Truth Window: Album Two
The Trumpey's home is in the flyway for sandhill cranes. We photographed these young birds just down the road from Joe's property.
A view of the Trumpey home from the south field as Joe uses the tractor to carry a log to the sawmill.
The solar array looms in the pasture.
The manifold system for the home's in floor hot water heating system.
A tortoise is one of dozens of animals (in addition to the livestock) in the Trumpey home.
Joe cuts door frames in the early morning.
Thirty-five golf cart batteries store up electricity from the solar array for cloudy days. The Trumpey's can remain on solar power and batteries for up to 4 heavily cloudy days, but only needed their backup generator 7 times last winter. Most days the array produces surplus power, and that's with Joe running various power tools, lights, refrigerator, tv, water heater, and electronics.
An avid gardener, Shelly Trumpey looks forward to the day the house is finished and she can return to growing the family's food. A squash plant at the front door is a good omen!
Fern, a collie and the photographer's surprise sleeping companion during his stay.
The Trumpey's master bedroom include a wood-burning stove for additional heat.
The College's Toyota Prius (52 mpg on this trip) at the Trumpey's gate.