BoatLord Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 Hi! Thanks for reading! If you have any suggestions...Feel free to share! So, I've had a pretty screwed up last few years. Feel free to look up my other post about the "Deep, dark, pit". I'm retired now. 42 years old...A man and his dog. I have purchased 5.1 acres of beautiful hilly, rural land by Athens, TN. My goal is to build a small, zero energy home. I will also plant my own vegetables and have chickens (for eggs) and maybe a lama or two. Maybe a goat! I am not doing this as a tribute to Gaea, because I like Women who don't shave their legs (I don't), or because I feel guilty about carbon bombing the planet. (Yes...I believe Pluto to still be a planet. If you don't, and agree with those idiot scientists that..........Never mind.) I am doing this for the sole purpose of not having to pay any bills but Insurance and taxes. I'll say it again.... I AM DOING THIS FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF NOT HAVING TO PAY ANY BILLS BUT INSURANCE AND TAXES. The first step was hiring a guy with a bulldozer. Bulldozers, and the guys who operate them aren't cheap. I found an old Farmer guy (76) who will do what you want, ON HIS SCHEDULE, for $50.00 an hour. Great deal if you can wait and plan your day on Old Man Time. Others were wanting $200.00 plus, an hour. So, he dozed out a good-sized plot and a driveway. It would appear from a bent air dam and scraped-up tail pipe that the Mustang doesn't like any type of driveway that requires a clearance of over 4 inches. This is problem one. Problem two: The county will put in a "tile" (a long pipe to drain the ditch on the high side of the driveway to the low side of the driveway) free of charge. But, it would appear that the slope of the drive and the crown of the drive needs to be within a micron of some obscure measurement that only Junior can see with his eye, before they'll put in the tile. The county has been by twice and even slowed down to 35 mph upon passing, so old "Junior" could take a gander at her just to tell me it weren't right. So, Old Farmer has made everything right with my car so she can get in the drive. Now, stone. How much is a ton of stone? What is the best kind of stone for a drive? How much will I need? Well, Farmer had the answer... "Crusher run. Gonna need about 16 ton. " Local quarry will sell it to me @ $13.00/ton. Good deal. Delivery? "Oh we can get it to your place for $550.00." Seriously? Where do all off these backwoods people come up with this kind of money? Is moonshine really that profitable? Next time...Ticks and wells. Link to post Share on other sites
Forever Learning Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 Your post is really interesting! I can't wait to read more! I think it is everyone's dream to live self-sufficiently, at least I enjoy reflecting on the idea. You are making it a reality. That is really impressive. Link to post Share on other sites
Typhoon Lizzie Posted August 22, 2011 Share Posted August 22, 2011 "Seriously? Where do all off these backwoods people come up with this kind of money? Is moonshine really that profitable?" Hahaha! That's what I was thinkin Link to post Share on other sites
Author BoatLord Posted August 23, 2011 Author Share Posted August 23, 2011 Hey! Do you need jobs where the pay would be the sweat of your brow and the gratefulness of me??!!?? Today- Ordered the foundation posts and all of the wood needed for the first floor including the OSB. Will be delivered tomorrow PM. Ticks- Never in my life have I encountered so many ticks. They must grow on trees, but I don't have any trees as they were harvested before I bought the land. I do have, however, 4-10 foot tall weeds everywhere that wasn't cleared by the bulldozer. Solution-stay away from the weeds. Water- I believe that no one really realizes how much water they use in a day. Come to my place. Whatever water you need, you have to carry in. Each gallon is ~ 8 pounds. I'm in a lot of pain most of the time and 8 pounds is a lot to me to lift. I did find a company that would drill a well for me. Can't be too bad I thought. I mean, ppl drilled wells before electricity so how much could it be? Me- "How deep in my area have you drilled before to get a good well going?" Drill Guy- (Looks on the county map on his wall...) "Oh, that area's been averaging 250 feet." Me- "250 feet? Oh wow, that's, uh, pretty deep! How much does that run?" Drill Guy- "Well, 250 feet is gonna be right around $5500.00." Me- "You're ****ting me?" Drill Guy- "No...No, I'm not." Once again, I'm flabbergasted at the expense for one to go back to basics and just live simply. WTF? So, the well is gonna have to wait awhile. I'm not seeing any way to post pic's on here. Is there? I'm sorry if I missed it. I could just put them in a Picassa album on the web and put the link up... Link to post Share on other sites
Author BoatLord Posted August 25, 2011 Author Share Posted August 25, 2011 The woods is in. Now to get to digging... Link to post Share on other sites
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