbacks,

[@mywildholm]

Will just use a long pole with a squeegee to clear the panels. Definitely creating a temp-controlled space for the batteries and inverters. We have a pretty cool plan for doing so, and you will like it, I'm sure. Stay tuned! -Ryan

[@kathleensauerbrei5199]

Oh my goodness it looks so good

[@mywildholm]

He's been doing such a great job with it all... I am grateful!🌟

[@MikeWillis-sp6vj]

I have actually seen this done once before it’s a great idea I think

[@mywildholm]

I hadn't seen it done but love that he decided to go from that angle... what a difference it has made for us on the island. 💚

[@karenbrest187]

HELLO 🤗 will be a nice solar field & storage 😊

[@mywildholm]

Oh yes!! It's another game-changer like you wouldn't believe! Thank you for watching! 💚

[@kevinjames6189]

Good job Ryan. Getting it plumbed by yourself is not the easiest

[@mywildholm]

Yeah, it was a bit tricky for sure, but bolting on bits and pieces to hold the lumber in place while I maneuvered things seemed to help me get the job done. Thanks for the acknowledgement. Much appreciated! -Ryan

[@elizabeththomas8746]

Your solar power build is going to be so helpful. Awsome job.

[@mywildholm]

Hello Elizabeth! It is such a game-changer in every way... it's really like living with all the conveniences and away from the hustle and bustle! A dream come true for both of us!

[@CoffeeWalksandWhatever]

Ryan I'm glad I'm not the only one that just breaks into a song lol. 😅 thing are looking up. ☕️🇨🇦☕️🇨🇦

[@mywildholm]

😜We both literally break into song - all day, every day! It's what we do... 😂. My home growing up was always a musical one too and all of us (except for my Dad) broke into song on a regular basis - and when I raised my children we all did it together. It's fun and whimsical and I'm glad that Ryan doesn't mind and now joins in too! 💖

[@WilliamStory-tx8kh]

You both are very hard workers

[@mywildholm]

Hello there William! We really do appreciate your kind acknowledgement. Life has been very very busy this year and at the moment, we are truly grateful to be here safe and sound. We just never know how any of our days could turn out. Thank you for watching 💚

[@bertandbuckscott7808]

You're living my dream 😂😊

[@mywildholm]

Thank you so much for your comment and we thank you for watching! Yes, WE are living our dream! -Ryan

[@MickieDoty]

Ken and I loved the video. Trying to work in the rain stinks!!! ❤😅

[@mywildholm]

Hello Mickie & Ken - we love that you are watching and tuning in regularly to watch the progress! THANK YOU! We appreciate you! 💚

[@philiphemphill4980]

Hi guys like you said that view and the colours of nature is what life is all about. Looking at the interior of the cabin you should think about a ceiling fan that will push the warm air down in winter and suck up and circulate the air in the summer cheers from Oz

[@mywildholm]

Yes, the room is high enough that it would probably benefit from a fan. My plan is to install an exhaust fan at the top corner by the windows, and draw fresh air in from the diagonally opposite corner down at the floor level. I think controlling this by thermostat should help keep things cool in the summer and provide the advantage of changing the air out on a regular basis. Thank you for the suggestion. -Ryan

[@MarkFleming-k1k]

Again great content you've basically got the start of a barn there as you add to it you'll be much more secure in the strength of it really looking good great content great video

[@mywildholm]

Thank you for the kind words of encouragement. We plan on making good use of the space next year. -Ryan

[@John-w9m8d]

Lol, I built some Very Very Expensive Pergolas on Martha's Vineyard Island Massachusetts USA out of Mahogany,, one client I built an outdoor Bathroom under one, Clawfoot tub, Toilet, Lattice work. Others had Hot Tubs under them. Thats what i was thinking when you mentioned the pergolas there,, lol,,, You can have your Pergola w a Beautiful Hot Tub under for the Winters.. One Client had me Build a Deck off the Kitchen looking into woods of New Hampshire USA, open the Slider During a Blizzard, take 3 steps and slide right into an 7 person Hot Tub. The client is my Wife, lol. We have the family sometimes , soo much fun when the snow is coming down so hard, your whole body submerged into hot bubbling water.. Good living..

[@mywildholm]

Wow! Well hey!! Do you want another client on a remote island in the wilderness of BC? 😜 That just sounds absolutely lovely and you have a very lucky wife! That is the life that you live too. We always welcome sage advice from those with more experience than we have. Thank you for watching - we appreciate it so much.

[@roseannsinclair5592]

Great job, Ryan. Hope you filled up on the cinnamon rolls to keep your energy going. 😅 one wee tip, always cut away from your hand and not towards. Safety first! You have to stay safe. ❤

[@mywildholm]

Best cinnamon rolls ever! Thanks for the concern... I'll be sure keep that practical advice in mind. Thank you for your support. -Ryan

[@Scarletsky138]

I saw that too and I was cringing at the thought! You can’t be too cautious! We all feel a sense of protection for you and your great project!

[@mywildholm]

Oh? I don't think I remember seeing that part - thank you for your kind support!

[@vikkibyington3066]

Loved this!! You two are awesome!

[@mywildholm]

Thank you so much! We really appreciate your kind comments on our channel... we are getting there 💚 so much more to come!

[@regconrad7783]

lol your not alone everything I do has to be done like I am building a piano 😂😂😂 there’s nothing wrong with being perfect my friend

[@mywildholm]

Thank you for your support! It's a bit of an affliction for both of us but it always feels to great when it's standing and in use! Thank you for watching! 💚

[@aspendell209]

You will have to build some large shelves at least 60cm off the ground under the solar deck, so that you can store items that cannot get wet. It's obvious that the lake has risen above your foundation stones more than once in the past.

[@mywildholm]

That may be true, but not in recent times that anyone in the area can remember. Still, you are correct, and it would be prudent to build the decking for the storage it a little higher off the ground with room underneath for the water to flow if need be. I appreciate your comment. -Ryan

[@ClubberLang-k9k]

I did something like this and I planted grape vines, and strung wire btwn the posts to support the vines

[@mywildholm]

Ah ha!! It sounds simply wonderful! We want to do the very same and spoke about how to string the vines about a 1/2 hour ago! We are very interested in growing grapes and actually bought 6 plants this summer. We'll show you that very soon.

[@ClubberLang-k9k]

@mywildholm mmmm wine or fresh fruit or jam, or cordialI also planted 6 vines, a couple pear tree, an apple, a couple cherry tree, they need to cross pollinate, it's nice to have canned fruit in winter, and birds love them too, also planted gooseberries, and blueberries, Plant once you have forever harvest, and plums, I love plums dried plums in the winter are nice for vitamins

[@ClubberLang-k9k]

@mywildholm also those fruits taste good in bread pudding, you can make it from stale bread, in a cast iron pot, makes great bread pudding, I just made some the other day, don't need an oven if you have a Dutch oven, you can make an outdoor oven too, for pizza or for baking, they cook the Best roasts, or casseroles

[@mywildholm]

We have lots to share with you in the upcoming season! 😉

[@leigh7776]

Hello🧡💜

[@mywildholm]

Hellooo there @Leigh7776 - thank you for watching!

[@ArielleViking]

Great job, it's wonderful to see the Fall colors. Have you had your first snows yet? 👍🏻

[@mywildholm]

Ohhh we love those colours!! Just so lovely! We had the very first snowfall (albeit light) right before we left the island for Ryan's medical appts. We watch the weather though - what a magical place to be! ❄

[@littlegriffoffgridalberta6837]

Hey that is an awesome build 👍, You can close it in & make shed if you put tin on the platform :) looks good & sturdy should last a long time, Great progress ! take care

[@mywildholm]

Hello there! We hope you are doing well! We are definitely closing it in for a wonderful little workshop/storage area. Thank you for watching!

[@BoetaFritz]

You can always put plywood boards at the back of the solar panels

[@mywildholm]

Welcome to our channel! Yes... I have wondered about that too - I'll let Ryan answer this one as he really is the expert on it in this house. 💖

[@PhilCatorio]

Hello Ryan: and Meloney untill you have the platform in place, how about a few cross braces to give this more of a solid platform for you to work on. I like the idea of poles but in the mean time and with all the weight of the pannels maybe some extra bracing. This solor platform looks great and I am sure you will enjoy the extra power from it. Have fun.

[@mywildholm]

Yes, you can't see it in this video, but I have put in hurricane cross bracing along the back and end walls. Thank you for the suggestion, and thank you for watching! -Ryan

[@sheilaoneil6928]

❤❤❤❤

[@mywildholm]

Thank you Sheila! We appreciate you watching our channel!

[@Alice-d1w3c]

Wow love the idea of storage underneath. Why not make one storage area into a shade house for your veggies 🤔

[@mywildholm]

That's a good idea! We will be building a separate greenhouse for that, but in the mean time, that may indeed come in handy. Thank you for the comment! -Ryan.

[@jeanettewhite2144]

Wow great job Ryan ❤

[@mywildholm]

Thank you so much! It is something that needed to get done and sooo much work to clear the trees, level the land and now we are at the fun stage... soon they'll be up off the ground!

[@conniedevos7900]

Well done❤

[@mywildholm]

Hello Connie! Thank you so much - it's getting to be 'real' now

[@ClubberLang-k9k]

Nice progress, I Love you guys, I gotta say Ryan, snow Will accumulate up there, because the wind blows off those trees, however I have No idea How wintery it gets on your Island, I'm not even sure I know Where you are Located in Canada

[@mywildholm]

Thank you sooo much! Ohhh yes... we'll have a video about that soon ❄️ We are up North and the ice on the lake can be as much as 4 feet thick. Lots and lots of snow and cold. You do make a good point! Stay tuned my friend. 💚

[@jhart7451]

Great job of building that platform making it so level and sturdy, Ryan. Yet, I do have a couple of dumb questions. I've seen snow build up on a steeply angled roof before so couldn't it also accumulate on your solar panels and block the sunlight? Or, do they generate any heat of their own to keep it melted off? If not, would it damage them to use some kind of heat tape across each panel?

You could maybe have a greenhouse underneath? I'm no expert though🙃

[@quarlow1215]

Nice array platform. Just don't underestimate mother nature. That wind coming down the lake is going to give you sideways snowfall. It will blow in under the panels and accumulate. You may want to put some kind of skirt behind the array just to keep the snow from blowing in. It would really suck to get a good snowload in there then have the wind knock it down. I've seen the wind turn our bail feeders over even with 500 lbs of hay in it. In the north it never hurts to overbuild. Oh and don't be surprised if what you really just built is a moose bedding shelter. Once that lake freezes those swamp donkeys can venture wherever they want and a nice shelter is a good spot to calf there babies 😂

[@mywildholm]

Whoa... that's some fierce wind you are dealing with! We have 500m of trees blocking the wind behind the array, so hopefully that will serve as a bit of a wind-break. I did buy a couple of tarps to cover the back side of the array to act as a snow barrier, but I ended up using them for something else. I will pick up a couple more for the job. They should work pretty good and will also help keep the snow off the front side of the panels by forming an enclosure to help keep the back side of the panels warm. Those panels are bifacial and the tarps are white so any sunlight that passes through the front of the panels will be reflected panel back up to the underside of the panels, where it can augment the energy production. -Ryan

[@quarlow1215]

@mywildholm yeah tarps will definitely help. Are you guys staying this winter?

[@mywildholm]

We had to leave earlier than usual because of Ryan's appointments with the doctors - it's something we are working towards for sure though. It's our dream to be waist deep in snow, wading around amongst the trees!! ❄

[@keithgraham6947]

How will you tie it to the land to keep the wind from blowing it away

[@mywildholm]

My plan is to auger a couple of holes 4 ft deep on the wondward side,, sink 6ft sono-tubes in them so they are above grade, add concrete and attach the structure to that. Should do the trick. Thanks for watching! - Ryan

[@franswey2]

👍🏼

[@mywildholm]

Thank you for watching Fran 🌟

[@rettesvanlife]

You probably already have plans but could you turn underneath the panels into a greenhouse?

[@mywildholm]

We do have greenhouse plans actually! We noticed the grass on the shoreline was growing so well that it did make me think about topping the greenhouse with solar panels... Please do keep watching and you will see what we are up to. We thank you for the suggestion, we always appreciate them so much. -Ryan

[@wayneboulware4730]

60 acer island.how wide and how long

[@mywildholm]

Hello and welcome to our channel! From tip to tip, the island measures slightly less than a kilometer. Thank you for watching! -Ryan

[@Dave-ge1uu]

One serious question. What is going to prevent the building sliding off the foundation piers or the wind uplifting the building during one of your severe storms? Mother nature is not kind, just ask the people in Western North Carolina.

[@mywildholm]

My plan is to concrete sink piers 4ft into the ground using sonotubes, and anchor the structure to those. That should do the trick. Thank you for your comment! -Ryan

[@maryhalliday3738]

How is Ryan doing?

[@mywildholm]

Thank you so much for asking Mary. Ryan is doing so so much better than we ever thought possible. We just didn't know what the outcome would be but he is practically completely recovered (except for the odd ache and pain from it all). We feel very grateful!

[@maryhalliday3738]

@mywildholm Prayer is very powerful. I'm so happy to hear this. Looking forward to watching Solar panel build.

[@mywildholm]

Oh yes!! We believe in that with all our hearts. Thank you again! 💚

[@saraharellano9399]

Melodi, your excitement and enthusiasm is contagious 😊 your videos always make me smile. Ryan your just a genius, really you could have your own construction company. Job well done, yet again✅ Opal, great job supervising ma'am 🫡

[@mywildholm]

Hey there Sarah! We really appreciate your sweet comments - you have a way of making our day happier and it really is a pleasure sharing this journey with you 💚