Category Archives: Self-Sufficiency

Energy saving features in new home construction


Little House on the Fish Farm is designed with several energy saving features to reduce its carbon footprint. Six inch walls offer 50% more insulation than the standard wall. Instead of a cold cement slab, a sub-floor was built which allows six more inches of insulation. These two features conserve heat and help maintain the temperature of the house year round. An additional benefit of the sub-floor is the barrier it creates between the dry living space and the perpetually […]

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Livestock’s role in an integrated farm


Our livestock play an important role on our integrated farm. The cows and goats provide a non-chemical solution to weed control in the pond area. Our chickens help aerate and turn the soil. All of our animals are free range, virtually eliminating the need for antibiotics and other drugs. The waste products of the animals are eventually broken down into rich compost. The end result is healthy grass-fed animals, with the added benefit of weed and erosion control.  

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Aquaponics in schools


  Interest in aquaponics is at an all time high.  It has captured the imaginations of people who want to grow their own food in a limited space.  Fish and plants grow in the same water without the use of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. Sanger High School’s Agriculture Department requested our assistance in the design and construction of an aquaponic teaching lab.  The goal was to make a full-proof system that would suit the budget of the average homeowner.  The […]

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Building a “floating” goat house


We needed to build a goat and chicken house that was hard for predators to enter. Since we have abundant water, it seemed natural to build a structure utilizing the pond as a protective barrier. This led to the idea of a “floating” goat house. The goat house appears to be floating, but it is actually anchored to the pond bottom.   When the pond was dry, 18″ diameter concrete pipe was secured into the ground.  The redwood and cedar […]

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