Cabin Build Pivot, 3I/ATLAS Watch, and a SNAP “What If” (Ep 861)
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Good morning and welcome to Episode 861 of The LOTS Project Morning Show. This week’s cabin build pivot is all about adapting to conditions: muddy access roads, protecting the subfloor, and using the downtime to clear the solar field and finalize water + power system design. We also pop into 3I/ATLAS watch mode as it approaches perihelion, and run a thought experiment on a potential SNAP/EBT disruption and the ripple effects on everyday life. Coffee Corner features Food Forest Farms’ Survivors Blend (Aces & Eights)—a surprisingly all-day sipper with a crisp start and a fuller finish.
Quick Links (Partners & Friends)
- Signature Solar — EG4 gear, racking, and BOS: https://signaturesolar.com/?ref=LOTS
- Blockstream Jade / Jade Plus — Secure your Bitcoin: https://store.blockstream.com/?code=TheLOTSProject
- ComfreyRoots.com — Fall is prime time for planting: https://comfreyroots.com
- Food Forest Farms — Survivors Blend & more (code LOTS10): https://foodforestfarms.com
Affiliate note: Some links are affiliate links. If you click and purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the show.
Cabin Build Update: Why We Pivoted This Week
A weekend of steady rain turned the access road to soup. Rather than force a delivery truck through (and risk damage), we hit pause on framing and used the time to:
- Inspect the house wrap after high winds and driving rain.
- Protect the subfloor and plan contingencies (temporary solar fans if any moisture lingers).
- Walk in from the road to avoid tearing things up further.
What’s Next
- Re-evaluate road conditions mid-week.
- Resume deliveries and framing (windows/doors are ordered) once access stabilizes.
- Keep the utility room layout nimble: clear breaker labeling, sensible conduit runs, and service loops for future upgrades.
Clearing the Solar Field (and What That Means)
With framing temporarily paused, I moved to site prep for the ground-mount array:
- Brush & Brambles: clearing 15-ish feet wide x ~60 feet long of blackberries, thorns, and saplings—plus lots of old, crumbly deadfall.
- Tree Work: a dozen+ trees will be dropped for shade mitigation; I’m clearing drop zones now so the wood can be processed, not wasted.
- Biomass Decisions: some punky debris can stay as ground cover, but post locations must stay clear and stable.
Design & BOS (Balance of System) Planning
I began sketching a full single-line diagram to nail down:
- Stringing and combiner strategy (DIY boxes sized for my strings and fusing).
- Correct wire gauges for the ~100–150 ft run to the inverter/battery wall.
- Proper disconnects, surge protection, and labeling at the array and at the power wall.
- Battery/inverter side safety (breakers, fusing, busbars, shunts, and clear service pathways).
I’ll source as much as practical through Signature Solar for the big pieces (EG4 inverter/batteries, racking) and build the custom bits to fit my exact layout. The DIY combiner approach lets me pre-assemble safely off-site and drop it in when the posts and rails are ready.
Water System: Booster Pump Path
I’ve weighed three options for rainwater use: RV-style DC pump, submersible in the tank, or AC booster pump with a small pressure tank. I’m moving forward with the booster pump in a compact well-house style enclosure:
- Pros: consistent household pressure, easier serviceability, and clean integration with on-demand propane water heating.
- Filtration: multi-stage whole-house filtration before fixtures; we’ll continue using the Berkey for drinking/cooking as a final polish.
- Location: planned for short, protected plumbing runs and easy winterizing.
Coffee Corner: Survivors Blend (Aces & Eights)
Food Forest Farms’ Survivors Blend showed up as a twin pack—Aces and Eights. Today’s cup (the Eights) tastes like a light + Brazilian/Colombian blend:
- First sip: bright and crisp up front—easy morning drinker.
- Finish: a rounder, fuller tail without tipping into bitterness.
- Verdict: a legit all-day coffee—morning wake-up, afternoon pick-me-up, or a smooth evening cup if you’re wired like me.
Use LOTS10 at checkout: https://foodforestfarms.com
3I/ATLAS: Watch-and-See Mode
As 3I/ATLAS nears perihelion, the signal-to-noise gets messy online. The play here is to keep an eye on trajectory and behavior after solar swing-by. Whether you’re in the “interstellar comet” camp or the “something-else-entirely” crowd, the next phase is where we’ll see if anything interesting happens. I’m tracking it with a healthy dose of skepticism—and curiosity.
“What If” Segment: SNAP/EBT Disruption
A quick thought experiment: What happens if a government shutdown delays/disrupts SNAP/EBT deposits?
- Short-term stress: empty cards + limited household reserves = tempers and tough choices.
- Retail ripple: stores in high-utilization regions could see chaotic days.
- Personal prep: a bit of margin (pantry, fuel, meds) makes these moments less dramatic.
This isn’t about dunking on anybody—just acknowledging how dependent modern life is on systems continuing to function as expected. If nothing happens, great. If it does, you thought about it ahead of time.
Bitcoin Note & Self-Custody Reminder
Price whipsaws keep things spicy. If you’re still riding with a mobile software wallet, consider the Blockstream Jade or Jade Plus to move into self-custody with a hardware signer. It’s beginner-friendly, grows with you, and removes a lot of phone-level risk.
- Blockstream store (auto-applied code): https://store.blockstream.com/?code=TheLOTSProject
Comfrey Corner
It’s a great time to plant comfrey if your ground isn’t frozen. Get those crowns/cuttings in the soil now so they explode in spring.
- Order here: https://comfreyroots.com (ships Mondays)
