We set a new personal best today — when I deposited our trash into the county compactor this morning, it marked 29 days since my last trip to the transfer station. That betters our previous record, set last month, by one day.
Our ability to go from weekly to now (essentially) monthly trash runs is due almost entirely to using a can crusher and separating recyclables (which are free), along with making our combustibles disappear in the burn barrel.
I deposited a full 40-gallon trash bag of cans and bottles today, in fact, the product of 50 days of collecting.
We pay two bucks for every bag of trash we take to the transfer station, and we take two at a time, so it’s $4 a trip. It’s also 18 miles there and back, so the real cost, accounting for gas in the truck, is between $7.50 and $8, every time.
If we maintain this current pace, we’ll have reduced our annual cost from $400 to less than $100.
That’s a big deal. And that’s why I bring it up.
Disappointing as it may be to some of you, this may be the last time I talk at any length about our IBC tote. The reason is simple — as I type this, it’s finally in service.
As I predicted in yesterday’s post, early this morning I opened the valve and drained the “shock” solution. That took over two hours. It would’ve taken even longer had I not removed the hose adapter and let the last 40 gallons dump through the original, unrestricted valve.
(I was gonna pull the coupling today anyway — I’d noticed a little water getting by the threads, and I wanted to remedy that with a fresh wrap of Teflon tape.)
I hosed out the interior of the empty tank to flush the last of the shock treatment and any residue there might be. (There was a little.) With the hose adapter reconnected and the spigot closed, I filled it with fresh water, added four ounces of chlorine bleach, replaced the cap and secured the cover.
Done.
Now we have 275 gallons (probably a bit more) of sanitized water to fall back on if we need it. We have another 110 gallons in a pair of blue barrels (which I’ll be addressing again soon). It’s a vital bit of prepping, and I’m glad we’ve put it in order.
On my trip to and from town this morning, I saw four whitetails, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks and countless birds (including a wild turkey). I had the driver’s window down as I climbed up our road, and I could hear an agitated indigo bunting keeping pace with me, hopping from tree to tree, cussing me out about something.
Back at the homestead and back to work, I saw (and heard) my first great crested flycatcher in the cedars overhead.
I relaxed at the picnic table, in the shade, while giving the IBC’s tank its final fill. Scanning out over the wood yard and across the road, I caught sight of a browsing whitetail doe at the edge of the woods.
She seemed as relaxed as I was.
I kept my eyes on her for quite a while. I snapped a few pictures. Then, timidly, her fawn emerged from the brush.
“That’s what happens when we sit quietly,” Deb said when I showed her the photos later. “Life lesson right there.”
We love it here.
Take care of yourselves, Patriots. Stay calm. Stay sharp. Stay free.
#WiseUp #LibertyOrDeath #Ungovernable
#LetsGoBrandon #FJB