Four Acers and a Dream Part 2

Four Acres and a Dream

Our Homestead Journey

Back to Basics 

 

In recent years homesteading has come a long way. Becoming a homesteader does not necessarily mean giving up cable, internet or cell service. On our new homestead we have access to all three but there will be sacrifices. I have been told by my neighbors to expect frequent power outages. We have two portable generators that were not our original plan. Before the house was even constructed we called a local solar panel company. The guy came out and used a gismo on his phone and gave us all sorts of information on where to place the panels, what kind of system we needed etc. Everything went great until he went back to the office. We were declined, that’s right tuned down. Our credit was fine, the reason given was that according to the computer our house did not exist. Weeks earlier we made a special trip to the county to get an address. We have a mailbox. We get mail BUT until our house shows up on government records we will have to make due with standard electric. 

Having eclectic installed was a whole new hassle.  We used a very reputable  electrical team. We were even there for part of the electrical installation and connection. If you have the time it helps to show your face as much as possible. Anyway once the job was completed the county had to send out an inspector. Then the electric company sent out their guy who decided that he didn’t like the location or age of the pole that was already on the property so he arranged what they refer to as a site visit. I had a vague idea of what it was from the title. TWO weeks later we ment with the electric company guy who wanted to put the new pole in a different location which meant taking down a few trees. A few more weeks later the trees were taken down, the new pole was installed and we had electricity, sort of. We only had power on one side of the house. We were never told what the issue was, the good news is that we now have 100% power.

We are very fortunate to have mail delivery. I was surprised to learn that we also have UPS and Fedex. For me that was a game changer.  We aren't getting any younger and with the closest Walmart a half hour away being able to order things online will be nice. I can’t say that I feel the same about the gas. Everyone who knows me knows that I love to cook and that I hate electric stoves. Yep, you guessed it, there is no gas. It has been suggested to me that I try propane, maybe build a back porch and cook outside. Gas in tanks makes me nervous. I think I will learn to deal with the electric stove. 

Our ancestors did just fine without appliances and gas stoves but there was one more luxury they did not have, running water. From what I have been told plans are in the works for the county to put in fire hydrants and water lines in the near future but for now we have three options. Haul water, which isn't so bad since it’s only a fifteen minute drive. Have water delivered which is expensive or install a cistern. We chose option three which still leaves us the first two as back ups. 

A few of our friends and relatives cringe when we say rain water. Sometimes it's okay to be blissfully ignorant but in this case it’s not. There are currently more than a dozen companies who produce water filtration systems with new state of the art home systems. These systems are more efficient and effective then the antiquated systems used by more large municipalities. 

Having a house without gas was not a game changer but at the top of our list was at least one fireplace. About a month ago our son in law cut up about a half a cord of wood. By this fall we will have enough wood cut and stored for the entire winter. 

So what do we get for your sacrifices? For starters, cleaner air. The asthma rate among children is lower than living in the city.  Less stress. Privacy and my favorite fresh fruits and vegetables. One of the big motivations for choosing this lifestyle was cost. We will no longer have to pay flood insurance, gas bill, property taxes, water bill, heating bill and once we get solar no electric bill. If things go as planned by this time next year we will have cut our food bill in half. 

Next post, Soil testing, planning multiple food gardens. 

The average age of a water treatment plant is 40 to 50 years old

However, the average wastewater treatment plant life expectancy is 40 to 50 years, and treatment equipment typically lasts 15 to 20 years. As a result, a majority of Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) established in the early 1970s require improvement, repair or replacement to extend their lifetimes.

10 U.S. cities with the worst drinking water

https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna41354370