This is the second edition of our new series running in our paper: The Wanganui Chronicle.
Monthly Archives: April 2012
Disaster Capitalism
Disaster capitalism has come to Castlecliff – in a good (or at least opportunistic) way. While we have relied on heavy rainfall to flush firewood down the Whanganui River and deliver it to the beach in front of us (see Beach Logging), a big blow six weeks ago provide a fuel source even closer. I noticed that the storm had uprooted two hardwood trees just around the corner at the end of our block.
But hardwood usually means heavy wood, so I waited for them to dry out before retrieving them. After six dry, windy weeks I decided it was time, so Jiqiao and I headed out with hand saws and a wheel barrow. We cut the thicker parts into manageable lengths to get home…
… and dragged the branches down the street.
If you are looking for an example of the extent to which the Chinese are enthused about capitalism, check out the grin on Jiqiao’s face.
After two months of working with us, Jiqiao has finished his internship and heads back to China for the summer before returning to university in the USA. We will miss his enthusiasm, sense of humor and hard work.
Peace, Estwing
Retrospective #1: As published in the Wanganui Chronicle, 21-04-12
This series recalls the design principles and decision making process of an eco-thrifty renovation. We believe the key components of a sustainable home include low energy use, redundant energy and water systems, abundant food production and avoidance of debt to the greatest extent possible. For under NZ$100,000 (US$80,000) and a year of hard work, we have developed one of the most sustainable and resilient suburban properties on the planet. We use 90% less electricity than the average NZ home, we aim to meet all of our fruit and vegetable needs on 700 square meters, we have no mortgage, and we share all of this information with our community.
Double Century









TAE @ ETR
Huge props to Jiqiao for writing and posting on Tuesday all on his own with no editing from me. Where was I? I had to run to the bus station to pick up a couple of GFC (global financial crisis) analysis superstars, Stoneleigh and Ilargi from TAE (The Automatic Earth).




Having as much fun paving the floor as much I have learnt







With a Little Luck
We’re due for our third weather bomb in five weeks (a fortnightly foreboding forecast). In preparation for this latest blow I was finishing up some scribers to insure that wind-driven rain would not get in beside our windows. In the picture below, the scriber is the lapped piece of wood that serves as Yin to the weatherboards’ Yang. Making scribers is very labour intensive as each one has to be individually measured and cut.




We can make this whole damn thing work out.
With a little love, we can lay it down.
Can’t you feel the town exploding?
There is no end to what we can do together.
There is no end, there is no end.
The willow turns his back on inclement weather;
And if he can do it, we can do it, just me and you,
And a little luck, we can clear it up.
We can bring it in for a landing,
With a little luck, we can turn it on.
There can be no misunderstanding.
There is no end to what we can do together.
There is no end, there is no end.
The willow turns his back on inclement weather;
We can do it, just me and you.





