The Footprint Family - A story of urban subsistence living. Chapter 2: The Footprints Lay Out a Start-Up Plan

Freddie and Franny Footprint were sitting with their friends Allan and Debbie, that first night, discussing what they would need to buy in the next few weeks.

"Well," said Freddie. "Thanks to Allan's and Debbie's generosity, we don't have to worry about eating and bathing for the next week. Let's make a list of the things that are absolutely essential to get us started."

"O.K.," said Franny. "First, we each need a change of clothes that are easily hand-washed. We also need a way to cook that does not require plug-in electricity."

Debbie then told them about an interesting web site she had come across when they were setting up a household emergency kit:
http://www.nationalterroralert.com/heatlightcooking/. The site gave some excellent information on cooking without electricity. The most convenient system for indoor cooking on a small scale was Sterno. "Sterno Fuel, a jellied petroleum product, is an excellent source of fuel for inclusion in your back pack as part of your 72 hour kit. Sterno is very light weight and easily ignited with a match or a spark from flint and steel but is not explosive. It is also safe for use indoors.... A Sterno Stove can be purchased at any sporting goods store and will retail between $3 and $8, depending upon the model you choose. They fold up into a very small, compact unit ideal for carrying in a pack. The fuel is readily available at all sporting goods stores and many drug stores. One can of Sterno fuel, about the diameter of a can of tuna fish and twice as high, will allow you to cook six meals if used frugally.Chafing dishes and fondue pots can also be used with Sterno." One type of folding stove, usable with Sterno fuel, can be seen at the following web site: http://www.nextag.com/Safesport-Coghlans-Metal-Folding-564879327/prices-html. You can even make your own Sterno Stove, as described on the Instructables web site: http://www.instructables.com/id/Tin-Can-Sterno-Stove/ve/. It is possible to get two 8 oz Sterno gel cans for approximately $8 (see http://www.winterfix.com/itemlist.asp?Bc=sterno)

A slightly more expensive stove, but one that is still quite reasonable, is the Brunton Raptor Foldable Butane Canister Stove, retailing for approximately $40. (see http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___86634?&&CS_003=2450921&CS_010=86634 ). Unlike portable propane stoves, butane stoves are safe to use indoors.

"On the subject of heating things," said Freddie, "don't forget that we will need hot water. I suggest we try to find one of those point-of-use, tankless hot water heaters. I have done a little research on what is available. We can buy a shower-head type for $70-80. (see:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Electric-110v-Tankless-Water-Heater-RV-Camper-Shower_W0QQitemZ140210492623QQihZ004QQcategoryZ115967QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262



A slightly more elaborate shower water heater can be purchased for about $130. (see: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110264013955&ssPageName=MERCOSI_VI_ROSI_PR4_PCN_BIX_Stores&refitem=110262189170&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&refwidgettype=osi_widget&_trksid=p284.m185&_trkparms=algo%3DSI%26its%3DI%252BIA%26itu%3DIA%252BUCI%26otn%3D4%26ps%3D42)

Allan pointed out that there are some other small-scale water heaters for slightly more. They were under $200, but probably more than Freddie and Franny would be able to spend this month. He gave them some web site references for these:

(1) ELECTRIC POINT-OF-USE TANKLESS WATER HEATER $165.29POWERSTREAM PRO INSTANT RP1P 240-208 VOLT 9500-7100 WAT http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190133847170&ssPageName=MERCOSI_VI_ROSI_PR4_PCN_BIX_Stores&refitem=120273617060&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&refwidgettype=osi_widget&_trksid=p284.m185&_trkparms=algo%3DSI%26its%3DI%252BIA%26itu%3DIA%252BUCI%26otn%3D4%26ps%3D42


(2) New Stiebel Point of Use Electric Tankless Water Heater $144
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Stiebel-Point-of-Use-Electric-Tankless-Water-Heater_W0QQitemZ360062050210QQihZ023QQcategoryZ115967QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

Allan also showed them a good review article on TreeHugger.com, about the Ariston point-of-use hot water heaters, for $139-169. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/05/pointofuse_hot.php.

In addition, he had found a tankless water heater resource guide: http://www.tanklesshq.com/product-specs.html

"All right," said Franny. We still need to make plans to eat. While it would be nice to buy some packaged potting soil, we can easily heat plain dirt from outdoors, in order to kill the weed seeds and harmful organisms. All we need for pots is some discarded plastic jugs with holes in the bottom. Then, the only thing we have to buy is seeds."

"We can't grow everything at the beginning," said Freddie. "I propose that we buy some inexpensive cans of cooked beans, since we won't have the set-up, yet, for cooking dried beans. We will need some source of grain, so that we are getting complete proteins. How about buying some buckwheat groats (Kasha) and some cous-cous. Both of those cook pretty fast. Once we have an oven, we can start making our own bread."

After a little more discussion, they came up with the following budget:

1) Clothing--An inexpensive change of clothes from K-Mart or WalMart. They were pretty sure that they could get what they needed for about $50.
2) A tankless shower head water heater for about $70.
3) A Sterno folding stove and two 2-packs of 8 oz Sterno gel for about $25.
4) Seeds: assorted salad greens, grape tomatoes, and carrots--$5.
5) Soap and other items for personal hygeine--$15.
6) Canned beans, a pound of buckwheat groats, a pound of cous-cous, some salt, and a small bottle of vegetable oil--$15.
7) The "Lightship" -- portable solar LED light--$13. (http://www.sollight.com/products/lightship.cfm)

---------------------------------------------------------

Challenge for Chapter 2:

What do Freddie and Franny need to set up next?

How will they handle their trash and food garbage?

(Let's assume that they have only about $100 left after

paying the rent and security deposit on their new apartment.)

---------------------------------------------------------