We have that in Nova Scotia, George. Or most of it. The house is old wood frame and we are insulating, but it does have wood heat, a well, and a cesspit - on the other siide of the house from the well:) I think we'll be seeing more solar energy in the very near future. Windows are strategically placed to get the often very warm afternoon sun, which will warm up a corner to about 80 degrees, even if the air temps are lower. The old-timers who did not have electricity and PUCs knew what they were doing. A friend up in the Bruce Peninsula (piney woods on the escarpment, very *north*) has an earth shelter home, built into side of a small hill and with old tires filled with earth. Works very well, and once the decorating is done, it need not look any different than any other pineywoods home. I don't think any type of home is unworkable; what one doesn't want to do is be dependent on purchased energy if it can be avoided. Lucinda ---------- > From: Shirley,George <gshirley@deltech.net> > To: gardeners@globalgarden.com > Subject: Re: [gardeners] OT Gas Prices > Date: Friday, December 15, 2000 12:57 PM > > I'm 61 and willhave to retire one of these days. Seriously thinking piney woods, > earthshelter home, wood stove, wind and solar generation, water well drilled > inside the house for protection from weather. Of course I don't have the bucks > required to do all those things but it doesn't hurt to dream. I went out and > bought a lottery ticket today, something we seldom do. Maybe we can get rich > quick and thumb our noses at the poor people. Yeah, sure! > > George > > Ron Hay wrote: > > > > I hear you, George! My 82 y.o. mother in law in Chula Vista,CA, a suburb > > of San Diego, saw her electric rate more than double this summer. It > > made her worry if she could afford to cook meals! > > > > Ron