217_How to Choose a Sustainable Place to Live

Adventures in Sustainable Living Podcast

E217

How to Choose a Sustainable Place to Live

Given the world we live in today, you may be having thoughts of living in some remote place to get away from it all. But as romantic as it may sound, running off into the wilderness and living off the land may not be the best option. You simply may not be able to sustain yourself long-term unless you are extremely creative. 

But, if that is not an option where could you live and do the same thing? As it turns out, you could actually stay in an urban area. Not only that, it may be easier to have a sustainable life in the city because of the easy availability of resources.

But how do you choose the best place? So join me for E217 How to Choose a Sustainable Place to Live.

Welcome back everyone to the Adventures in Sustainable Living Podcast. This is your host Patrick and this is E217 How to Choose a Sustainable Place to Live.

In the last episode we discussed how it is possible to have a sustainable lifestyle no matter where you choose to live. Cities and urban areas offer sustainable living opportunities through the efficient use of resources and infrastructure. Rural living can be sustainable through the right practices and personal habits. My life at the cabin is a perfectly good example. At the end of the day the sustainability of living in either environment largely depends on the use of available infrastructure, your mindset, your motivation and careful personal choices. That is what truly makes the difference.

If you are thinking hard about having a sustainable lifestyle and the best way to achieve that, then choosing a place to live becomes a significant consideration. Since you can live sustainably in the city and in a rural area, it is a matter of choosing what is right for you.

But before we get to that, let’s talk about the good news story of the week. This weeks story is more of a point of interest about about planet and about a remarkable achievement.

An international team of scientist in Antarctica have successfully extracted what is believed to be the worlds oldest ice. They drilled down over two miles and actually reached bedrock.

What is interesting is that the tiny air bubbles trapped inside the ice core are small capsules of Earth’s atmospheric past dating back nearly 1.2 million years. Analysis could bring to light some of the mysteries of glacial climate cycles.

This was accomplished after 200 days of drilling, working at altitudes of 3,200 meters above sea level with average summer temperature of -35℃. Knowing why there have been dramatic changes in glacial cycles may shed new light on our climate future which I think is truly fascinating.

Now, let’s move on to this week’s episode about how to choose a sustainable place to live. As you know by now, you can have a sustainable lifestyle no matter where you choose to live. But you must also realize

there are a whole host of considerations in determining where and how you live.  I am only going to cover some of the most important aspects of making that choice while focusing on developing a sustainable lifestyle. 

Lifestyle Choice

First and foremost, you have to ask yourself what type of lifestyle do you really want and what actually fits your personality. I touched on this toward the end of the last episode but I want to now expand on that idea because this is extremely important. 

More than anything else, the type of lifestyle you want to establish will be the pivotal factor for many other decisions. Consequently, it is very important to consider the following questions:

-What level of self sufficiency do you want to achieve?

Being 100% self sufficient is possible but very difficult. Chances are your self sufficient lifestyle will be a happy marriage between old country wisdom and modern technology. Even at the cabin, we are only about 70% self sufficient. For example, we are 100% self sufficient for electricity and water. We produce about 50% of our own food. But we depend on outside sources of employment to make money and provide ourselves with all other resources needed to live there. 

My suggestion would be to set a realistic goal for the level of self sufficiency you want to achieve. If that is not possible where you are presently living then consider another location.

-What percentage of your food do you want to produce?

There are few things more sustainable than producing your own food. It doesn’t get any better than walking into your backyard to pick fresh vegetables. That is the shortest farm to tablet trip ever.

That said, producing any amount of your own food comes with a certain amount of obligation, forethought and planning. Having a garden means you have to tend to it. Raising animals for food means you will have chores almost everyday.

Again, I would suggest setting a realistic goal. Look at your present diet and make a list of the most common things you eat and decide if you can produce a certain amount of that at home. Setting a goal for producing 25% of your own food is actually very realistic.

-Do you want to live in suburbia or in a rural area?

Living in either location has pros and cons. Resources are easily available in urban areas but it can be more challenging with rural living depending on your location. Living in suburbia likely means always dealing with neighbors. If personal privacy is high on your list of values, rural living may better suit your choices.

-Do you want to be tied to the grid or completely independent?

This is a huge thing to consider and is totally a personal preference. I love the independence of being off grid. So many times over the past 8 years people loose electricity because of a storm and it never affects me.

But, solar power also means you have to be more conservative. Additionally, reducing your use of electricity also means you will have to install a small solar array which can save you a considerable amount of money.

-Is commuting going to be a challenge and do you even want to deal with that?

This is another big question and one I had to come to terms with. Fortunately, I have been able to get creative and greatly reduce my commuting time.

Employment Opportunities

No matter where you choose to live if you do not have gainful employment, life is going to be a lot more difficult. Many a person has dreamed of living in a rural area and went back to the city because they could not make a go of it financially.

If the location of your job would require long distance commuting consider living somewhere else or change jobs. Or see if it is possible to keep your present employment and work from home. If not, are there other online job opportunities that may be equally satisfying and financially rewarding in order to have the lifestyle you really want.

Consider Your Personal Skills

Another big are to consider is your personal knowledge and skill set. Can you do construction work? Can you do home improvements on your own? Can you build a cabin on your own, do electrical work, concrete work, etc? Are you familiar with gardening techniques? What about animal husbandry? 

Without these kinds of personal skills, it may be easier for you to live in a more urban area.  In my experience if you live in a more remote area hiring someone to do work for you many just not be an option. Most contractors are going to stick close to home because it is more financially productive for them. It they actually agree to work in a more rural area, they are going to charge you a lot more.

For example, this is one of the biggest reasons I took an extensive class on solar design and installation. I did all the work myself and I can troubleshoot and do repairs without having to hire anyone.

If there is one thing I have learned, when you live in a rural area, creativity and ingenuity become your best friends. Unless you are willing to learn new skills and do things you have never done before, then living in suburbia is a better choice.

Purchasing Raw Land vs Property with Existing Structures

If you choose to make a purchase, whether that be in a rural area or in suburbia, and the property is going to be your primary residence immediately, then purchasing something with an existing structure may be the way to go. However, if you have the time and skill to build a small cabin while living in another place, you can save yourself a considerable amount of money. Another consideration, is to purchase raw land and have a small prefabricated cabin dropped onto the property. This makes it immediately possible to live there while you work on building a primary residence.

When I initially purchased the cabin property, it took me about 5 months of construction work to get the cabin to the point that I could move in. During the time, I was living in a tent. But once I moved into the cabin I was nice and comfortable and could take my time on additional improvements.

Amenities and Services

Even self sufficient folks need access to basic supplies and certain repair professionals. Get to know exactly what local resources are available such as rural lenders, banks, mechanics, plumbers, building supply outlets, ranch and farm supply stores, etc.

Think about the proximity of your residence to your job, schools, parks, entertainment options, medical facilities, supermarkets, hardware stores and any other services that you may need on a regular basis. If you are constantly commuting long distances this can add up to considerable cost over time not to mention the amount of personal time spent in a vehicle that could be spent in other productive ways.

Another consideration is the availability of public transportation. Are things close enough that you can walk or ride a bike or do you always have to commute?

Logistics and Infrastructure

Then you have to consider what infrastructure is available especially water, sewer, electricity. Can you hook up to that infrastructure or do you have to provide things for yourself. Do you have to drill a well or install a septic on top of building a home?

Road maintenance  and property access is important if you live in snow country. Who is responsible for that? 

While existing infrastructure is great to have because it makes life a bit easier what will happen to that infrastructure in the event of an emergency. Will it still be functioning? If not, do you have a back up plan.

Geographic location and climate preference

These things go hand in hand and are important pivotal factors. These two things in many ways will dictate lifestyle, housing options, gardening techniques, and even available options and types of renewable energy. For example, building a house, living, and producing much of your own food in a hot dry climate is completely different than at 10,000 feet in snow country.

Be aware of your surroundings

Fortunately, modern technology makes this so much easier these days. If you are  considering buying rural property, bring up a satellite view of that property and the surrounding area. This can reveal a lot of things that would normally be blocked from view by trees and other obstacles as you stand on the property.

Does the property border a major roadway, railroad, or industrial area where you will have to contend with noise and pollution? Are local waterways nearby that would bring flooding after a hard rain? Are there large scale agricultural operations nearby? If so, has there been heavy use of pesticides in the past that could affect the quality of your ground water? If there are livestock operations, is the odor going to affect you and are you willing to deal with it?

It is also a great idea to do some ground work by driving around the area to check out the condition of surrounding properties. This will give you an idea of how others take care of their property. The care of their property is a direct indication of whether or not they take pride in ownership.

Check local tax records to see how often properties have changed ownership. This is an indication of the stability of your community. In the end, this type of simple research will help you make the decision of whether or not to trouble a realtor with setting up a showing.

Environmental Factors

One of the primary concerns for any potential property you want to purchase is the presence of any sort of contamination. The federal government holds property owners accountable for clean up of environmental contamination even if it occurred before purchasing the property.

The next two areas of concern are whether or not the property is designated for endangered species and if the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has placed any special classifications on the property, such as designated wetlands. If either one of these conditions exist, it may place considerable restrictions on how you can use the property. For example, it may make a difference in whether or not you can clear brush, build structures, and even harvest and sell timber.

Hazardous Conditions

This is something that a lot of people over look. But, you might want to stay away from nuclear plants, earthquake faults, tornado prone areas, drought prone areas (not only for reasons of available water but also risk of forest fires), low lying areas (flood plains, hurricanes, and tsunamis), or areas prone to any other extreme weather conditions (high wind, extreme heat or cold, or places with very little daylight in the winter).

There is one thing I have noticed about people in the United States and this is something I truly cannot understand.  The fastest growing areas in the U.S. are the ones with the most hazardous conditions or the least amount of water. California, the Phoenix valley and Florida or perfectly good examples. In my opinion, as we start experiencing more and more extremes due to climate change, when choosing a place to live taking potential hazardous conditions into consideration is just being smart.

Summary

Now, if I ever get to the point where I would consider selling the cabin property and moving somewhere else, when considering different locations, one of the first things I would ask myself is “Could I live there and sustain myself? If so, could I do it in an environmentally friendly way? Would it be easy or extremely difficult.

There is one thing I tell people all the time about living off the grid. If you are going to do it long-term you have to develop a decent lifestyle with some measure of comfort. Otherwise you will be stuck in a perpetual struggle to get anything accomplished and you will never be truly happy.

You must know there are numerous things to consider when choosing a sustainable place to live. I have only touched on some of the highlights. But some of the things I mentioned could be deal breakers.

Living next to a nuclear plant for me would be a deal breaker. Buying property anywhere in hurricane alley would be a deal breaker. Living in the far north with long, cold, dark winters where options for renewable energy just were not possible would be a deal breaker.

But the bottom line here is that it is truly not so much where you live but how you live that makes the difference in whether or not you have a sustainable lifestyle. It’s just that some locations are going to be far easier than others. This brings us back to what is mostly likely one of the most important considerations. What kind of lifestyle do you really want? What is most sensible considering your knowledge and skill set?

Additionally, living in a location that is both sensible and sustainable, has numerous benefits. Reducing the amount that you drive is better for the planet, easier on your wallet, and frees up a lot of personal time. Avoiding or minimizing the need for new infrastructure saves time and money and reduces the need for new materials. Choosing a location that maximizes the efficient use of resource also means less traffic, reduced air pollution which in turn improves the local environment. An environmentally efficient lifestyle also conserves natural resources, reduces habitat destruction and preserves open spaces.

And above all, choose carefully and do no harm. If more people thought that way, our world would be a much better place.

Now I want to close out this episode with the sustainability tip of the week. It sort of comes in the form of a question. Is it difficult to be sustainable? Well, yes and no.

When you live in a society and culture where ease, convenience, over consumption and relentless consumerism is the norm, it is sometimes difficult to make sustainable choices. What you have to remember is that our personal choices are the very thing that drives the marketplace. Consequently, our choices can make changes. And choosing a sustainable place to live is a good foundation for a sustainable life.

This is your host Patrick, signing off. Always remember to live sustainable because this is how we build a better future.