Greetings, fellow off-grid enthusiasts and DIYers! Today, we’re thrilled to share our latest adventure in building a sustainable, all-steel fence on our property—a project we embarked on with the vision of creating a “forever fence” that stands the test of time without further intervention. This journey has been a blend of hard work, learning, and embracing the off-grid lifestyle, all while enjoying the process and the challenges it brings.
The Beginning:
Our project kicked off with the ambitious task of digging 20 holes, setting steel posts firmly in place, and embarking on the meticulous process of stringing barbed wire. Drawing from our experience last year with an electric fence that didn’t quite suit our dry climate, we decided to repurpose the existing T-posts, learning from our past to improve our future.
Trial, Error, and Fun:
As newcomers to the off-grid lifestyle, we’ve quickly learned that it’s all about trial and error. But what makes it truly rewarding is the fun we have along the way. Our goal was simple yet ambitious: to efficiently unroll the barbed wire and set it up without unnecessary complications. Though we considered using a skid steer for convenience, we chose to walk the line instead, preserving the natural bushes and landscape that make our property unique.
Innovative Techniques:
To tackle the challenges of tensioning and setting up the wire, we devised a setup using our skid steer, clamps, and a come-along tool for stretching. This innovative approach allowed us to get just the right tension and make adjustments as needed, proving to be the most effective method we’ve tried.
Tools of the Trade:
Our toolkit expanded to include lineman’s pliers and a strategic approach to rotating and tensioning the wire. The key was to maintain the right tension without overdoing it, ensuring the wire was taught but not at risk of untwisting. We discovered that pulling the wire at a slightly faster pace prevented it from getting caught in the underbrush, making the process smoother.
Strategic Placement and Tensioning:
Starting from the middle and working our way out proved to be a smart tactic in preventing slack and uneven tension across the fence. A simple but effective trick using duct tape helped keep everything in place, demonstrating that sometimes, the simplest solutions are the most effective.
Reflections on Hard Work and Community:
Despite the physical demands and meticulous nature of the work, we found the project to be surprisingly manageable and incredibly fulfilling. The hard work definitely paid off, not just in the form of a sturdy, reliable fence, but also in the deep sense of satisfaction that comes from manual labor and living in harmony with the land.
Our journey was made even sweeter by the warmth and generosity of our neighbors. In a heartwarming gesture of community spirit, one of our neighbors surprised us with a homemade loaf of bread, reminding us of the genuine kindness that still exists in the world, especially in close-knit off-grid communities.
Conclusion:
Building our forever fence has been more than just a physical project; it’s been a journey of learning, adaptation, and community. It’s a testament to the off-grid lifestyle’s challenges and rewards, where hard work, innovation, and neighborly kindness converge to create something truly special. We hope our story inspires you to embark on your own off-grid projects, embracing the trials, errors, and joys that come with this unique way of life.
We are currently building our DIY all steel fence we call it “FOREVER FENCE” Since termites are one of the problems in our area, we choose not to use any wood on our builds. Everything we are doing here is new for us. We are learning as we go. We usually trust product reviews online and we hope we get good tools every time. But we weren’t that lucky this time. It works but it gets stuck every time we try to unwind. It would’ve been so much easier and less stressful if the tool functioned as it intended. We hope you get a better come-along than ours to make your job easier. Torin Come-Along were no go for us... Our vides are NOT exactly how to videos, it is more like how we did videos. Enjoy! More videos coming!! Please like, subscribe and hit notification bell!! Thank you for watching! #arizonadesert #barbedwirefencing #homesteading