Planning continues for living in a tent in inner Sydney.

The tentative tent plans are mainly the Where to pitch? part.

First off I’m planning a short stint in a community garden where there’s food growing to go and fellow gardeners to share the fun and join me on my to-be-built pallet verandah.

Anyone who has a site they think may work is very welcome to contact me here on the blog or the website at:   archive.sustainablehouse.com…

Decisions have been made about:

• the dog; a labrador called Puk, to be lent to me by Jess – what a friend, and what a beautiful dog
• the light;  a light being sold for use by families in tents in India has been given to me by Monique – what an entrepreneur you are, Mon – thanks
• the hot water; a black or red earthen or some such large pot of about 150 litre capacity such as is used by traditional Sasak folk in Lombok – see a photo of one in an outdoor shower in Lombok that I took last month, here:  archive.sustainablehouse.com…
• the hot water pot will probably sit on top of a fuel stand that’s no longer used from a farm and which I hope a farmer I know will lend me
• the food: the first site has good tucker growing so that’s something to look forward to
• the water will get to the pot from solar powered bilge pump used in boats – not quickly but steadily
• to protect public morality the shower space will be screened by timber pallets I’ll get from streets and places I know about; these will also form the pallet verandah where I”ll share a cold beer on a hot day with fellow gardeners and ne’er do wells who drop by to share the tent life with me – all such welcome

Today I was rejected for a three month lease at a property I offered to rent as the landlord wanted a longer lease.  So the tent option is looking better and better.

[For those who came here late, I went overseas and expected to stay there 'til February but have come back early and can't get back into my house as others have it 'til February 2013]

My main worry is the long dark night of the coward in a tent – me – the labrador will try to lick any violent types to death and that may not be enough.  Thinking on this aspect.

A related fact: the tent has three rooms so if there are any real men or women prepared to do battle on the tent fields of Sydney do volunteer and expect your own tent room as your reward – and  a fresh salad and a trickling hot shower are on offer for those who venture into this with me, even if only for a night or two.

My goal in all of this, aside from finding a place to stay for three months ’til February, is to show how easy, simple and cheap it is to build and live sustainably.  Oh; and to stay alive – Puk, are you listening?

May the tents be with us,

M