Tag: off-grid shower

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We Built an Off-Grid Shower With 3 IBC Totes! 🚿 Reusing Water to Grow Trees in the Harsh Desert 🌵

Ka-Hoon Campground

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

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We Finally Solved the Off-Grid Shower Problem… But It Wasn’t Easy!

Ka-Hoon Campground

New Camper Shower Coming Soon at Ka-Hoon Campground**

We’re getting closer to having a working shower available for campers here at Ka-Hoon Campground! Like most off-grid projects, it’s taken some trial and error to figure out what works best.

One of our biggest challenges has been the **water pump**. We initially tried using a **small well pump** designed to run an entire household, but it turned out to be *too powerful* for our setup. It required priming every time, didn’t work well with flexible hoses, and created pressure issues. While we still plan to use it in future builds, it’s not the right fit for a simple shower system.

After some research, we chose a **diaphragm pump**, which is much more efficient and easier to operate. It’ll allow us to provide on-demand water for showers without the hassle of setting up and tearing down each time. Campers can just flip a switch and enjoy a hot rinse (once we finish setting up the privacy area — that’s coming soon!).

### Why There Will Be a Shower Fee

The shower won’t be included in the nightly camping fee because not everyone will need it. Instead, we’ll charge **\$10 for a 15-minute shower**, which helps cover:

* **Water hauling costs** – including fuel for the truck **and the cost of the water itself**
* **Propane** for heating water
* **System upkeep** and maintenance

Currently, it costs us about **\$30 to haul 150 gallons** of water, and to avoid excessive wear on the trailer and truck, we limit loads to that amount.

Like everything else out here, we’re building it slowly and sustainably. We appreciate everyone’s patience and support as we keep improving the off-grid experience at Ka-Hoon!

Www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com

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#offgridliving, #desertlife, #kahooncampground, #offgridshower, #diaphragmpump, #waterhaul, #tinyhome, #offgridcamping, #newmexicodesert, #camplife, #propaneheat, #offgridcommunity, #diyshower, #offgridwater, #rvlife

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We Finally Took Our FIRST Off-Grid Shower! (But It Didn’t Go Exactly As Planned 😅)

Ka-Hoon Campground

Yesterday was a big day—we got to take our **first shower in our new off-grid shower setup**! After all the planning, ordering, adjusting, and waiting on parts, it felt amazing to finally rinse off right here at home.

Of course, no DIY project is ever *truly* finished on the first go. We’ve still got a few tweaks to make:

* The **drain piece we picked up was a bit too small**, so we’ll need to replace it with a better-fitting one.
* Right now, we’re **placing the water pump inside the shower when not in use**, but that’s not a long-term solution. We need to build or repurpose a small box or container to house it safely and neatly.
* Our **on-demand water heater runs on D batteries**, and the rechargeable ones we bought aren’t doing the trick. I’m going to give them one more good charge and see if that helps—if not, we’ll pick up some regular D batteries to test it out.
* We also need to **install a hanger for the showerhead** to avoid the awkward balancing act we’ve been doing.
* And last but not least—we’re on the hunt for **pallets and posts to build an outdoor privacy wall** around the shower.

Until the privacy wall goes up, showering means dressing and undressing under the wide open desert sky. It’s totally fine when it’s just us out here, but less ideal when we have visitors or campers on-site.

Still, all of that aside—**being able to shower at home again feels like a luxury.** It’s a simple thing we used to take for granted, and now it’s a real treat to step into our own outdoor setup, clean off the desert dust, and not have to plan a trip to town for something so basic.

We’ll keep updating as we fine-tune the setup and build the privacy wall. Off-grid life may not always be convenient, but it’s always rewarding—especially when you finally get to feel clean at home.

http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com

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#OffGridLiving, #DIYShowerBuild, #DesertLife, #TinyHomeProjects, #OutdoorShower, #HomesteadLife, #ShowerProgress, #KaHoonCampgroundAndEventCenter, #PlateauHameDeColquhoun, #WaterStorageSolutions, #PrivacyWallBuild, #OnDemandWaterHeater, #IBCSetup, #DesertHomestead, #OffGridCouple**

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Off-Grid Shower Build: Parts, Progress, and a Bit of Trial and Error

Ka-Hoon Campground

Living off-grid in the New Mexico desert is full of problem-solving—and our current project, building an off-grid shower system, has tested every bit of our patience (and creativity).

We’re using water stored in an IBC tote and creating a basic but functional setup. Since many people in this area use IBC totes for water storage, we thought the parts would be easy to find locally. After stops at both Lowe’s and Home Depot, though, we came up empty-handed.

Thankfully, we were able to order most of what we needed online—and even managed to pick up a drain piece in person that we *hope* will work. Now we’re just waiting on the final parts to arrive. Once they’re in, we’ll start assembling everything. Fingers crossed it’s all the right stuff, and everything fits and works as planned.

This build has taken longer than usual—not because it’s overly complicated, but because Anne and I are not exactly seasoned builders. I’ll be the first to admit: I’m not a contractor.

What’s made a huge difference is Brent’s involvement. As he continues to heal from his multiple strokes, he’s slowly gaining more movement in his left arm, hand, and fingers. It’s been incredible having him able to help again—it’s not only sped things up, but also made the process feel a lot more hopeful.

Every project we tackle out here teaches us something new. And while this one has come with a few more learning curves than expected, we’re getting there—piece by piece.

We’ll share an update once the system is fully installed and working. Until then, we’re staying positive, staying dusty, and staying determined.

http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com

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#OffGridShowerBuild #DesertLiving #OffGridCouple #TinyHomeProjects #IBCToteWaterStorage #DIYNotContractors #StrokeRecoveryJourney #ShowerBuildUpdate #HomesteadProgress #LearningAsWeGo #OffGridLife #NewMexicoDesert #BrentStrong