I thought it would be good to document some of our achievements over the last four months – the little things that make life on our patch of the world that little bit better. These achievements include (not listed in order of importance):
1. Our compost toilet.
I have to admit I was a little sceptical when Andy trumpeted the idea of a compost toilet and assured me that it wouldn’t smell and that in 12 months our poo would be compost gold. However, I have to admit that the compost toilet has been a success – there is no smell and it appears to be composting well.
Our toilet sits above a 50 L rubbish bin. We fill the base of the bin with shredded paper and straw (we have found pea straw the best) to get things going. After each use of the toilet, you through a cup or so of saw dust down to cover the contents and keep smells away. When the bin is full, we pop the lid on and take it the composting area. The contents are emptied onto the compost and then covered with more paper and straw. The bin is then cleaned ready to go again!
The outhouse from the outside
Composting loo
2. Our shower
It took us a couple of goes to find a gas hot water system that would run on water pumped from a tank and be durable enough to last outside (sometimes under very cold conditions). However, we now the shower system set up in our little ticket booth along side the compost loo. Its a cramped space, and the water pressure leaves a little to be desired – however, the water is hot, the shower is draught free (almost) and we are all clean (most of the time).
Andy has plans to upgrade our ablution facilities. He is keeping the details close to his chest, but I understand that a bath is involved and that the whole operation is moving into the container where it will be warm and completely drought free. I can’t wait!
The shower
3. Our veggie patch
Andy and I want to be completely self-sufficient when it comes to veg and herbs. We have set up a veggie patch using straw bales. Our lettuce, rocket, coriander, thyme, parsley, rosemary and beetroot are doing fabulously. Unfortunately, our other veg are a little stunted being planted too close to winter setting in. I am still hopeful that we will get something out of our stunted plants as the days get longer and we get more sunlight.
As a novice gardener, the experience has taught me the importance of seasons (now that we live in a place with four very distinct seasons. Accordingly, I have been very busy getting ready for spring with all sorts of seeds being planted in make-shift glass houses (ie drink bottles cut half with the top-half acting as a cloche).
I cant wait for the proper glasshouse to be built along-side our shed.
4. Boo Boo’s Bunk bed
Living in a caravan is rather cramped – the rear end of our caravan has the double bed and the front has the sofa, table and kitchenette. The awning houses our nice sofa, drawers and book shelves (Andy does not live without books). As winter descended, it became very obvious that Andy and I wouldn’t be able to hang out in the awning during the night – we were going to have to find space inside the caravan. Our solution, a bunk bed for Finnigan (Boo Boo) perched above Mum and Dad. The arrangement works very well, Finnigan loves his bunk bed, and Andy and I love the warmth of our diesel heater.
5. Living in a tiny house – without killing one another!
The achievement I am most proud off is that we all live happily in a 16 foot caravan. The days are spent outside playing, working and relaxing. The nights are spent indoors listening to music, reading books, blogging and talking. We don’t have a TV although we do watch DVDs occasionally. We are more tolerant of each other and more aware of each others needs because we live in such confined spaces. And this awareness, I think, is making us better people.
Home base – Caravan, Awning, Ablution Block, Container and Veg Patch
The ablution block now has a door
- July 10, 2015
- Amanda Vogt