Realities and Practices
of Off Grid Living
Hands-on solar power training from 23+ years of real off-grid living.
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Solar Power Education at The Ark
Learn how to power your home, cabin, or cottage—without ever paying a dime to Big Hydro.
The Realities and Practices of Off Grid Living
With hydro costs rising, rural hookups costing tens of thousands, and outages becoming more frequent, more and more people are looking to solar. But let’s be honest: none of us want to give up our modern comforts and “rough it.”
That’s where this course comes in.
I’m Mike Caldwell—I’ve lived in a 6,000 sq. ft. off-grid home for over 23 years, all powered by solar (and a generator for the winter - trust me, there's no way around it).
I’ve taught this course at the college level and now I run it here at The Ark, where you’ll see a complete off-grid system in action.
What You'll Learn
By the end of this workshop, you’ll be able to confidently design a system that works
through the darkest weeks of a Canadian winter.
Topics include:
The Numbers that Matter
Maximum power your home uses at any given time (sizing your inverter).
Total daily energy use (sizing your batteries and solar array).
System Components and Setup
Batteries, inverters, charge controllers, and panel configurations.
Why panel trackers are a waste of money.
How to choose the right well pump for off-grid living.
Living Off Grid, Practically
Why propane fridges cost you more in the long run.
Smart ways to heat without draining your batteries.
When to run appliances (laundry, dishwasher, baking pies!) for maximum efficiency.
Why wind and geothermal rarely make sense off grid.
Lithium-ion, gel, or lead acid batteries... which make the most sense in 2025?
Format & Details
Course length: Full-day workshop (9:00am – 5:00pm)
Location: The Ark, Denholm, QC (40 min from Ottawa, 20 min from Wakefield)
Group size: Small and hands-on (max 12 participants)
Includes:
8 hours of live instruction
Workbook with slides and space for notes
Lunch (hearty chili, veg & meat options), plus coffee and snacks
Full walk-through of my real, working off-grid solar system
Investment: $125 per person
Who It’s For
Cottage & cabin owners tired of noisy generators
Families considering a full off-grid build
DIYers who want to design their own solar setup
Preppers and homesteaders looking for reliable power year-round
Ready to Go Solar the Right Way?
Spaces are limited to 12 per session to keep it interactive.
Next scheduled course: TBD
Want to attend but it's long drive?
If you want to attend but it's a long drive and you don't want to pay $100's for a crappy hotel with panhandlers waiting for your outside the lobby. Immerse yourself even further in our off grid world by staying at our Cliffside Camp!
Check out our Cliffside Camp page to see how comfortable even camping can be off the grid!
Map & Directions to the Off Grid Ark
