Living with Less - Daily Blog
Here I will attempt to keep my daily Blog, or diary, of the changes, successes, and failures of the grand experiment.
May 2nd, 2003 - Wood
Finishing up my design for my wood fired cookstove and water heater.
The Red Grate is made of iron pipe that circulates (thermosyphon) water to my hot water storage tank. The baffle pulls the smoke and gases forwards to the upper secondary burn chamber, where, mixed with fresh air from the air vents in the doors, and exposed to the heat from the baffle, creates secondary combustion, high efficiency, and clean burning. Stove is welded plate steel.
May 3rd, 2003 - Wind
Giving some more thought to electrical generation. Need inexpensive ways to add more juice to the batteries. Less time I have to run the generator. Found a neat project for building a simple wind generator. I have the PM Motors (6) already, so it should be fairly straightforward. Won't generate a lot of juice, but it's cheap, and easy to build/repair. Add more units as power requirements mandate.
May 4th, 2003 - Water
Woke up from a dream with a plan for a sand filter for our rain water catchment system. Since we won't have a black water systems, due to composting our "Humanure", I've been giving thought to the recycling of our gray water as well. Here is one solution I will attempt to implement, as irrigation for our raised bed gardens. Have not been sleeping well. 4 days to moving day (the 8th), and still so much to pack, give away, or toss.
Further reading:
June 2th, 2003 - Finally Moved
After much uncertainty and agitation, we are moved into our new property. Our destination changed twice, and we (two boys, my wife and I) temporarily lived in two rooms of a efficiency enabled motel for 3 weeks while negotiations were being made, but it was an ok choice. 3.5 acres of fields, backed by 200 acres of state forest. Surrounding neighbors raise horses, and have offered much horse manure for fertilizer and composting. Local saw mill has offered sawdust for composting, and scrap wood for heat. Poles and slabwood for building are also available to us, ideal for the barn and greenhouse. Oh yes, the best part? A mobile home for cold weather living. This is now a fulltime, long term endeavor.
June 4th, 2003 - Communications
Cell phone usage out here is really spotty, with roaming and no signal fluctuation popping in and out even with the cell phone sitting stationary on the picnic table. Another option must be found. Initially we were expecting to put in satellite for internet, but Direcway will not install unless it's a permanent structure (ground mounting is an extra cost, 3rd party option), no RV's, and a phone line is available. We called the local phone company, and yes, DSL was available out here. It's not cheap, Phone and internet service will run us $125 / month, but there's not many options available to us. No cable in the boondocks.
June 5th, 2003 - Composting Toilet
Work has started on the composting toilet. Walmart had 5 gallon plastic buckets on sale for $2.50 each (bought two), and I broke down and bought a nice wood toilet seat with lid for $10. Tomorrow I will get the plywood and 2x4's to make a nice sturdy throne. Here is one method, but mine will have a box that the bucket will sit in.
June 6th, 2003 - Electric Power & Heat
Collected 75 gallons of vegetable oil from 3 area restaurants to power the VW Rabbit Diesel. The stock 65 amp alternator produces 780 watts at just over a gallon an hour and lots of heat. Will step this up by attaching a Pincor 2000 watt ac generator head (belt drive) to the engine soon.
http://webconx.green-trust.org/2000/biofuel/yohn/
http://webconx.green-trust.org/cogen.htm
June 16th, 2003 - Garden
Two hay wagon full loads of horse manure were delivered today. Unloaded and spread one load, tomorrow will do the second. Layered it on thick, about 6 inches. Will till that into the sandy soil on Wednesday.
Saw a nice 10 x 16 wooden shed yesterday. A bit too dear at $1500, but would have made a great barn for the rabbits and ducks. One bunny got away yesterday, but is hanging around. Might catch her yet. Boys named 2 of the keepers Wiggles and Bonnie. Bonnie is the one that got loose. The others are named freezer. The local code officer told me today (as he was delivering the manure) that anything under 140 square feet does not need a permit.
June 18th, 2003 - Garden
Spread the last of the horse manure, and tilled it all in. Planted 8 Tomato plants, 5 cucumber plants, and planted seeds for squash, beans, carrots, onions, spinach, lettuce, corn, and cantaloupe. Still can't catch Bonnie ....
