2006-11-29T08:42:00.000-08:00

Hello from the reformed tent dwelling family!
We are now entering a phase of our life that we never could have imagined would have happened without Gods blessing and providence. We have linked arms with a family we attend church with and they have allowed us to "homestead" on their acreage while we store up funds for our own land! We are set up far enough away to have privacy for both families but close enough for family worship, fellowship, fun and friendship. We have been able to implement some of our plans for self-sufficient living already. We have been busy cutting and splitting firewood in preparation for the coming winter months, and have set up our kitchen area and our fireplace as well. I will be constructing our hot water system as soon as I can scrounge the appropriate items: 40 gal metal container, 15 Ft of 1/2" copper tube and the necessary fittings to connect it all. This will work on the principle of convection{?}. As the copper tube is coiled and connected to the metal drum, filling the drum with water and placing the coil in the fire will heat the water by drawing in cold water from the bottom and feeding it through the coil returning progressively hotter and hotter water to the drum until all the water is heated! My lovely wife will then use it as she sees fit to do laundry, wash dishes or children! We are also having an agitator constructed by the very capable son of our "host" family. Our washing machine is a 5 gal bucket and it gets clothes sparkling clean without the use of big oil driven electricity! It is powered by either my beautiful wife or one of my three lovely daughters { 12, 9 and 2}. The wood for the fire is kept well stocked by myself or one of my three hard-working sons {13, 6 and 2}. We have one other son who is 22 and we are praying he will join us in our family economy one day. Well, this is all I will post for now as I have things outside of posting to accomplish! Stay tuned for more adventures form the tent, and with the help of our friends, I may have some pictures later!
RTD

self-sufficent tent living