Kerr-Cole Sustainable Living Center
A Living Homestead Demonstrating Solar Technologies &
Voluntary Simplicity
The Kerr-Cole Sustainable Living Center (KCSLC) is located on 10 acres of land
overlooking Harvest Valley near Taylor, Arizona. The 5,800 foot elevation
provides a four-season climate in a high desert terrain of juniper/sage. Taylor
is a rural community located 175 miles Northeast of Phoenix.
Our objective is to live as harmoniously and sustainably as possible using
skills and knowledge that have been refined over the past 30 years. This has
culminated in our current homemaking methods using solar cookers, solar food
dryers, organic gardening and other practices and technologies appropriate for
our circumstances. We live off the electricity grid and off the community
water/sewage connections. We minimize car use and shopping by preparing meals
from garden produce, stored bulk foods, and home preserved fruits, vegetables
and herbs. We enjoy sharing our knowledge and helping others develop in this
direction. Guests are welcome to visit by prior arrangement.
RESIDENTS
Two alternative technology designer/users are on the premises and will help
explore areas of your choice. Since 1972, Barbara Kerr, lecturer and author, has
been designing and using solar cookers and solar domestic devices. Jim Scott is
an electrical engineer with knowledge of renewable energy systems and green
building technologies. Both welcome exchanging ideas with others on the same
path.
GUESTS
Visits are available by appointment. Two small personal libraries provide
on-site resources.
Group Tours, Seminars and Private Tutorials. Option to have a general tour of
the Sustainable Home, or suggested donation $5 per person.
School Field Trips. Can be negotiated.
Overnight and Longer Term Guests. Arrangements can be made for extended stays
and internships. Guests provide their own food, vehicle, tent, sleeping bag,
personal equipment, etc. If preferred, a motel is three miles away. Meals are
often shared and evenings spent together.
Transportation. Car rental or White Mountain Bus Line available from Phoenix. By
prior arrangement, we will pick up and return to our local terminal.
No drugs, alcohol, or smoking please. Pets possible by prior arrangement only.
VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers appreciated. Short or long term projects.
TECHNOLOGIES AND METHODS PRACTICED DEMONSTRATED
Solar Cooking: solar box ovens, solar panel cookers, solar wall oven and other
solar cooking designs
Passive heated solar home and greenhouse
Organic garden with composting and seed saving
Alternative sanitation systems
Sustainable Kitchen: a system based on availability of fuels coordinating solar,
small flame and retained heat cooking, using flint and steel fire starting.
Suitable for home, camping, and emergency preparedness/disaster relief
Solar water distillation
Solar water heating
Food preservation by solar food drying, solar canning, and root storage
Menu preparation including use of bulk storage and whole foods
Off grid, stand alone, electrical system: photovoltaic panels, battery storage
and inverters to provide ac current
Windmill and solar pumps for private well
Low energy refrigeration
Alternative construction (Sandbag and Papercrete)
Health maintenance practices
PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE ON THE FOLLOWING TOPICS
The Sustainable Kitchen (home use and emergency preparedness)
Resource List (guide to sustainable publications and more)
Rocket Stove (highly fuel efficient wood stove - outdoor use)
Solar Food Drying
Solar Pasteurization
PV Solar Electricity (description of our system)
Expanding World of Solar Box Cookers (textbook, plans, 79 pages)
Humanure Commentary (composting your feces and urine)
Watson Wick (low cost alternative to septic)
CONSTRUCTION PLANS
Cardboard Solar Box Cookers:
Cardboard Solar Panel Cookers:
Wooden Solar Cookers
Solar Food Dehydrators
Solar Water Heaters
COOKERS AND OTHER ITEMS FOR SALE
CooKit: Cardboard solar panel cooker. Ready to use. $23
Water Pasteurization Indicator (WAPI). $5
Solar Wall Oven (fall 2002, price to be determined)
VIDEO
A Visit With Barbara P. Kerr and Sherry Cole at the Kerr-Cole Sustainable Living
Center
______________________________________________________________
Send SASE for an up-to-date price list of all KCSLC items for sale. Or visit our
web site. All prices include domestic shipping and handling. Please
add 50% for foreign orders.
Send check or money order to:
The Kerr-Cole Sustainable Living Center
P. O. Box 576
Taylor, Arizona, USA 85939
All publications, designs and plans created by B. Kerr unless otherwise stated.
Permission granted for reproduction of all documents for educational and
non-profit purposes.
To Contact Us:
928-536-2269
email: kerrcole@frontiernet.net
http://www.solarcooking.org/bkerr
Revised: 30 Nov 2007 07:38:05 -0700
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