A new book by award-winning science writer and Daily Planet host Jay Ingram explores the efforts of everyday individuals — extreme and otherwise — to reduce their carbon footprint and work toward addressing the warming of the world.…
Did you know that you can CAN butter? The really great thing about this is you don’t have to refrigerate it, even after it has been opened (as long as you use it in a reasonable amount of time). Here is the link to the wonderful blog that has detailed directions, complete with pictures on how to do this, it’s really easy!
https://greenappleorchard.blogspot.com/2008/09/bottled-butter.html
Wretha
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More questions from you and my answers.
Rick
Thanks for your comment & question! In answer, yes, we have thought about building into the hillside, and it’s still an option, the reason we didn’t do it right away was time, it was faster to build the cabin like it is, for the future, it is something we would like to do, but it takes equipment, something we don’t have readily available to us. It could be done by hand, it would take a lot of time, and we have big (huge) rocks to contend with. We will be digging a root cellar for cold storage, hopefully this winter.
I’m glad you have had fun reading my blog, it’s been a joy living it and writing about it.
Wretha
seth said…
Hey Wretha, thanks for Q&A session.
I did have a couple of other questions in regards to Texas. Do vehicles need to have a inspection sticker? What is the sales tax(vary from county to county?) State income tax? Am getting really anxious about all that is going on and looking to get out of here asap. I bought another 5 acres not far from my other property, but this one is paid for in full, so if and when i can bug out of here i can. Thanks, Seth
Seth
Thanks for your questions. Yes you do need an inspection sticker for your car in Texas, here is the site for the info: https://www.txdps.state.tx.us/vi/Misc/faq/insp_faq.htm
If you have an older car (I can’t remember if it’s 10 years old or 20 years old) you don’t have to have the smog test, just the safety inspection, it’s cheaper and easier. Sales tax in the DFW area is 8.25%, that is the maximum you will be charged in any city, you might get lucky and find it less. https://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/local/index.html
There is no state tax in Texas. You will pay income tax (of course) and if you own property, you will have property and school tax.
Paid in full, that IS nice isn’t it! I am soooo glad our property is PID, just have to pay the taxes.
I believe that in the state of Texas, you are required to own a minimum of 5 acres in order to have a well AND septic on your property. Just something to keep in mind.
Wretha
- Hi Wretha,
- Look into Ferro cement. Basically, dig a
Here are a couple of questions from my wonderful readers, and my answers, enjoy!
I’d like to know the background story to how y’all wound up where y’all are. Where did y’all live before, how did y’all get from there to where y’all are now, and how much better is life now versus “the old life”…..
Mayberry
Thanks for your question, I’m not sure how far you want me to go back, let’s see, I do want to maintain privacy, but I can tell you some things… we used to live in the DFW area (Texas), we both pretty much lived there all of our lives. We have both been married previously (to other people obviously), I had one child, Bob had 2, they are now all grown. We met just before Y2K. When we met each other, we had no idea that the other wanted to live off-grid and everything that goes with it. I certainly wanted to but didn’t know that he did, he had his own business, plus his family was nearby and I didn’t expect that he would want to do such a thing. I had been getting “itchy” about the way the world was going and was wanting to get out of Dodge before the SHTF. One of my “secret” pleasures is listening to Coast to Coast am, many of the people who are interviewed on that show talk a lot about the year 2012 and the changes that are supposed to happen then. Good or bad, things are changing, and like many changes, it can get pretty rough before it gets better. Either way, I wanted to be in a safer place, somewhere where we can survive for longer period than we could living in the city. Little did I know that Bob also wanted to get away, not necessarily for the same reasons (he isn’t into C2C am).
Bob knew about the area where we now live since he was in his 20s, had a friend out there and spent many summers exploring the deserts and mountains of west Texas. He was a desert/mountain man in training.
I too had my training, from my early teens, I had been learning about solar cooking, canning, cooking from scratch (really from scratch, like our grandmothers did), organic gardening, surviving, all the things I would need to to survive where we are now.
About a year before we moved, Bob started making comments about wanting to move to west Texas, I didn’t think he was serious, or maybe I just didn’t take it seriously, at first… but once I realized how serious he really was, I agreed to check it out. We looked on line for quite some time to find property and had a couple of likely places lined up. We took a week off and left out for west Texas. …
Now it’s time for participation… yes, that means you! :) Of course this is strictly optional, I think it may make things more interesting around here. What do I want you to do, you ask? It’s simple, what do you want me to write about? Do you have any questions you would like for me to answer? Anything at all? Do you have any subjects that you would like me to address? Is there anything I have written about that you would like more details or clairification? I’ll do my best to answer any questions posted here.
EDIT<< I realized I said "anything at all", but this really means anything having to do with the subjects in this blog or related to things in this blog. :) You could ask about other things, I may or may not answer though.
Wretha
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Here is something interesting and educating, I found it here.
100 Items to Disappear First
1. Generators (Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage, risky. Noisy…target of thieves; maintenance etc.)
2. Water Filters/Purifiers
3. Portable Toilets
4. Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 – 12 months to become dried, for home uses.
5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First Choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)
6. Coleman Fuel. Impossible to stockpile too much.
7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots.
8. Hand-can openers, & hand egg beaters, whisks.
9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugar
10. Rice – Beans – Wheat…
Here’s something to keep you occupied while I’m away doing the grandma thing… (like you have nothing better to do…grin!)
https://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN2526865120080526?sp=true
It’s an interesting article about people living off-grid.
Wretha
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Hello everyone, I had to sneak in a few pix of my new grandbaby, her name is May Lynn, she is the cutest baby ever! Of course I have to say that, being the grandma and all… :)
Proud Daddy
Here is proud Great-Grandpa
Here I am, Grandma
Here is happy Mama
Wretha
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Hello everyone,
I’m writing from my sister’s house in the DFW area, it’s been quite different being in in the big town, it’s noisy, it’s dirty, too many cars going way too fast… I will have lots to write here when I get back, I got a notepad so I can keep notes on what is going on so I don’t leave anything out.
So far everything is going pretty well, I can stand the noise and commotion long enough to get things done here, my DIL is doing great, the baby is due on the 24th.
I’ll try to work out a way to post a few more messages here while I am gone, can’t promise anything though.
Wretha
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Hello dear readers, (wow, that sounds pretty formal…)
I’m going to be gone for a month, gotta go become a grandmother! My DIL is due on the 22nd, she is having a girl, so far everything is going good, the baby is active and mom-to-be is ready to be un-pregnant. :) I’ll be leaving tomorrow morning, it’s about an 8-9 hour trip (500 miles), fortunately the views are pretty nice, until I get into the DFW area… I have to be honest and say that I do not want to leave here, I do want to be with my son and DIL for the baby, and there are some things I need to get out there, but I am not looking forward to being gone from here for a month, but we do what we have to do, I’m hoping the time will go be quickly and I’ll be back here in no time. I will be able to catch up with a few of my friends, that will be a good thing, I’ll also be able to get some stuff I can’t get easily here.
I’ll pretty much be out of touch (computer wise) while I’m gone, it’s possible that I might be able to log on to someone’s computer once or twice while I’m gone, but I can’t guarantee anything, I’ll try my best.
What really hurts is I will be leaving the 3 things I really love, Bob, Pekoe and my mountain. Bob will keep busy working on the cabin, Pekoe will turn into a puddle of “I miss my mama!”, the mountain will be here when I get back.
Anyone who wants to comment, please feel free to do so, I’ll try to get them approved as soon as possible, but it may be a while before you see it here.
I hope to be back sometime soon after October 15th.
Wretha
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This transcript of a discussion between Tulsa highrise managers shows the way the nation is getting to grips with new eco-specifications for buildings.…
