A couple of weeks have past since last posting and it hasn't been for a lack of things going on that I've been absent. In fact, I've had a number of things of significance transpire in the past few days. Namely, having placed an offer on a piece of property in Trumansburg, NY and having that offer accepted (after a little haggling back and forth). In brief, it's a modest and not entirely attractive or well kept house that is on an exceptional piece of property in the very middle of town. Unlike the majority of properties around it on its block, this lot extends beyond the typical long narrow 1/4 to 1/3 acre space and connects to an additional 1-3/4 acre parcel at the center of the block. Imagine a square wheel with lots that are like spokes - this lot is effectively the hub attached to one of the spokes.
The property, as mentioned has a small house that I strongly suspect was the original carriage house (aka garage) of house that no longer stands. It sits toward the back of that long, narrow front lot portion of the property; leaving a very large open lawn at the front (more on that in a bit). The drive leading from Strowbridge St. to the house is newly paved and goes past east side of the house up to and around one side of a large concrete floored two-car-wide pole barn. The barn is approximately 60 ft. long by my reckoning. This barn effectively sits at the very center of the large rear lot.
As for the house, it's this gambrel-roofed affair with a shallow pitched roof addition attached to the east and north sides. From the descriptions by my friends Michael and Jan and photos they've sent, the interior is quite liveable, although nothing particularly fancy and the ceilings are low. It has a large master bedroom on the first floor with an attached dayhead. The full bath (small) is on the first floor as well. The only thing on the second floor of what is the original building are two bedrooms at either end - east and west sides. There's a coal fired stove in the front room that I call the sun room since it has an abundance of windows (located on the east side). It also has a furnace of indeterminant age (although appears to be in reasonably good shape and of higher performance since it has a PVC exhaust). Furnace is located in a small walk-through utility space with the 30 gallon DHW heater. Both are gas fired. Beyond that utility space is another larger mud room/wash room located on the northwest corner (front) of the house that leads out to the large front yard beyond.
There are some issues with this property that have given me pause. There is a "seasonable" (sic) flooding/standing water issue admitted by the seller on the disclosure papers. I suspect, strongly, that this area is prone to getting quite soggy during the wetter months. Frankly, I plan to make that an attribute. As my plans include using/reclaiming/recycling as much water as possible, the installation of water detention/retention pond(s) or full-on cisterns is probably in the cards in the near future. We'll see how this plays out.
The other issue raised by my brother Anthony during a recent, quick drive-by, is that the house's roof is very old (moss is growing on it). He's scheduled a walk-through with Havana Jorrin, my realtor (who happens to be the daughter/step-daughter of Jan and Michael). He'll take a look inside with her on Tuesday. He's being apprehensive and isn't entirely sold on the place. I told him that I'd like to hear him out and weigh the decision to go further or bale on the offer.
As mentioned before, I am not entirely concerned with the house. I am most concerned with and interested in the property. The reasons are generally straight-forward and have everything to do with have a functional piece of land on which I can do a great many activities (such as food growing, alcohol distillation, aqua-culture, raise chickens, etc) that effectively mean I'm homesteading right in the middle of a town that is primed and ready and aware of the impending need to re-localize and behave as a community that can endure what I am convinced are going to be very trying times in the coming decades.
Let me be clear: This is a time of urgent, deliberate and thoughtful preparation for times that will be convulsive in terms of the reliability of things we have grown accustomed to over the years - electricity, fuel supply, food, "money" and social order are the headings that come to mind first. I am building a life boat but that life boat will be much more "water proof" if I build it in proximity to community. I have to be willing to let others climb aboard and ensure that we are all 'high and dry' as it were.
In the midst of writing this, I placed a call to my brother John. We were discussing much of the issues that surround the prudence of my decision to buy this particular property and, eventually, I just blurted out something that's been stifled and difficult to articulate - I've been too afraid, too fearful, of saying it but it just came out as a declaration to him. Dammit, this has been a dream of mine for too many years and I'm not going to postpone it any longer. I'm going to create an urban homestead. I'm going to make this enduring creation and this property - with its shortfalls will be the palette I create that Beauty on. Period. Discussion is now over on the subject.
On other fronts, the subject of alcohol fuel (I've been consciously avoiding the word ethanol since it has so many damned negative connotations) has burgeoned with new folds.
I've begun to congeal my estimations on how to proceed with this cooperative when I get to town. There are tangible actions to take when I first arrive. They're as follows:
1. Produce a publishable article with all the necessary substantiating proof that outlines the viability of alcohol fuel production based on local, organic (or sustainably harvested, wild) crop feedstock and the outlines of what a fuel cooperative will look like. This activity will organize my thoughts and provide me the education I require to ward off ill-informed/erroneous criticism. On the positive side, it will help to focus my efforts in the organization of the cooperative.
2. Make contact with at least 2, preferably 3 sources of ethanol (specifically, E85 - 85% alcohol, 15% gasoline) and negotiate quotes for alcohol supply. Leveraging supply of tanks with hoses, etc. will be an advantage that can be discussed - possibly adding the leasing to purchase options into the alcohol sale contracts, for instance. Thus far, the only nearby source identified is Western New York Energy in Medina, NY (between Batavia and Buffalo).
3. Identify the nearest municipal wastewater treatment facility that is using cattail as a filtration plant. Harvesting this plant may prove a very effective "free" feedstock.
4. Make a solid connection with John Kresser in Syracuse. John is looking to establish a similar cooperative in Onondaga County and our efforts can be collaborative.
Finally, speaking of collaborations, I've been on the phone a bit more with my good friend Rob and his business plans for his solar electric design/supply/installation business are gel'ing up and I'm pretty excited about the prospect of being on the ground floor with him as he builds this business with alot of strong, positive energy. He's got a lot of integrity and hard-nosed enough to be a real success at whatever he gets his horns into. And he's got big horns, that boy. Hard headed. :) He's in the middle of project with others right now doing good works to help others. When he's done with that, he and I are planning to discuss his business plan in greater detail.
Generally, in regard to my current state of mind/Heart, I'm trying to avoid this holding pattern sense of being while at the same time maintaining a mixture of fear, exuberance, sorrow, regret, giddy anticipation. Ultimately, it's one more chance to be present with my mind and my intentions. Plan for the future while being here. Now. Having no possessiveness of things that are yet to be and not holding onto things that have never been yours to possess in the first place.
I'm working hard to be present with this boat as I finish it. It's really turning out to be a wonderful piece of craftsmanship. If we continue to have a conscientious attitude about getting the many variables strung together as needed, it will deliver in a timely way, make everyone happy and be a good mark for all the men who've contributed to its creation. That would be a great last, image at my departure from New Orleans on my way back Home. Where I belong.
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