Question
BACKGROUND
Social media is not the only way many Americans are connected to one another. In addition to being connected to the power grid, most Americans are also networked to one another by telephone, cable TV, and Internet wires, as well as water, natural gas, and sewer lines. Around the world, over a billion people live off the grid. However, in the United States only about 200,000 to 300,000 Americans do. Those Americans who live off the grid choose to do so for a variety of reasons, including a desire to be more independent and environmentally friendly.
Overrated, according to Shelly and Joe Trumpey: traditional central heating and being hooked up to the power grid. Underrated: the chance to teach their two daughters-Autumn, 15, and Evelyn, 14-as vividly as possible to respect and appreciate the earth. "We're isolated," Joe says. "And happy," adds Shelly. Their house, built from straw în 2009, sits on a 40-acre farm, and they have plenty of nonhuman neighbors-chickens, sheep, pigs, cattle, turkeys, rabbits, ducks and goats-to keep them company. "When we moved here, everyone was worried we'd be sitting around a candle, freezing," says Shelly. "But we really haven't been."
Perhaps that's because their 2,200-square-foot Grass Lake, MI, home, which Joe first sketched on the back of a napkin, was painstakingly planned so they'd have all the comfort of an average American house with little of the environmental impact. The walls, made of locally sourced adobe and straw bale, retain heat in the winter and keep the house cool in the summer. Golf cart batteries suck up solar power from panels and fuel household appliances such as a fridge and a washing machine. A wood-burning furnace heats water for showers; the water also flows through 4,000 feet of tubing under the floors, helping to defrost chilly toes. "People expect a mud hut when we tell them where we live, but when they come up the drive, they say, 'Oh, it's beautiful!" says Joe, an associate professor at the University of Michigan's Stamps School of Art and Design. "It takes them by surprise."
3 Though Joe and Shelly work full-time (she's a third grade teacher), Joe says it's manageable to keep up the farm on their own. "I feed the pigs, chickens, ducks and rabbits. In the evening, I'll do probably 15 minutes of watering," he says. "In the summer, when the grazing animals are on pasture, it takes even less time." Autumn, Evelyn and the Trumpeys' two foster children help with tending to the animals, weeding the garden and sheep-shearing in the spring. Shelly collects food scraps from her school's cafeteria, which go to the pigs along with regular feed; the animals' waste fertilizes Shelly's garden, which yields lettuces, pole beans, radishes, potatoes, carrots and many more veggies. Whatever they don't eat fresh, she preserves-around 600 cans a year. "There's
something magical about growing your own food." says Shelly. "It's fun!"
The Trumpeys don't track how much money they save-they suspect it's a bundle-but are clear on the peace-of-mind payoff. They love sitting on their back deck with iced tea, marveling at their enchanting world. "We're pretty comfortable out here," says Shelly. "This is where we belong."
Unplugged: What Does It Mean to Live Off the Grid? (Option 1)
In the text, the Trumpeys live off the grid. What does it mean to live off the grid? What are some of the challenges and rewards of living off the grid? Would you ever want to live off the grid?
Why or why not?
Write a 4-5 sentence paragraph that includes at least one of your academic vocabulary words:
• affect
• element
• ensure
• participate
• specify
Make it look like a 7th grader who is I.E.P wrote it
Make sure no one can find this
Social media is not the only way many Americans are connected to one another. In addition to being connected to the power grid, most Americans are also networked to one another by telephone, cable TV, and Internet wires, as well as water, natural gas, and sewer lines. Around the world, over a billion people live off the grid. However, in the United States only about 200,000 to 300,000 Americans do. Those Americans who live off the grid choose to do so for a variety of reasons, including a desire to be more independent and environmentally friendly.
Overrated, according to Shelly and Joe Trumpey: traditional central heating and being hooked up to the power grid. Underrated: the chance to teach their two daughters-Autumn, 15, and Evelyn, 14-as vividly as possible to respect and appreciate the earth. "We're isolated," Joe says. "And happy," adds Shelly. Their house, built from straw în 2009, sits on a 40-acre farm, and they have plenty of nonhuman neighbors-chickens, sheep, pigs, cattle, turkeys, rabbits, ducks and goats-to keep them company. "When we moved here, everyone was worried we'd be sitting around a candle, freezing," says Shelly. "But we really haven't been."
Perhaps that's because their 2,200-square-foot Grass Lake, MI, home, which Joe first sketched on the back of a napkin, was painstakingly planned so they'd have all the comfort of an average American house with little of the environmental impact. The walls, made of locally sourced adobe and straw bale, retain heat in the winter and keep the house cool in the summer. Golf cart batteries suck up solar power from panels and fuel household appliances such as a fridge and a washing machine. A wood-burning furnace heats water for showers; the water also flows through 4,000 feet of tubing under the floors, helping to defrost chilly toes. "People expect a mud hut when we tell them where we live, but when they come up the drive, they say, 'Oh, it's beautiful!" says Joe, an associate professor at the University of Michigan's Stamps School of Art and Design. "It takes them by surprise."
3 Though Joe and Shelly work full-time (she's a third grade teacher), Joe says it's manageable to keep up the farm on their own. "I feed the pigs, chickens, ducks and rabbits. In the evening, I'll do probably 15 minutes of watering," he says. "In the summer, when the grazing animals are on pasture, it takes even less time." Autumn, Evelyn and the Trumpeys' two foster children help with tending to the animals, weeding the garden and sheep-shearing in the spring. Shelly collects food scraps from her school's cafeteria, which go to the pigs along with regular feed; the animals' waste fertilizes Shelly's garden, which yields lettuces, pole beans, radishes, potatoes, carrots and many more veggies. Whatever they don't eat fresh, she preserves-around 600 cans a year. "There's
something magical about growing your own food." says Shelly. "It's fun!"
The Trumpeys don't track how much money they save-they suspect it's a bundle-but are clear on the peace-of-mind payoff. They love sitting on their back deck with iced tea, marveling at their enchanting world. "We're pretty comfortable out here," says Shelly. "This is where we belong."
Unplugged: What Does It Mean to Live Off the Grid? (Option 1)
In the text, the Trumpeys live off the grid. What does it mean to live off the grid? What are some of the challenges and rewards of living off the grid? Would you ever want to live off the grid?
Why or why not?
Write a 4-5 sentence paragraph that includes at least one of your academic vocabulary words:
• affect
• element
• ensure
• participate
• specify
Make it look like a 7th grader who is I.E.P wrote it
Make sure no one can find this
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
Living off the grid means that a person or family chooses to live independently from public utilities, like electricity and water systems. This lifestyle can affect daily life in many ways, including how people obtain their food and energy. One of the challenges of living off the grid is that it requires a lot of hard work to maintain a farm and to ensure that everything runs smoothly. However, there are also many rewards, like growing your own food and feeling more connected to nature. I think living off the grid could be interesting because it helps people participate in a sustainable lifestyle, but I would worry about missing modern comforts like electricity and quick access to food.