In this episode of Occupy the Land, Ernie and Donna tackle separate but complementary projects on their Arizona desert homestead. Ernie constructs a compact, forklift-mobile battery shed behind the shipping-container workshop to house inverters and 15kW of batteries, ensuring safe, high-capacity power for tools while planning expandability. Meanwhile, Donna trenches a foot-deep perimeter around a […]
In this episode of Occupy the Land, we transform our Arizona desert homestead into a welcoming holiday retreat! Donna leads the charge by laying used artificial turf (sourced affordably from a replaced sports field) over a leveled, sifted area beside the bus, creating a soft, green “lawn” for barefoot comfort around the pool and future […]
In this episode of Occupy the Land, Ernie builds a compact, mobile 6×8 battery shed on a pallet platform behind the shipping-container workshop to house four massive 300Ah batteries, inverters, and charge controllers—delivering a full 15kW of 120/240V power for the entire back-of-property zone. Designed to be forklift-movable and wind-resistant, the shed keeps critical electronics […]
In this thrilling episode of Occupy the Land, a modest desert rain turns into a full-blown flash flood demonstration as water races across the property, filling our sand pond with an estimated 70–90,000 gallons in hours! We walk the washes to show how check dams and berms slow the flow, create instant mini-lakes, and soak […]
In this episode of Occupy the Land, we seize a rare cloudy, cool day (and a surprise sprinkle of rain) to push two big projects forward. Ernie digs a rodent-proof potato patch in a natural low spot that catches runoff, lining it with hardware cloth against burrowing critters and hungry bunnies whose tracks are suddenly […]
In this busy-week update from Occupy the Land, Ernie finally consolidates every tool and supply into the shipping-container workshop, creating elbow room and rediscovering lost treasures. He builds a lightweight aluminum solar array and installs four 300Ah batteries for a massive 15kW 48V power station that can run welders, plasma cutters, and the stamp press […]
In this episode of Occupy the Land, we explore thriving garden beds on our Arizona desert homestead, enriched with rabbit compost and protected by fly traps, creosote-wrapped railroad ties, and a relocated carport frame for a future chicken coop. Donna’s raised beds, shaded for summer and planted with healthy transplants, promise fresh produce, while we […]
In this episode of Occupy the Land, Donna takes center stage on our Arizona desert homestead, layering lightweight rabbit compost—praised as “the bestest ever”—onto raised garden beds for a nutrient-rich, cold-compost boost that attracts fruit flies but promises quick results. With perfect 70s-80s daytime and 50s nighttime temps, she plants heirloom, non-GMO starters including lettuce, […]
In this episode of Occupy the Land, we make strides on our Arizona desert dome build by installing cleats and conduit for outdoor electrical outlets, preparing for patio power and hot tub possibilities. With cooler weather, we resume hyper Adobe earthbag layers, planning windowsills and dome integration. Meanwhile, Donna enriches garden beds with lightweight rabbit […]
In this episode of Occupy the Land, we dive into a busy day on our Arizona desert homestead! With the tractor back from maintenance, we attach the backhoe to help a neighbor dig a septic tank, reinforcing community ties with a promise of mutual aid. We trade our broken Ram 1500 for an F-150 and […]
