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The Homestead

After the housing bubble popped, I started thinking a little different about my home.  I now believe that a home is not always a good investment.   The Real Estate market from 2004 to 2008 was probably the largest bubble ever blown in the history of the world.  Today we are still feeling the effects of that boom.  In Phoenix there is a huge inventory of house for sale at significantly lower prices than during the boom

When I look at a typical suburban home today it only provides shelter and status.   Most people living in a suburban home do not make an income at their home.  The typical suburban homeowner goes to an office or other work environment for their income.  Almost no one I know uses the raw resources of their suburban home to create wealth.

The pioneers that settled the west would have a different view.   To the pioneer the home was shelter but it also had to produce most of their food and energy.  How do we make our suburban houses produce something today?

As 2010 draws to a close, here are a few things I want to investigate next year to see if my home can produce more and take less from me:

  • Investigate a 4 kW solar system.
  • Add solar shades to the house.
  • Finish replacing most often used light bulbs with more efficient ones.
  • Follow the watering guidelines set by Maricopa County to reduce watering.
  • Investigate rainwater catching systems for the house to be used for irrigation
  • Expand my garden and add more fruit trees to the property.
  • Investigate raising 2-4 chickens but not sure how that will go over with the neighbors.
  • Look for rural land that could be used initially for camping but ultimately some sort of homestead.  A place that could produce a significant amount of my food and energy.

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My Garden

My Garden

For the last 3 years I have grown a small veggie garden.  Last year I expanded my efforts significantly.  I went from one 16 sq. ft raised bed to three 16 sq ft raised beds.   Last year I had great production of lettuce, spinach, peas, gourd, basil, parsley and garlic.   We still have some basil growing in the garden from last year that is really doing well.

1st garden bed on the west side of house. Check out the Basil from last year. It is almost like a tree

The summer heat in Phoenix did not subside until around October 10 this year.  I used of shade cloth to keep the sun from damaging the new plants after I planted them in the ground.  I started some of my stuff inside and transferred them to plastic cups.  I started peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, broccoli, beets, radish, leeks, swiss chard, and cabbage inside and then transferred them outside.   I started plants inside because of the heat and to get a head start.  We have short frosts in December around Phoenix and the short days of winter make it harder to grow stuff in the normal 50-60 days on the package.

2nd garden bed on west side of house. Because of the extra shade this bed grow lettuce very well.

This year I am going to try some new plants.  Some may actually be considered weeds:

  • Miner’s lettuce
  • Lemongrass
  • Broom Corn
  • French Sorrel
  • Ground Cherry

I am really looking forward to my first salad from the garden.  Last year I went out and cut some salad every day.

Composting

I have added a new composter setup for the garden.  I created it using a plastic trash can. I unfortunately didn’t have an old trash can with a lid so I purchased a new trash can and modified it to be a composter.  I figure that are no dedicated composters out there for less than $50, I can purchase a plastic trash can for around $20.

I drilled holes in the bottom and in the sides (for air flow).  I can mix the material just by rolling the trash can around with the cover on.  Placing the can on some bricks will keep the air flowing through the holes in the bottom.

Composter made from a trash can for $20

I plan on using everything from the kitchen that can go be composted.  I have some yard waste that can be composted too.  The idea mix for compost is (20% cow manure, 40% brown material, 40% green material)

Notice the holes in the can. To mix the compost just roll it around on the ground.

Green material is:

  • Fruit and peels
  • Vegetables and peels
  • Landscape trimmings
  • Grass clippings

Brown material is:

  • Dry leaves
  • Sawdust
  • Twigs
  • Straw
  • Newspaper, Cardboard, shredded Junk mail

Think about that a perfect way to get rid of annoying junk mail.  It will be nice to see those annoying credit card offers rot before you very eyes!

I have tried composting here in Phoenix before her but found the desert tends to dry out and petrify the compost material.  Back in New Hampshire I was able to just make a pile of stuff and rotate it from time to time which worked reasonable well.   So far I have a good start on the compost and mixing it seems pretty easy. My current batch of compost is way further along than any previous attempts.

The compost after about 2 weeks

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How do I want the story of my life told

The other day I was thinking what would I want to have that my grandchildren read about me.

Would it be like this

Rob worked 60 hours a week, mowed his lawn every weekend and watched a couple hours of TV every night and played mindless online games most of the night

or would it be better if it said something like this

Rob was very conscious of the choices he made and focused on the things that made him happy, which helped him make the people around him happy.

Just before I wrote this post I removed my Cable TV box and have decided that I am only going to watch TV programs that I truly enjoy; which is about 2 hours per week this TV season. When I reflect on the amount of  lost time I have invested into various TV programs over the years.  Only to see them canceled and the story left dangling like a loose thread in my mind.   If all goes as planned the TV executives should have me down to 0 hours in a year or two.

I have recently started listening to Pandora in the evenings.  Pandora gives you ability to create your own channel and listen to the music you want.   I have 4 primary channels that I listen to (Hard Rock, Spa Channel, Jazz, Nature Sounds). I have been writing in a journal almost every evening with music playing rather than the TV.  I find the music is less distracting and much more enjoyable.  I have been journaling for a about 6 months consistently which I think it has made me more reflective.

One thing I reflected on the other day was I don’t place a lot of value on stuff compared to the value that I place on learning and experiences.   I was trying to think of where some of the toys from my childhood could be; they are all long gone. The experiences of my childhood remain with me.

When I was growing up, my family was very self-reliant. We raised our own vegetables, chickens, and pigs.   We made maple syrup one year with 6-8 maples on the property. We heated our house with wood and coal when oil was too expensive.   My children today are missing the experience of being self reliant.    They have come to view food as what the food industrial complex says food is. My wife and kids look at the vegetables I grow and they are not sure what do to with them!  This is because I’ve been growing desert adapted and heirloom varieties of vegetables. They don’t look as pretty as the ones in the store. What is wrong with an orange tomato? Especially if it tastes excellent. How about purple beans they sure tasted good but they were not a hit with the family.

In conclusion, I really don’t want to be the middle aged guy who comes home from work with most of my life force drained. After getting the kids to bed, sit in the glow of the TV and just barely absorb what little it has to offer. I want to get out and experience new things.   Try a new bottle of wine, try new food, hike a new trail, travel somewhere new and spend a week.   I want to connect with my roots, and grow at least some of my food and share that experience with my children. It is a great learning opportunity for the entire family and a step back to self-reliance.

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