New grill and homestead updates (Ep 856)
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Kicking off Episode 856: New grill and homestead updates
Today’s episode of The LOTS Project Morning Show dives into new grill and homestead updates: ordering and assembling a grill (with Kori’s help), the newest “things people say while we’re walking the dogs,” a surprise encounter with an electrical contractor on the easement road, and a flurry of cabin-site progress—comfrey sales are back, water and solar plans are taking shape, the picnic table is built, and visitors are en route.
Today’s Coffee: FTO Blonde Espresso from FoodForestFarms.com — use code LOTS10 for 10% off + free shipping.
The grill: ordered, assembled, and ready to feed a crowd
We finally pulled the trigger on a full-size grill for the property. Prices were wild across the big box stores, so we hunted for something with the right feature set without blowing the budget. We landed on a multi-zone unit that hits the sweet spot for flexibility and cost.
- Assembly: The manual claimed 50–70 minutes; with Kori on instructions and me on hardware, it went smoothly. Lots of small screws, but straightforward if you follow the order.
- Plan: Park it in a set location to avoid rattling things loose. First cook will be at the get-together—classic burgers and simple sides to break it in.
- Link: 🔥 The grill I mentioned: https://amzn.to/4ngj2AM
After a few years of camper cooking, it feels great to bring proper outdoor grilling back into the routine.
Dog-walk dialogues: a new entry for the quote list
We’ve heard the classics—“Are they walking you?” and “Nice horses!”—but this week’s curveball was a full health update on a stranger’s family as we wrapped up our walk. It’s a good reminder that daily routines put you on people’s mental maps. The dogs are slowly getting more comfortable with passersby, and the kitten continues her reign of adorable terror back at home.
Easement-road surprise: running into an electrical contractor
Traffic on our easement road is rare. So when a commercial truck appeared near a freshly set pole, we stopped to chat. The driver was verifying an address and seemed surprised to discover how much is tucked back there. Looks like a neighbor is prepping an RV hookup a couple lots over. For us, it’s a nudge that progress is creeping deeper into the hills—and a reminder to plan our own power and water infrastructure with flexibility.
Comfrey is back on sale
Summer heat and longer USPS transit times made shipping roots too risky, so we paused. Cooler temps are here—fall planting window is open and it’s one of the best times to establish comfrey.
🌱 Order direct: ComfreyRoots.com
Why fall works: roots settle in while soil’s still warm; dormancy + winter moisture set you up for a strong spring push.
Water plan: capture, store, and scale
We’re designing the system to be modular and expandable. Based on the cabin footprint and local rainfall, we can reasonably collect ~500+ gallons per inch of rain off the roof, which pencils out to tens of thousands of gallons per year if we manage first-flush and storage well.
- Initial storage target: ~3,000 gallons (budget-friendly, easy to plumb, and expandable).
- Expansion path: Twin 3,000-gallon tanks for ~6,000 gallons total, which gives multiple months of cushion at normal usage—longer if we conserve.
- Backup sources: Local springs for emergency top-offs if we ever hit an extended dry spell.
Design note: build for maintenance and future add-ons. Every valve, tee, filter, and pad should assume upgrades, swaps, and seasonal service.
Solar plan: start small, build big
We already have panels on hand, so we’re designing around them. The roadmap:
- Temporary power: Redeploy the RV system to get lights, tools, comms, and small loads online quickly.
- Primary system: Add a larger, permanent 48V setup (battery bank + inverter/charger) sized for the cabin, mini-split, and critical loads.
- Segmentation: Keep the small system for dedicated circuits (freezers/Starlink), while the large system handles the heavy lifting.
If you hold Bitcoin or care about self-custody while you prep all this infrastructure:
- 🔒 Blockstream Jade / JadePlus — Not Your Keys, Not Your Coins. I use these and they were not affected by the recent JavaScript wallet breach.
Link: https://store.blockstream.com/?code=TheLOTSProject
Woodworking win: picnic table delivered (despite the rain)
We finished a kids-size picnic table for Kori’s parents to haul back for the nephews. Stain and poly fought the weather (of course), but a pop-up tent saved the day—and the finish. It’s another reminder why a small covered shop is climbing the priority list.
Gear I’m actually using
- 🔥 Grill from the episode: https://amzn.to/4ngj2AM
- 🔒 Blockstream Jade & JadePlus: https://store.blockstream.com/?code=TheLOTSProject
- 👖 Zoofly Men’s Hiking Pants — lightweight, flexible, and perfect for dog walks or working the site: https://amzn.to/4numreN
Final thoughts
From new grill and homestead updates to oddball roadside chats and a freshly sealed picnic table, it was a productive week. The big picture is coming together: modular water storage, staged solar, and a steady flow of small wins that keep momentum up. Visitors are on the way—time to fire up that grill and enjoy the work.
