The Growing Dome at the Solar Living Institute

I love this place. You can learn so much.      Solarliving.org

green bean and cucumber

You tube sprouts growth and potting

Remembering that the weather is still a little cold in the morning I cover any plants outside to protect them.

developing a spring

Developing a spring is very important

This diagram is very much like how our spring is set up. An artisan well was already in use on the property, we just had to develop it. For me that meant go and do research. The library is a great place to get information, but youtube was the best source for us. Not only was I able to find lots of info on springs but actually see what to expect.

It took us a while to get the spring back into good working order. Digging it out and rebuilding a cover to keep leaves and stuff out. The first couple of years it was mostly used for watering the garden. Which was great for the garden because the water was high in minerals and nitrogen. Every year during the summer we would climb up the hill with shovels and buckets to clean out the spring. Rebuilding the walls and clearing the surrounding area of leaves. Replacing the pipe from the spring to the lower property, we an outlet to the water storage tank. Before filling the water tank, we would run the first water into a garden barrel. After a good flow of water the pipe would be clear of any dirt and then fill the storage tank running through a filter. With the improvements on the spring it made life so much easier for us. The water in the spring started to last further into the summer months. Pumping water into the tank in the winter time was not only time consuming but more likely to pump dirty water. The spring would always be settled and gravity feed to the tank. No mus no hard work.

Some times it is better to work smarter and not harder. OK all the time it is good to work smarter. The spring was the best hard work I ever did to improve the property.

Bloom Box Free Energy Device

Bloom Energy Bloom Box - Off grid electricity for homes.

This is not a new device, so why haven't we heard more about it. Where are our Einsteins and Tesla's of the day?

Miracle-Gro Gro-ables up date

March 2014
I do not wish to delete this post. It has caused so much controversy and a spread of information. Some people have taken my post in the wrong way. Sending me some very angree messages. Well that is life and everyone is intitled to take the information how they want. Due to my post and the many concerns about GMO seeds and Miracle-Grow the add for this product is no longer playing in California. So for anyone reading about this post please understand that at the time I posted it I was advising for beginners wo had no idea about gardening. Granted this kind of gard will not provide for us but it is a start. It takes baby steps to move forward. First they are exsited about their own garden. See how easy it can be. Learn more as I have about the connection on GMO and Miracle Gro, and make a decission on their own to do more.


I just saw this add for Miracle Gro seed pods. It is a garden kit with all the essentials needed for starting a garden. Sounds like a good way for someone to get started on their first garden. With the weather still a little cold, you can start these in the house in a window. Getting started is very important, so if you are considering growing from seed now is a good time to get started.

I am providing the link I found to Miracle-Gro

Gro-ables™ Seed Pods™ Miracle-Gro® Gro-ables™ Globe Tomato Seed Pod™ Miracle Gro Globe Tomato A Gro-ables™ Seed Pod™ provides an ideal growing environment for seed. View Product Details Whether you're an experienced gardener or this is your first time planting, you're going to love Miracle-Gro® Gro-ables™ Seed Pods™. Indoors or out, just plant your Seed Pods™, water, and enjoy! For complete information for growing your own Gro-ables™ garden, visit: Groables.com

Plant Grow Harvest Enjoy Let's Gro! Whether you're an experienced gardener or this is your first time planting, you're going to love Miracle-Gro® Gro-ables™ Seed Pods™! It couldn't be easier! Just plant, water and enjoy! Gro-ables™ Seed Pods™ provide an ideal growing envorinment for your seed. Each ready-to-plant Seed Pod™ contains: Seed planted at just the right depth. Growing materials to help protect the seed and keep it moist. Plant food to help it grow and build strong roots.

Miracle-Gro® Gro-ables™ The pods are available singly and in packages of 6, in select stores, and in an 18-pack, via the TV offer available at www.BuyGroables.com or by calling 1-888-880-1402.

It has been brought to my attention that even though I saw the add in California, there are restrictions on purchase. I am currently trying to find out why that is. In the mean time if you live in California, I suggest you try jiffy pots. Go into any nursery and I am sure any customer service rep can help you get started. I love the idea of the Growables, because they are all in one.

update 2014
As I researched this I have had useful information provided to me by other's. I thank everyone who provided me with informative and positive feedback. For those of you who  rather attach in a negative way to provide your oppinion. I think you should keep a loud voice on what matters to you and make a difference. Please do not go looking for the uninformed and just straight out be mean to them. Inspire with your words of wisdom and incourage them to make a difference. My posts are on many things and this was just one harmless post of encouragement to start a garden. I saw the add as unintimidating and very symple to start for someon who has never grown their own garden before.

Live Life Love Life

Progress of seeds to garden. Green bean, tomato, cucumber, snow peas, ca...

Garden March 3 2013 by Kathy Hunt

Sustainable Living Off Grid; heating studio

Heating the studio.

When we decided to move from the camper into the garage it was mostly for more comfort. Rewiring the garage for 12 volt was not that difficult. This allowed us to have low voltage appliances run directly on 12 volts. You can run 12 volt appliances on 110, most appliances come with a converter to reduce the voltage. For lighting we used low voltage LED, so that we did not have to run 110 and convert it. I would not recommend this to anyone if you do not know what you are doing. My husband is a contractor and electrician.

Heating with radiators

Using PEX Pipes, we ran hot water to radiators placed throughout the studio. Red PEX pipe for the hot water coming from the hot water heater and blue PEX pipe for the returning water to the water heater. Using a low voltage circulater pump we ordered from West Marine, this is how the water was pushed from the water heater into the radiators. A thermostat switch hooked to the pump help to control the usage of energy and the temperature in the studio. This worked for a while but was more of a usage on our power source then we needed. This system provided a nice even heat while in the winter we had less sun for storing energy.

Time for a new source of heating. Investing in a wood stove. Found a nice used one on craigslist was no problem. Replacing the seal around the door and clean it up a little it was like new. There are lots of trees on the property giving us a natural source for energy. This was a great replacement for the radiator but not our last. Our next step was working on building a solar water heater that would function as it's own conventional circulater system.

In the summer time I set up an outdoor shower using a teak outdoor shower with a hose running on the top of the camper collecting heat.

Taking our time working on the studio garage gave us ideas for when we would build the house. Start small and all of our mistakes will be a small cost. Learning what will work best for us will prevent bigger costly mistakes for the future. One mistake I made when running the radiators was burning up the pump. While working on the water storage tank the pump to pressurize the house was shut off while the radiator was still on. Not a problem while no water has been used to take the water pressure down. I came into the house to use the bathroom and forgot all about this. Flushing the toilet reduced the water pressure and caused the circulater pump to burn up. It cost me $40.00 to learn we need to have a switch to shut off the pump if there is no water pressure.

Studio Bathroom

Moving into the studio was a great deal better then living in a camper. Now I have a regular bathroom with a bathtub. Having the creature comforts of a bathroom with hot and cold water is a must for any woman. Living off grid doesn't have to mean no comforts.

Live Life Love Life

starting a garden preparing soil

garden soil earth worms