live self-sufficiently

... until I have the money to afford my own property, anyway!

I heard today that load shedding is not a uniquely South African problem – that electricity provision is an issue all over the world – but that makes me more determined to keep my own eco-footprint as small as possible, and provide in as many of my own needs as I can!

And if there’s a glut of veges and fruit in my garden, to share it with those who are less fortunate!!!

If all goes well, the plot where I live in now will soon be subdivided, and I shall get to build my own cottage on the lower part of the property. And yes, I have every intention of following through on my plans of installing a solar water heater, some solar panels and a wind turbine for electricity and a grey-water tank for my vegetable patch…

I can imagine living in my own little cottage on a small-holding somewhere, with my goats and my vegetable garden… I sent a sketch of my idea to a friend who is an engineer… Just for fun… Will be interesting to see what plans he comes up with…

Besides the obvious ones of being less stressful on the environment, I also have my own selfish reason for wanting a self-sustainable house….

I have no faith in my government’s ability to provide enough electricity for its citizens’ needs. We’re having frequent power outtages which at the very least is irritating.

So if I have a house powered by a combination of solar and wind generators, and with a methane collector (from a septic tank) for cooking, such power shortages won’t affect me…