Archive for the ‘Off Grid’ tag
Life Unattached to the Grid
Where Normal is a cycle on a washing machine
Clarenden Eco- Stay was the proud sponsors of The Canterbury’s University Eco-My Flat Competition.
The four winners were from Lincoln University. They were Nicola Price (Commerce) Jody Tuuta (Landscape) Dan Allan (Teacher of Drama and English) and Lisa Norris (Social Work and Human Resource Services Post Graduate)
The winning flat occupants endeavored to shop differently using sustainable green products, walked to University to do a course for a month at a workshop of practical help to change to more sustainable practices in life.
Clarenden Eco-Stay in the beautiful Marlborough region of New
Zealand the winners prize for a weekend stay arrived by Tranz Rail to Picton from Christcurch where they were meet by manager of the property and Marlborough Tour Bus Company.
The package was to live for a few days in an eco-sustainable accommodation that to live well and comfortably in the practical sense requires a different way of thinking: than living in a city.
Apart from personal gear they were required to bring their own food. Clarenden has a gas hob, wood fireplace with flat top to cook on (which also heats the water) and a micro-wave.
Cooking was a challenge; the expectation was a modern stove in which to cook pizza. Improvisations took place and once familiar with the kitchen and the wood fire all were well fed.
Surrounded by native bush the question was where the source of fuel for the fire comes from. No native bush is cut as the Marlborough district is full of pine-tree plantations a sustainable crop and used for export .The unwanted timber is used for fire-wood.
The students found the stay quiet and peaceful. Resorting to card games and conversations. Although Clarenden is set up connected to the outside world by means of satellite should one wish to use their lap-top. At night the students found the beds comfortable and all had a great night sleep with the sounds of rustling native bush to wake to early bird song.
Discovery was the nature of the journey taking what is learnt in the classroom and living the actual lesson. The stay broke down many myths of solar energy and sustainable living the students had not considered. All went home with renewed insight of how to live a sustainable life in a world swamped with advanced technology knowing that one does not have to step back in time and live like a pioneer of days of yesteryear. Myths were broken that one can have a modern washing machine, high pressure hot showers,micro-wave etc and be sustained by the energy mother earth gives freely.
The balance of having knowledge, walking, living the experience for a future of sustainability. That was the result of the stay. http://offgridecostay.com/ for further detailed information.