Tree change is a term that is mostly recognised in Australia. Along with Sea Change, it is the movement of people from the inner cities and urban environments, to the bush (tree) or remote coastal (sea) areas. Most people who do this, dream of buying a small local business and settling down to the quiet life. Along with tranquility there is the assumption that technology is left behind and the most complicated electrical device will be an old TV with rabbit ear aerial.
Our property here in Coonabarabran is on 700 virgin bush acres where wildlife roams free and apart from the house and surrounds, and the driveway, there are no improvements whatsoever. Being 1.5klms off the road means no power from the grid, no phone (though somewhere in the distant past Telstra has laid copper to the house) and no town water. The house is made of mud brick and wood cut on the property, the windows and doors are reclaimed demolition remnants. The stove is solid fuel, and the water heating is solar and from the stove when it is on. The fridge is gas powered.
Sounds rather rustic,how do I run an internet business from here?
Although the power is solar and the water comes from roof catchment into tanks, I don’t feel at all deprived of technology. While I am here I work using Telstra NextG mobile internet on my HP Envy and iPhone. We also have a laptop to measure and report on solar usage and input, and we bring along a gaming PC for my guy who can’t go without playing one of his many RTS games.
It is kind of cool that I am sitting in candle light typing this post using solar power collected today. We could have lights on, but it just doesn’t seem “right” here, and I prefer bee-powered light when it gets dark. I even use my iPhone as a torch when I go to the outside toilet at night.
I am pretty sure that most people do not realise that you can live a very basic lifestyle and still have the top of the range internet and technology contact with the rest of the world.
I also wonder how many people would like to learn how to do this….
s
Planned and executed my exit from the corporate world. Walked away with a 6 figure payment to boot.
Coonabarabran is one of my favourite rural NSW towns.
We have just returned from a holiday where we visited a few South Pacific Islands and it got me wondering what my parameters may be for our own “tree change” type scenario. Having internet access was high on the list, as well as access to eduction for the kids (I don’t think I have the patience to home school). Other than that and the basics for living (food and shelter), I think we are fairly flexible in what we would need. I like the idea of living simply.
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..MMAT01 – My final artwork =-.
Oh wow Michelle, that must have been an awesome holiday. Surely School of the Air would work for education out there
Hi Allison,
extremely jealous ! We’ve got plans to do the same sort of thing here in WA. Would like to put in 100acres of olive trees east of margaret river, so that in 20 years time when petrol is $6000 a litre, the landrover can potter about with a tank full of EVOO.
Internet is the worry though being way off the grid.
A couple of years (and the odd membership website) away yet though.
Can’t believe it’s 2 months since 30dc Melb seminar.
Thanks for encouraging the linking. Bobcat Hire Perth is my son-in-law-2b’s site – holding #1 broadmatch, so pleased with that.
Alan