Reflections

The Hidden Cost of Sustainability. What does it mean?

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According to Cambridge Dictionary, Sustainability is, “the quality of being able to continue over a period of time.”

Most conversations around sustainability focus on land, livestock, gardens, infrastructure, systems, and production. We talk about sustainable farming, sustainable homesteading, sustainable food systems, and sustainable living.

I’ve come to believe sustainability isn’t just about the land, animals, gardens, or systems. The human being sustaining those systems matters too.

Point 6 Acre is home. A sanctuary built from persistence, planning, and love. To be surrounded by such incredible beauty and miraculous things fills me with joy, but maintaining this kind of life carries a price. 

In today’s focused, driven world, where sustainability and homesteading are words bandied about effortlessly, with videos showing how to do things only a click away, it’s easy to feel driven. It was easy to push myself without considering the physical, emotional, and financial costs of my efforts.

Broken ribs and shingles. Two painful wake-up calls that knocked the stuffing out of me, because the farm doesn’t stop.

How do we build systems that nourish instead of consume us?

I  believe human sustainability is built through:

* A meaningful life.
* Holding beauty alongside grief.
* Refining systems so they require less effort.
* Learning gentleness.
* Tending living things.
* Tending myself too.
* Reflection.
* Laughter.
* Rest.
* Planning a little ahead – not too far.

There are days when I’m overwhelmed and want to quit everything.

On those days, I sit with Dawg. I sit with the goats. I watch the ducks. I drink tea. And in that sitting, my breathing slows, the tension in my chest eases, my shoulders drop, and I can appreciate everything I’ve built here and know in my heart that taking time to rest is okay.

Warmly,

Brin

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Brin writes about the quieter lessons of small farm life – ducks in the morning, goats in the barn, and the slow work of tending a small piece of land. Between animal chores, soap making, and reflexology work, she reflects on what it means to live well, live simply, and discover what “enough” really looks like.

Water, Power Outages, and Why We Installed IBC Totes

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When the power goes out, one of the first things you notice on a small farm is water.

There was a time when the weather felt more predictable. Now, strong winds bring down trees and power lines, and outages happen more often than they used to.

We are prepared for power outages in some ways. We store water in the house for ourselves, our cats, and Dawg. Where things become more challenging is with the animals. The ducks and goats go through buckets of water each day, and it doesn’t take long before our stored household supply is stretched.

Part of our original five-year plan was to install a rainwater catchment system using cisterns. It remains a priority, but cisterns are expensive, and on a small farm there is always something else that needs time, attention, and resources.

This year, an opportunity presented itself.

We were able to purchase five food-grade IBC totes (Intermediate Bulk Containers) that originally held olive oil. After pressure washing, each tote now holds 1,000 litres of potable water.

The totes are set up in series near the small barn. In time, they will collect rainwater from the roof once a filtration system is in place. For now, they are filled by water delivery — a practical step that works for where we are.

During a power outage, a submersible pump connected to the generator allows us to draw water specifically for the animals. In a longer outage, this stored water could support all of us.

On a small farm, solutions often come together this way — a mix of planning, timing, and what is available.

The result is simple: we have a reliable water reserve, and a set of food-grade containers given a second use.

We consider that a win.

Warmly,

Brin

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Brin writes about the quieter lessons of small farm life – ducks in the morning, goats in the barn, and the slow work of tending a small piece of land. Between animal chores, soap making, and reflexology work, she reflects on what it means to live well, live simply, and discover what “enough” really looks like.

Duck Water Systems: What Actually Works (And What Doesn’t).

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Keeping ducks watered cleanly and sustainably is an ongoing learning process.

In this video, we share the evolution of our duck water systems here at Point 6 Acre — from kiddie pools to livestock tanks — and how the nutrient-rich water gets reused in the garden.

Keeping ducks watered cleanly and sustainably is an ongoing learning process.

Watch the video here. YouTube Video.

Systems evolve slowly — one adjustment at a time.

How We Reuse Duck Water From Their Pool In The Garden

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Ducks = a lot of water —and water that gets dirty fast! 

Here at Point 6 Acre, our water comes from a well and it’s precious. We use it carefully inside the house and as needed for the animals. To be honest, they get priority – and rightly so!

So what do you do with all the filthy duck water from the kiddie pools, buckets, and now a large livestock tank?

In the past, the smallest kiddie pool was tipped out daily where it sat. The medium-sized one needed emptying every few days with a bucket, and that water went into the nearest garden bed or the climbing rose. Helpful, but limited. It never reached any of the veggie beds.

That changed when we added a used livestock tank holding 330 gallons of water. We wanted to harness that nutrient-dense water. 

The solution? A sump pump! 

We attached a short six-foot length of hose to the sump pump to avoid damaging the threads on the pump. From there, we connect a longer hose and move the water wherever we need it.

Plants in the veggie beds benefit. The soil improves, and moisture is better retained from the mulch we use from the duck house. The ducks get fresh water weekly, and the gardens get a deep watering at the same time. We call that a win-win!

Using a system like this prevents the water from becoming too dirty or smelly, and to be honest, it makes way more sense than tipping the water out of a kiddie pool. That always felt wasteful.

On a small piece of land, this is one of the ways we make things work to our advantage. 

It’s not perfect, but it works.

Warmly,

Brin

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Brin writes about the quieter lessons of small farm life – ducks in the morning, goats in the barn, and the slow work of tending a small piece of land. Between animal chores, soap making, and reflexology work, she reflects on what it means to live well, live simply, and discover what “enough” really looks like.