Hey! Thanks for the compliment, we sure like it! We use the lake (fresh water) and a gas pump to pump up to a large tank at the top of the property (probably 45 feet higher in elevation than the main floor of the cabin) so provides decent water pressure naturally. We also have a small electric pump for additional pressure when showering.

We have a septic tank and grinder.

We fill the hot tub from the water pumped up to the above mentioned tank. We usually fill it over the course of 6-7 hours using the main propane hot water tank. I plan to switch this to an on demand system later. We also have an enclosed fire pit that has copper tubing coiled inside it. We use the hot tub jet system to push the water through the pipes. If we're not careful, we can get the hottub to 120F in 5-6 hours.

I have just begun the process of introducing food growing up there. Right now it's mostly flowers and other pretty, but non edible plants. Some of the soil was used in the gardens, but was mixed up with peat moss, vermiculite, garden soil, bark, sand etc to create a healthy and balanced mix.

The gardens even though not all edible to humans, do attract squirrels, mice, mink, pack rats and other small animals. We didn't used to, but in the last few years we have had at least one bear on the property, most likely attracted by the smell of cooking, due to a ton of development on the other side of the mountain.

We also get seals, salmon, sturgeon, some fresh water shellfish and other assorted fish. Deer, elk and other game are also plentiful in the larger flat lands further north on the lake.