How We Live at Lone Bobcat Woods

Peak Moment 176: Peek behind the scenes at Peak Moment TV's home base. Janaia Donaldson shows guest host Ivey Cone the solar power system, woodstove for heat (and winter waffles), and super efficient refrigerator. Choosing to reduce their footprint, she and Robyn Mallgren, Peak Moment videographer, don't feel deprived at all. Janaia discusses what led them to leave the Bay Area, what it's like to live on 160 acres of forestland, which they've preserved "in perpetuity" as a wildlife sanctuary, and shows us some of the members of the natural community they live in. [www.peakmoment.tv]

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• self reliance
• homestead
• solar power
• off grid
• natural community

[LenoraForest]

What a beautiful home. Thanks for sharing.  I use a hand washer I bought from Emergency Essential for $14.95. It's wonderful and only uses a few gallons of water per load. It's called "Mobile Washer". It may be an answer to your washing machine issue.

[peakmoment]

@LenoraForest, what a great idea! I'll look into that.

[swoop1111]

just 2 questions - 1. have you considered a composting toilet? 2. do you grow any of your own food ?- actually 3. have you considered collecting rainwater? i ask these ?'s only because your videos have inspired me to grow alot of our food in my 35x75 ft yard. i am a proud urban chicken keeper-11 hens for eggs only - my young adult children take friends on the tour - everyone we know gets free fresh eggs - i dont have money to donate but hope you know how much you inspire good things.

[peakmoment]

@swoop1111, 1. We were required by county code (20 years ago) to have a flush toilet. We pioneered the first permitted composting toilet; it was in our guest space for some years but sold it. We didn't have the extra electricity for the fan, which is needed to evaporate all the water. Now I'd use the urine diverter like we learned of in "The Pee and Poo show." 3. We collect rainwater and use it to flush the toilet. 2. We don't grow any of our own food -- see reply to ms767210.

[ms767210]

I was surprised. I had no idea what you were up to in your own life outside of Peakmoment. I mean I expected you to live the green and frugal life because your passion for it is so clear. But I am impressed that two women are so independant in such a wilderness. I hate self promoters who blow their own feminist trumpets but you girls have quietly gone about achieving your dreams without the fanfare.

Very interesting video. I loved the fridge design and the house. What about your garden? Vegies?

[peakmoment]

@ms767210 and other friends, we chose to produce Peak Moment TV rather than garden. Gardening would be a challenge on this land, because it's better suited as wildland. For one, Bear will go through any fence we might make (and we don't want to have dogs to scare Bear away. Can't travel!).

[peakmoment]

@Ape65, we are respectful of the other animals here, but they're not interested in us because there are plenty of their natural prey.

I take exception however -- it's not that bears and bobcats are overpopulated, it's that humans are overpopulated and are moving into and destroying the animals' habitat. Human deaths by a few such animals are nothing compared to the wholesale destruction and extinction of creatures everywhere caused by human activities.

[peakmoment]

@mythic89, we used to have good salaries when we did software development in the 1990s. But most of what we've done came from a lot of frugality (1200 sq ft manufactured home) and sweat equity (built the garage and installed the solar electric ourselves, etc.). We get no pay for doing Peak Moment TV -- contributions from viewers help cover the costs.

[peakmoment]

@julissa905, the house is a manufactured home by Silvercrest homes.

[theShice]

@TheJourneyfortruth What agressive prick you are.

[julissa905]

WHERE DID YOU GET THE HOUSE :o)

[OceanJeff37]

Money is not what it takes to go green. LOVE and determination is all that you need to go green and organic. Eventually, what peak moment is saying we will all have no choice, the situation will get so bad, we'll be forced by circumstance...this way you can start now, and be ready for easy transition while the rest of the world is in 'chaos'...but 'chaos will only be temporary.

[TheJourneyfortruth]

@peakmoment Who says the world is overpopulated? You? By what standard? Did you create the Earth? Did you hang the moon and the stars? You sound like one of those new age Zietgeist people. Hows global warming going for you? If you care about the planet, Talk about global poisoning by Monsanto and their ilk. Talk about GMO's and their damage. If you are so concerned with overpopulation, take yourself out first, leave a long letter about how you have benefited humanity. Be the example.

[skyybutter1]

finding you on youtube has been such a blessing in my life. as i am starting on a new path of my own, it is so nice to know there are others like yourself out there. Thank you for what you do to enrich the lives of those around you.