🌞 Off-Grid Progress: Building a New Solar Setup the Hard Way (But the Right Way)
Off-grid life doesn’t always come with easy solutions — especially when multiple trips to town still don’t get you what you need. After many runs trying to find the right parts, we realized it was time to stop chasing missing pieces and **build what we could with what we had**.
So we brainstormed, regrouped, and got to work.
The solar panels are now **assembled, standing, and securely spiked down**. That alone felt like a win. The next step, however, is no small task: **moving eight 100-pound batteries nearly 200 feet**, getting them set in place, wired correctly, and fully integrated into the system. Once that’s done, we’ll have **another fully functioning solar setup**.
This additional system will allow us to take some of the load off the **Music Studio solar**, which is huge for us. During long winter nights in the New Mexico desert, studio time becomes limited. Without sun, we don’t create power — and creativity doesn’t always stick to daylight hours. This setup should finally allow us to **work later into the night**, even when the sun sets early.
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🔋 Why This Solar Setup Matters
At **Plateau Hame de Colquhoun**, off-grid living is a constant balance of power management, planning, and adaptation. We’ve reconfigured this solar system **many times**, trying different approaches, but nothing else fell into place the way this did. Sometimes the “right” solution only becomes clear after everything else fails.
That’s the reality of off-grid life — trial, error, and persistence.
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🔨 What’s Next on the Project List?
That’s still up in the air.
We may finally put the **flooring down in the Greenroom**, since we now have everything needed to do it. Other projects are on the list as well, but those will require time, planning, and saving funds — another familiar rhythm of off-grid living.
There’s always something to fix, build, or improve out here. And honestly? That’s part of what keeps it rewarding.
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🎶 Powered by Music and the Sun
This project isn’t just about power — it’s about **supporting creativity**. Music is a huge part of life here, and the soundtrack to this video is **“Skally Wag” by Advocatus Diaboli**, bringing the perfect energy to another day of building, hauling, and problem-solving.
🎧 Learn more about the music here:
👉 **http://www.advocatusdiaboliandthegrimleaferband.com**
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## 🌵 Learn More About Our Off-Grid Life
If you’d like to follow along with our projects, music, and life in the desert, visit:
👉http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com**
Off-grid living isn’t easy, but it’s honest, creative, and deeply rewarding. One solar panel, one battery, and one project at a time.
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#OffGridLiving #SolarPower #DesertLife #MusicStudioLife #LivingOffGrid
Tag: New Mexico off-grid
We Ditched the Grid in the Desert 🌵 Real Off-Grid Life, Power Struggles & Freedom | LIVE 11AM MST
🌵 Off-Grid Talk Today at 11 AM MST – Real Life, Real Desert, Real Resilience
Living off-grid isn’t about perfection — it’s about **adaptation, creativity, and resilience**, especially when you’re doing it in the New Mexico desert. Today at **11:00 AM MST**, we’re hosting our **Off-Grid Talk** live, sharing real experiences from daily life at **Ka-Hoon Campground and Event Center**.
Normally this talk happens earlier, but today we’ve shifted to **11 AM** due to other live activities happening on the homestead. Off-grid life teaches flexibility — and this is a perfect example of that in action.
🔋 What We’ll Be Talking About
This isn’t a glossy, influencer version of off-grid living. This is the **real deal**:
* Power management in extreme desert conditions
* Living comfortably without hookups
* Building community while living independently
* Lessons learned from failures (because there are plenty)
* How music, creativity, and nature keep us grounded
From **Music in the Desert** to daily life with the dogs, the studio, and the land itself — off-grid living here is a blend of grit, humor, and freedom.
🏜️ Why Off-Grid Works for Us
At **Plateau Hame de Colquhoun**, off-grid living isn’t about isolation. It’s about **intentional living**, mutual respect, and creating a space where people can be themselves without judgment.
Some days the desert is calm and peaceful. Other days it reminds you who’s really in charge. Either way, we show up, adapt, and keep moving forward — and that’s exactly what today’s talk is about.
### 🎶 More Than Just Power and Solar
Off-grid life here also means:
* Live music and creative expression
* Community gatherings at Ka-Hoon Campground
* Advocatus Diaboli & the Grim Leafer Band
* Conversations that matter
Because surviving off-grid is one thing — **living fully off-grid is another**.
📍 **Join us live today at 11:00 AM MST**
Whether you’re curious about off-grid life, already living it, or just need a reminder that resilience can be joyful — you’re welcome here.
Freedom, creativity, and the desert way of life… powered by the sun and a lot of determination.
Www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
Music: Sands of Time by Advocatus Diaboli and the Grim Leafer Band
Www.advocatusdiaboliandthegrimleaferband.com
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#OffGridLiving
#DesertLife
#KaHoonCampground
#OffGridTalk
#LivingFree
Off-Grid Dogs Steal the Show During Colquhoun Entertainment Livestream!
Life off-grid isn’t just about solar panels, survival, and simplicity — it’s also about the *joy of the moment*. And no one knows that better than the four-legged stars of **Colquhoun Entertainment**!
During this morning’s **Off-Grid Talk** livestream on **TikTok**, the dogs took center stage — playing, digging, and reminding everyone that sometimes, happiness is as simple as chasing a tumbleweed.
What started as a calm morning chat about off-grid life turned into a comedy show filled with wagging tails, zoomies, and laughter.
These desert dogs are more than pets — they’re part of the Colquhoun family, living free, fearless, and full of love under the endless New Mexico sky.
Catch every hilarious moment and uplifting vibe on **TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook** — because sometimes, inspiration has paws.
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#OffGridTalk #ColquhounEntertainment #DesertDogs #DogLife #FunnyDogs
Fan Spins Backward Then THIS Happens?! Mysteries of the West Mesa | Caught in the Desert 🌵
Vault Video: Mysteries of the West Mesa — “Sucked Off” | What Happened That Night?
Out here in the New Mexico desert, strange things can happen when you least expect them.
One May night, while lying in bed, the box fan in our window suddenly stopped… then began spinning backward. Almost instantly, we felt a strange pressure — as if the air itself was being sucked from the room.
Our first thought was that our solar system had gone out, but everything else was still on. Then, as Brent reached for the fan, it suddenly returned to normal — running like nothing had ever happened.
Thinking it might be a tornado, we ran outside only to find a clear, starlit sky. As we stood there trying to make sense of it, a group of military helicopters appeared out of nowhere, hovering over us for several seconds before heading north, disappearing into the night.
What do you think this was? A coincidence, an environmental anomaly, or something more mysterious?
Stay tuned for more episodes of **Mysteries of the West Mesa** — and don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments!
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
#MysteriesOfTheWestMesa #DesertMystery #OffGridLife #ParanormalActivity #KaHoonCampground
⚡ From Solar Build to 5 Years Off-Grid! Celebrate Our Desert Anniversary with Music 🌵🎤
From Solar Dreams to 5 Years Off-Grid: Celebrating Our Desert Anniversary 🌵🎶
In honor of our **5-year anniversary on the land** — October 18th, 2020 — we’re opening the **vault** to share a special look back at one of our biggest milestones: **building our 8k solar system**.
This system currently powers our **Greenroom and Music Studio**, and for now, it’s even keeping our **RV running** until the new **5k solar system** is complete. Every panel, wire, and connection represents a step toward complete self-sufficiency and freedom in the New Mexico desert.
We’ve come a long way since our first day out here, learning to adapt, grow, and create in the off-grid life. To celebrate these five incredible years, we’re hosting an **Open Mic & Karaoke Night** at **Ka-Hoon Campground and Event Center**!
🎤 **Join us Saturday, October 18th** — either **in person** under the stars or **livestreamed** on our **Colquhoun Entertainment TikTok profile**.
Come celebrate with us — five years of building, music, and off-grid living in the desert we call home. 🌙
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#OffGridLife #SolarBuild #KaHoonCampground #DesertLiving #ColquhounEntertainment
First Snow in the Desert! Off-Grid Life Takes a Chilly Turn ❄️
Our First Snow on the Land – A Touch of Minnesota in the Desert
Our first snow here on the land brought back memories of Minnesota — the beauty, the quiet, and that familiar winter chill. While we don’t miss the extreme cold or the long months of snow from back home, this short visit from winter gave us a moment to pause and enjoy the peacefulness it brings.
Living off-grid in the desert, snow is rare but magical when it happens. It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come — from Minnesota winters to off-grid living in New Mexico. Even when challenges arise, moments like these remind us why we love this life.
***In honor of our 5th anniversary on Saturday, October 18th, we’ll be hosting an Open Mic Night!***
Come celebrate with us — join in person, stay a few hours, camp for the night (or longer!), or tune in live on our **Colquhoun Entertainment TikTok profile**.
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#OffGridLiving #SnowInTheDesert #HomesteadLife #WinterVibes #ColquhounEntertainment
Thinking of Going Off-Grid? Watch Our Live Morning Streams & Learn the Truth About Homestead Life!
Thinking of Living Off-Grid? Join Our Daily Livestreams
Have you ever dreamed of living **off-grid**? Wondering what it really takes to step away from the hustle of modern life and create a lifestyle built around **self-reliance, sustainability, and freedom**?
Every morning on **Colquhoun Entertainment**, we go live to share our real experiences of **off-grid living in New Mexico**. We cover the ups and downs, what has worked for us, and what hasn’t—because no journey is perfect, and sometimes the hardest lessons are the most valuable.
Topics we dive into include:
* **Buying and finding land** that truly fits your needs.
* **Dealing with land brokers** and what to watch out for.
* Understanding the realities of climate, resources, and costs.
* The difference between “dreaming” of off-grid life and actually living it.
* Why we always recommend **trying it out before you invest everything**.
Whether you’re just curious or already planning your move, these livestreams give you a raw, honest look at what it’s like to live off-grid—directly from people who are doing it every day.
👉 Tune in, ask questions, and be part of the conversation. Living off-grid isn’t for everyone, but if it calls to you, we’ll help you prepare for the adventure of a lifetime.
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#OffGridLiving
#HomesteadLife
#SustainableLiving
#DesertLife
#ColquhounEntertainment
We Built an Off-Grid Shower With 3 IBC Totes! 🚿 Reusing Water to Grow Trees in the Harsh Desert 🌵
Building Our Off-Grid Shower: Sustainable Living in the Harsh Desert
This summer, we took another big step toward sustainable off-grid living by building our own **off-grid shower system**. The setup uses three IBC totes — one buried in the ground and two for the shower itself. The design allows the shower to **drain directly into the buried tote**, creating a graywater recycling system we can later use to **water trees and plants** around our homestead.
Living off-grid means every project has to serve more than one purpose, and this shower does just that — providing comfort while also helping us prepare for future growth on our land.
Our next step is researching the best **drought-tolerant trees and plants** that can survive in our extreme New Mexico climate. Out here, we face it all:
* **High winds** ️
* **Sandstorms** ️
* **Snow and single-digit winters** ❄️
* **Triple-digit summer heat**
* **Intense UV exposure** ☀️
We want to choose wisely so that the water from our shower doesn’t go to waste but instead helps create shade, windbreaks, and food sources for the future.
This project reminds us that **off-grid living isn’t about perfection — it’s about creativity, resilience, and finding ways to work with nature instead of against it.**
Stay tuned as we share updates on which trees and plants we decide to grow, and how our off-grid shower continues to play a role in making this desert homestead thrive.
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#offgrid #Homestead #DIYProject #SustainableLiving #shower
Ka-Hoon Campground and Event Center 