After working all day, trying to build a rock wall for my house--I was tired. So the pup and I headed out at a leisurely pace. I've been exploring more of the little side roads and properties of this "off the grid" community. This land was first divided up about twenty years ago. The phone company does put land lines up here; the electric company doesn't.
Most properties are from three to ten acres. Some at the end of the road are being divided up in 100 acre parcels. At 2,000 feet, we overlook a 1500 foot canyon, reminiscent of Utah's canyon country.
The photo above shows a pumphouse. The solar panels run the well pump. This one doesn't have a cistern to hold the water. Nor does it have a house on the property. When people decide to build up here, they do so in stages:
1. Put in a well.
2. Buy a generator and batteries.
3. Live in a small, ugly 1970's era trailer.
4. Buy a bigger trailer (from the 1980's).
5. Buy a mobile home (used, of course).
6. Let the smaller trailers fall into disrepair--scattered about their property. But first, fill them with your garbage (there is no garbage service on this Ridge--and most don't haul their refuse out).
Most people stop there. About half the properties actually put in wind turbines and solar panels.
Some put in septic systems. Only a few of the properties manage to actually get to the more traditional style of housing. Most stay in the trailer stage.
So this "off the grid" community isn't populated by the folks I thought would be attracted to such a life. Most live up here because they are either poor or they expect Jesus to return soon. No granola, left wing, hippy types anywhere on this Ridge. The Lefties all live in the college town of Chico--where they can live the soft life of being a radical professor, go to Whole Foods and agitate on the campus for their various causes (but only after getting tenure).
Up here, it is mostly Rednecks, Potheads and Apocalyptic Christians.
Of course, the common bond is the usual neighborliness of living in more rustic circumstances. Neighbors are quick to share a cutting or bring by a dozen eggs from their chickens (well, at least the non-Christians do). The Christians on the Ridge seem to be too paranoid of those around them to give a hoot either about the environment or to share with their neighbors. They build high fences and dump their excrement off the side of the canyon.
"Oh the people that you meet are in your neighborhood"...as Mr. Rogers sang...
2 comments:
As an apocalyptic vegetarian, I'm sure I'd be much happier in Chico or probably even in that 7th Day town you've mentioned than in your neighborhood.
I've found it's the apoplectic Christians you really have to watch out for.
Hi Green,
Hard not to be some sort of apocalyptic with mass extinctions and global warming.
I suspect these hillbilly types might grow on you after awhile. And you certainly could swap recipes with my 7th Day Adventist veggie neighbors.
I'd rather live in the wilderness and visit the city than vice versa...
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