5 Types Of Sustainable Homeowners

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In my 12 years in the field of design and consultation, I have noticed a pattern…
Over 90% of my clients fall into 5 groups.
If you had to pick just one, which one are you?

 

1) The Do-It-Yourself-er

Identifiers:
    • Love to save money by “paying themselves” to do the labour.
    • Enjoys learning new skills. Often creative, artistic, and motivated.
    • They “save-things”… never know when you can use that tool or off-cut!
How I Help Them:
    • Get thoughtful planning upfront. Avoid mistakes that cost time and money.
    • As a DIYer myself, I offer coaching services to work beside you to get started.
    • I help DIYers pair down their ideas & avoid Pinterest fails.
What does their property end up looking like?
    • Instagrammable outdoor space to relax in and have guests over.
    • Clever systems for food growing, rain harvesting, & composting.
    • Ingenious home renovations that save them money (and look cool).

 

2) The Environmentalist

Environmentalist

Identifiers:
    • Concerned about the state of the world and want to make a positive impact
    • Wants to increase biodiversity, build healthy soil, and be a part of their watershed
    • Often motivated by ethics and the future of our children and grandchildren 
How I Help Them:
    • Provide design ideas to optimize around nature. Work smarter, not harder. 
    • Give actionable items and guidance to maximize metric-driven impact
    • Reduce waste, lower house footprint, and create cyclical systems
What does their property end up looking like?
    • A beautiful oasis of bio-diversity home to insects, birds, and quiet sitting spots
    • Integrated systems for composting, water-harvesting, and food growing.
    • Low-maintenance perennial systems like food forests. Likely no grass. 

 

3) The Prepper

prepper

Identifiers:
    • Increasingly aware of the fragile state of our environmental and economic world.
    • Wants to increase their independence, food security, and resilience. 
    • Values re-skilling, connecting to the land, and feeling abundant. 
How I Help Them:
    • Provide practical solutions for off-grid living – heat, water, waste, power, and food.
    • Design and renovation ideas to increase house efficiency and resiliency.
    • Integration of nutrient and water systems that cycle between the house and land.
What does their property end up looking like?
    • Water abundance through rainwater harvesting and earthworks.
    • Tons of food! Productive and practical food growing systems, possible animal systems.
    • Homestead vibe. Economic, ergonomic, and efficient human use.
    • Possibly a zombie apocalypse hideout.

 

4) The Healthy Foodist

Identifiers:
    • These people often buy local or organic and read food labels in the supermarket.
    • Are avid gardeners or would like to be if they had the time/space/mentorship. 
    • They bring the best things to potlucks and are holistic in their approach to health. 
How I Help Them:
    • Create harmonious systems for growing food that are productive, beautiful, and easy to use.
    • Step-by-step help to transform their property from dysfunction –> food.
    • Solutions to create health from the soil up. Healthy soil = healthy food = healthy people.
What does their property end up looking like?
    • A garden of eatin’. Raised garden beds, herb spirals, food forests, ex. 
    • Comfortable places of rest and relaxation (Need to have tea as a gardening break right?)
    • Possibly a market garden, an urban farm, or a full-on homestead.

 

5) The Community Neighbour

Community food

Identifiers:
    • Enjoy giving to others – jam, apples, pies, rhubarb, ex. – and sharing knowledge.
    • Social in nature, generous in spirit, and always has your back when you need an egg. 
    • Gives advice over a fence and probably has a neighborhood watch sign. 
How I Help Them:
    • Create food growing systems so there is always extra.
    • Design of social spaces for entertaining or community.
    • Creative recommendations to bring over the neighbors for a conversation.
What does their property end up looking like?
    • With pathways, patios, and sitting, these properties are inviting and artistic.
    • With perennial and annual systems, food can be abundant and work low.
    • A great place to go explore, forage, or sit and sip tea. 

 

WHICH TYPE OF HOMEOWNER ARE YOU?

Dont worry… you can identify as more than 1 of the above!
…But which is the STRONGEST for you?

Share this blog post with what type you are.
Lets raise awareness & build interest in sustainable living!
(I am #2 Environmentalist with #1 DIY as a close second). 

Are you interested in getting the support you need to take your property to the next level?
You can book a FREE 15 min discovery call to see if I can help. 

>>> BOOK A FREE 15 MIN DISCOVERY CALL HERE

Warmly,

Kenton Zerbin

(Kenton is a passionate educator for sustainable living who lives in an off-grid tiny house in northern Alberta. Kenton runs a wide array of workshops on tiny homes, sustainable living, and edible landscaping. He also does consulting and design for homeowners, communities, and businesses)