One (the really awesome idea) is a strawbale home. We've picked out plans for a 935 sq. ft. house HERE. The only problems with the plans are that there isn't a pantry for food storage, and we don't have a stackable washer and dryer. Go HERE to learn about strawbale construction. They are great in high winds, more fire resistant than conventionally built homes, and extremely energy efficient. We are also not sure we could get that kind of money.
The other idea, since there are no homes for sale in the country, would be to find an old house that hadn't been lived in for a while and either buy it, rent it (or maybe or rent-to-own) and fix it up.
We've done that before. It took two months of cleaning and things before we moved into that old farm house, but it was the one place we have lived that we were most content. Even with the holes in the living room floor... lol
Even my sister told me this was more our style... everyone knows we hate new houses... lol
It would be a lot of work, but with a wood burning stove for heat, as long as we had electricity and water (a major consideration! lol) we'd be fine. The yard would probably be a lot of work, clearing it and clearing a large spot for a garden in the spring. Not to mention the place for chickens and goats!
We have a friend who could help us with less expensive solar panels... so this option is the one I like the best, but we'll just have to see... Even when a house looks semi-livable, there is always the possibility that the house was abandoned because the well went sour or something... But I do think it's worth looking into... Believe me, our view of "livable" and most people's idea of "livable" are very different!
7 comments:
hi, friend....
i have been gone for awhile and am only partly back now. Still just weak enuf that it is not enjoyable to blog for very long. i am getting stronger ea day tho.
just wanted u to know why i haven't been by for awhile.
love, bj
I'd been reading the updates from your daughter, and was so glad to see you back!
Thank you so much for stopping by... and I am very relieved that you are doing well! :)
Anita, I love that floor plan....with the same exceptions that you mentioned.
Read something today that chickens are allowed in NYC. Thought you would find that interesting.
I would sell you my house in a heartbeat for a great price, too!...it's a real fixer upper and I bet you would do a much better job of restoring it to its original victorian beauty than we have....but no chickens or goats allowed. :)
lol...
The only reason I'd have to live outside of Greensburg is to have my chickens and goats...
Chickens are allowed in Wichita, too.. And you know they are allowed in Pasadena Calif. because the Dervaes family has both chickens and goats... guess it's just small farming communities that don't allow farm animals... go figure...
Hey, the goats could be your new lawnmowers!
I like the idea of the bales for a house construction! It really would fit in with Greensburg's "green" motif and might even be a real eye-opener for anyone who saw it work.
I'm so proud of you and Ricky, A!
Jules - exactly! Mow the grass and provide milk... what a great set up! ;)
Jason! :D
It would be great... I'm not sure if the bank would loan us money on such a house, although the bank president's wife is on the GreenTown board, and my family has been banking there for 4 generations, so...
The old house idea would get us into the country, though, whuch would be better... chickens and goats you know... lol
Great seeing you!
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