Running Hen Microfarm : Two non-farmers' experiment in sustainable living in Shepherdstown, WV

We began planning our house in the fall of 2002. In September 2003 we purchased the lot on Persimmon Lane, about 2.9 acres of land that was at one time part of a farm which is now Pigs, Inc., an animal shelter for farm animals and pets. The land had been farmed in corn, soybeans and animal pasture until the summer of 2002.

We had a number of goals in planning our house. First, we wanted to build a house as energy efficient as possible, for both economic and moral reasons. With the rising cost of fuel and electricity, we hoped to save on our heating and electric bills. In addition, because of the hidden costs of pollution, global warming and the political instability that can result from our national addiction to non-renewable fossil fuels, we felt a moral obligation to design a house that would require much less energy than most houses being built at the time. We are now even more concerned about oil depletion and global warming, and are continually seeking ways to live more simply – growing our own food and living in tune with the seasons – which at the same time leads to a more satisfying life.

Second, we had some particular stylistic ideas in mind. We both were attracted to an English cottage style, and Mike has long been interested in the Arts and Crafts movement which arose in the late 19th century as a reaction against the industrial revolution and emphasized the importance of maintaining the traditions of hand craftsmanship. A particular architectural style resulted which later influenced the popular bungalow style house in the 1920s (which, ironically, could be ordered as a kit from Sears).

Two other requirements we had were for a music studio for Ruth, a piano teacher with over 20 students, and an office for Mike, owner of Four Seasons Books, who needed to be able to work from home several hours a week. Mike is also an amateur woodworker (he built the living room bookcases as well as other items of household furniture and equipment) and needed a workshop which we have located in the basement. Last but not least were our budget requirements which forced us to make a number of compromises, but all in all we are quite satisfied with the result.

We looked around for builders and architects but nothing clicked until we met our general contractor, Chad Gauthier of Pinnacle Enterprises in Harpers Ferry. He recognized from our sketches right away what style we were looking for, and his knowledge and willingness to work with our ideas was most helpful. (Chad now specializes in green building and installs wind and solar components.) Toward the end of the process he brought us together with architect Lynn Welch who helped us make some very practical changes. Construction began in January 2006 and the house was completed in 8 months.

Below are some of the specific elements of our house that we decided upon:

Passive Solar Design: Large south-facing windows and smaller windows on the west, north and east sides of the house allow for solar heating in the wintertime. (An awning is planned for the large living room window.) Two foot overhangs help prevent overexposure to the sun in summer. There is a centrally located wood stove, and ceiling fans are installed in many rooms to encourage air flow. There is an airlock off the back door that also serves as a laundry room/mud room.

(Illustration of passive solar design based on latitude in New York, NY)

Insulation is R40 in the roof and R21 in the exterior walls, both of which are greater than that used in standard construction. The exterior and supporting walls are all built with 2×6 studs which, in addition to being stronger, allows for more insulation. We considered SIPS (structurally insulated panels) which may have provided better insulation, but the use of SIPS was not widely understood at the time we built. We continue to seek to better insulate the house, especially around openings.

Geothermal Heat Pump: Since we didn’t want to be completely dependent on wood and passive solar heat in the winter and also wanted some air conditioning in the summer, we installed a geothermal or ground-source heat pump. A conventional or air-source heat pump draws its heat from the outside air. Consequently, while it works well in moderate temperatures, it is inefficient in temperatures bellow freezing at which point supplemental heating (e.g. electric resistant heat, propane or oil furnace) usually kicks in. A geothermal or ground-source heat pump, on the other hand, draws its heat from the earth. Since the ground temperature several feet below the surface is always about 55°F, the geothermal or ground-source heat pump can operate extremely efficiently even in the coldest weather. This ground heat is supplied by pumping fluid through underground looped piping a few hundred feet long and 4 or 5 feet deep. This involved digging a long trench and was an expensive choice, but our savings on heat and air conditioning will pay for the extra cost in less than ten years, especially as the cost of fuel for conventional systems rises. The geothermal or ground-source heat pump also provides air conditioning in the summer. In addition, the Water Heater is tied into the geothermal system, heating the water in winter, thus using less electricity than conventional systems. We hope to add solar water heating and possibly solar electricity in the future.

Windows are all double-paned, argon-filled, Energy Star rated and are casement windows which create a better seal against the outside temperature than most double-hung windows. Window shades were chosen for the whole house that have high insulation value. We have some concern that the e-coating on the windows may actually block some winter sun, but we have not yet investigated this problem.

Sustainable Building Materials: Exterior siding is Hardiplank, made from wood fiber and cement, which carries a 50 year warranty. Living and dining room flooring is bamboo, a highly renewable building material since the plant can be harvested for wood after only 3 to 5 years. All carpets in the house are made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Most of the wood used for building the house if FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified, meaning that the trees came from forests that are managed in a sustainable way.

Energy Star Appliances: Our dishwasher, washing machine, refrigerator and other household items are Energy Star rated.

front-loading washer and drying racks

Solar Clothes Drying: We decided not to purchase a dryer for clothes since we rarely use it and prefer to hang clothes outside or inside on a rack to dry. Electric clothes dryers use the most energy of any household appliance.

Compact Fluorescent Lighting is used in most household light fixtures and can significantly decrease electric usage. They also last for years – we rarely have to change a light bulb!

Wind Break: We have planted a wind break of evergreens on the northwest side of the house to shield the house from cold winter winds. Unfortunately, the trees are still way to small to be effective.

Other Sustainable Living Ideas:

Food Production: The excess use of depleting fossil fuels for transportation, tillage, and fertilizers, as well as other unsustainable practices of the food industry (nutrient depletion in soils, use of pesticides, etc.) have led us to attempt to grow much of our own food. Our food growing plan consists of 16 raised beds for vegetables, over 30 fruit and nut trees, a kitchen and herb garden, and chickens for egg production. We are experimenting with growing grains. Currently we grind wheat (not local, but are looking into a local source) using an electric home grinder and make bread. We have a large chest freezer in the basement and have buried root vegetables outside the back door. Mike has made a solar food dryer which heats up in the sun to over 120 degrees – we are looking forward to drying herbs, fruits and vegetables this summer.

Permaculture: The word “permaculture” was coined in the 1970s by Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren. It refers to “permanent agriculture” or “permanent culture.” Permaculture is another name for ecological design – not just for wildlife, but for humans as well. Obviously humans need food, shelter, and heat (as well as many other less tangible things such as beauty and fun). The idea is to design our own homes and habitats to maximize food and other needs while using the least human and external energy sources. Permaculture encompasses organic gardening, architecture, waste recycling, water use, nutrient recycling, energy efficiency, animal husbandry and much more.

Chickens and Ducks: We have three Buff Orpington hens that are housed in a “chicken tractor” – a portable coop and run that can be moved to different places to create garden beds and provide a variety of forage for the hens. We sometimes let them loose in the garden or orchard to control pests. They lay an average of 3 eggs a day during much of the year.  (Note:  as of January 2010 we had not been getting eggs for the last couple of months, but yesterday a chicken egg appeared!  Perhaps the chickens have noticed that the amount of light is beginning to increase.)  We also have ducks.

Possible Future Goals: Some further ideas we have for our homestead are a greenhouse, a large pond, geese, and possibly fish. We might be selling produce in the future.

Our home and microfarm are a work in progress. We are glad you came to visit our site and hope you gained some new ideas. If you have any questions or suggestions feel free to contact us.