City Elder Found Living in Bush Land
Tucked away in the Koromiko hills on 64 hectares of native bush land in the Marlborough Sounds of New Zealand, a city elder was found living an eco-off grid life style enviable to many.
After power cuts combined with price hikes, water supplies cut or disrupted, telecommunications controlled by Telecom inefficient and at times blocked for weeks: when the opportunity to live in a traditional home with all the modern day comforts off the grid, designed and built using green building principles the prospects of a green future was seized with enthusiasm.
The home is called Clarenden features a Biolytix system for all household water waste. An eco – system, constructed of a large, self-contained worm farm tank. Clarenden the first to boast the use of this domestic system with no odour or septic tank requirements in New Zealand, also the first solar-powered system in the world.
Clarenden home is a Solar powered run home supporting any modern day technology and insulated with locally obtained wool to maximize insulation. The wood burning fire serves a dual purpose of support for the water heating when the sun is not shining and warmth for the cooler months. The abundant supply of hot water provides for those long hot showers or a soak in the outside spa under the night sky.
Although there is a gas hob to cook on the wood fire is used for slow cooking and food is infused with the slow release flavors that any gourmet chef would delight in.
Wood sourced from the property helping the bush land re-generate its’ native life.
Water a valuable source is supplied from the stream running through the property and its’ energy captured by a micro hydro electric turbine as all electricity is generated by on- site solar power usage.
The modern insinkerator disposes of any food waste or used for composting. Tins, glass, paper or cardboard is disposed of through the Marlborough Council waste disposal site in Picton.
Power is 240 Volts so living off the grid using modern day appliances one is aware of power usage which is monitored by an interactive Energy Management Power system that at a push of a button one can read what power is being generated, used and stored.
Internet communication is satellite run through an independent communications company the service provides excellent support with ease. The only string attached to the grid is the telephone cable for ease of local access.
So when the water supply and the lights went out in the city, the City Elder sits by the fire-place, lights on, after a soak in the hot spa, to dine on a gourmet meal of fresh salad and locally caught salmon washed down with freshly ground coffee.
Whoever said bush living was tough here is an example of sustainable living that sustains not only the land and surrounding wild life of birds, wild pigs, but a true example of sustainable ability to embrace modern technology that is forever changing and advancing. Not a problem under this bush canopy.
