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. . .

You say 'Ugly shipping container', I say 'Home sweet home'

Shipping containers are indeed an eyesore, which is why its about damned time someone found a way to repurpose the millions of containers cluttering up plots of land up and down our ports. They can be dressed up to look like traditional homes (think ranch style or rambler), or they can be made to look like those sleek modern prefab homes that are a gazillion dollars. This shipping container idea is the only alternative building I could convince Lover to jump on board with, and here is why: they are very quick to complete, they can be made mobile and they're cheap.

But your land is in the desert, won't you be melting?
-simply put? NO. One can purchase an insulated shipping container for a couple hundred dollars morew, which offer the same R-value of a strawbale home (30-35), a popular desert dwelling. Oh and lest not forget about white roofing , shade structures and AIR CONDITIONING

But what about the toxic floor boards, you say?
-Most containers prepped for homes have had the floors removed. The older ones have already outgassed many of the toxins. should one still decided to keep said floors, they are sealed and cover with other types of actual flooring like tile, carpet, laminated wood, bamboo, etc. I'm leaning towards bamboo myself.

And building codes? What about them , huh!?!?!HUH!?!?!
-well, you could say SHOVE IT and go sans permits-BUT- there has recently been laws passed to help get shipping container homes approves. The regulations are similar to those issued to 'mobile homes'. There are also ways to get around code. A. Buy where codes are not readily enforced and be nice to your neighbors B. buy where there ARE NO building codes, which is becoming increasingly difficult, and C. keep the damn things on wheels, then they are considered mobile recreational vehicles, the codes won't apply and if someone keeps fighting against you, you can park them in RV storage until everything gets straightened out. I have taken all of this into consideration. Since our land is considered 'recreational land', we're considering the 'wheeled' approach, butr very well may just say 'screw your building codes sucka!'. we'll see


Have I sold you on the idea yet? Go ahead. Google it. You know you want to. . .