David Abazs of Finland, Minnesota, keeps his freezer on the porch.

“It’s because, guess what? It’s zero a lot in northern Minnesota, and so our stuff is frozen without the motor running at all,” he says.

It’s just one of the ways that Abazs and his family save energy at their rural off-grid home and farm. They heat with wood and get water from a well pumped by a windmill. What electricity they do need is generated by solar panels.

Abazs says they live simply, but he does not think of it as a sacrifice.

“I think there’s a lot of joy to be had,” he says.

For example, when it’s time to fetch some frozen food, they have to step outside.

“And guess what? The stars are beautiful where I live,” Abazs says.

To educate people about conserving energy and off-grid living, Abazs offers workshops, classes, and internships at the farm. He tries to help others find pleasure in protecting the planet and the billions of lives it supports.

“I think our farm and other experiences like that provide that opportunity for people to fall in love with what’s around them,” he says. “And just imagine if the world were filled with people that were thinking about how much they love each other and the world, how much better the world would be.”

Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy/ChavoBart Digital Media.