Did you know Justin and I run a second site together, Sustainable Baby Steps?

It’s my more practical side wrapped up in its own website.

Sustainable Baby Steps is dedicated to guiding you to live a healthy, happy, meaningful life…without overwhelming you with information, costing an arm and a leg or sacrificing what really matters: a life worth sustaining!

And we now have a free ebook we’re offering to get you started!

Click here for Strategies to Save Money (Without Sacrificing Your Health, Happiness or Values)

Tiffani and I were sitting on the edge of my bed when I had the epiphany (I’m calling it “The Epiphany with Tiffani”.)

We were looking through my closet trying to find the perfect thing to wear during the dready photoshoot when she said something extremely obvious along the lines of “Pick something that reflects you and that you feel really good in” and I realized how much I felt “comfortable” in or “okay” in, but nothing to fit her description.

I started talking about how much of my clothing I don’t actually *love* or that doesn’t fit me well and how much I dislike to shop because I can never find what I want and love, when it hit me that I had my closet and my head so full of what I didn’t want that I had no space in either for what I did!

I know the value of creating space in my life (physically, emotionally, spiritually, mentally) for the things I’m ready for. But I hadn’t applied it to the simplest of things. (Duh.)

I then proceeded to yank things off hangars and throw them on the floor, where they stayed for several days (Justin loved me for it. ) instigating me to finish the task.

And I did. I purged over 80% of my closet over the next week.

Then within 4 days I had found a handful of new things that I love and can’t wait to wear each day!

I created space and Life rushed in to fill it with the things I was ready for.

These things reflect me and highlight my favorite parts of me and make me feel radiant and comfortable at the same time. Yum.

Then last week I got a new iPhone.

I had milked my last phone until the last possible day, when it went haywire and started calling China like a curious 3 year old.

And I love my new iPhone! It’s fun and easy to use and syncs with my everything and has Siri which makes me feel like Tony Stark telling my robot what to do for me (or asking it the meaning of life – seriously, try it. Several times.)

It makes my life easier and I feel high-tech and hip and fun. I’m playing with Instagram and Hanging with Friends and getting automatic updates to my calendar.

But All This Triggered Me Too

I’m writing all this because it has me reflecting on consumption and my reasons for it.

We gave away nearly everything we owned when we hit the road and I’m suddenly finding value in “stuff”?

On top of that is my strong resonance with sustainability and eco-conscious living.

We live in a pretty consumable world and we (as a culture) love to consume.

And I’ll admit it. I loved the “high” of finding my new purple, off-the-shoulder top and tapping away on my new iPhone.

It feels good, especially to someone like me who hasn’t done a lot of shopping or consuming outside of thrift stores and farmers markets, based on the principle of it.

And so I can understand why it can feel so easy to fill a void with the superficial, the “stuff” in life.

Because it’s not the “stuff” we’re after – it’s the feeling it might offer us that we’re hungry for.

Maybe it’s a sense of newness, a clean state, a change that doesn’t actually scare us.

Maybe it’s the idea of deserving, of self-worth, of “I earned this”.

Maybe it’s the connection we experience when we fit in with our crowd, know what they are talking about and can share our experience of the same.

Maybe it’s the beauty and the inspiration from filling our homes or our closets with the things that make us smile, feel comfortable and radiant or offer us less stress or more time.

It’s easy to mistake what we’re really after with the means to get it.

It’s easier to get caught up in the “retail therapy” to make us feel good again than it is to actually DIG IN to those uncomfortable feelings that keep us from feeling good all the time and address them once and for all.

It’s also easy to demonize the “stuff”, to point fingers at consumers, to make ourselves or our kids go without for fear of creating waste or feeling (or fearing we look) shallow or conventional.

One way or another, it’s easier to get caught up in the surface, the superficial, than it is to look beneath the surface of our experiences to the real human experience happening within each one of us.

I’m finding it more and more true that the real solution is to notice when the “stuff” is suddenly a tragic attempt to access that joy we all so desperately need to experience, or whether it’s an external reflection of an internal joy we’ve already found.

As I reflect on all this – on my own consumption, my own guilt and concern in contrast to the positive feelings I’m experiencing as a part of this new “stuff” – I am noticing that the happier and more grounded I feel internally, the more I want my external environment to reflect that.

I want to paint my walls and wear rich and vibrant colors and take gorgeous photos faster and organize my life better to reflect what I know as Truth – that the world is beautiful, colorful, inspirational and enjoyable and I want to get back to the act of living it to its fullest potential.

When I keep my focus on the external being a mere reflection of the internal I find my consumer choices are more conscious and simple and eco-friendly, anyway. I choose things that will last, I care for them better and I make sure they are just right for me so that I have no regrets. Because that’s my internal experience as well – full of love, care, mindfulness and value.

If I had to summarize all these reflections I think my point would be this:

Love what you do. Love Who You Are. Let go of the fear and move into Truth. Live your life from the inside out. Find value in yourself and your life, and reflect that in all you do. Reflect outside yourself the Truth you experience in your heart. Allow every choice to count. And INSPIRE the world to something greater, starting with you.

I felt like making a little video to talk about how things are going, what they’re doing and what this past year has taught me.

I also thought it might be fun to create a little game called Count How Many Times Tara Can Say Um in 8 Minutes. Taking shots is purely optional.

Other dread-y links you dreaded folks might want:

• A Radical Change in First Impressions
• I Am Not My Hair
• One Year Old Dreads
• Two Years and Authenticity
• FAQ About My Dreads
• No ‘Poo for Dreadlocks
• And photos of my dreads….

• Does it really matter?
• It’s too expensive to go green or organic!
• How can I make a difference?
• Where in the world do I start?

That’s why I’m SO excited to introduce you to Sustainable Baby Steps!

Sustainable Baby Steps is dedicated to answering the sometimes perplexing question of “How do I go green?” It offers clear, understandable information without the feeling of impending doom. It’s here to help get you started, as well as keeping you going.

It’s about connecting with your sense of purpose, taking small steps toward greener living, and impacting the world around you in a positive way without overwhelming yourself.

I’ve been working long and hard building articles and content to share with the world. Right now you can find:

• Answers to the question, Why Go Green?
• Information about the dangers of pesticides.
• Ways to stop receiving junk mail.
• Ideas to create eco-friendly holidays.
• Over 100 ways to save water.
• And a LOT more!

In the coming months the content will expand to include information on family living, travel, and more ways for you to get involved in the movement.

You can subscribe to the Going Green! monthly newsletter to stay up-to-date with the site, find great information and inspiration and even special offers from sustainable companies.

And right now, Sustainable Baby Steps has joined forces with some of the coolest names in sustainability to bring you…

The Great BIG Giveaway!

In collaboration with some great businesses, Sustainable Baby Steps is hosting a giveaway of multiple awesome, organic and sustainable prizes to get you stepping toward greener living. You can win one of these great prizes:

GladRags is awarding one lucky winner a Color Pad Sampler Kit worth $88.99. This sampler kit includes Day Pads, Night Pads, and Pantyliners, plus a laundry bag for washing and carry bag for on-the-go! Perfect for yourself or as a gift and helps you save money and resources every month!

ECOlunchboxes is offering a $50 ECOlunchbox Kit , which includes ECOlunchbag, 3 matching napkins, Oval ECOlunchbox, bamboo spork. This lunchbox kit is 100% plastic-free, waste-free, lead-free, BPA-free, PVC-free and vinyl-free. In other words, it’s healthy for people and the planet!

Hip Mountain Mama is giving away one $50 gift certificate on any of their Beautiful Handmade ‘Hippie’ Clothing, Natural Wood Toys, Handmade Bags, Natural Art Supplies, Namaste Knitting Bags, Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Products, Unique Gifts, and so much More. Hip Mountain Mama is a Natural Attitude for any Altitude.

AffirmWater is donating a Combo Pack worth $58 – includes 32oz Hope bottle w/ sports cap and loop cap with caribiner, 100% recycled PETE, waterproof bottle carrier, Flat cap, Bottle brush +an Organic cotton Peace tee. It’s the perfect way to ditch plastic water bottles and spread the message!

Rethinking Everything Magazine is giving away a one year subscription! This magazine offers inspiring stories of personal change (monumental, earth-shattering, life-altering change! This subscription also includes access to all back issues as well!

Enter To Win!

There are several ways to enter and the more you enter the more chances you have to win!

1. Leave a comment telling me one thing you’re doing to Go Green OR what one thing you’d like to know more about.
2. Sign up for Sustainable Baby Steps’ Going Green! newsletter
3. Add a Sustainable Baby Steps badge to your blog or website!
4. Blog about this giveaway, linking back here AND to Sustainable Baby Steps
5. Share this giveaway OR the Sustainable Baby Steps website on Facebook.
6. Like Sustainable Baby Steps on Facebook
7. Tweet this giveaway (you can use the ReTweet button below)

Be sure to add a SEPARATE comment for each entry to have them all counted!

Comments are now closed! Winners will be announced soon!

You have until November 2nd at 8pm(ish) PST to enter to win! All winners will be chosen using Random.org and announced that evening.

Good luck!

Our first stop after Madison was Wisconsin Dells, home of America’s Largest Water Park. We spent our honeymoon amusement park hopping; it seemed only fitting that we celebrated 10 years together with water park hopping.

It wasn’t a perfect two days: Zeb crashed on his bike, my dreads gave me whiplash, we got all turned around on an incredibly long bike ride to and from the park and it was pretty darn cold. But it was still an amazing two days!

After the Dells, we left Wisconsin behind and headed into Iowa where we stopped to meet two new fiends, Niki and Toast in Decorah. They showed us around the many natural springs and beautiful countryside and we enjoyed the Vesterheim Museum, as well (Vesterheim is Norwegian for “western home,” what many of Norway’s emigrants called America…or Amerika.) We really enjoyed the small town feel mixed with the sustainable and artistic communities and plan to do some more research on the area.

Leaving Decorah, we headed toward Missouri with a short overnight stop with a Jen in southern Iowa, where we enjoyed yummy food and awesome conversation way too late into the night.

Then to the serious highlight along our path: Dancing Rabbit Eco-Village in Northern Missouri!

Oh my goodness, how amazing! Our minds are still reverberating with the information we tried to take in and process in our short two-night stay.

We were invited by Tereza, a 10 year resident, and I couldn’t be more thankful she emailed us. She was so gracious as to show us around, describing how everything worked and answering all our questions.

Dancing Rabbit is actually one of three eco-villages in the area, each doing things slightly different. It is also the largest. While Dancing Rabbit is cooperatively and closely built, Red Earth just a short walk away has a slightly more “homestead” feel to it, although still very community-oriented. (The third, which we didn’t have time to tour, is a more communal, income-sharing arrangement.)

We were especially intrigued with how Dancing Rabbit works:

• DR is built on a land trust and through government grants. This makes living their very affordable for Rabbits and residents, who each pay a small price depending on the size of their “property”.
• The diversity of their sustainable building is fantastic and inspiring! Anything from school buses to strawbale to Earth bag.
• Each person/family commits to certain covenants and guidelines, similar to how a Home Owners Association works.
• You can come and go as you please, and even sell your property to someone else. But it’s up to the community as a whole to “approve” new residents and members.
• You’re not required to live communally in any way, except for agreeing to not have a car and thus participating in the car sharing. That being said there are lots of other cool co-ops which were intriguing, like a phone co-op or a kitchen co-op.
• Both Dancing Rabbit and what we saw of Red Earth Farms seemed very comfortable, community-oriented and family-friendly.

Justin really liked Red Earth Farms the best. Each home was more spread out but still within close proximity to form strong community ties. And he really likes the independence it affords its members. I was really torn between the two. I liked the feeling of a close-knit town, but also really appreciate the ability to be more reclusive. Zeb had fun playing with the kids but wasn’t really sure what to think of the rest.

You can view a few more Dancing Rabbit photos here.

Our thoughts overall: If our experience at Ironwood Farm taught us anything it’s that we don’t want to go at something like that alone. Living within a community of like-minded families, all who agree to some same basic principles, really appeals to us right now. Knowing we have a support system, friends to share with, and social connections is really the only way to have a truly sustainable community. The scale of such community is something we still aren’t sure of, but this is certainly an idea we’ll be putting a lot more thought and discussion into in the future. Perhaps an intentional community of nomadic families? Or maybe just a caravan on the road?

If you’re interested in finding a nearby intentional community to learn more from, visit Intentional Communities online.

Everyone has their “thing,” right? That one thing they just can’t do.

Mine is dishes.

It’s not that I just hate doing them. It’s that it is that one thing that grosses me out. Give me vomit to clean or a farm animal to slaughter and I’m good to go and probably a little too interested. Show me a sink full of soggy, slimy food particles floating in warm water and I’m going to gag. Heaven forbid one of those food particles actually clings to my hand. I’m getting chills just thinking about it.

This is actually a two-fold issue:

1. Food particles = indescribable yakking reflexes
2. I don’t really like the sensation of wet hands…or feeling wet in general. Especially if it’s cold water.

I know this makes me slightly weird (although I’m adamant I’m not alone) and I do manage to take showers. Mostly I think it’s just a sensitivity thing (I don’t like air blowing on me either) and well…a weird thing. Whatever. I can own it.

One of the first things I miss in the RV is the dishwasher. And not just for the washing aspect; having a place to put dirty dishes until you have enough to wash is just as beneficial. As such there is almost always a dirty dish in the sink, taunting me relentlessly.

Thankfully I have a husband who humors me. For the past several months without a dishwasher, Justin has been handwashing like a pro. Occasionally I can overcome the water issue to rinse and dry. It’s hard and it involves a lot of hand-drying (yes, I actually dry my hands between the dishes I rinse – like I said, I can own my weirdness) but I do it.

He loves me (and he knows I have serious issues), so it’s never really mentioned. And I love him to the moon and back for it. But when Justin was taking his blacksmith workshop over the weekend, he’d come home on cloud nine and I knew nothing would ruin that excitement like dishes waiting to be done.

So today when I faced a sink full of dirty dishes, I didn’t think about the particles of stir-fry floating by or the soggy rice cascading between my fingers (oh dear lord). I took a really deep breath and focused on offering this as a gift of love to my husband.

And you know what? With my husband held firmly in my mind, it wasn’t so bad. This was my gift and nothing changes our perspective like wholeheartedly choosing to give from our hearts.

I didn’t clean out the food trap though. I do have issues, after all. Thankfully, he didn’t mind.

Me: To begin, how many acres does your property sit on, and how much is or can be cultivated?

Chris: It’s 9.8 acres. There is probably an acre of more that is under buildings, road, parking or storage. There is approximately .50-.75 an acre left wild for habitat. They rest is or will be all cultivated; most of it in pasture now and the rest in garden beds.

Me: How would you describe your farming technique?

Chris: Chaos? I sort of fall towards doing a no-till method. I try to build the soil in a natural way, keeping that diversity of soil organisms high and undisturbed. It’s also less labor-intensive. When starting with depleted soils, I till deep, blending a lot of organic matter into it for the first year. After that, it’s just shallow tilling or no-tilling. Part of what makes the rotation of gardens and lifestock possible is being able to reconfigure and move fences and structures. We have eight or nine structures that are in constant motion that serve as hay barns, milk barns, animal shade and a butcher shop. That doesn’t include chicken tractors or movable fencing.

Me: You are not certified organic, correct? Can you tell me why and how you feel about organic certification in general?

Chris: No, I’m not. I think it’s a worthwhile thing to do. It’s difficult in terms of paper work and jumping through hoops. I feel the label has been watered down over the last number of years by big agri-business wanting to sell organic but not wanting to go through the expense of doing it well. I may certify but don’t feel it’s a priority. I believe in having my customers inspecting my product and my practices.

Me: I’m a huge fan of permaculture. What are your thoughts on the method?

Chris: I’m a huge fan, too. I got interested in permaculture as a teen, after we purchased this farm. I started fish culture in greenhouses and an outdoor duck yard with a pond and annual and perennial plants, starting a small permaculture hobby as a teen. There seem to be more people who like to talk about it or teach it, but haven’t practiced it; the practical applicability is unknown in some cases. There are examples of functioning permaculture communities or farms, but it’s hard to make it work, especially if you’re looking at marketing and sales. One of the problems – especially if you’re trying to mix a large variety of animals in – is your base knowledge needs to be huge; you need to know about all those animals and plants to be able to meet those specific needs.

Me: How big is your greenhouse? Can you tell me its purpose and features?

Chris: The green house is 24 feet by 70 feet. It’s basic purpose is to produce protein through fish, rabbits and eventually quail and to grow produce year-round. It’s set up as an bio- intensive garden; the idea is to utilize as much space as possible while taking very good care of the soil. It’s mostly for us but also to for the possibility of sales. It’s set up as passively as possible: air movement through extensive ventilation (no mechanical fans or heaters of any kind); the aquaculture systems help store and produce heat for the greenhouse; as well as composting to produce heat and carbon dioxide for the plants. It’s set up to catch rainwater with an 1,800 gallon cistern underneath for rainwater storage, which is used to irrigate the greenhouse.

Me: What types of practices do you use to feed the soil or prepare a new bed?

Chris: We bring in horse manure from neighbors, which is composted or in some cases applied directly to beds. If its applied directly, it’s tilled in and typically seeded with a cover crop to allow the nutrient cycling to take place. We bring in compost from a local organic compost supplier; that is either tilled in or top-dressed, as needed. We make our own compost as well, but we’re not making enough right now to keep up with the current increase in gardens. Also, as needed, we run small amounts of vinegar through the soil to increase the acidic levels and release more nutrients, with the added benefit of cleaning the irrigation lines.

Me: Talk to me about irrigation: Where does your outside water come from and how is it used in the fields, greenhouse and garden beds?

Chris: The bulk of our irrigation comes from surface water diverted from the Rio Grande. We also have three wells, two of which are on solar pumps that provide water for the homes, animals and gardens (the third is a domestic well on an AC, grid-tied pump used only on an emergency basis). And again, there is the catchment tank in the greenhouse. Some of the yard around the driveways are laid out in swales so that they effectively catch runoff from rain. They are graded differently so that they all run one to another and into an overflow pit. The fields are flood-irrigated, the small-paddocks are spray-irrigated at times and most of the gardens are watered with drip irrigation.

Me: Let’s talk a bit about animals: How did you first getting into raising animals?

Chris: I got into as a kid. I started getting chickens, fish and quail when I was a teen. My career became fisheries biology and fish culture. I began planning to leave that career about 8-10 years ago and just waited for the opportunity to begin farming and raising animals on a larger scale.

Me: What animals do you currently have here? Are there any animals or produce you wish to add in the future?

Chris: We have cows, goats, pigs, sheep, geese, ducks, turkeys, chickens (for meat and eggs), fish and crawdads, rabbits and bees. We plan to add vermiculture, so some day we’ll have worms, too. I’d also like to raise maggots for fish food. We’ll be adding more perennials, especially shrubs (like ground cherries) and vines. We’d also like to add ponds to provide a place to culture fish, as well as provide good habitat.

Me: Why such a broad diversity?

Chris: We strive to create a poly-culture of animal and plants. The benefit to that is a higher yield of products per unit area. That happens because the animals all feed on slightly different food items; ecological niches if you will. The diversity benefits the system; each organism can benefit the other organisms. Having plants that flowered throughout the year enables us to feed the bees all year. Having chickens and cows together means the chickens root through the cow manure for maggots or undigested food; this breaks up the manure and helps it return to the soil better. Diversity also helps diminish pests, parasites or disease. Same goes for the gardens; a variety of plants support each other and diminish issues.

Me: You have a system in place to rotate animals and crops. Can you easily explain how it works?

Chris: During winter months, the animals are pulled off the main pastures so they don’t over-graze, compact or erode the fields. They’re concentrated on a series of four plots through the winter, with their manure tilled in on a regular basis, as needed. When they’re rotated off those plots, an annual cover crop is planted, allowed to grow to 4-6 inches high and then tilled in. That bed is then ready to be used as a produce garden. Every plot rotates out every two years as garden or summer annual pasture.

Me: There is a lot of discussion on the environmental impact of raising animals for meat, milk or eggs. Can you explain your stance on the topic?

Chris: There is an absolute impact of simply existing, whether you’re a vegetarian living in a 10×10 house or not, there will be an impact. So there is an impact to this farming, but it’s less of an impact. I fairly much believe we’re omnivores, that some people can subsist on a vegetarian diet more effectively than other people, while some people just need more protein. So I believe that animal products are in and will stay a part of our diet for an immense amount of time. One main goal on this farm is to provide people a rare alternative to conventional agriculture. Rather than saying to customers we don’t provide eggs [because it has a higher impact on the environment], we’d rather give them a better choice of eggs. I feel a version of this model is by far more sustainable than the existing model.

Me: What do you feel are the drawbacks of farming on a smaller, sustainable scale? Any other drawbacks to this lifestyle?

Chris: Small farms need to be mindful of how materials are transported to and from the farm, from the standpoint that if you’re hauling small amounts of feed to your farm you’re probably expending more energy than transporting large amounts. And conversely if you’re hauling small quantities of produce, in say a 1966 Ford F-250, you’re expending a great deal of fossil fuels doing so. So the drawback is that if you’re not mindful of these things and make plans to counteract them, you have not necessarily done better for the environment.

It’s also a very narrow way to make a living, if it’s possible at all. The percentages of money people spend on food has change over the decades. We’re now used to spending less of our income on lower quality food. Getting people to spend more money on a higher quality food is difficult.

Me: What are your future plans for the farm?

Chris: The plans are to attempt to make the high-diversity, polyculture, sustainable farming model work financially for this farm. To that end, I hope to have either a continual group of volunteers (long-term, short-term and full-time residents) coming through but also we have to make ourselves as efficient as possible. We need a large amount of organization so that all tasks become quick and efficient. This is essentially to compete with factory farming that has the benefits of mechanization and repetitive tasks.

Me: For someone interested in sustainable farming, what advice do you have to offer?

Chris: Apprentice. Work with other farms. The actual issues that can be stumbling blocks and difficult to address are almost impossible to glean from reading and researching. You have to do it.

If you wish to know more or are interested in learning hands-on through volunteering at Ironwood Farm, contact Chris on his blog.

Also, when it comes to sustainable housing you are obviously going to have a lot more versatility when it comes to building a home from the ground up (which is what was done here) vs retrofitting a pre-built home (which is likely what most of us are or will be working with). But at least this post will throw out some of the ideas implemented here and hopefully get you started in your search for more information.

Me: Chris, you started from the ground up, correct? Let’s start with the basics: What materials did you use for the structure and where did you source them?

Chris: We started with an empty field. We sourced everything as close to us as possible. We brought in dirt to make a mound for the house to bring it above flood elevation and crushed concrete for the driveways from a nearby demolition company.

The foundation was made out of an insulated concrete form called RASTRA, which is a material that has been used in Europe for a long time. A local company manufactures the blocks using waste foam from Intel Corporation.

The house is straw bale with a timber frame and covered with an adobe plaster. The plaster was sourced from forty feet from the house; the clay was on the surface and we dug digger to reach the sand. The timber framing was made from 2x4s and OSB (chipboard). Those were new products brought in from a distance but we chose them specifically because they were very light in mass, so the shipping was “greener”.

The straw bale was used because it’s easily renewable and for its insulation properties. It’s also durable and fire-resistant (think of burning a crumpled piece of paper vs burning a thick phone book). We sourced from Southern Colorado, which was the closest source of construction bales. Construction bales, made from barley (in this case, a byproduct from Coors Brewing Company), are very uniform and dense. Barley is also sturdy enough to not crush when being baled; this protects the air space within the straw for added insulation.

The ceiling is insulated with about 16 inches of blown-in cellulose and the roof is galvanized metal. We chose a metal roof because of its durability, longevity and reuse-ability.

We used as many salvaged items as possible: all the doors (exterior and interior), many of the windows, tile flooring, wood from pallets for ceiling tiles, all the trim lumber, and cabinets. We also used adobe flooring and adobe bricks for interior walls.

Me: What kind of passive design elements were implemented to save energy?

Chris: We built large south-facing windows with a slight pitch to the east to protect from intense western sun in our particular climate. Interior adobe (floors and walls) act as a thermal mass to store heat or “coolth”. We emphasized an open floor design with large doorways and pass-throughs in the walls (essentially holes that assist in circulating warmed or cool air from one room to the next). We put in hydronic tubing under the floor but haven’t needed to hook them up. When we irrigate we have the ability to run the irrigation water through the tubing before running it to the gardens, which will cool the house. We also added earth tubes, which can conduct thermally tempered air into the house.

Me: Let’s talk about the work: How much of the labor did you do yourself and who helped? Did you find yourself needing to hire contractors or barter skills?

Chris: All of the above. We had our hands in everything from the design to the electrical. We hired a contractor to oversee the framing and roofing. And we had very large numbers of volunteers – family, friends, coworkers, neighbors and random strangers.

Me: How long did it take you from the time you broke ground until the time you moved in?

Chris: It took about three and a half years, but it wasn’t completely finished at that point. We passed our occupancy permit so everything functioned but some of the rooms were built after we moved in. Because much of our materials were salvaged, a lot of our planning happened as we went, which slowed us down and complicated things.

Me: Energy is obviously a key factor in sustainable housing. Can you talk a bit about the energy needs of the house and how you meet those needs?

Chris: We have a solar electric system with 920 watt PV panels and eight L-16 batteries. The inverter is 3000w, sized partially for running large power tools needed in construction and on the farm. The fridge and freezers are DC, which is more efficient and you don’t have the energy losses with converting from DC to AC power. We setup switches for turning off phantom loads, use CFL bulbs,  and purchased very energy-efficient appliances and electronics (such as box freezers, instead of upright freezers). We also have a wood-burning stove for backup heat and cooking, which is rarely needed. Our water heater and stove are propane.

Me: And what about water? Where does your water come from and what water-saving features does your house implement?

Chris: The water comes from a well about 200 feet below the house and is pumped from a submersible pump that is directly driven from solar panels (separate from the house system). There are no batteries, only a pressurized tank, which means a limited volume of water can be utilize overnight. The house is designed for rainwater collection with a single-sloped roof and a single central downspout and catchment tank. Greywater from the house can be plumbed into the yard. There is only one bathroom with the composting toilet. And all faucets and the showerhead are, of course, low-flow.

Me: Looking back, is there anything you would change?

Chris: There are probably a multiple of small design features I would and still can change, such as a porch on the west side of the house to assist in shading from the western sun. Also, if we had had the confidence that the house would have performed as well as it has, we could have saved money and resources with some of the features we installed and don’t use (such as the hydronic tubing and earth tubes). And then just small mistakes such as inconvenient placement of light switches.

Me: What are your future plans for the house? Do you plan to add anything?

Chris: Yes, we plan to hook up the greywater and rainwater catchment, build a porch and greenhouse off the south side (as initially designed) and finish the exterior plaster. And then build shelving, organize it all and finally have a place for everything and everything in its place!

Me: What skills or resources would you recommend a person have before undertaking their own sustainable housing project?

Chris: If you do not possess some skills of basic construction then you need to be a very hands-on person and a quick study. Apprenticing and working as a volunteer (for Habitat for Humanity perhaps) is a huge asset. Even if you know the basics, putting it all together is a totally different thing, especially if it’s alternative.

Me: Anything else you would say to someone undergoing the same project? Or resources you can recommend?

Chris: The straw bale building books helped me, especially the less commercial, more “homegrown” books, such as Build It With Bales. Working in phases and giving yourself time to work with salvage and earthen materials can also be a good way to go. Also, the KISS rule: Keep It Simple, Stupid.

If you’re interested in more of what Chris is doing or has done, visit his blog Ironwood Farm Project to contact him or volunteer.

There comes a point where the romance wears off and you realize just how much hard work is involved in sustainable farming. I think I reached that point on Thursday.

Don’t get me wrong: there is a part of us that does not want to leave at the end of this week. Good food, good people and a culture we enjoy. Not to mention fulfilling work in something we believe in. And there is so much more to know about sustainable housing, animal husbandry, beekeeping, rotational grazing, preserving…we could be here for years and still learning.

But we didn’t sign up for this internship to learn how to farm. We signed up to find out if this is something we want to do in the future…if we’re cut out for it or if doing it ourselves would totally kick our ass.

We feel strongly about sustainable, small-scale farming. We feel strongly about raw milk and organic vegetables and grass-fed meat and free-range eggs and seasonal fruits all being a part of local and sustainable eating. We feel strongly about dislodging ourselves from the mainstream culture of disconnection from our food and its source, as well as our over-consumption of energy, water and other resources, and the waste inherent in such choices.

I have, on occasion, spoken to older generations and expressed our interest in living this way. It comes from a desire to live simply and feel more connected to our food, our land and each other. So many of us are disillusioned with The American Dream of bigger houses and smaller lots and manicured lawns and 60 hour work weeks for someone else’s benefit all while drifting further and further from each other and ourselves. And we look into the past with a sense of wonder and awe and we feel it. We feel in our bones that this disconnection we’ve bought into cannot be better than the alternative of a life lived slowly. But almost every time I’ve had these conversations I’ve been met with dubious smirks. They remember those days of hard work with little of the same romance, they would never trade the convenience and ease of modern life for home canning and handmade clothing again and they chock our exuberance up to youthful ignorance.

Were we ignorant?

For the past several years we have essentially dreamed of what we are now experiencing. And let me tell you: it’s not as romantic as it sounded.

It’s not as if we didn’t know it would be hard work. But we didn’t really know in the way you know when you’re shoveling hundreds of pounds of wet debris out of an irrigation ditch. We didn’t really understand just how much we’ve become complacent to endless and abundant options until you remember the only tomatoes you have are the ones canned last summer. We didn’t really appreciate the cost of food until we experienced the labor inherent in milking a pint of milk from a prancing goat who kicks it over just as you finish.

We “knew” these things, but you just can’t get it until it’s in your hands.

In the few weeks we’ve been here we’ve seen little of each other and can already feel the strain. We’re tired and busy and working on different things. It’s tough to not see much of the people with whom you so enjoy spending time…even when you’re both doing something you love.

So, could we do this? If this was “ours” would it be different? Could we wake up, day after day, with no break and an endless number of chores and projects and not go insane, get antsy or feel exhausted with life itself? Could we prevent the stress from getting to us as a couple and still find time for each other and our child?

If we only had own hands and a piece of land to rely on, could we sustain ourselves? Or are we doomed to rely on outsources and inputs and a system we neither trust, nor wish to support?

I don’t yet know.

Overall, I’m glad we came, even if it asked us more questions than it answered. It’s given us an appreciation we only thought we had.

One thing I know for sure: We could never do it alone. Part of what has made this difficult experience fun is the “community” built with the many friends and volunteers that have come and gone. Milking a cow in the cold is drudgery. Milking a cow, cooking meals, washing dishes, running from rouge turkeys, thinning carrots and taking funny Bench Monday photos while talking and laughing is something we have loved.

I’m interested in your thoughts on this…

Meet the folks:

This is Chris. He’s the man around here and passionate about sustainability and Real Foods. He’s kind and extremely generous, as well as patient as he answers our endless questions and teaches us whatever we request. He’s also a *phenomenal* guitar player. Seriously. He’s been fun to work with and learn from and even more fun to chat with or just hang around.

This is Erin and Yuli, both WWOOFers on the farm.

Erin is visiting from Minnesota. She’s quiet, except on nights like tonight when we’re all cooking homemade pizza and making homemade ice cream and she starts joking around. Then her funny and goofy side shine through, complimenting her kind and helpful nature nicely.

Yuli is from Peru and just left the farm. She only speaks a little English, although she understands quiet a bit. She’s so tender and loving with the animals, not to mention goodhearted and kind. She was also very patient as she taught me a little Spanish. She was so charming and beautiful that simply being around her has convinced me to learn Spanish, instead of Italian.

This is Eliza and her big brother, Scotty. They are Chris’ unschooling kids and Zeb’s newest friends. Eliza is a few years younger than Zeb but they have a lot of common gaming interests, which has made them fast friends. Scotty is only a little younger than Zeb and loves anything with gears. It’s so cool watching the different interests diverge. Or to watch them all playing a game one moment and running out to play with the goats the next.

And because I just can’t contain myself, this is the mama cow, Rena, and her new calf, Stickers (named after the sticker bush her mama birthed her into). Zeb is still a bit amazed to have watched this spectacular event. So are we.

There are, of course, dozens of other animals on the farm: goats and kids, sheep and lambs, other cows and a calf, insanely annoying geese, ducks who tag along behind the geese like social outcasts trying to keep up, dozens of chickens and roosters, mean turkeys, rabbits, fish, pigs…

It’s a regular madhouse around here!