Hotchys' Islands' Thread

Rob Hotchkiss · Sun Jul 09, 2006 5:36 pm

As some of you know, i'm planning to buy an island in a few years, and then move there, and live nearly completely self sufficiently (not going to make my own toothpaste or medicine, although i walk most things off).

I have made this thread to discuss all things about it, as opposed to make lots of threads which would clog up the forums. As i've said, you are all welcome to come over when it's done, and if i ever get the chance i'll advertise this great site :P. So as everything is really up in the air, your opinions will be welcome and we can hopefully get together and make this work.

There are a few rough areas:

Shelter:

I am planning on constructing something when i get there, simple, 3 room place, would be a comfortable size though, energy is probably going to come from wind and/or solar power, and i'll cook with wood/charcoal.

Food:

Mainly what to grow, which animals to take etc. Obviously im going to need wheat, but i can mainly live on bread and beer. The Area needed for everything and how many harvests can be yielded.

The Rest:

Planning on having a fuel cell boat to get to land. Then there's the charcoal heated spa connected to the river i have planned.....

So, there's an overview, comments are welcome.

Andy Hamilton · Sun Jul 16, 2006 11:31 am

Shelter - Just saw a thing about building with straw bales that could be an option. It is a really green way to build. A timber frame on the outside, then straw and plaster blased over the top of this. It is a good insulator too. - you should be able to source local wood and straw to get this done. I think there is a plaster made from recyled paper and something else that you could use. - building at the moment is not a strong point so might need someone else to give advice on this one.

Food - Ultimatley what you can grow will be dictated by where you live, some crops will favour hotter weather and some will not. You will also have to think about water no use growing water hungry crops if all you have is sea around you and no way to take out the salt. What you would need to do is look at what you are eating now and try and grow that or something similar if you can. There is little point in growing crops that you don't like. Also worth remebering that some crops take a while to establish - especially fruit a citrus tree can take 20 years before you will see any fruit.

The river you have planned?? Are you planning to divert water?

You have also overlooked entertainment, do you play guitar? You should bring a good one that will last, like the Gibson J-190 or something if you do.

Boots · Post: # 26557Post **Boots** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 12:49 pm

What animals you will take will depend a great deal on how capable you are of processing them, and your cold storage.

The island itself will provide its own fencing as such, but you will still need to consider separating certain stock for breeding, birthing or protection. I would be absolutely certain I did not introduce any livestock without ensuring they were adequately prepared for in terms of containment.

No idea how big the island is, but you may want to be a tad careful that anything you introduce does not become a liability. ie- A couple of pigs can produce between 8 & 15 piglets, which can turn into an environmental menace if contained to a small area.

If you are running solar and have difficulties maintaining freezers, you might be better to stick with poultry. They breed quickly and can provide a regular form of small quantities of meat.

Really depends on what you need, and can handle. Can't offer too much more than that really - no idea what the conditions are, and what resources you have.

All the best with it though - sounds like a blast!

Rob Hotchkiss · Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:53 am

Thanks for the feedback guys, havn't bought the island yet, working out size and climate etc (it's too hot here atm, thinking norway). I would like a river though ;). I have to go, but i shall post some more thoughts a bit later.

Chickpea · Post: # 26864Post **Chickpea** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 12:43 pm

Why not make your own toothpaste? They're all just made of chalk (as an abrasive), sodium laureth sulphate (the detergent but it's not for cleaning it's just because people like it foamy), sweetener and flavouring (to hide the taste of the chalk and detergent), and flouride (but that's only of benefit to kids because their teeth are still growing. If you have a full set of adult gnashers fluoride is no use to you).

You don't even need toothpaste at all. Just brushing with a brush will get your teeth as clean as brushing with toothpaste, but admittedly I don't like it because your mouth ends up tasting of your own teeth's muck. I'm just used to the minty taste, although I suppose you could gargle afterwards (with home-made minty mouthwash).

You can use pure bicarbonate of soda as a toothpowder, and you can muck about adding herbs of flavourings including peppermint oil if you like.

I've just googled and there are recipes for toothpaste and mouthwash here:
http://mizar5.com/toothpst.htm
http://www.cosmeticsdiary.com/homemade-toothpaste.htm
http://www.cosmeticsdiary.com/homemade-mouthwash.htm
http://www.cosmeticsdiary.com/homemade-mouthwash.htm

Andy Hamilton · Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:03 pm

excellent chickpea, I have been looking for an alternative to toothpaste. I think that the tubes are such a waste, there is no way to reuse them and they are often made of plastic.

I have still yet to find an alternaitve to a plastic toothbrush as well, there are the ones that you change the head of but they are still plastic.

I quite like this thread as it could work out to be pretty usefull for all of us as the very nature of Robs plans makes us question our consumption of everything.

grahoom · Post: # 26873Post **grahoom** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:05 pm

wow where will the island be???

i have a book on straw bale construction, i'll dig out the title of it and bung you a link, its pretty neat, and the cost of a build is pretty cheap in comparison.

did you ever see the grand design with Ben Law and his house he build? an amazing construction!

sounds like an amazing idea, how much do islands cost these days?

Shirley · Post: # 26886Post **Shirley** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 3:01 pm

Andy - you can buy wooden toothbrushes - have only seen them for children so far but I bet there are adult ones... http://www.naturalnursery.co.uk/product ... f7badebd05

Andy Hamilton · Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:04 pm

grahoom wrote:wow where will the island be???

i have a book on straw bale construction, i'll dig out the title of it and bung you a link, its pretty neat, and the cost of a build is pretty cheap in comparison.

did you ever see the grand design with Ben Law and his house he build? an amazing construction!

sounds like an amazing idea, how much do islands cost these days?

I saw that repeated the other day on more 4, pretty cool house too. It made me wonder if you could grow your own house. plant a few pine trees for the timber and obviously you could grow your own straw. Not sure if pine is any good to build with though.

cheers for the link shrilz will check it out.

grahoom · Post: # 26939Post **grahoom** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:30 pm

I saw that repeated the other day on more 4, pretty cool house too. It made me wonder if you could grow your own house. plant a few pine trees for the timber and obviously you could grow your own straw. Not sure if pine is any good to build with though.

cheers for the link shrilz will check it out.

would be good to do, pretty much what ben law did really, using most of the materials he could get from his woodland, including lime for the render, obviously wood for the structure, even wooden tiles for the roof, and nails!!!

been following the cost of woodland for the past 2 years, its quite reasonable, the only problem is planning permission, it got him 10 years to get permission, and on the condition that if he moved, or sold the woodland he's have to take down the house

makes you wonder, something like that, should be actively encouraged by the government. especially considering his trade, way of life is keeping an old tradtion alive in this country.

(sorry for rant, too much cider....)

Muddypause · Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:57 pm

grahoom wrote:the only problem is planning permission, it got him 10 years to get permission, and on the condition that if he moved, or sold the woodland he's have to take down the house

Someone was telling me the other day that this condition has now been lifted.

grahoom · Post: # 26965Post **grahoom** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:24 am

Muddypause wrote:
grahoom wrote:the only problem is planning permission, it got him 10 years to get permission, and on the condition that if he moved, or sold the woodland he's have to take down the house
Someone was telling me the other day that this condition has now been lifted.

ah thats really good! - would be a shame to have to demolish such an amazing building!!!

Andy Hamilton · Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:49 am

Ah I saw a different straw bale house, one in France.

Rob Hotchkiss · Thu Jul 20, 2006 2:11 pm

Funny you should mention that, was were i got the idea really. Starter looking at forests and woodland, possibly charcoal burning, then saw the tribe website, realised it seemed much like a con, and decided an island might be good (declare independance etc etc).

Andy Hamilton · Mon Jul 24, 2006 10:49 am

Rob Hotchkiss wrote:Funny you should mention that, was were i got the idea really. Starter looking at forests and woodland, possibly charcoal burning, then saw the tribe website, realised it seemed much like a con, and decided an island might be good (declare independance etc etc).

This is another issue all together, how happy would a govenment be if some of there land was bought and then declared an independent state? - The only place I know of that has done this is sealand. They have faced many problems.