Welcome back the next instalment of our off grid home and farm tour.

This week we'll have a closer look at the all weather path which runs from the house, through part of the shady orchard, ending up at the chicken enclosure. Over the years the path has been through several incarnations, from a simple goats track in the dirt, to the wide rock lined path that it is today. Either side of the path are fruit trees, and the path itself travels under a kiwi fruit vine arbour.

Towards the end of the path, and out from the foliage of the shady orchard, emerges the rat proof chicken enclosure, which appears as if someone had plonked an ancient temple in the orchard.

As a bit of background to the series:

Over the next few weeks, you can enjoy a guided tour around the place. The house was constructed using our own labour as owner builders. It's been constructed to code, but differs to the average house because it is super insulated against the cold mountainous winter weather, but that insulation also works equally well in the summer heat. Proving that we don't muck around, the house was constructed in eighteen months way back in 2009 and 2010.

The house has it's own off grid solar power system, which I developed and wired up. That's been an interesting journey.

The rainfall provides all of our drinking water not mention it is used for the vegetables and orchards. Firewood is used for heating and hot water during the cooler months. In the warmer months hot water is provided by solar hot water panels. And all sewage is treated via a worm farm sewage system with the minerals returned to improve the soils.

Just to add to the challenge, the property is surrounded by tall old eucalyptus forest which is prone to bushfires / wildfires. The house itself was designed and constructed with an ability to withstand such feral fire conditions, but we don't really know how that would work out until it's put to the ultimate test.

Since the house was completed, we've been developing the infrastructure and productive gardens and orchards which produce some of our food.

There's also plenty of wildlife who live on and visit the farm.

Hope you'll enjoy the journey.