We are going off the grid here at Long Meadow Farm: the financial grid, for one, the electric grid and the food grid this year.

Three weeks ago, we moved all our mutual funds (not a big amount to be sure) into CDs at a local bank. One financial adviser advised me not to make that move, but I said "Ed, this is different. We are in big trouble here."

So we are in cash now, unless the bank goes belly up, and then, of course, we are insured by the FDIC. But if the U.S. government can't meet its obligations, and FDIC deposit insurance is meaningless, then what? But I do have a question -- if it does go belly up, can we take a bye on the rest of our mortgage and call it even?

So, on to another part of the grid: electricity.

Our utility bill is right up there, between $75 and $150 a month. We don't have a clothes dryer or a dish washer, but we do have an electric stove, hot water heater and a refrigerator that is starting to make strange noises.

We have threatened the household with turning off the hot water heater and using hot water from the woodstove, doled out as wash water or for washing dishes.

And there is a chance we will do some solar hot water, since Michele and I are attending a workshop in Machias on Oct. 25 where we are guaranteed we can walk off with something resembling a solar hot water unit by the end of the day for the modest fee of $120 per person.

So as an interim measure, I spent $40 at Gosline's hardware in Farmingdale to buy a timer for the hot water heater. The directions say that anyone can simply follow the directions to connect it. The maker does not understand the depth of my incompetence around electricity, so thank God, I have friends who can help me here. Let's give ourselves two hours per day of hot water from 6-8 a.m. and see how it goes.

We are already off the heating oil grid since we burn wood only. Our cost was $220 for the semi-green cord we bought two months ago, and thanks to Anna and her friends Kate, Anya and Brannan, we have cut, split and retrieved another cord and a half of dry and green wood. We're all set there.

Now comes the food grid. Despite how much I rail against supermarket food, we spend a goodly amount monthly on cooking oils (olive and vegetable), peanut butter, salt, pepper, whole wheat and white flour, saltines, wine, canned fish, pasta, coffee, seltzer water, orange juice, beer, paper products, cat food, detergent (unscented), toothpaste, shaving cream, milk, cheddar and mozzarella cheeses and butter.

No supermarket meat, eggs, deli items, veggies (unless absolutely necessary next spring), processed foods or soft drinks of any kind, chips (unless someone slips up and gives in during a hunger attack).

We are self-sufficient in eggs, beef, chicken, pork (when we trade for it) and veggies throughout the summer. For winter and spring, we put away enough tomatoes (canned and dried), garlic, onions, carrots and squash (at least 'til January and then we go without), potatoes (we hope), strawberries (frozen), pesto (frozen for bread and spaghetti sauce), peppers (frozen), and herbs like rosemary (on the bush), sage, oregano and thyme.

We are contemplating the addition of a dairy cow next year to meet our needs for milk, butter, and cheese (and beef), realizing that it is a big step for us. Do we have the time and ability to make the leap?

Perhaps a better way of looking at it is that it really is part of the natural progression that began years ago and will continue into the future. The goal is to feed as many people as possible on the land we have and to feed ourselves in the same way.

Denis Thoet, with his partner Michele Roy, own and manage Long Meadow Farm in West Gardiner, www.longmeadowfarmma ine.com.