I am learning about eco living right from the very beginning. I have no eco history other than I lived on a yacht for much of my life and a yacht, once built, becomes one of the most energy efficient ways of modern living there is. I am not going to get into the amount of energy it requires to build a yacht - that is for the purists.  I am not a purist.

I will take advantage of what the modern world has to offer, but if I can reduce the size of my footprint on this Earth, in  my own home, if I can learn to live more conservatively and become more aware of my surroundings and the effect I have on it, and it on me, if I can find a way to live that does not drain the Earths resources without a seconds thought, if I can learn to recycle effectively, I do believe I will be living a worthwhile adventure.

I admit I am a little scared as it will require a shift and solid commitment taking me out of my ordinary comfortable way of life and into another. Can I be comfortable with less?

I am documenting this new journey with the hope of one day looking back on something I created that I can be proud of.  In this way I hope to help pave the way for others to dare break from the norm and find ways to build alternative houses that don't cost the earth, literally.  A container cottage may not be the answer for you.  You may have more suitable materials on or near your land, but this is what I have near mine and this is what I can afford.

At the moment we are being effected by an obvious energy and economic crisis, and this is only the beginning.  I just hope that we don't capitulate into the fear that is pressing down on us and panic , and do something we will regret terribly in the future in order to solve an immediate demand.

South Africa became self sufficient in the Apartheid years by necessity.  Can the Rainbow Nation do it again as a people and land united?

This Flygirl is just a little cog in a very big experiment.  I am documenting this little cog's life and how it works with the other little cogs around it.  Can we learn to work together?  Can we take the initiative, independently and improve our own personal situation and in doing so heal the Whole?

A farmer in Sutherland once asked me 'What is the one thing a farmer cannot live without.'

'Water' I replied smugly.

'Yes', he smiled, 'water is important, but if there is no water on the land you can always make a plan to get water to the land.  It is that PLANNING that a farmer cannot live without.'

I never forgot the Sutherland farmers wise words and now that I am working with the land, I am taking heed.

My Self Contained Home - Building a Container Home.  I am at the architectural stage.  The next stage is the Structural Engineer Specs

Financing - How I built a business and sold it to finance my home.  It may not work out, but I still hope to finance my Home without the 20 - 30 year Debt Sentence

Power -  I will be using primarily 12v systems using solar power and a small wind generator.  I will also use a small inverter to boost the power to 220v for special appliances and there will be Eskom as a back up if I get my container home passed by Council.

Roof Garden   - Why? 

Recycle Sources - Who to contact, who is making a difference.

Eco Housing Links - My library of information on the Net.