I'm NOT green, I'm Not crunchy

Okay, so my 'title description' says i'm a little green and crunchy. But here is the thing: I'm really not. I don't refashion/recycle clothes because its anti consumerist or better for the planet. I do it because i'm cheap, and its fun. I don't own a dryer because the sun does the work for free. I recycle water and use composting toilets because, in my opinion, its dumb not to. Sorry, but thats how I feel. I live in the desert, its a very precious natural resource. Not to mention, we haul our own water, it doesn't come from the city to our tap. So the less we use, the less trips we have to make. I DO shy away from chemical cleaners for environmental reasons. When you have a greywater system watering your treess, bleach down the drain isn't such a grand idea. So there you have it. I am green and I am crunchy. However, its because to me, its the logical and practical way to live. Did I mention I was cheap? Its a cheaper way to live. Sure if your 'greenwashed' and buy things with the 'green blah blah' label, you're probably paying a bit more. But I don't because i'm a cheap ass. Lover just traded her truck for a dually deisel. I bet you can tell where this is going. . .

The Importance of greywater recycling, the recycling nobody talks about

So many people think they are doing theit best to recycle. They put their alluminum cans in the appropriate colored city trash cans. They do the same with their 'green waste', tree and grass trimmings There is a much LARGER resource in need of recycling, but you find a colored can at your curb. Its water! 70% of household water is considered 'greywater'. Water that is from sinks, bathing, sometimes washing machines. Blackwater, is water that contains excrement, toilet water. IS grey water potable? No. However, it can be used for irrigation. There are also toilet tank sink toppers that use water from washing ones hands to fill the tank and flush the toilet with, so clean potable water is going down the loo. California is a coastal desert. Water is scarce. It is piped in from all over from other places. So why does one never hear of water recycling? Good question. Here is your opportunity to become well informed and spread the word. Perhaps implement your own greywater system. Systems are legal in in most states and counties, burt check with your local powers that be, or don't, I don't care. It is important that the system be set up correctly to avoid contamination from bugs and bacteria, so READ. Anyway, here are a couple links to get you started


http://greywater.com
http://oasisdesign.net
http://greywateraction.org

Some Day

 

So A little while ago, my partner and bought some property in Wonder Valley,Ca. Don't feel bad, nobody else has heard of it either. Its a small, rural desert town, in the middle of nowhere near 29 Palms. Its a popular spot for artist retreats and hikers, being minutes away from the famed Joshua Tree National Park. This tiny podunk town is littered with 5 acre plots of dilapidated cabins that were primarily built by homesteaders in the 1920s and 30's. We bought one of those historic, sad, ghosts of a cabin in hopes of restoring it and living there. During the summer the temps average temp is around 112 degrees but can get as high as 125. For that reason, a second, small home will be necessary because while I AM that tough, my partner is not a heat tolerant reptile, such as myself. The only way I could convince her to go eco-sustainable on the housing was to go with this shipping container idea, that she liked. The cabin that's there is only about 200sf and isn't big enough for our family of 6 (2 dogs included). For now, we are on the 5 year plan. I'm having a lot of fun designing landscaping, greywater systems to treat that landscaping and property layout. I wish to include solar power (only logical in the desert, right?), a wind turbine, and several 'earth bag' outbuildings modeled after architecht Nader Khalili's designs, which are already approved for that county.