The Self-sustaining Farm (Casa Blanca)

This past weekend, we went to a self-sustaining farm that was wicked awesome cool, and I have to tell you about it.

The farm is owned by two retired PhDs who are so ridiculously in love, it radiates around the whole place. They both have a passion for agriculture and decided to buy the farm 25 years ago to live the rest of their days in complete and utter bliss. (author´s note: embellishment added)

How they created a self-sustaining life (meaning they haven´t bought a cannister of gas in 15 years) is really quite incredible. There is no above-ground water source nearby to water the zillion varieties of crops, so they tapped a sub-terrainian source and pump the water up into a lifted pool that serves as a reserve. When the crops need watering, the reserve is uncorked, and gravity sends the water to canals alongside the crops. There are unconnected curved plastic tubes that are sticking out of the canals. As they are, no water comes out of them because there´s an air pocket in the arch. But when they are ready to water the individual rows, they submerge the tube in the canal water, pushing out the air bubble, and then bring the tube out of the water again, causing a sucking-like action, bringing the water through the tube and down the row of crops.

The farm also operates on gas-powered electricity which is made on the grounds from a bio-digestion tank fueled by -- wait for it -- guinea pig waste. They have a huge barn full of guinea pigs (cuyes) that they use for not only food but also waste to make the gas, biol and compost. The entire farm operates on the gas created, including their stove and lights. The biol and compost are then used to fertilize the plants that they eat every day.

Seriously... not a bad way to spend your retirement: hopelessly in love and surrounded by furry creatures and yummy organic veggies.