Every now and again I come across word conjunctions that stick in my mind and don’t let go. I live in the Victorian Central Highlands, the Goldfields region of Victoria, and in my EV conversion wanderings I came across a number of people who I began affectionately referring to as “solar punk hillbillies”. These people literally live in the hills! They’re off grid and hack together their technology on the back of discarded industrial detritus. On top of doing EV conversions they also often hack together their own home electric systems, farm vehicles, and other basic necessities of life. They are creative and exemplary humans who practice up-cycling and want to tread softly upon the Earth.
I’ve also recently embarked on the solar punk journey. We’ve recently completed building a house and detached studio which is off grid electric. But we have a lot of smaller solar punk challenges to master, including developing wind power, a composting toilet, open air showers and what my partner refers to as a “redneck day spa”. My Mutant Futures inner work has pointed me toward the solar punk aesthetic and visions as a source of grounded hope and practical activity. So I am joining the ranks of the solar punk hillbillies.
I am starting an open (moderated) signal group so that solar punk hillbillies around the world can unite, share stories and help each other create a better and low/no carbon world.
Futures Lab 