Sorry it's been a little while since posting...but since I'm working as our General Contractor, I've had tons of things to take care of! I'll highlight some of the more exciting things!
We got our building permit! YEA! We're legal! $35.00 and we're good to go! Easy process, and nothing to worry about! (That's the GOOD news!)
Next I hit the Health Department. uhhhh...not so much fun! I spent 3 hours at the Health Dept. with all the architect's drawings of the graywater disposal system, the codes for New Mexico and Arizona, research and studies to back it up etc... (I had called ahead several days prior to my actual visit)
And for the sake of the readers...I will not go into all the details...just the "meat" of it! Long Story Short (ha) Not only will they NOT allow the composting toilets...Ohio has actually made them ILLEGAL! Same with Graywater systems. They took pity on me and WERE very nice people...one of them literally sat there and told me that it's all political, and all about money..and that what I was proposing was better for the environment, but that the state wouldn't make any money off of it. Which means we will have to have a septic system. THEN...(get this) it's also illegal to have a cistern without having a fully working well drilled! DOH! WHAT'S THE POINT? There again...he said it was political, and that when people were "bootlegging" water...the state wasn't making money...you see...the reason they were bootlegging water, was because the state made a rule that you had to be a "Certified Water Handler" and Licensed to transport water in the state of Ohio, (which costs money) so people were bootlegging the water! HA! So ok...now we're back at square one...and we certainly didn't allot money in our loan for a septic ($15,000 - $20,000) and a well ($4500) But...like I said...they were REALLY helpful, (and sounded to me like they were tired of the political crap themselves) There's this new system called the "Presby Environmental" septic system that's about half the cost...BUT they are only manufactured by ONE company, and you have to be a certified Presby installer in order to purchase one. (Figures!)
Sooooooooooooo they proposed that I file a variance ($100 to apply) to allow us to only place the actual septic TANK in the ground, and have it pumped as needed, for up to ONE YEAR. During that year, we would attend a Presby certification class, and be able to do it ourselves for about half of the half of the other system...(so around $4000) We go to the variance meeting on the 18th...so it all hinders on that. Then we have a friend who will drill a well at a fairly decent price. So we're still spending out of pocket...but just not as much!
We also had the test holes dug for the perc test ($75) for the dig ($140 for them to come out) BUT the guy said that he was really surprised, and that we have some of the best dirt he's seen in our county! YEA!!!! Some GOOD NEWS!
I also spent all the week getting my garden in. (will post pics) It's pretty big, and contains,
8 rows of sweetcorn
4 rows of bush beans
4 rows of peas
2 rows of lettuce
2 rows of romaine
2 rows of radishes
2 rows of carrots
2 rows of jalapeno, and banana peppers
36 tomato plants
2 rows of broccoli
2 row of cauliflower
2 rows of spinach
4 rows of onions
I still have to plant my green peppers, but the Amish family that runs the greenhouse were out of them, so I'll have to go into the larger Amish community about 30 min. away for green peppers. Mind you...I got all the above for $55.00 YIPEE!
My buddy Dan loaded our truck with a skid steer bucket of turkey poo compost and cow poo compost..I was on my own that day...so I shoveled it out one shovel at a time, then used the bobcat to spread it around.
NOW HERE'S THE FUNNY STORY! So I get done with the compost, and decide that I'd better take the truck to the car wash or my Hubby will be ticked if his truck smells like poo! I wasn't even thinking when I put that high pressure washer in the bed of the truck...one pull of the trigger, and I created a shower of sweet smelling poo~ HA! I covered myself with POO~ Oh how I stunk! But I persevered and kept cleaning, only to accidentally do it a couple more times! It's amazing how those little crevices in a truck bed can shoot poo! Needless to say, I came home and took a REAL shower! (smelled LOTS better!)
So early next week, the excavator is coming to start the bed of the slab and grade everything, we have to take a trip to Menards to get all the plumbing stuff for the plumbing...(and a normal toilet) (Bummer!) THEN, there's potentially a chance the building will be here late this week or early next! So check back often, as I'll post pics of the whole thing going up! I've hired Dan as my construction manager, and three other guys and myself will put this thing up three days! (and yes...I'm BELIEVING THAT IT WILL BE DONE!) :) Well...that's all for now! Toodles!
