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Reviews
Building Off the Grid: Hawaii Dome House (2020)
Pathetic
This was one of the worst episodes of all the seasons. This all-thumbs momma's boy was pathetic. I know many people attempting this have limited skills, but this guy was so far from having the least bit of mechanical aptitude. He absolutely had to have help come in off- camera. He decides to burn massive amounts of wood from an old shed that he failed to properly pull down using gallons of diesel fuel that he lights so dangerously and actually burns some body hair. Not only is it an inefficient way to clear land, but it goes against everything an off-gridder stands for - yeah pour gallons of diesel fuel onto the ground with only a small portion soaking into the wood - then light a nice dark smokey fire. He poured this crappy watery cement on un-level ground and was sloshing it around with a 2x4. If it even cured there would be areas not an inch thick. This guy failed at almost everything he did but by the end of the show you see a finished dome with round glass windows and impressive front door and a seemingly non-composting toilet. No way this guy could frame and install windows, doors and do plumbing. The show miraculously skipped over any mention of plumbing, but instead of a composting toilet, you see a seemingly traditional toilet with no explanation. The producers should've cut their losses but instead turned it into a heartfelt and fake "I did it" without even admitting he had to call in support.
Building Off the Grid (2014)
Where do I begin...
Firstly people...enough crying about the lack of safety. They are not employees of an organization. They are not being forced to work unsafely...They make their own choices. Just like you may smoke, drink, eat fast food, skydive, etc. I've done union electrical work and sometimes shake my head at the idiocy of people, but who cares? Should the show insist they wear safety gear and follow OSHA requirements? Come on. If it was a How-to program, then I'd say yes - they should set an example. But this is just people doing it for themselves.
They usually DO usually mention the use of composting toilets when they don't build septic systems. They also mention rain-water capture systems if they don't drill a well. Obviously they touch on solar power and sources of heat (propane, geo-thermal, etc.). They even mention budget.
MY GRIPE is not mentioning how much the land cost (you often are introduced to people with common, middle class jobs buying 25, 50 acres or more. I'd imagine in the middle of nowhere you're not paying top dollar, but the cost would be interesting and informative to know. My REAL GRIPE is not discussing how the still-working people do their jobs when you're 50, 100 miles or more from the nearest town. Those miles are not highway miles, either - you're not getting anywhere quick. I've seen many mention they're builders by trade. How and where are you building when you're so far from anything? I've seen a nurse and a salesperson. Same question? Are these getaway homes or is it their primary residence, as you're led to believe. Because each subject always mentions something to the effect of "we decided to live off-grid" or "wake up and have coffee looking at the mountains". Um...when do you leave for work? Tell us the real-life logistics.... Do you go to Costco once a month and stock up on supplies? Very interesting show to me, but I really want some details on how they can do this if not retired.