Areas Of Expertise
I am a licensed contractor and I 'm always learning and experimenting. By taking on all sorts of projects over the past 30 years, I have learned how to live comfortably, affordably, sustainably, and resiliently.
Today's 24/7 on-demand-everything lifestyle is HIGHLY anomalous and few people seem to appreciate how fragile their lifestyles are in the event of medium-long term stoppages of power, food, water, internet, and gas. Being without the lifestyle to which we have become accustomed is almost unthinkable. It need not be. We lived without our conveniences for millions of years . Losing some of our insanely materialistic lifestyle for a while might be the what brings us together. Is it wise to keep virtually all of your money in a bank or securities and invest practically nothing in your physical security?
I am here to help those few who see the wisdom in being prepared. The goal is not to survive Armagddon! The goal is to do what you can, enjoy that feeling and be unharried in the event of a real emergency so that you can gather your wits and help others Practically speaking, you can get ready to live up to a year without outside inputs for about the same cost as your average grid intertied solar system. And you can make big improvements in your resiliency with much less. If you can get through the first 6-12 months of a medium grade disaster (think: EMP, economic collapse, limited nuclear war, volcanic eruption, AMOC collapse, epidemic) you might be okay. Even if you can't, a little breathing room while you're accepting the new reality will be well worth your investment. 3-12 months of resiliency is a realistic and achievable goal for ordinary people without $40 million dollars, a bunker, and a private security team.
Land Acquisition
It is harder to be resilient in a city or a suburb
Covid taught many city dwellers how harshly their lives can be disrupted during an extended emergency. Even so, there is quite a bit you can do to improve your resiliency in a city or suburb. Alternatively, if you are looking for a place in the country, advice in locating, purchasing, and developing the perfect piece of land to meet your needs (see my blog article for things you might want to consider).
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Zoning and Permitting Guidance
Getting Through the Paperwork
If you are planning to build a resilient home, help with the process .
Topics may include:
The list and order of things that have to happen.
Paperwork and surveys you'll need to complete.
Building things without permits, benefits and consequences.
Dealing with planning, inspections and health departments, inspectors.
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Hiring Your Contractor
If you are going to upfit an existing home or build a resilient home or homestead choosing a competent, honest, communicative contractor for the job is critical. They seem to be in ever shorter supply.
What does a good contractor look like?
What are your reasonable requirements?
What are the current labor market realities/costs?
How do you handle contracts and dispute resolution?
What should you watch out for?
Money - How it gets paid, when, how much, and with what documentation?
Outbuildings and Amenities
Created Your Personal Happy Place
An experienced-based review of your wants and needs.
What do you really need and when do you need it?
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Power And Resiliency
Rising to the Challenge
Avoid common mistakes made by novice homesteaders. Considerations include:
Solar - how much do you need?
Grid intertie? Batteries? How many amps?
What are the costs and options?
What about backup power, generators, and fuel sources? Protecting your home and equipment from EMPs.
Choosing appliance to minimize power usage.
How much backup fuel do you need?
Answers to questions about solar hot water, woodstoves, radiant floors, mini splits, thermal mass, and regional considerations.
Tools and Equipment
Rising to the Challenge
If the power goes out you are going to need the right tools - gas, electric, hand tools, and heavy equipment. What are they?
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Community Considerations
Inspire, Innovate, Impact
Do you want neighbors – a community? Are you looking for solitude? How far out do you want to be? The climate is changing - how resilient do you want to be?
Diversity, wildlife, biting insects – how will you fit into/improve your new biosystem? How will you create an agricultural ecosystem that is low maintenance and sustainable?
Siting/Feng Shui – Site planning – Advice in creating a spatial arrangement and orientation of buildings in relation to the flow of energy.
Cost, financing, group acquisition strategies – Impartial advice – cost-saving financial decision-making.
Natural disaster preparedness – How networked are you? What networking will you need in the face of what may come?
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Food Production and Storage
Tailored to your lifestyle
A homestead garden can provide a significant portion of year-round calories. It should dovetail with your lifestyle.
What should you plant?
How much space do you need?
How much do you plant?
Garden beds and/or raised beds?
Greenhouses - how large, amenities?
How to extend the eating season past the growing season?
How to freeze, pickle, can, and freeze dry.
What do you need for backup emergency food? Where to purchase?
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Security and Home Defense
Keeping your family safe
Do you want a gate? Advantages and options.
Do you want video security? Options.
Do you want weapons? What type might best serve you. How to manage them.
Do you want a safe room of some sort? Things to consider
Protective Gear - What types and functions do you need?
Home Medicine Cabinet - What should be in it and why?
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Sustainable Homesteading
Your Questions Answered
Below are some of the topics Trip has experience in and is happy to address:
Aircrete, Aquaculture, Cell Phone Repeaters, Chicken Coops, Climbing Walls, Columns decorative, Commercial retail store, Composting toilet systems, Contracts, Countertops - custom, Decks, Demolition, Developments, DIY Construction, Docks, Dowsing, Drainage, Driveways, Fences, Fire Circles, Floors, Forestry, Foundation settling and repairs, Gathering Spaces, Generators, Greenhouses, Hot tubs, Hugelkultur, Kiln Structures, Kitchens, Koi ponds, Land Purchases, Log Home Building, Massage Studio, Milking barns, Min Splits, Moved Houses, Natural Pools, Natural Stucco, Nurseries, Non-Dual Wisdom, On-demand water heaters, Outdoor Chessboards, Outhouses, Parking areas, Patios, Permaculture, Personal Sanctuary, Play Areas, Ponds, Post and Beam Cottages, Radiant Floors, Raised Bed Gardens, Rental Units, Restaurant rental property, Retaining walls, Rental Properties and Tenant Issues/Contracts, Saunas, Screen porches, Sculpture installations, Sealed crawl spaces, Septic systems, Sheds, Shipping container housing, Skid Steers, Solar Array mounts, Solar hot water, Solar Power systems, Stonewalls, Successful Relationships, Tornado Shelters, Trail Systems, Woodstoves.
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