Chicken Coop & Battery Hub: Desert Homestead Progress

In this episode of Occupy the Land, we push forward on two key homestead projects in the mild Arizona winter weather. Ernie completes the mobile battery shed behind the shipping-container workshop, leveling the pallet platform, adding a wooden floor, and installing the full 15kW 48V battery/inverter system to deliver reliable 120/240V power for welders, plasma […]

Workshop Power Done: 535W Panels & Battery Shed Complete!

In this episode of Occupy the Land, we finally complete the power setup for the shipping-container workshop on our Arizona desert homestead! Ernie swaps out smaller panels for four high-output 535W bifacial solar panels, delivering reliable voltage to the 48V inverter and 15kW battery bank. The mobile battery shed (built on a pallet platform) is […]

2025 Recap & 2026 Vision: Power, Food & Freedom on the Land

In this heartfelt New Year’s episode of Occupy the Land, Ernie and Donna sit down to recap 2025 on their Arizona desert homestead and share their vision for 2026. The year focused heavily on infrastructure—powering the bus, workshops, and guest dome prototype with solar upgrades, inverters, and battery banks—while Donna built thriving raised garden beds […]

Desert Homestead 2026: Garden Growth & Family Holiday Recap

In this New Year’s update from Occupy the Land, we reflect on a wonderful holiday season with family and grandkids enjoying the desert—shooting, riding e-bikes and ATVs, and experiencing off-grid life. Donna shares her thriving garden: heirloom plants (lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, kale, broccoli, peppers, etc.) are sprouting beautifully thanks to rabbit compost, natural pest control, […]

Bus Power Overhaul: 48V Upgrade, Battery Swap & Solar Rewire

In this episode of Occupy the Land, we finally overhaul the bus’s aging electrical system on our Arizona desert homestead! Ernie clears out outdated 24V inverters, glitchy charge controllers, and tangled wiring, replacing them with a powerful 48V inverter and high-capacity batteries for simplified, reliable 120/240V power. We bypass failed rooftop flexible solar panels, prep […]

NonConformist Series Practical Wealth: Off-Grid Living & the Future of Freedom

Description: In this reflective episode of Occupy the Land, Ernie shares the deep motivations behind our Arizona desert homestead project. From the Ron Paul Revolution and silver education to the Love Bus Liberty tour during COVID lockdowns, the journey has always been about preparing Generation Next for a broken system through decentralization and self-reliance. We […]

Bus Power Overhaul: 48V Upgrade & Battery Cleanup!

In this episode of Occupy the Land, we tackle a long-overdue overhaul of the bus’s off-grid power system on our Arizona desert homestead! Ernie clears out outdated 24V inverters, charge controllers, and tangled wiring, replacing them with a powerful 48V inverter and high-capacity batteries for simplified, reliable 120/240V power. We remove failed rooftop flexible solar […]

Workshop Power-Up: Battery Shed & Predator-Proof Coop!

In this episode of Occupy the Land, Ernie and Donna tackle separate but complementary projects on their Arizona desert homestead. Ernie constructs a compact, forklift-mobile battery shed behind the shipping-container workshop to house inverters and 15kW of batteries, ensuring safe, high-capacity power for tools while planning expandability. Meanwhile, Donna trenches a foot-deep perimeter around a […]

Desert Oasis Makeover: Grass, Gazebo & Family Prep!

In this episode of Occupy the Land, we transform our Arizona desert homestead into a welcoming holiday retreat! Donna leads the charge by laying used artificial turf (sourced affordably from a replaced sports field) over a leveled, sifted area beside the bus, creating a soft, green “lawn” for barefoot comfort around the pool and future […]

Power Shed Build: 15kW Off-Grid Hub & Battery Fortress!

In this episode of Occupy the Land, Ernie builds a compact, mobile 6×8 battery shed on a pallet platform behind the shipping-container workshop to house four massive 300Ah batteries, inverters, and charge controllers—delivering a full 15kW of 120/240V power for the entire back-of-property zone. Designed to be forklift-movable and wind-resistant, the shed keeps critical electronics […]