Don, so glad I stumbled upon your channel. For years I was saving to purchase NM land and do exactly what you are doing with your 'shed to cottage' home, solar array, and even your wildlife pond. That was 4 years ago before my stroke. My reality now is this -- Moving from GA to NM as a solo, female senior is no longer physically possible for me. Enjoy your videos and please keep them coming.
I'm terribly sad that your plans/dreams won't come to fruition. I'm living in NM in a city environment that I detest. I should be planning, as you were/are, to live out in NM somewhere other than my current location. Please continue to pursue your dreams!
Carolyn I am so sorry that this life curve happened and I am delighted that in some small way my videos can be enjoyable for you. Thanks so very much and keep well okay?
I am 80 and I love seeing people independent and living off grid. I still have mobility, a capable mind. I also live in Chino Valley, az but on grid. Keep up the good work.
I changed my name from AZ bound to AZ homesteading because I’m here now starting to homestead. Thank you for your wisdom and being brave and sharing your fails and what you learn. God bless you.
LOL You are my Desert Hero ! I love going back through your videos.. 🤣 I am actually learning some good how too's ! I may get me one of those Buddy heaters .. Like yours. 🐑 🌵 Thanks for all you share Don.
Don, You amaze me with all the projects I would never have thought of to keep things clean. As for a PC, man, I am not one.(at 74 I am to old for that kind of crap lol) I was happy with your mother's saying. However while cleaning out the mud and debris in the pond the organic cleaning one had me laughing. Your absolutely right, just get in and get the job over with.You are living the dream. Have a wonderful week be safe and God Bless in all you do.
Don, look into "olla" self watering for your plants. You can easily make them using terra cotta pots and a cork - you fill them up with water, cover, and they will directly water the roots of the plants. VERY effective for hot, arid desert environments.
Great video! So informative, instructional. I love your delivery, calm, some humor, some work ethic. Nice that you include pictures and descriptions of the flora and fauna
@@affordabledesertliving3487 I love your channel and to be honest with you I'm surprised how much you have accomplished at your age. No offense at all but very impressed. I am 48 years old doing the same thing with my family in northern Arizona and I realize how hard it is. Good for you you are an oak my friend
I live in the SW too. It absolutely boils my blood to see folks wasting water out here when we are so careful with every drop. Golf courses, inappropriate lawns and vegetation just for starters. Wish we could sue them for squandering OUR aquifer
I hear you Kurt! I cant think of ANYTHING as useless as a golf course in Arizona! Use astro turf or something! Just not water! Preaching to the choir here for sure!
Cottonwoods love water, I hope😂 I love that Don👏👏👏 Great organic cleaning of your water tank and pond☺️💙 Wow your pond looks deep enough to have a small pool😁 I really love it as a waterfall, it's really relaxing and nice out there for the wildlife🤗🌼 I am grateful for your explanations of how you work your land and projects! So helpful👍 Continued blessings your way Don😊🙏 Have a great weekend☀️🏜️
You did a great job of making the water last. I didn’t realize how small the tank is. I really love your little pond. Excellent video once again Don. ❤️🥰👌🏽
So fun to watch you with your projects, hopefully this will be me soon. A little distilled white vinegar makes a great cleaner for you water tank and no bad bleach or chemical smells later on.
I adore you and your channel. You always bring a smile to my face while watching your videos, and also the occasional chuckle. My fiance and I very much enjoy what you do. Keep it up!!
When you pulled out the duct tape, I thought of another Canadian, Red Green, who called duct tape "the handyman's secret weapon". Well done on the water systems maintenance.
Wow! Do other people do that? Clean out their water tanks? I think it's a great idea. You're a clean man! After seeing you do that I'd want to do mine if I ever had one. That's a cute little fountain and pond. I can't stand mud and muck. 🤢🤮 Stuff sure does get dirty, doesn't it? Seems like stuff gets more dusty and faster now than when I was a child. Thanks for all the great videos about off-grid living. Enjoy watching.
Hi Artsyladycrafter. Yes other off-grid folks clean them out too. Some even crawl down into the tank! But as a "mature" guy I keep risky things to a minimum overall. Thanks for watching all the vids! Great to have you here.
Great gig!!!!! Next tank clean add one cup of bleach while you do the mop up. It will dissipate and not hurt the plants or trees. Also, the pond needs some Skeeter eating fish. When you clean the pond you can hold them in a 5 gallon bucket.
@@affordabledesertliving3487 yes we use 2 inch pvc pipe any way the robins bald eagles and all sorts of water fowl are returning to Alberta spring is upon us .
Get yourself 4 or 5 used 400 gallon IBC totes from Craigslist and plumb those to your rainwater collection system... 1600 to 2000 gallons should get you through the dry months. When yo run out, they can be filled by your local tank truck.
Citizen Brain. At the end of this system is a 1200 gallon tank. Much better than IBC totes. Yep I do indeed get additional water from a local water company.
Hi Don, I have been watching since you started. Love the channel! Its amazing how you improvise to get things done. I ESPECIALLY love the waterfall...how nicely it held up!!! Great Job!!
Hi Don. With the food problems now , maybe you should get some seeds to help you out and grow you a garden for food. Just saying it might be a wise thing to do. I wish you the best and keep up the good work. Love the videos.
Hi Don, Just found your channel and really enjoy your videos. I am also a senior and my projects are quite small. I am limited by ill health but I am pushing on with my little cob mud hut which I started in 2014 just before I was diagnosed with cancer. My lovely husband suggested covering it all up with a gazebo which we did and it limited the rain damage as I hadn't got to the roof stage. Anyway I am back building on my good days and really enjoying it. I also have just got a small greenhouse which is a joy for me. Thanks again. Oh I also love seeing your beautiful birds. Hi from Western Australia
Hi Muriel. Thank you so much for watching these videos. I am so delighted you enjoy them. I pray for grace to deal with your health struggles and I appreciate hearing about your courage as you pursue your dream of doing a cob building and a lovely little greenhouse. The birds are indeed beautiful here. What you may not know is that I have been to Aus several times. Once for 6 months to film your beautiful parrots. I filmed all but night parrot. In WA I got my only footage of Rock Parrot, Western Corella, Bourke's Parrot etc. Just no end to amazing birds. I always tell folks I am really an Australian, I just happened to be born in Canada. Thanks again for watching Muriel!
Thanks for the water rationing lessons. I saw the white feathers on the raven. Please be careful fiddling with the tanks so that you don't fall in. I heard awful stories about folks who've done that and had no way of getting out.
Your so welcome Artemisia. Trust me I know I am not as agile as I used to be and I definitely wouldnt crawl into the tank. Way too intimidated of that one.
Hi Don. You’re videos are great and helpful. I have some ‘dumb’ questions: 1. Why is it necessary to drain the tank before water delivery? 2. Since the pump is submersible, can it just be left in the tank permanently? I realize you remove the pump to use in the pond, but if you didn’t have a pond would you still remove the pump from the tank?
You seem like a really nice guy Don and kudos to you for having the stones to leave Canada come on down here to Arizona to a completely different climate and a completely different way of living that took courage...... A few pointers bud you need a truck in the worst way this off-grid life is a practice in self-reliance even a small truck like a Toyota Ford ranger or the like can do a heck of a lot of work and make your life a lot easier I wouldn't buy one unless it had four wheel drive because monsoon rains bring a lot of mud and living out a ways you just never know..... Get yourself a wood stove if nothing else as a backup there's plenty of wood available around you that could be used in a pinch.... Redundancy will save your life Not to mention make things a lot more comfortable If you don't already have one may I suggest some kind of a shotgun it is a valuable tool that can go a long ways in deterring hostiles no matter how many legs they have. Trust me when I say a rabid wild animal can really screw up your day Another thing... Auger anchors are amazing tools to keep things where you put them like shade structures carports awnings and the like they install easy by twisting in the ground and you will have no more problems with things taking flight not only that they're pretty cheap Hope this helps good day sir
Delighted you came by to watch mixrmandd. Thanks for all of the kind and encouraging comments bud. I shove even 10' timber inside my crazy little toyota corolla. If I need to haul bigger things my neighbor has a pick up I can use. This makes my gas costs super cheap. As a senior on social security I simply cant afford to purchase a small pick up. That said I only need a serious pickup a few times a year so I am good. Not much wood here bud. Just some scattered mesquite. The good thing is that I am toasty warm with my big buddy heater. Having been born and raised in bush country in Canada and lived in bush camps for years as a wildlife researcher I am pretty comfortable living in modest rural situations. So appreciate you came by! Thanks again!
@@affordabledesertliving3487 dear sir. If not a truck a good used minivan will do most of what a small pickup will do while maintaining your fuel milage preference. Sooner or later you'll have to replace your vehicle anyway especially because unpaved roads eat up passenger based suspension very quickly.
I just love watching your chanel. It's amazing how much you get done so soon. Your videos are so entertaining and educational. It just shows what we are capable of. I hope you get family and friends visiting often.( please try to get a step stool ,those folding chairs will throw you and you could get hurt out there by yourself that would be bad) love you!
Thanks Carol for such a warm comment. I will need to be careful climbing on things for sure. So glad you enjoy the videos and once I get more developed here hope to have more company visiting for sure.
Enjoyed the video. A couple of things, and, double check me first. One, if you can get some woodchips somewhere, put them around the plants you water. The woodchips will hold water and help keep the water below them from evaporating. Also, they will break down into great soil, meanwhile furnishing your plants with compost tea. Two, I would think the "gunk" you got out of your pond would be full of nutrients for your plants.
Great job eh, Don, have you ever thought about using a pool vacuum to clean the debris and dirt out of the bottom of your water tank, might be an idea to look into. Thanks for your video. 🙂
I hope you are getting some of this rain - I'm over in NM on the other side of the Chiricahua Mountains from you. Enjoy your videos. Although some of the old timers in the area say that when the monsoon season starts in June, it will be a short season. Let's hope they are wrong this year.
Thanks Dennis and yes lets hope a short monsoon season doesnt happen. Last year was fantastic! We got a lot of rain just in the past 24 hours. Thanks for watching.
Don, are you ok? The reason I ask this is you haven't posted anything on TH-cam for a week or so. I really like your videos & miss them. You're an amazing guy, a real inspiration. I think you're wonderful. I'm in Werribee, Victoria, Australia. I'm 72 years old. I can't walk due to osteoarthritis . But I'm still alive & kicking & that's the main thing. I wish you success in your endeavours. Yours truly, Neil Bendon.
G'day Neil. Such a delight to hear from you. I have been in Australia several times since age 28. At one point I lived there for 6 months and I know your country really well and love it. I led a parrot lovers tour in 2019 to Werribee water treatment plant. We were on a quest to find Blue-winged Parrots. Thanks you for all of the wonderful comments Neil and I am so heartened by them. Please take care of yourself and thanks again for watching mate!
A FUN WAY TO PASS THE TIME A GREAT PLACE TO LEARN OFF GRID KINDA OF GUY AS THE WORLD SLOWLY TURNS ALL IS PRESENT FOR US EVIDENCE WELL SHOWN COFFEE IN THE MORNING OR A DOG WITH A BONE COOL...NEAT...AND REAL
Hi Don.Another job well done, sorry job`s well done.I had forgotten just how deep your little pond was.Love the extended mop idea ,the simple solutions are sometimes the best.,Great wee video Don. ATB
You can cut a green twig about the thickness of a pencil, put in water leave until roots form or us roots g powder. You can put quite a few in a 5 gal bucket. You can also take a shoot of of a sucker. Cottonwood or I, preferred popular. You can get seeds from locusts, they grow like weeds, tough as nails.
❤️🌵💦 hi Don as an Australian I appreciate your water conservation. Perhaps some heavy mulch / stone mulch or olla pots might stretch the water further for your trees..?🤔 Personally, I use a large plastic bottle half buried beside my fruit trees. Burn a small hole in the lid, 3/4 cut the bottom off for filling with H20 and keep bugs out of the reservoir.
Hmmmm thanks for info for the havilena monsters, but I wonder if it would affect my little but thinks he is very large dog “hank” he is a great guard dog , love how well you explained and demonstrate ! Wonderful!!
Thanks for the lovely comments Judy. Knowing your little dog having met him I am wondering if you could do what I do. I turn the item on just before bed since Javelinas come in at night. So it will only be activated then. Javelinas are smart. One or two times of interacting with this device they dont want anything to do with it and stop coming I found.
I'd really be hard pressed to not put a bamboo platform at the bottom of that pond and a sitting ledge. Hot days with the cool water just flowing over the body.... man I may nee to get my own land just so I can do this :p
Hello, I couldn't find your video for your surgery. I wanted to share that my appendectomy was at age 5.😮 My teddy bear named Yogi had his removed too 😅. Either was used for sedation in the 50's.
We are on the list for well drilling, but until then I haul water in my 3/4 ton diesel truck. I can haul 400 gals per load to fill our 3500 gal tank. In addition, I fill a 275 gal cube for watering our fruit trees and goats. It works, but looking forward to a well. Our big tank is on top of a hill, so gravity feeds each residence. I use a 12v RV pump for running our drip system from the cube.
When I was boy in the 60's, I used to clean out our 4000 gal cistern in Kentucky once in awhile. I remember when we had to buy water I think it was $4, for 2000 gallons then. But that was rare. That raven might make a good pet ?
Wow $4.00 for 2000 gallons. That would be nice! I give the Ravens treats some times. Hot dogs and fish mostly LOL. But I dont want them coming to the doorstep and getting in the way of my video editing LOL.
You always git her done Don!! I have a filter system on my ponds at my bricks and sticks. Water stays clear but trap system still allows muck to build up. I have lily's and such in them. I don't know of a inexpensive system to avoid that yearly chore of mucking..
Don, You're a funny guy! Love your voice by the way. Now that you've had it a while, would you go with a black tank next time, or stick with the same desert sand color?
Hi Desert Dog. Thanks for the lovely comments. No I would stick with desert sand color. Its light impervious and so no advantage at all with going with black. Fortunately for me a rain water harvesting company where you can buy these is only 15 min drive away!
I have the same size tank in my basement... don't ask, long story. If one is careful a single person can live fine for a couple of months without worry, mine has never been below half a tank.
@@affordabledesertliving3487 I have rural water and can refill mine. A rock bed creek lies between me and my water connection tho. I can refill my tank with a hose. Winter can be a challenge tho.
Hi Don, I use a few layers of J cloth and a Kitchen strainer to filter out rain water. But I don't have a huge tank like yours. And I don't drink the water, I get my drinking water from the local Sobey's . I also use a mixture of Bleach and water to clean my tank, then flush really good. Thanks for the video!
Thanks a lot Don. I’ll be humming “Killing Me Softly” all day now…. ;-) Do you own a small shop vac? That might be a useful tool to have for doing these tank and pond cleanings. Just a thought.
Yup talented Roberta Flack and her lovely voice. I dont own a shop vac but I like to be careful of the pond liner and only put smaller items in it so not to cut or damage it.
I love that car wash song!
Yep Its been around a long long time too LOL.
Don, so glad I stumbled upon your channel. For years I was saving to purchase NM land and do exactly what you are doing with your 'shed to cottage' home, solar array, and even your wildlife pond. That was 4 years ago before my stroke. My reality now is this -- Moving from GA to NM as a solo, female senior is no longer physically possible for me. Enjoy your videos and please keep them coming.
I'm terribly sad that your plans/dreams won't come to fruition. I'm living in NM in a city environment that I detest. I should be planning, as you were/are, to live out in NM somewhere other than my current location. Please continue to pursue your dreams!
Carolyn I am so sorry that this life curve happened and I am delighted that in some small way my videos can be enjoyable for you. Thanks so very much and keep well okay?
Carolyn, I'm so happy you have Don to live vicariously through. Sorry it didn't work out for you.
I am 80 and I love seeing people independent and living off grid. I still have mobility, a capable mind. I also live in Chino Valley, az but on grid. Keep up the good work.
Joseph I wish you the best of health. My neighbor Ron is 81 and still rides his horse regularly! Thanks so much for watching!
Had a laugh when you said...'you going to mop out all 4 corners', of your round tank
Yeah that was a bit of slip of the tongue I guess LOL.
I changed my name from AZ bound to AZ homesteading because I’m here now starting to homestead. Thank you for your wisdom and being brave and sharing your fails and what you learn. God bless you.
Congratulations on your new homestead Donna! Way to go. Thankyou for such lovely affirming and encouraging comments! God Bless you as well!
You're so smart and funny.
Thanks so much Flyover Urban Garden. So lovely to have you here watching.
You can sing. I love it. Better than music.
Very high praise. Thanks Valerie!
LOL You are my Desert Hero ! I love going back through your videos.. 🤣 I am actually learning some good how too's !
I may get me one of those Buddy heaters .. Like yours. 🐑 🌵 Thanks for all you share Don.
Thank you so much Olive. Such high praise and heartwarming as well.
Don, You amaze me with all the projects I would never have thought of to keep things clean. As for a PC, man, I am not one.(at 74 I am to old for that kind of crap lol) I was happy with your mother's saying. However while cleaning out the mud and debris in the pond the organic cleaning one had me laughing. Your absolutely right, just get in and get the job over with.You are living the dream. Have a wonderful week be safe and God Bless in all you do.
YOur comments never cease to encourage and cheer me Rodney. Thank you so much!
Don, look into "olla" self watering for your plants. You can easily make them using terra cotta pots and a cork - you fill them up with water, cover, and they will directly water the roots of the plants. VERY effective for hot, arid desert environments.
Live simply so that others simply can live
Sounds like a sound philosophy.
Every video is informative. Thank you Don for sharing!
How kind of you to watch these. Many thanks.
As usual, I enjoyed getting to come along on your project. Thanks for taking the time to record, edit and post these videos.
Your so welcome Gussie and thanks a ton for watching!
Good projects and thanks for great video and sound volume 👍
Thanks so much HL Dye! I try and manage the sound but naturally will never get it perfect. Thanks for your encouragement.
Great video! So informative, instructional. I love your delivery, calm, some humor, some work ethic. Nice that you include pictures and descriptions of the flora and fauna
So delighted you enjoyed it gare gardner!
A little pond like that could really bring in the deer and elk
It actually already does Back Grountry. Actually way too many mulies. They guzzle it too quickly.
@@affordabledesertliving3487 I love your channel and to be honest with you I'm surprised how much you have accomplished at your age. No offense at all but very impressed. I am 48 years old doing the same thing with my family in northern Arizona and I realize how hard it is. Good for you you are an oak my friend
@@backcountrypreps6171 Thats super encouraging and very kind. Many thanks!
I live in the SW too. It absolutely boils my blood to see folks wasting water out here when we are so careful with every drop. Golf courses, inappropriate lawns and vegetation just for starters. Wish we could sue them for squandering OUR aquifer
I hear you Kurt! I cant think of ANYTHING as useless as a golf course in Arizona! Use astro turf or something! Just not water! Preaching to the choir here for sure!
Hey Don, it's Joe the UPS gut who delivered the other day. Next time I am in your area I will stop by and say hi
Hi Joe great to have you here. Stop by and say hi anytime.
Never seen anyone clean tank before
Thanks for watching Lee!
Don, just binge watched bunch of your videos. very interesting stuff wish you best health thank you.
Thanks so much for binge watching the vids ezeeusb. So appreciate that and for the good health wishes. You too!
Loved the feathers on the Chihuahuan raven. We have ravens here in Australia with beautiful blue eyes. 💙
Hi Don. I love your educational videos. May I ask, how much did the water tank cost?
I have seen I believe almost all species of the Aussie corvids. Their eyes are mysterious for sure! Thanks for watching.
@@davidleigh443 1200 bucks but that was 1.5 years ago.
I like the musical interludes, nice vocals!
Thanks Rowan! I love singing while I work. Gracious of you to mention it.
Cottonwoods love water, I hope😂 I love that Don👏👏👏 Great organic cleaning of your water tank and pond☺️💙 Wow your pond looks deep enough to have a small pool😁 I really love it as a waterfall, it's really relaxing and nice out there for the wildlife🤗🌼 I am grateful for your explanations of how you work your land and projects! So helpful👍 Continued blessings your way Don😊🙏 Have a great weekend☀️🏜️
Hi Lisa. Your comments are so fun and refreshing and observant. Thanks so much!
You did a great job of making the water last. I didn’t realize how small the tank is. I really love your little pond. Excellent video once again Don. ❤️🥰👌🏽
Thanks so much Pam! Always appreciate you and Brian and checking out these vids.
So fun to watch you with your projects, hopefully this will be me soon. A little distilled white vinegar makes a great cleaner for you water tank and no bad bleach or chemical smells later on.
Great tip James and others have mentioned that distilled water works well.
Great video 👍 .
Glad you enjoyed it
Excellent ingenuity Don! Your chores on the homestead are really paying off. Say hi to the birds!
Thanks West! Lots of great birds here. Saw Roadie my roadrunner yesterday.
Awesome 👍👍
Thanks for the visit
Cotton wood trees are called the tree of life. Pioneers knew when they saw them that water was near.
That totally makes sense for sure.
I adore you and your channel. You always bring a smile to my face while watching your videos, and also the occasional chuckle. My fiance and I very much enjoy what you do. Keep it up!!
So lovely to hear Chris. Many thanks!
hey don, keeping it clean........love it!
Yep got to have wate for sure. Thanks for watching.
Sir, you are a genuine delight. Thank you
Wow what a lovely thing to say. Thanks so much Laure!
Great set up Don, good job
Thanks a ton James! Hope your well and things are going okay for you.
@@affordabledesertliving3487 yes, I am doing ok. I am getting closer to the time that I move to AZ, probably a year.
Thank you for wishing me well.
@@jamesgriego6283 totally welcome!
With that long of an extension cord, suggest #12 Gauge wiring. Keeps voltage drop lower and better off of your pump
Great job! I’m excited to see the pond again for the birds to enjoy this summer
I am already crossing my fingers hoping for some of my favorites like Varied Bunting and Scotts oriole later in the year. Thanks for watching!
When you pulled out the duct tape, I thought of another Canadian, Red Green, who called duct tape "the handyman's secret weapon". Well done on the water systems maintenance.
Thanks 937mike. Yep Red Green was a cult favorite in Canada LOL.
Looks like you are living a very peaceful life. 👍
I am a very very fortunate man. Thanks for watching Fred!
Wow! Do other people do that? Clean out their water tanks? I think it's a great idea. You're a clean man! After seeing you do that I'd want to do mine if I ever had one. That's a cute little fountain and pond. I can't stand mud and muck. 🤢🤮 Stuff sure does get dirty, doesn't it? Seems like stuff gets more dusty and faster now than when I was a child. Thanks for all the great videos about off-grid living. Enjoy watching.
Hi Artsyladycrafter. Yes other off-grid folks clean them out too. Some even crawl down into the tank! But as a "mature" guy I keep risky things to a minimum overall. Thanks for watching all the vids! Great to have you here.
@@affordabledesertliving3487 As a "mature" woman 🧓🏽 I would never try crawling down inside either. 😄
You are awesome. 🌞🌟
Very kind thanks Kate!
It would be fun to see a tour of your home.
Pretty basic at this point Jim. Watch the latest video on low wattage appliances and you can see a lot of it.
Great gig!!!!! Next tank clean add one cup of bleach while you do the mop up. It will dissipate and not hurt the plants or trees. Also, the pond needs some Skeeter eating fish. When you clean the pond you can hold them in a 5 gallon bucket.
Great input Scott! Thanks for watching.
Hi Don we use a shop vac to clean tanks with some chlorine kills any bacteria then give the tank a rinse any way you did a wonderful job take care .
Do you have some long extension for the suction nozzle part to reach in the tank right?
@@affordabledesertliving3487 yes we use 2 inch pvc pipe any way the robins bald eagles and all sorts of water fowl are returning to Alberta spring is upon us .
@@timklassen421 Enjoy spring in AB !
Hard work always pays off. Enjoyed the video Don.
Yep very true Oscar. Glad you enjoyed it!
Good video, have a great day!
Thanks so much Mark!
Cute voice
LOL Thanks Elizzbeth!
Get yourself 4 or 5 used 400 gallon IBC totes from Craigslist and plumb those to your rainwater collection system... 1600 to 2000 gallons should get you through the dry months. When yo run out, they can be filled by your local tank truck.
Citizen Brain. At the end of this system is a 1200 gallon tank. Much better than IBC totes. Yep I do indeed get additional water from a local water company.
Enjoy coming along with your adventures
So great to have you here Candace!
Hi Don, I have been watching since you started. Love the channel! Its amazing how you improvise to get things done. I ESPECIALLY love the waterfall...how nicely it held up!!! Great Job!!
Thanks for all of the encouragement Harry! I love the waterfall pond as well. Definitely worth the brief upkeep it takes. Cheers.
Good job! Very interesting.
Thanks so much Debbie!
Love this channel and how you explain and show everything so clearly.
That's so encouraging Pam. Thanks very much!
Great videos Don.
Many thanks Mack! Appreciate you watching.
The echo totally made me laugh. 😄
Glad you got a chuckle out of it Helene!
Hi Don. With the food problems now , maybe you should get some seeds to help you out and grow you a garden for food. Just saying it might be a wise thing to do.
I wish you the best and keep up the good work.
Love the videos.
So glad you love the videos James all the best!
Hi Don, Just found your channel and really enjoy your videos. I am also a senior and my projects are quite small. I am limited by ill health but I am pushing on with my little cob mud hut which I started in 2014 just before I was diagnosed with cancer. My lovely husband suggested covering it all up with a gazebo which we did and it limited the rain damage as I hadn't got to the roof stage. Anyway I am back building on my good days and really enjoying it. I also have just got a small greenhouse which is a joy for me. Thanks again. Oh I also love seeing your beautiful birds. Hi from Western Australia
Hi Muriel. Thank you so much for watching these videos. I am so delighted you enjoy them. I pray for grace to deal with your health struggles and I appreciate hearing about your courage as you pursue your dream of doing a cob building and a lovely little greenhouse. The birds are indeed beautiful here. What you may not know is that I have been to Aus several times. Once for 6 months to film your beautiful parrots. I filmed all but night parrot. In WA I got my only footage of Rock Parrot, Western Corella, Bourke's Parrot etc. Just no end to amazing birds. I always tell folks I am really an Australian, I just happened to be born in Canada. Thanks again for watching Muriel!
Would love to see your cob hut build....
Thanks for the tips
Entirely welcome. Hope it was helpful.
Thanks for the water rationing lessons. I saw the white feathers on the raven. Please be careful fiddling with the tanks so that you don't fall in. I heard awful stories about folks who've done that and had no way of getting out.
Your so welcome Artemisia. Trust me I know I am not as agile as I used to be and I definitely wouldnt crawl into the tank. Way too intimidated of that one.
Hi Don. You’re videos are great and helpful. I have some ‘dumb’ questions: 1. Why is it necessary to drain the tank before water delivery? 2. Since the pump is submersible, can it just be left in the tank permanently? I realize you remove the pump to use in the pond, but if you didn’t have a pond would you still remove the pump from the tank?
You seem like a really nice guy Don and kudos to you for having the stones to leave Canada come on down here to Arizona to a completely different climate and a completely different way of living that took courage...... A few pointers bud you need a truck in the worst way this off-grid life is a practice in self-reliance even a small truck like a Toyota Ford ranger or the like can do a heck of a lot of work and make your life a lot easier I wouldn't buy one unless it had four wheel drive because monsoon rains bring a lot of mud and living out a ways you just never know..... Get yourself a wood stove if nothing else as a backup there's plenty of wood available around you that could be used in a pinch.... Redundancy will save your life
Not to mention make things a lot more comfortable
If you don't already have one may I suggest some kind of a shotgun it is a valuable tool that can go a long ways in deterring hostiles no matter how many legs they have.
Trust me when I say a rabid wild animal can really screw up your day
Another thing... Auger anchors are amazing tools to keep things where you put them like shade structures carports awnings and the like they install easy by twisting in the ground and you will have no more problems with things taking flight not only that they're pretty cheap
Hope this helps good day sir
Delighted you came by to watch mixrmandd. Thanks for all of the kind and encouraging comments bud. I shove even 10' timber inside my crazy little toyota corolla. If I need to haul bigger things my neighbor has a pick up I can use. This makes my gas costs super cheap. As a senior on social security I simply cant afford to purchase a small pick up. That said I only need a serious pickup a few times a year so I am good. Not much wood here bud. Just some scattered mesquite. The good thing is that I am toasty warm with my big buddy heater. Having been born and raised in bush country in Canada and lived in bush camps for years as a wildlife researcher I am pretty comfortable living in modest rural situations. So appreciate you came by! Thanks again!
@@affordabledesertliving3487 dear sir. If not a truck a good used minivan will do most of what a small pickup will do while maintaining your fuel milage preference. Sooner or later you'll have to replace your vehicle anyway especially because unpaved roads eat up passenger based suspension very quickly.
You had some good ideas. I like the long handle mop. 👍🏼
Always a concern
Fortunately have a routine now and access the water I need.
a better choice for cleaning your tank would be to put a shop vac on that pipe and clean it that way. works a treat
Not sure it would have fit down the tanks opening.. hmm.
@@affordabledesertliving3487 no, I meant attach the end of the hose to the end of the pipe and use it as an extension
@@sNEAKYnIGHTmUPPET ah okay got it.
I'm very happy to c u using the wagon and not your back. smart move, good thinking
Yep got to take care of the mature guys physique LOL.
I just love watching your chanel. It's amazing how much you get done so soon. Your videos are so entertaining and educational. It just shows what we are capable of. I hope you get family and friends visiting often.( please try to get a step stool ,those folding chairs will throw you and you could get hurt out there by yourself that would be bad) love you!
Thanks Carol for such a warm comment. I will need to be careful climbing on things for sure. So glad you enjoy the videos and once I get more developed here hope to have more company visiting for sure.
Clean water is always good 👍
Yes they definitely thrive on water!
Hi Don .....love this video...You are doing a fab job....Such great idea's ...Take Care n Stay Safe ...love Izee...Northern Ireland x♥️
Thanks so much for all of the encouragement wee Iris. LOL.
Enjoyed the video. A couple of things, and, double check me first. One, if you can get some woodchips somewhere, put them around the plants you water. The woodchips will hold water and help keep the water below them from evaporating. Also, they will break down into great soil, meanwhile furnishing your plants with compost tea. Two, I would think the "gunk" you got out of your pond would be full of nutrients for your plants.
Hi Gerald. Yep you read my mind. I did indeed put woodchips around my plants and yes I should have saved the gunk. Next time! Cheers and thanks!
@@affordabledesertliving3487 You're welcome.
Great job eh, Don, have you ever thought about using a pool vacuum to clean the debris and dirt out of the bottom of your water tank, might be an idea to look into. Thanks for your video. 🙂
Thanks drgil65. I know absolutely nothing about pool vaccuums but I can learn. I am always open to ways of doing things wiser and more efficient.
Don you’re a GEM in the desert
You could get a carport and harvest even more rainwater🌧
Thats the plan Rob. Just juggling finances at the moment.
I really enjoy your enthusiasm
What a lovely kind statement.
I hope you are getting some of this rain - I'm over in NM on the other side of the Chiricahua Mountains from you. Enjoy your videos. Although some of the old timers in the area say that when the monsoon season starts in June, it will be a short season. Let's hope they are wrong this year.
Thanks Dennis and yes lets hope a short monsoon season doesnt happen. Last year was fantastic! We got a lot of rain just in the past 24 hours. Thanks for watching.
Enjoyed this video! And the occasional bird I’d! Be blessed!
Thanks Sherry! I love my Chihuhuan Ravens. Appreciate you watching.
Don, are you ok? The reason I ask this is you haven't posted anything on TH-cam for a week or so. I really like your videos & miss them. You're an amazing guy, a real inspiration. I think you're wonderful. I'm in Werribee, Victoria, Australia. I'm 72 years old. I can't walk due to osteoarthritis . But I'm still alive & kicking & that's the main thing. I wish you success in your endeavours. Yours truly, Neil Bendon.
G'day Neil. Such a delight to hear from you. I have been in Australia several times since age 28. At one point I lived there for 6 months and I know your country really well and love it. I led a parrot lovers tour in 2019 to Werribee water treatment plant. We were on a quest to find Blue-winged Parrots. Thanks you for all of the wonderful comments Neil and I am so heartened by them. Please take care of yourself and thanks again for watching mate!
A FUN WAY TO PASS THE TIME
A GREAT PLACE TO LEARN
OFF GRID KINDA OF GUY
AS THE WORLD SLOWLY TURNS
ALL IS PRESENT FOR US
EVIDENCE WELL SHOWN
COFFEE IN THE MORNING
OR A DOG WITH A BONE
COOL...NEAT...AND REAL
Another fun poem. Thanks Dale!
Wow Don, almost a year with a 1200 gallon tank! Kudos to your rain catchment and conservative use of water!! Hi from karen and Bob
Hi Karen and Bob hope you folks are doing well and yes I am hoping for a real wet monsoon season again this year!
God bless u my new found brother, we love u & ur videos!
God bless you as well Historic RV Nelson. So delighted you love the videos.
Hi Don.Another job well done, sorry job`s well done.I had forgotten just how deep your little pond was.Love the extended mop idea ,the simple solutions are sometimes the best.,Great wee video Don. ATB
Thanks Graeme. Your such a wonderful contributor to this channel. Many thanks mate.
Nice voice buddy
Very kind Peter. Many thanks!
Good work Dan keep up the good work
Thanks so much Charles! - Don
Don you’re so inspiring!
It's funny I don't see myself like that but I am so affirmed by others stating this and I definitely receive that and thank you kindly for it.
Cottonwood are easy to propagate, and black locust are tough to good to burn.
Wondering how you propagate your cottonwoods... hmm.
You can cut a green twig about the thickness of a pencil, put in water leave until roots form or us roots g powder. You can put quite a few in a 5 gal bucket. You can also take a shoot of of a sucker. Cottonwood or I, preferred popular. You can get seeds from locusts, they grow like weeds, tough as nails.
❤️🌵💦 hi Don as an Australian I appreciate your water conservation. Perhaps some heavy mulch / stone mulch or olla pots might stretch the water further for your trees..?🤔 Personally, I use a large plastic bottle half buried beside my fruit trees. Burn a small hole in the lid, 3/4 cut the bottom off for filling with H20 and keep bugs out of the reservoir.
Sounds like a great way of doing it Karen. Thanks for sharing.
Hay sparky: glad to see that you are making use of the wagon, much easier on the back!!
Yep no question Dave! Love the gorilla cart and it was a great gift from subscriber Leonard.
Another excellent video
Many thanks Abid!
Keep us dreaming about doing what you are doing even do most of us know we are not leaving this uncomfortable 3000 square feet home. Good day Sir
So appreciate you watching Roberto!
great video , consider adding a second tank
Hope to do that when finances allows. Thanks!
Hmmmm thanks for info for the havilena monsters, but I wonder if it would affect my little but thinks he is very large dog “hank” he is a great guard dog , love how well you explained and demonstrate ! Wonderful!!
Thanks for the lovely comments Judy. Knowing your little dog having met him I am wondering if you could do what I do. I turn the item on just before bed since Javelinas come in at night. So it will only be activated then. Javelinas are smart. One or two times of interacting with this device they dont want anything to do with it and stop coming I found.
De volgende keer als je de tank schoon maakt. Dan doe je moet je schoon maken tijdens het leeg pompen. Dan gaat alles in een keer weg
Heel erg bedankt voor het kijken naar mijn video's! Het beste!
I'd really be hard pressed to not put a bamboo platform at the bottom of that pond and a sitting ledge. Hot days with the cool water just flowing over the body.... man I may nee to get my own land just so I can do this :p
I have to admit Jon when I have to work on the pond on a hot day I definitely enjoy jumping in to work on things.
Hello, I couldn't find your video for your surgery. I wanted to share that my appendectomy was at age 5.😮 My teddy bear named Yogi had his removed too 😅. Either was used for sedation in the 50's.
We are on the list for well drilling, but until then I haul water in my 3/4 ton diesel truck. I can haul 400 gals per load to fill our 3500 gal tank. In addition, I fill a 275 gal cube for watering our fruit trees and goats. It works, but looking forward to a well. Our big tank is on top of a hill, so gravity feeds each residence. I use a 12v RV pump for running our drip system from the cube.
Sounds like a great plan of action!
When I was boy in the 60's, I used to clean out our 4000 gal cistern in Kentucky once in awhile. I remember when we had to buy water I think it was $4, for 2000 gallons then. But that was rare. That raven might make a good pet ?
Wow $4.00 for 2000 gallons. That would be nice! I give the Ravens treats some times. Hot dogs and fish mostly LOL. But I dont want them coming to the doorstep and getting in the way of my video editing LOL.
You always git her done Don!!
I have a filter system on my ponds at my bricks and sticks. Water stays clear but trap system still allows muck to build up. I have lily's and such in them. I don't know of a inexpensive system to avoid that yearly chore of mucking..
Well like they say anything that is rewarding has to be worked for right? Thanks for watching michael!
Don, You're a funny guy! Love your voice by the way. Now that you've had it a while, would you go with a black tank next time, or stick with the same desert sand color?
Hi Desert Dog. Thanks for the lovely comments. No I would stick with desert sand color. Its light impervious and so no advantage at all with going with black. Fortunately for me a rain water harvesting company where you can buy these is only 15 min drive away!
😎
I have the same size tank in my basement... don't ask, long story. If one is careful a single person can live fine for a couple of months without worry, mine has never been below half a tank.
I lived for about 9 months on mine without a refill. But.... I am also getting 100s of gallons of water from my rainwater catchment system.
@@affordabledesertliving3487 I have rural water and can refill mine. A rock bed creek lies between me and my water connection tho. I can refill my tank with a hose. Winter can be a challenge tho.
seems like that tank should have a flush out valve at the bottom of the take to get it clean.
The valve lets about 98% of the water out but I have to mop or clean out the rest.
Hi Don, I use a few layers of J cloth and a Kitchen strainer to filter out rain water. But I don't have a huge tank like yours. And I don't drink the water, I get my drinking water from the local Sobey's . I also use a mixture of Bleach and water to clean my tank, then flush really good. Thanks for the video!
Americans wont know what J cloths are but of course I do. LOL. Great suggestions Mush. Have a great NS spring okay?
I have two tanks but when we order we get a good price
Excellent. glad to hear it!
Thanks a lot Don. I’ll be humming “Killing Me Softly” all day now…. ;-)
Do you own a small shop vac? That might be a useful tool to have for doing these tank and pond cleanings. Just a thought.
Yup talented Roberta Flack and her lovely voice. I dont own a shop vac but I like to be careful of the pond liner and only put smaller items in it so not to cut or damage it.
HAHA Don your funny i expected you to put bathers on cleaning that or a Bikini hahha you did a good job for sure
Too bloody cold for budgie smugglers mate.
Have you been to the Lehner Mammoth Kill Site . its a National Historic Landmark and very close to you! El Lehner Rd.
No had no idea this existed. I need to check this out!