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The utilities on this property have been planned and organized with the goals of
- maximizing self-sufficiency
- minimizing negative environmental impact
- building in capacity for expandability
- keeping usage low and sustainable
- The property has not been assessed since before I purchased it, so it is still classified as agricultural land. The taxes are currently about $350 a year.
- Property taxes are payable to the RM of Canwood.
- There is one solar panel on the roof of the cabin. It works so well, I wish I had more. It provides enough power to run lights and the phone (cell phone) all year round.
- In the summer, when the days are really long, I can run my laptop off the batteries for 2-6 hours a day depending on how sunny it is. The regulator is expandable to 4 solar panels.
- To run the well and other high power items, there is a generator that provides 110V AC current direct to the cabin.
- The cabin is wired for 12V low wattage halogen lighting and several "cigarette lighter" plugs as well as a 110V AC plug for use with the generator.
- For 110V AC current, there are two inverters for use with the solar panel, and a plug-in for the generator.
- Water is filtered through 2+ miles of sand and wetlands in the provincial forest reserve before it reaches the property. Sand and wetlands are the best water filters that money can't buy.
- There have never been cattle grazed on this property. This is a really important water quality issue. I know people whose well water is undrinkable because of the waste products generated by cattle.
- There are no agricultural lands draining into the water for a minimum of 1 mile.
- Small bore well is 38' deep. When it was put in, the water came in at 18' - giving 20' of water. I use the generator to run the pump.
- The water is very sweet after settling.
- In the winter, I sometimes use snow for the on stove humidifier and doing the dishes.
- There is a cook stove for the cordwood building. I used it the first winter I was here and found it to be very efficient for cooking.
- There is a large capacity glass doored wood stove in the cabin for winter cooking and heating. I can load up the stove, go out, come back tomorrow, and there are still coals in the stove and the house is warm.
- Firewood is close by. It takes me about 4 easy hours to bring in a truck load (approx 3/4 cord) by myself. I get 10-12 loads for a year so there's extra in case it's cold.
- There are existing firewood reserves cut and piled for (at least) one heating season.
- For summer cooking I use a propane stove. Its gas range style burners make cooking a lot more practical than on conventional gas barbeque style stoves. A 20 lb propane tank lasts me most of the summer.
- There are plumbing lines laid under the cement for the bathroom and 2 sink areas. Plumbing lines have been extended outside the cement to the north west for expansion.
- The lagoon is behind cordwood building, downstream from the water supply intake.
- There is no built-in plumbing in the cabin.
- The property is accessed from the highway by 3.5 miles of gravelled road allowance maintained by the RM (Rural Municipality) of Shellbrook. The home site is accessed by an approx 3/4 mile field road. Access is 4 season.
- In the winter, I usually fire up the tractor and plow out the field road.
- The RM is responsible for snow removal on the road allowance leading up to the property.
- I have had to get the RM to come up to the house only once a year in February or March after a hard packing blizzard. Cost is about $45.
| Cook Stove: Acme brand (no, really - that's what it says on the oven door - "Acme"). 6 burner range with oven and warming shelf. Takes 10" long wood.
| | | Glass Doored Wood Stove: Canadian Tire's biggest stove is rated for 1500 sq ft. Takes 22" long wood.
| | Propane Stove: This propane stove with 2 gas range style burners was purchased in 2003.
| | Propane Tanks: 2 - 20 lb propane tanks purchased in 2003.
| | | Water Tank: 100 gallon tank with stand.
| | Submersible Pump: 20 amp. (I don't know the brand as it's ... haha down the well.)
| | | Tractor: Massey Harris 44. A good running tractor. Robin's front end loader that works for snow removal. The tractor has been converted from 6V positive ground to 12V negative ground to be compatible with "conventional automotive" standards. The 12V system also starts better in the winter.
| | | Chain Saw: Husquavarna 365. This model's special features are low-noise and low-vibration. It sees light usage - I'm only on the 4th or 5th chain since it was purchased in 1997 from Charles Repair. The gas tank has "always" been filled with premium gas - as per specs. (In this case: "always" means that once and only once did someone put regular gas in.) Also included with
the saw are the file and tool set.
| | | Solar Panel: A 56 watt solar panel has a stand that is attached to the roof of the cabin. The regulator is mounted inside for easy viewing and shutoff control and is expandable to 4 solar panels.
| | | Generator: Yamaha EF4600A (4600 amps). Purchased in the fall of 2002. The generator works really good. It gets about 5 hours from a tank of gas (approx 5 litres). I get absolutely excellent service from Charles Repair in Prince Albert. (I bought my chainsaw from them and got such good service that I bought this generator from them also.)
| | Inverters: StatPower ProWatt 250 (200 watts - why a 250 if only 200 watts???). PortAWatz 600 (600 watts).
| | Battery Charger: with high amp boosting and low trickle charging settings.
| | | Gas Tank: 250 gallon gas tank with stand.
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