Surviving against the odds

Homestead Sept/Oct 2002:  My then 18yr old daughter (now working as a doctor in Oz) and I lived in this large Khyam tent, seen to rear, from 12th August - 25th October.  From September we had this pitch with electric hook-up.  The kind site manager had created a hook-up cable with a board and sockets for us.  He also lent us an oil-filled radiator when it got colder.  By October 25th it was water-logged and there were gales the night we dismantled!!

We had found it difficult to find somewhere to live with our 2 adorable half-siamese cats.  Brinnie visible in front of plants I had been given.  My daughter was working to fund 'gap-year' travels so the local council had decided we no longer constituted a 'family' in need of housing together :(  A council officer had visited me the day after my appearance on the Carlton 6pm news!  [I had been interviewed by Sean Conway, footage of the tent with our other cat Tiggles was shown!] My MP had supported my plea for support for people living in a large tent as opposed to a small van!

Freecycling...

Freecycle

Freecycling not only saves things from going to landfill and provides the 'new' owners with a valued resource, it is a wonderful way of meeting other people who care :) :)

My sustainable projects

The creation of a mini 'larder' foodsafe. Pine offcuts, bargain shelf handles and the top from a broken air-purifier!

      

Food now safe from insects and possible 4-legged thieves!  Also windproof for picnics/camping :)

Novel stand for old toasting fork (waiting for an open fire) crafted from pine offcuts :)  It doesn't topple thanks to top tier of stand!

Other function - base stays on thanks to splayed outer prongs!  So it can act as a 2-stage weapon of self-defence !!

Kitchen Innovations:

Customised from offcuts: a handy shelf unit near small microwave and larder fridge.  In a small badly-planned kitchen every bit of wall-space needs to be exploited!

Storage shelf made from spare piece of w/top offcut used to make folding table

Versatile trolley/storage for small cooking appliances

Other Innovations:

Laptop tray with ventilation rack

 

< underside

Strawbale Construction

Strawbale building

My most memorable book from childhood is

"The Children who lived in a Barn"

by Eleanor Graham. Unfortunately I do not have it in my copious book collection as back then I read a library copy; I remember hiding in our small larder to read the next intriguing chapter when I was supposed to be doing other things!   The other ploy was a torch under the bedclothes after lights out!!  No bedside lamp in those days!

I recalled the title now because of the famed 'hay-box'.  Looking at a possible 'eco' lifestyle and strawbale building, which I first heard of whilst living in Devon, reminded me of it :)