Thursday, August 1, 2013
Our Goolawah Adventure - August 2013
8:05 PM | 
Posted by
John Tennock
1 August 2013 6:43an
This the first day of our proposed three-months of 'off-grid' community living.
Just returned from 15 minute (each way) walk to communal toilet. Not a bad morning constitutional which I expect will have significant health benefits. Nevertheless, we will be putting a fairly high priority on commissioning the 'wheelie bin' composting toilets we have been storing for several years. The communal toilet is a commercially available composting system that was required, along with a water tank and camp-kitchen, as part of the 'primitive campsite' permit that was required for the cooperative to get started. No doubt this discussion about 'black water' management will be a significant part of our experience here.
We usually make it a two-day trip to get here and arrive in daylight but with the trailer full of stuff we have brought this time we decided to make it in onbe day, so it was dark when we arrived. Our little cabin is wired for 12 volts and, fortunately a friend had loaded us a 50 A/H 12 volt gell-cell battery so we quickly had light (This is 'off-grid' living?).
Just made a cuppa using our butane powered camp-stove, and breakfast will be on the way soon. Cooking arranegements will evolve.
2 August 2013 07:03am
The first rays of sun are peering through the trees. I have just returned from my morning constitutional with the sun colouring the eastern horizon, the dips a valleys in the bush wraithed in mist and the morning chorus of birds filling the air. Responding to the calls of nature takes on a whole new meaning in this environment. Even going outside to relieve myself in the middle of the night is a breathtaking experience on these dark moonless nights and the only light as a million brilliant stars.
Most of yesterday was spent unpacking and setting up, including some new intrastructure like a TV antenna that allows us to watch TV on the lap-top computer (very low power consumption). The camp kettle has been commissions so most of our water boiling can be done with the abundant twigs and we have erected our hexagonal, mosquito-screened 'yurt' as a social/creative space.
Anne has been busy organising all our 'stuff' inside our tiny 3m x 3m house, has marked out a garden plot and built a brick fireplace to allow some outside cooking and reduce our use of gas as much as possible.
2 August 2013 12:31pm
We spent most of this morning measuring up for our proposed house extensions (a 3 metre wide verandah around 3 sides), and marking out a plot for growing stuff where is can be protected from kangaroos and bandicoots. Looks like we will finish upo with a fenced plot about 8.5m x 15.5 metres with corrugated iron set into the the ground to prevent the varmints from digging underneath. We have been accumulating corrugated iron and fencing wire for a few years and havle almost enough to do the job. Anne grilled a lovely steak on the brick stove she has built.
This the first day of our proposed three-months of 'off-grid' community living.
Just returned from 15 minute (each way) walk to communal toilet. Not a bad morning constitutional which I expect will have significant health benefits. Nevertheless, we will be putting a fairly high priority on commissioning the 'wheelie bin' composting toilets we have been storing for several years. The communal toilet is a commercially available composting system that was required, along with a water tank and camp-kitchen, as part of the 'primitive campsite' permit that was required for the cooperative to get started. No doubt this discussion about 'black water' management will be a significant part of our experience here.
We usually make it a two-day trip to get here and arrive in daylight but with the trailer full of stuff we have brought this time we decided to make it in onbe day, so it was dark when we arrived. Our little cabin is wired for 12 volts and, fortunately a friend had loaded us a 50 A/H 12 volt gell-cell battery so we quickly had light (This is 'off-grid' living?).
Just made a cuppa using our butane powered camp-stove, and breakfast will be on the way soon. Cooking arranegements will evolve.
2 August 2013 07:03am
The first rays of sun are peering through the trees. I have just returned from my morning constitutional with the sun colouring the eastern horizon, the dips a valleys in the bush wraithed in mist and the morning chorus of birds filling the air. Responding to the calls of nature takes on a whole new meaning in this environment. Even going outside to relieve myself in the middle of the night is a breathtaking experience on these dark moonless nights and the only light as a million brilliant stars.
Most of yesterday was spent unpacking and setting up, including some new intrastructure like a TV antenna that allows us to watch TV on the lap-top computer (very low power consumption). The camp kettle has been commissions so most of our water boiling can be done with the abundant twigs and we have erected our hexagonal, mosquito-screened 'yurt' as a social/creative space.
Anne has been busy organising all our 'stuff' inside our tiny 3m x 3m house, has marked out a garden plot and built a brick fireplace to allow some outside cooking and reduce our use of gas as much as possible.
2 August 2013 12:31pm
We spent most of this morning measuring up for our proposed house extensions (a 3 metre wide verandah around 3 sides), and marking out a plot for growing stuff where is can be protected from kangaroos and bandicoots. Looks like we will finish upo with a fenced plot about 8.5m x 15.5 metres with corrugated iron set into the the ground to prevent the varmints from digging underneath. We have been accumulating corrugated iron and fencing wire for a few years and havle almost enough to do the job. Anne grilled a lovely steak on the brick stove she has built.
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