Powering Down

Sara and Gideon Silence of Grand Marais took a leap of faith in December of 2020, purchasing a solar-powered log cabin-style home far up and off the Gunflint Trail in rural Cook County. In this edition of Powering Down, they talk about the tumultuous start to their life off-grid and finding ways to adapt and thrive alongside their three daughters in an area known as the “Sea of Green”.

Powering Down is a series on WTIP focusing on off-grid life and alternative energy used by Cook County residents. In this piece, Will Moore talks to Joey Pedersen about building a tiny solar-powered home using nearly entirely recycled materials

Photo by Will Moore.

Photo by Will Moore.

Photo by Will Moore.

Photo by Will Moore.

Powering Down is a series on WTIP looking at off-grid life and the use of alternative energy in Cook County. In this segment, the series returns with a look at the journey of two people familiar to fans of WTIP’s Small Change show, Nick Vavrichek and Kent Jones, and their energy journey upon moving up north.

A former firefighter from Columbia, Missouri, Doug Turner is a WTIP jazz host and a man endlessly fascinated by science. He converted his Gunflint Trail home to full solar power and shares his story of going off-grid up the Trail, the life changes he’s made, and how a “dorky hobby” of his led him to get interested in the project.

Powering Down is a new series on WTIP taking a look at off-grid lifestyles and homes using alternative energy in Cook County. Art and Beth Kidd claim to be among the first people to choose wind and solar power in the area and share their experiences of living off-grid for several decades. They talk about the early challenges, the growth of green technology, and the adaptations of a daily routine that come with “the simple life”.