Equinox

Balance is something many of us struggle to maintain in our lives. With the profound unsustainability surrounding us, the task often appears that much more difficult. This project seeks to find the balance between eco and thrifty but finds - much of the time - that they are one and the same.

Lakota star quilt was a wedding gift.

The equinox is a great global reminder about balance, and a time for us to celebrate the sun.

Since our monthly Wanganui Permaculture Gathering (the third Wednesday) fell on the 21st, we decided to have an "alternative cooking" party with our solar cooker, rocket stove and pizza oven. Our friends brought a thermette (if you don't know it, Google it) and a wood-buring BBQ.

Peace, Estwing

You Might Be a Redneck...

New Zealand is gripped by a near 100 year Antarctic weather system. It snowed in Auckland yesterday for the first time in 72 years, and much of the Central North Island is paralyzed at the moment by closed roads. Even school closings! Many generations of Kiwis have never experienced a "snow day."

Here on Arawa Place we have had morning frosts and yesterday's high was around 8 Celsius. At the moment it is 6 C. Brrr. But the sun came out yesterday afternoon to heat our home and our water. The wife had a long, hot shower this morning as ice covered the chooks' water dish outside.

And again this morning the sun is streaming through our northeast windows.

By the way, this is what the northeast wall looked like 9 months ago.

So despite the unusually cold conditions, we're managing to stay warm in our recycled villa. And we're even taking advantage of strong sun and light winds for a little cookout. Ummm, that smells like...

... bacon!

You might be a redneck...

Nothing says eco-thrifty like reduced price, free-range "natural" bacon on a solar cooker.

Peace, Estwing