Courtesy of Heather Graesser
- Heather Graesser lives in a cob house in rural North Carolina.
- She shares the space with her husband and kids, who are 11 and 13.
- The family is off the grid, relying on solar power and rainwater collection.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Heather Graesser. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Ten years ago I was living a typical suburban life on the outskirts of Denver. My husband, Casey, and I were both teachers. We lived in a four-bedroom house with a small yard where our two kids liked to play.