PLANS: We plan to create a small sustainable community, similar to Solar Haven in Arizona, but of course appropriate to a different culture, environment, and climate. It's goals will be the same: to live simply without debt or the need for outside employment, generate our own power, build our own home from locally available recycled and natural materials, grow as much of our own food as possible, and allow enough time and energy in our days for artistic-creative pursuits, socializing, wool-gathering, and helping our neighbors.

WHERE: The mountains of Veracruz, Mexico south of the capital, Jalapa. It is a semi-mountainous region at about about 4000 feet in elevation. The latitude is 19.5 degrees or about the same as Hawaii. The area is lush with fertile soil and many rivers, lakes, and waterfalls. It is mainly a coffee and fruit producing region. It has no industry. In some towns in the area there are a fair number of tourists but primarily from Mexico itself - there are only a few "expatriates" in the area. The cities are picturesque with Spanish Churches and narrow cobblestone strees and volcanic peaks as a backdrop.

THE WEATHER: Humid, of course, with about 50 inches a year of rainfall but much less humid than down on the coast. It is less humid than Florida. Most of the rain comes in June, July, August, and September (7-9 inches each month!) with about one and a half inches each month falling the rest of the year. Rain tends to fall mostly in the late afternoon and early evening. Temperatures rarely get below 55 or over 85. Err... there is no snow or frozen pipes or nipped trees or cold feet. Stay out of town on a "hot" day and let the natural breezes help keep you cool.

THE LIFESTYLE AT SOLAR HAVEN II

- Approximately 6 hectares (15 acres) of rural, undeveloped land (actual site as yet undetermined)

- Building our own home of natural and recycled materials. Since "scoria" volcanic rock is readily available in the region, a home made from "earthbags" filled with scoria (and plastered with papercrete) is a natural. Kelly and Rosanna Hart's earthbag/papercrete home in Crestone, Colroado is one wonderful example of this type of construction.

http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/earthbag.htm

Because of heavy rainfall at times, a home with big overhangs is a must, however... like Tony Bingham's home in Idaho pictured below but our place would be much smaller. Bamboo grows in profusion in the area as well as many plants suitable for thatching, so building a thatched roof is not out of the question.

- Our goal is to have two modules as in Kelly Hart's home with a long "greenhouse" connecting them (roofed, screened, but not glazed). Module #1 would have a living room, bedroom, and bathroom. Module #2 would have the cooking facilities, a workroom/shop, a bathroom, and a guest bedroom.

- Partially in-ground Lap pool (7' x 40') housed in the greenhouse.

- Generating our own power with a combination of a "micro-hydro" power system with solar electric panels as a back-up system. We will have a large DC-AC inverter and battery storage. A year-around source of running water is an essential criteria for purchasing property - there are many such properties in the area.

- Rain water harvesting and storage


- Composting toilet system (reference: "The Humanure Handbook" by Joseph Jenkins)

- Serious organic gardening and permaculture to produce as much of our own food as possible

- Natural, whole foods diet - mostly vegetarian - solar cooking

- Keeping livestock as companions and friends, as an indispensible source of manure for composting, and perhaps for milk and eggs (but never to kill and eat). A cow is a must along with chickens. It will be hard to resist not having a burro...

- Working with the local people by hiring them to help us with our project and in the process hopefully to teach them new natural building skills so that they could build their own low-cost homes and improve their lives (much along the lines of the Canelo Project)

INTERNSHIP PROGRAM: We will continue to offer instruction and hands-on experience in natural building techniques and renewable energy systems both to folks locally as well as to visitors from abroad. There is no cost, and simple lodgings and natural, solar-cooked meals will be provided. Maximum of two interns to begin with.

"REALITIES": Very few speak English in this area of Mexico. Learning at least some Spanish is a necessity, but realistically we will learn the language by "immersion". For the first six months in Mexico, only a Tourist Visa (FM-T) is required to be in Mexico (the authorities prefer a passport but a birth certifcate and photo ID will do to get one). After that, an FM-3 is required to become a legal resident of Mexico. There are apparently many hoops to jump through if applied for in Mexico, but it is usually approved. It is easier with much less red tape just to obtain the FM-3 at the nearest Mexican Consulate at home in the US before you leave (avoiding a Tourist Visa altogether). A current passport is required for this. With the FM-3, you can purchase property, take out a Mexican bank account, and qualify for the National Health Insurance program ($280 a year premium covers doctors visits, medications, and many hospital and surgical benefits).

PERSONAL:

A good friend from Colorado moved into the area last year. These are two of his lovely new neighbors! Check out his blog: his reports are glowing, his thoughts and insights into Mexican life are interesting and provocative, and he takes great pictures.

www.vivaveracruz.com/blog

Write us at:

jimandmindy@solarhaven.org

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