Monday Morning Mayhem: Solar Unloads, Bitaxe Bets, and a Brewing Revelation | Ep 832 Recap
March 31, 2025 – Episode 832 of The LOTS Project Morning Show
There’s nothing quite like a Monday morning kickstarted with a Food Forest Farms Experimental Test Blend in your mug and a fresh round of off-grid adventures to dive into. On today’s episode of The LOTS Project Morning Show, I unpacked a wild week that included unloading a hefty batch of solar panels, rethinking my coffee ritual, comparing solo Bitcoin mining to buying a scratch-off, and previewing what’s ahead in the week.
Whether you’re tuning in live or catching up on the blog, there’s plenty here for homesteaders, tinkerers, Bitcoiners, and coffee snobs alike. Let’s dig in.
A Sunny Situation: Solar Panel Unload & First Impressions
If you’ve ever tried unloading a trailer full of solar panels by yourself, you’ll know it’s equal parts puzzle, workout, and test of patience. This weekend, I tackled just that. Dozens of panels, all strapped down and ready for their new life powering off-grid projects, made their way to their temporary home.
The unload wasn’t without its challenges—awkward sizes, shifting stacks, and that one panel that almost slid off the edge. But overall, I’m happy to report zero on site breakage and plenty of inspiration for where they’re going next.
Real-World Testing & Thoughts
Once they were safely off the trailer, I tested the open-circuit voltage (Voc) on each panel right away and sorted them into three categories:
- Panels with no frame damage and tested good,
- Panels that tested good but had minor frame damage (still usable), and
- Panels that were not working or deemed trash.
This quick triage system helped me get a clear sense of what I’m working with and what I can integrate into upcoming projects. For me, early testing isn’t just about confirming voltage—it’s about identifying consistency, how they might perform under variable light, and whether they’re viable for system integration. Even under light cloud cover, several of the “good” panels gave me encouraging readings that make me optimistic about designing all these new systems.
I’ll be diving deeper into system integration soon, but here’s a key takeaway: If you’re sourcing used or surplus solar panels, plan for some losses and inefficiencies and compare to the cost savings of buying new. Sometimes you can score a big deal.
Brewing Up Something Better: Coffee Recalibrated
Now, onto the second love of my life—coffee.
This week I took another look at how I’m brewing, and let me tell you, even when you think you’ve got it dialed in, there’s always room for improvement. I’ve been experimenting with different grinds, ratios, and pour methods lately, and the Experimental Test Blend from Food Forest Farms gave me the perfect excuse to push those boundaries.
Old Habits, New Insights
For a while, I leaned heavy into French press territory. It’s consistent, bold, and fits the homestead pace. But recently, I dusted off the AeroPress and started playing with inversion methods and fine-tuning brew times. The difference in clarity and complexity of flavor blew me away.
So here’s a challenge for my fellow coffee lovers: switch up your method for a week. You’ll be surprised how much nuance you discover—and hey, it might even make your mornings feel new again.
And if you’re not sourcing your beans from FoodForestFarms.com yet… you’re seriously missing out. Use code LOTS10 for 10% off and see what fresh-roasted, small-batch really means.
Bitaxe Gamma 601 vs. The Lottery: A Sats Stackin’ Showdown
This segment was part rant, part reflection, and part light-hearted comparison—but with a serious point behind it.
People blow $10, $20 or more on lotto tickets every week hoping for a windfall. Meanwhile, with that same money, you could buy yourself a shot at running a solo Bitcoin miner like the Bitaxe Gamma 601 and actually contribute to the network in a meaningful way.
Is It Profitable? Maybe. Is It Cool? Absolutely.
No, you probably won’t strike it rich with a single USB miner. But unlike lottery tickets, this thing teaches you about hashing, block discovery, and how proof-of-work actually operates. It’s a hands-on tool for sovereignty, not just speculation.
And let’s be real—if you’re throwing $20 at a dream, why not make it a proof-of-work dream?
Want to try one for yourself? Head over to SoloSatoshi.com and grab a Bitaxe plus a stand. It’s a smarter way to gamble—and a cooler story to tell.
Weekly Look Ahead: What’s Coming Next
With the solar panels now on-site and some new routines in the works, this week is shaping up to be busy. Here’s a quick preview of what I’ve got on deck:
- Cabin Prep and Mushroom Moves out of Delinquents Gully
- Content production Bitaxe, Direct Or Detour, Podcasting Resources
- Comfrey BOGO Sale Kickoff – It’s no joke (unless you’re into dad jokes)
- Solar Systems Design Prep preliminary design work for several solar systems starts
The to-do list is long, but momentum is building—and I’m feeling charged up (literally and figuratively).
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Final Thoughts: A Strong Start to the Week
From the excitement of unloading solar gear to the small joy of dialing in a better cup of coffee, Episode 832 of The LOTS Project Morning Show was a reminder that Mondays don’t have to suck. In fact, with the right mindset (and the right brew), they can be a launchpad for creativity and momentum.
If any of today’s topics sparked your curiosity, be sure to check out the full replay of the episode on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform. You’ll find all the links mentioned above—and a few bonus rants too.
🎧 Listen to the full episode here
Thanks for supporting the show—and remember, life’s too short for bad coffee, weak opinions, or untested ideas. See you next episode!
