A New Life ON THE RIO GRANDE

(Page 6 of 6)

August/September 1999
By Lisa Mower 
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I currently light the house with a $127 kerosene Aladdin table lamp, which has a flame burning brighter than two $18.95, 60-watt Dietz Blizzard lamps, and a cheapo $5 kerosene lamp. I'd like another couple of Aladdins, but that's down the line.

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Everything functions pretty well. I am installing a small, 15,000 BTU vented propane heater with a mechanical thermostat that I'll set at 45°F to 50°F before winter sets in. Frozen pipes and stoking the stove every two or three hours all night long are a drag and hard on the budget.

Summer cooking is outdoors or on a two-burner propane unit.

Luxury of luxuries, I do have a woodfired hot tub made out of a "Scuba" stove ($539) and a 6' stock watering tank ($180). It is at once primitive and civilized.

I have a three-watt cell phone for emergencies and a battery-operated CD player/radio to keep up on the latest weather news. I have a cat and two dogs, and although they're not appliances, they do perform services. The cat is for mice and snakes, the Great Dane for in-house alarm and the new Great Pyrenees to guard the property and future stock. Plus, you cannot beat their loyalty, love and companionship.

This spring, there'll be 36 chickens for eggs, meat and barter (the most valuable currency in rural areas). I plan to build a cinder block building around the water tank, inside its hole. It will serve as cold storage and water catchment as soon as an insulated roof is added. The large volume of water will keep everything at a constant temperature through summer and winter.

Altogether I spent $33,000 - about an average down payment these days—and I was in my home in four months. As you can see, I have many projects planned, which will take time and money, but at least I don't pay rent and my utilities and insurance run less than $2,000 a year. I've never been more challenged on a daily basis, nor have I learned more. This is heaven, or at least my little piece of it.

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  • Cary 3/23/2007 8:48:06 AM

    Howdy, found this very interesting article while doing a search for
    info on old Servel gas refrigerators. Wanted to correct an error
    (in a friendly manner!) concerning the statement about the old
    Servel fridges being "outlawed". In the United States, there is a
    voluntary "recall" where you can get $100 if you prove you have
    destroyed your unit, but if it still works, it's worth more than
    that to someone who knows what they are. They are not "outlawed" in
    the U.S. The powers that be just discourage their use. Also, you
    could probably make more than $100 by parting it out. Just don't
    cut open the cooling system! I have read that the old Servels are
    "outlawed" in Canada, but don't have any factual evidence to
    support that, and see them advertised for sale on Canadian websites
    quite often. The recall has to do with carbon monoxide emmisions
    from the unit if the user doesn't keep the burner and flue clean as
    per the old factory owner's manuals. Keep the burning system clean,
    or put the fridge out in the shed or on the front porch like some
    of the old-timers used to do, and it should be fine. A carbon
    monoxide detector, as mentioned in the article, is a very good idea
    just to be safe. I agree with the writer, if you have an old
    Servel, and use it, protect that sucker, cause they havn't made
    them since for over 40 years!

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