The Land - cool, clear water...

We've learned a lot about what not to do...  The pump is rather small.  It is submersible and hangs approximately 180' from the well cap.  The last time we pulled it out we took a few pictures.

Connected to the top of the pump are the electrical cord, the hose through which the water travels, and a rope which supports all of the weight.

After we first dropped the pump in 1999 it remained for many years with very little protection from the elements around the well cap.  What little protection we tried to implement failed in keeping out the elements and the pests.  As a result the rope started to look weak and frayed.  I would panic about the condition of that rope.   In 2007 we were ready to install a second pump - we had installed 6" well casing so that there could be two pumps in the well.  When we were ready to install the second pump we pulled the first to replace the rope and ensure it was secure.

The second pump is a manual backup - the Simple Pump allows us to draw water when the sun is not out.  After completing the drop of the solar pump we then dropped the Simple Pump 10' length of pipe by 10' length of pipe nearly 200 feet to the static water level.  We then plumbed up an elaborate system of bypasses so that we could move the water to a storage tank or to an outdoor faucet as needed.  We sanitized the well and then sealed up the cap to ensure that the water quality remained uncontaminated.

We then built the most permanent shed to date - though woefully inadequate in retrospect...

A while after we made these decisions we ended up having to face the mistakes we made.  #1 - in sealing the cap of the well we effectively cut off the water because the air cannot enter the well for displacement.  In other words, we sealed it too well!  For the past 10 years we have not been able to use the well.  #2 - in building the shed we created a harbor for rodents who took the place over.  In an effort to reclaim the shed in 2016 Husband took on a mighty project of creating a concrete trench complete with a metal mesh barrier that circles and attaches to the plywood floor of the shed.  Since then we are confident there is no new rodent activity, but we still have to tear it down.  We also need to remedy the sealed cap issue - which is no small task.  The weight hanging from the cap is significant and we will have to engineer a solution to lifting it....(we have some ideas).  We then have to build yet another building - this time one that will keep out the pests.

On the plus side we are confident the well was not contaminated by the rodents because the cap is sealed so tightly!

Though we made these mistakes in 2007 we have not been able to fix them.  Brother was born in 2009 and we have had different priorities. It has been difficult to work on projects while at the same time keeping an eye on little people.  Getting the water flowing is a priority - to have the water flowing again will help push us and this project to where it needs to be.

The Land - the middle years...

It was 2006 when we took the next big steps to build Rancho Status Quo.  We'd been camping for years and were wishing for a place to store things so that we didn't have to haul everything for every trip.  Additionally we were dreaming of a flushing toilet and a sink....We considered our budget and our abilities and decided to build a steel building.

As a part of the improvements of 2006 we also improved our "driveway" which is actually the easement between our parcel and the next.  On a very memorable and soggy camping trip with friends we both got our trucks stuck in the mud and had to push each other out....it wasn't the first time we had problems with the "road" or lack of roads - so we decided to hire a backhoe guy to spread some gravel and install a culvert.  In the end the road was much improved!

As a side note, over 10 years later the road needs a bit of work.  The water has found a way to flow across the road instead of through the culvert and we need a ditch to funnel the water away from the road and to the culvert.  This is on the list of things that need to be done.

Our original plan was to build a garage with running water and bathroom.  We got a permit from the county and then installed a proper septic tank/field.

Septic tank in the ground and trench to septic field

Septic field installation

We also had a foundation poured for the building and we hired a plumber to install the rough plumbing for the building.  We got a permit for the construction and had the necessary inspections.

Set up for foundation

It was really cool to have a cement truck on the land!  We are really happy with the foundation.  To this day it has served us well with only minor cracks.  

While all of this contract work was being done we had the steel building delivered.  We actually got a full-blown 18-wheeler back to the land!  Although the driver took one turn a little sharp and broke one of the lights on the back of the truck on one of the juniper trees.

The driver was pissed when he parked, not only because of the broken light, he expected more people to help with the unloading of the building parts.  But Husband and I worked hard and fast to unload the pieces and he seemed pleasantly surprised when we had the job done quite quickly.  It doesn't look like much when it is laying on the ground - but it is a hell of a solid structure when put together.  From this point forward we did all the work between the two of us.

Next step was drilling holes into the cured foundation so we could anchor bolt the base plates to the foundation.  

We rented a hammer drill from the big box home improvement store and went to work...that is me drilling concrete like a total bad a$$.

Once the holes were all drilled the base plates were bolted to the foundation.  Next comes the fun part - raising arches!  The whole things goes together with a LOT of nuts and bolts.  These buckets were full at the beginning...I didn't think of taking a picture until near the end!

The first couple of arches are a bit tricky because they stabilize as they are connected to each other.  In this picture we have raised three arches and they are bolted to each other.  The first one is the most flimsy, but as you add the second and then the third they gain strength from each other.  If it is windy you can't let the first arch hang out by itself for long or it could twist and bend and get damaged.  It is windy at our land and so we had to work quickly to get these three together before I could stop and take a picture.  We had to rent scaffolding as well because we had to be able to reach to tighten the nuts at the highest point which is 12'.  Also when raising the arch you need to be on a firm surface so you can pull, it would not work with a ladder.

Eventually we got all of the arches together.  The dimensions of the building are 26' x 20'.  We opted for one standard door on the "back" and a single car garage door on the "front."  The end walls are a little different from the arches.  We had to cut some of the steel panels to accommodate the frames for the doors. 

Once the frames were in place we purchased a garage door and standard door from the big box and had them installed by a professional.

Having a secure building has been excellent.  We actually have our tent with a futon mattress set up inside, which keeps the bedding free of dust so we don't have to set up and take down the tent every time we visit.  

The land is a beautiful place and one that we have been connected to for the past 20 years.  We are really getting excited about spending more time there.  In the next post I will bring you up to speed with where we are at with the plumbing - which is a bit of a story.

The Land - the early years...

We bought the land in the late 90s.  It is slightly less than 40 acres and is located in the NE part of AZ in Apache County.  For many years we used it as a camping location.  It is off of county maintained roads and difficult to get to when it rains because of that fact.  The area is high desert and sits at an elevation of approx 5000 feet.  The soil is sandy and there are many juniper trees around.  A wash along the western edge of the land leads to the Little Colorado River.  There is evidence of prehistoric settlement on our land.  We have found pottery shards, spear points, and other artifacts.

The first improvement we made to the land occurred in 1999.  We paid $10,000 to have a well dug.  The water table is at 500' but once tapped the static water level sits at around 180'.  We decided early on that we wanted to be off grid, so we purchased a SureFlo submersible solar pump and two 75 watt solar panels.  With flowing water we were able to camp quite comfortably for many years.

The well

Originally we were planning on building an Earthship until we realized that we were not able to do the labor ourselves.  Pounding tires is really hard work and with two bad backs in the family it was too much.  That's not to say that we didn't try...

But we soon realized that we had to be more realistic about our abilities.  All of the preconceived notions you have about what you think you want eventually are to be adjusted to fit your time, abilities, budget and goals.  It took many years before we took the next big steps in improving The Land....to be continued...

Thankfulness and the future...

Sometimes you have to sit back and count your blessings.  Be present in the moment and list all of the things you are thankful for.  This can really help in controlling anxiety, worry, and doubt.  Life throws us curves - this is the method I have found to be the most effective in overcoming negative emotions.

I took a break from blogging for a month to sit back and reflect upon what is most important, where my priorities are, and to consider the future.  First and foremost I am thankful for my health and the health of my family.  I am thankful for having time with Husband and the kids.  I am thankful that we have a roof over our heads, food in the fridge, reliable transportation, a rewarding career, and a supportive social network.  I am also thankful for the opportunity to travel with our family and explore new parts of this beautiful country. 

When I think about those things that most concern me about the future (issues that are far bigger than me), I hate feeling hopeless or that my fate lies in the hands of others.  I, like many, want to secure the future for my children.  I want to build upon the positive choices we have made.  We have taken steps to get out of debt, save money, obtain skills and education - but how can we take control of our future?  What can we build that will endure?  What can we teach our kids that will serve them in their future?  Our travels showed us the majesty of this great country - how can we be part of the solution in protecting it?

Twenty-some years ago we had a vision of building a homestead. We purchased an unimproved property and very slowly we have made improvements.  Our shifting priorities over the years distracted us from the value of investing our time and money into developing the homestead, but now, as I consider the paths available, this option burns brightly.   Using this resource and developing a sustainable, off-grid homestead we can develop a life of interdependence with the natural world and one that we can be proud to leave to the next generation. 

Creating a homestead from a vacant piece of land is difficult, costly, and time consuming.  Though we have made progress over the years, we have a lot more to do before we can call it home.  We were able to visit Rancho Status Quo a couple of weekends ago.  Each time we visit we start to dream of a livable home with infrastructure improvements to the roads and so forth...We always leave with an idea of what needs to happen next. 

Living in the Hideout is teaching us much about what we need.  We are very comfortable in 200 square feet - and we know that a very nice living space can be crafted with just a bit more.  We recently walked through IKEA to look at their tiny home floor plans -  500 square feet seems like so much space now!  If Rancho Status Quo was livable it would be a very low cost place to live (taxes are the single reoccuring expense)...

Well those are my most recent thoughts...stay tuned for a history of the work we have done to improve the land over the past 20 years and an inventory of the projects that are still outstanding.  What is the take away point?  This year is going to be less about travel and more about closing this open loop in our life.  Rancho Status Quo is going to become a reality.