The dream: self-suficient carbon-neutral living!

I’m embarking upon this path of green living because I have a dream, one which I may not realistically be able to fulfill for quite some time, so its important that I begin the journey now. I someday dream of living a purposeful, meaningful life, where I am primarily self-sufficient for all my and my immediate family’s food, water, energy and primary needs. Secondary needs and wants would be sourced from similarly minded retailers/producers and any emissions would be offset through either the purchase of carbon credits and/or planting trees and doing bush regeneration work. My dream is that I can do this, in style, in a setting (either rural or urban, others have shown that self-sufficiency is possible in urban settings), where I don’t have to travel far to my work or to see my friends.

The first major step to this journey that I have taken is to purchase a house! As of this week, I have purchased a cheap, old dwelling in the suburbs that I can mold and shape according to my tastes, where I can ultimately install eco-friendly apparatus such as water tanks and, eventually, solar panels. This house is situated within walking distance to the major train line that takes me directly to both my work (no need to drive!) and to the city for those times I will need to escape the burbs! I can walk or ride a bike to the main streets of the area for eating out and getting supplies. There is also a fair bit of space in the backyard for me to plant fruit trees, grow vegetables and herbs and have a few chickens for those beautiful fresh eggs in the morning!

Needless to say, I’m excited. Although I’m going to be broke for a fair bit of the immediate future, it’s a sacrifice I’ m willing to make to bring me closer to fulfilling this dream. To be honest, the prospect for capital growth I make from this house in the near future also excites me, as it will probably enable me to buy a larger piece of land somewhere, surrounded by mountains, where I can create and write away from pollution and be serenaded by birdsong under the Queensland sun.

During my reverie, I’ve been researching sustainable, eco home manufacturers. I love these stylish modular homes by Prebuilt, an Australian manufacturer. Made in Victoria, waste and emissions are kept low and there is little impact on the earth at the site where the home is placed. With sustainable materials and climate-smart designs, these types of homes are what inspires me to start now. Ill leave you with some inspiration!