Shelter materials and construction techniques.
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 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 […]
Description: In this episode of Occupy the Land, we tackle end-of-summer maintenance on our Arizona desert homestead! With cooler 63°F mornings, we set up a new flex-fuel generator (propane and gasoline) as a backup to our trusty diesel generator, ensuring uninterrupted power while we repair our solar system’s charge controller. We haul four food-grade IBC […]
In this episode of Occupy the Land, Donna and Ernie embark on a supply run to bolster their Arizona desert homestead! They snag a discounted flex-fuel generator from Harbor Freight for reliable backup power and secure four food-grade IBC totes to store nearly 3,000 gallons of pool water for gardening, chickens, and construction. Battling a […]
In this episode of Occupy the Land, we tackle monsoon water retention by stuccoing a check dam with a mix of Portland cement, fine sand, and chopped basalt and fiberglass mesh, testing its durability for future dome applications. After recent rains confirmed our drainage strategy, we strengthen the dam to saturate six acres of soil, […]
In this episode of Occupy the Land, we take advantage of a tractor maintenance break to transform our shipping container into a weatherproof workshop, framing it with two-by-threes and planning pegboard and shelving for tools like plasma cutters and welders. We explore our desert water management with a new sand filter for the sand pond, […]
In this episode of Occupy the Land, we push forward with our Arizona desert dome build, planning electrical outlets, light switches, and PEX water lines within earthbag walls and two-by-four framing. We prepare for custom cement countertops and map out drains for the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry areas, ensuring proper slopes for septic drainage. Amidst […]
In this episode of Occupy the Land, we dive into our Arizona desert homestead as we plan the floor layout for our utility dome, marking spots for outlets, USB chargers, dimming switches, and a lofted bedroom. We detail the kitchen, dining, and bathroom-laundry areas while prepping the house pad with soil from our sand pond […]
In this episode of Occupy the Land, we dive into a busy morning on our Arizona desert homestead! We prep for another concrete pour and lay a new layer of earthbags around our utility dome, focusing on reinforcing doorframes with cement-heavy mixes for durability. Meanwhile, Donna tackles laundry on our clothesline, where the desert heat […]
In this episode of Occupy the Land, a powerful half-hour thunderstorm hits our Arizona desert property, giving us a chance to test our water management plans! We showcase how we channel monsoon waters into our sand pond and compost ditches, preparing for future gardening and soil projects. From assessing drainage channels to managing berms and […]
