downshiftme.com Podcast Feed

Podcast 70

downshiftme@gmail.com (Matt and AJ) — Sat, 22 May 2010 17:02:34 PDT

Just a quick update to let you know we are still doing ok and to answer some questions which Louise asked us by email.

How long has it been since you relocated?
Has it met your expectations?
What would you do differently if you were just now starting to plan your move?
What was the biggest disappointment?
What has been the best reward?
Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

Recorded outside so apologies for the noises when the wind got up.

Podcast 69

downshiftme@gmail.com (Matt and AJ) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:21:06 PST

Chicken update
duck – lame duck
chicks appearing – natural rearing with their mothers/surrogates

LotteLotte
Produce update - 3rd summer

* tomatoes
* garlic
* onions
* potatoes
* carrots
* peppers
* beans
* peas
* zucchini (courgette)
* berries
* grape vines
* water tank

Some of the harvest
AJ visit to England

Work on house
Mortgage (short), good interest rates, buffer against future disasters
Envirofoam – basement insulation
Ecowater – water softener
New windows (energystar rated)

Non-house things things (which will not add value to it) too
New sofas and other furniture
2 new netbooks after various laptop disasters

Future works
New roof, skylights, verandah restoration, kitchen door, carpet, flooring, bathrooms, closets, insulation and dry walling. Work on wiring happening in next few weeks. But probably not solar panels for now.

Bad things AJ – his father's death
Matt – the economy

Good things
AJ – Lotte and turning 40
Matt – Skype, white woodwork, clean water, lots of produce, rainwater harvesting.

Podcast 68

downshiftme@gmail.com (Matt and AJ) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:01:45 PDT

This week's podcast studio (photo from Feb)

Chicken update
6 boys rehomed. Egg production is up. Celebrating by recording in the greenhouse – the chickens' winter home.

Harry
Sad news is that Harry died. Luckily Chloe recovered after a night in the vets and anti-biotics. We got another cat with undue haste as we were worried about Chloe. Caden has now joined the family. Harry had an amazing character the short time we had him – he was a beautiful loving, affectionate naughty cat. We miss him a lot.

Harry

Caden

AJ's garden masterclass
Weekly tea, cake and gardening

Starting to plan the season
Some seedlings being planted, getting ready for the snow to melt to start work. Also want to tidy some of our woods.

Produce
Quince jelly, mango chutney, curries, naan, yoghurt – making so much from scratch. Some days I have had a 100% homemade lunch – soup, with homemade bread, followed by homemade yogurt with homemade jam in it. Almost as nice as last summer when our meals were often 100% garden produce.

Bad things
Matt – tax returns
AJ – preparing receipts for taxes

Good things
Matt – sunshine
AJ – Spring

http://www.downshift.me.uk/podcasts/downshiftmecom68.mp3