Ok, so we have been doing up our split level area which used to be our bedroom when the kids were home. These days we use one of the rooms on the main level, It means we don't have to heat the whole house in the winter and the toilet is a little closer which sadly gets more important as you get older.
The idea is a space for visitors to stay which is not quite full blown hippy living, yes it still has a compost toilet but it looks very much like a conventional toilet.
It has a shower just like any other but you do have the option of using solar or gas califont heated water.
If you choose the solar there are some things you need to pay attention to in order to not run out, especially if you stay more than one night. (instructions provided)
Some people might see this as a pain in the butt, but this is a world we have occupied for over 20 years when we turned the hot water cylinder off, so we mostly have solar and wetback heated water, you just learn how to drive it, get the best out of it and make it work. The monetary bonus is no power bills for hot water.
There are some earth walls
an infrared sauna,
a kitchenette
A trombe wall (which is passive solar heating (and cooling) system)
but we also have TV, enough internet to at least do emails and on a good day a movie.
Cell phone coverage is patchy but not always
Maureen is an excellent cook with a number of fine dining restaurant years experience and if you so desire she will cook you a meal (you will just have to give us some notice)
In the summer most of that will come out of our garden.
You are welcome to look around the garden and down into “Kukuwai kia Takapu” our regenerating wetland project which is really starting look good now.
We are only a few Kms from Waikawa beach
which is a beautiful sandy beach and it is still possible to be the only human out there, although it is getting popular in the summer these days.
We are in the country where the only noise you are likely to hear are the birds, maybe the odd cow mooing.
If the sea is pumping you may hear it
Occasionally on a still night you can hear the odd train.
And sometimes our resident Moa gets activated by the wind or a pukeko
We are also now under 1 hour from Wellington city and 45 mins from Palmerston North so perfect for getting out of town after flying or ferry trips to get a quiet night or a head start on early morning travelling.
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