Peak oil wedding list

[adam2]

Two different disabled children now being fostered, both with restricted mobility.
Electric tricycles are the favoured means of transport, much safer than two wheels. A small two wheeled "chariot" pulled by a pony was tried but the children did not take to it.

One foster child had to be removed after only two days as was found to be allergic to cats, they have four cats.

Much of the land is now planted with apple trees, for the local cider industry. Free range pigs eat the windfalls. Apple production is very limited but will assuredly increase as the trees mature. Growing soft fruit under glass is worthwhile, and even potatoes are worth growing under glass as very high prices are paid for new potatoes at Christmas.

Raspberries did not grow at all well under glass, they suffered from some type of mould and were uprooted and burnt.

[adam2]

Update re transport for disabled kids.
The pony drawn chariot was not liked as the children feared that the pony would "bolt, panic, or run away" despite use of an animal selected for its placid nature.
It worked OK with an able bodied adult or older child riding a second horse and leading the pony that pulled the chariot. That however is expensive and rather misses the point of providing at least partially INDEPENENT travel.

Back to electric trikes for now at least. Very simple, safe and stable. Have never been known to bite or run away. Powered by a 24 volt 38 AH sealed lead acid battery.

[adam2]

The battery for the off grid electrical system has recently been found wanting, low capacity. New one installed, 24 volt at about 3,000 AH.
The opportunity was taken to change most of the lighting circuits from 12 volts to 24 volts, this is slightly more efficient and 24 volt low energy lamps are now readily available.
One bedroom lighting circuit kept on 12 volts to use existing 12 volt fluorescent lights.

Stocks of long life foods increased, as part of general doom preps.
Extra stocks of sheets and blankets purchased, also general doom preps, the two fostered disabled children commented that the bedding is much better than that provided in previous foster homes. Nothing expensive or elaborate is provided, but all cotton sheets and and all wool blankets.
A new pet cat adopted from a charity, as one died, at a ripe old age.

[clv101]

Big battery! I presume lead acid?

[adam2]

Big battery! I presume lead acid?

Yes, lead acid, fork lift truck type. Two strings of cells each 1,500 AH. Very cheap, 4 months old when purchased. A new battery was fitted to a fork lift truck that was shortly afterwards written off in an accident.