Off-grid galvanized Shower Tub

Looking for an inexpensive shower/bath tub we stumbled upon these wonderful images with 35 gallon galvanized steel tubs.

We found one on Amazon with Free Shipping: Behrens 35-Gallon Round Steel Tub by Behrens for $48.97

http://amzn.to/1R8iElp

There are some other sizes and shapes out there ....

Affordable Housing in Vancouver and the Olympic Village Model.

We have all read the News about the difficult Housing situation in places like Vancouver. 

As prices climb,  more and more people are unable to afford to buy a house, condo or anything else in and around Vancouver.  

Obviously something needs to be done.  An affordable and sustainable housing strategy needs to be developed: an Architecture  that can house low income families and young people entering the housing Market.

Something like a new Low cost, Affordable housing Village ..... Similar to the Olympic Village but "Affordable". Is it possible to build a large scale village where 2 and 3  bedroom apartments can be purchased for less than $100,000 ?   If done with low cost, recycled, and re-used materials the answer is YES !

The Tiny House and Offgrid Community are experts at creating spaces from almost nothing. Working with recycled, reused and repurposed materials, it is possible to build  low cost housing on a massive scale. Unfinished ceilings, floors, walls, small spaces, multi-function rooms and furniture. This is the Sustainable Architecture we have been waiting for.


Located in Southeast False Creek, the Olympic Village was built for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, to house athletes and Olympic officials coming from across the world.

After the Olympics, the Olympic accommodation became residential housing. The development aligns with the City's goals, addressing environmental, economic, and social issues.

The Olympic Village, developed by the Millennium Development Group, is one of the greenest communities in the world, making Vancouver a leader in sustainable development.

In keeping with Vancouver's Greenest City targets, the Olympic Village uses innovative energy efficiency and sustainability systems like solar heating and green roofs.

The Olympic Village is a mixed-use community, with approximately 1,100 residential units, area parks, and a growing number of retail and service outlets.

The Village, which is North America’s first LEED Platinum community, was designed, developed and constructed by the Millennium Development Group led by Peter and Sharam Malek. The project was achieved in a record 30 months from commencement of construction to the opening of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Situated on a former industrial site, it has been a catalyst for the revitalization of the surrounding neighbourhood and has recently been awarded the 2013 Urban Land Institute award for urban open spaces.  http://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/olympic-village.aspx

International builders soak up the Vancouver model: 

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/home-and-garden/real-estate/international-builders-soak-up-the-vancouver-model/article17933284/

Beautiful Cedar Shake Cabin in the Mountains

OffGrid-Living in Beautiful British Columbia !

Imagine .... Offgrid-Living on 3.22 acres. Breathtaking ocean & mountain VIEWS. Cozy 1,200 square ft 2 bedroom cottage with workshop and covered deck resting right at the water's edge. Desirable south-west exposure & all day sunshine to relax and enjoy everything waterfront living has to offer.  

The zoning, gentle sloping topography and spacious 200' of waterfrontage allow for second residence, perfect for shared investment. 20 minutes by boat from Deep Cove. No road access. Great investment! Only $600 k

Hydro Rates across Canada. And Ontario is set to Increase !

The average monthly electricity bill by province for 1,000 kWh of electricity consumption (which is typically about what most households use) as of May 1, 2013.

Current Rates are actually much higher and set to Increase?

Time to go Off-Grid, or move to Quebec or BC....






More Information here : http://www.ontario-hydro.com/index.php?page=electricity_rates_by_province

In the News : http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/03/26/ontario-cutting-hydro-rate-for-low-income-residents-but-most-households-will-pay-about-137-more-next-year/

"Average energy bills in Ontario are set to increase by as much as $137 a year starting in 2016 due to program changes announced by the Liberal government Thursday, including a new rebate to help low-income families."

What is your Carbon Footprint ? Do you know ?

Worldwide, 82% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are in the form of CO₂ from fossil fuel combustion. 

The Global Average CO2 Emission per person is about 4 Tonnes per year.  (20 Tonnes for the US)


The cost to fly one person from Washington DC to Paris Economy Class is 1.6 Tonnes of CO2 in 1 day.

Hundreds of government officials and Scientists plan to fly to Paris this month to discuss how to reduce CO2 Emissions.

Creating hundreds of Tonnes of CO2… Equivalent to hundred's of years of CO2 Emissions in 1 day !  

Maybe some of these people should not fly and rather Skype in to these meetings.... This would save thousands of dollars and hundreds of Tonnes of CO2 Emissions.


What do you think ?

You can Calculate your own Carbon Footprint here:            http://calculator.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx

A carbon footprint is the measure of the amount of greenhouse gases, measured in units of carbon dioxide, produced by human activities. A carbon footprint can be measured for an individual or an organization, and is typically given in tons of CO₂-equivalent (CO₂-eq) per year. For example, the average North American generates about 20 tons of CO₂-eq each year. The global average carbon footprint is about 4 tons of CO₂-eq per year (Figure 1).

http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/150926/

Improving Your Survival Garden With Mulching

Relying less on commercial food products means growing more in your own garden. Part of ensuring a healthy, productive garden is proper mulching. In fact, mulch in your garden has a number of beneficial effects that anyone trying to live off the grid should be taking advantage of.

1. Weed control. Having a two to four inch layer of mulch will help prevent the growth of weeds by reducing germination. Fewer weeds mean more resources for the garden and more bountiful crops. When you're working hard to provide your own food as an off the grid family, this can make a real difference.

2. Moisture conservation. With a layer of mulch, evaporation of soil moisture is reduced, which lessens the need for watering of the garden. Especially when living off the grid where you provide your own water supply, this is a big benefit.

3. Soil fertility. Use the right mulch and you can significantly improve the fertility of your garden's soil. Mulch can provide nutrients that your garden needs which may be lacking in the soil on your property.

4. Insulation. Mulch acts as a blanket for your garden, insulating it. Mulch keeps the soil warmer during the winter and cooler during the heat of summer. All of this results in increased production.

5. Many mulches improve soil aeration and drainage over time. Especially for plants that do poorly where water pools, proper aeration and drainage can be the difference between a great crop and an anemic one.

6. A layer of mulch can prevent a number of diseases, and also provides a barrier against damage from weed whackers and lawn mowers.

Now that you're aware of the benefits of mulching your garden, it's time to make a decision on what kind of mulch you're going to use. There are many choices, each offering their own benefits.

1. Pine bark mulch is very long lasting, and when it finally does start to break down it infuses the soil with rich organic material. This mulch shouldn't be used in areas that tend to have flowing water or heavy rains, though, as the mulch nuggets can float and spread.

2. Shredded hardwood mulch is similar to pine bark, but because it's heavier it's less likely to flow away under heavy rain. However, hardwood mulch will make the soil more alkaline when it breaks down. If you have plants that require a more acidic environment, keep that in mind. Also, because hardwood can get compacted over time, you'll want to spread it out periodically to prevent blocking rain or nutrients.

3. Colored wood mulch looks nice, but unfortunately the colors often come from additives in the wood that isn't good for your plants. Be careful if you're going to use this kind of mulch that the dyes used are safe. Sometimes mulches made from recycled wood contain arsenic from the pressure-treatment the wood may have received before it was recycled.

4. Using compost and manure for mulch can add huge amounts of beneficial organic material to the soil -- and quickly at that. This improves soil structure, nutrition and the soil's ability to store water. The disadvantage of this kind of mulch is that it doesn't prevent the growth of weeds nearly as well as mulches made from wood or needles.

When living off the grid, you need to produce as much as possible with the least amount of output. When it comes to your garden, that means you need to mulch for optimum garden performance. Many of the materials used for mulching are a natural by-product of your property (wood, compost, manure), which prevents you from having to buy any commercial products -- another plus for the off-the-grid family.


About the Author :  Jonathan Leger is a gardening enthusiast. He runs a small site on the education, history and care of a variety of roses at  CabbageRoses.net