Solar power and a composting toilet: what it takes to live off the grid in regional Australia

‘I’d love a jaffle maker – but then, I’ve got the fire.’ Tim Dakin says the security of an off-grid home is worth the inconvenience. Photograph: Shannon Shumski/The Guardian

It may not look like everyone’s idea of a dream home but for Tim Dakin this converted shed in East Gippsland represents financial freedom and self-sufficiency.

Located 7km out of the small town of Briagolong, the shed is now a comfortable home. Dakin bought the property on a whim with his ex-wife more than two decades ago, and has spent the past eight turning it into a fully off-the-grid residence.