In case anyone is wondering, it is okay to post these in full by them.

It's nice to see someone doing something about this, no matter how
small the scale.

Life inside Mars Base Zero

Today is my fourth day closed inside Mars Base Zero. I would
like to share with you my thoughts about life inside so far.
I have been managing to stay busy and am enjoying my time
here. The growing space had a number of weeds, especially
chickweed, so I'm spending time weeding each day. I've done
all of square C, the trays, the tomato crates, and began
square D. I straightened up in general. I've been spending
time each day on the Internet despite the slow connection
(it's not like I have anywhere else to go). Before going to
bed, I usually read for awhile.

I also spend a fair amount of time cooking. Since the diet
is not very calorie dense but very bulky, I have to eat 4-6
times a day to get enough calories. I am not hungry and eat
until full. My favorite is potato mashed with broccoli and a
little onion. I've eaten over 11 pounds of potatoes so far.

I've been boiling a lot of my food, which uses a lot of
water. I've used 5 gallons so far. I've been using a few
ways to help lessen the amount of water I'm using. I have
been draining and keeping the boiling water to reuse. I can
use the same water about three or four times before it gets
too starchy. I wash the veggies in a small bowl of water
rather than rinsing them. I have been changing the wash
water about twice a day to keep it from getting too dirty. I
also wash my hands in the same water (it's the same dirt so
why not?). If my hands are really dirty I wash them in the
water then quickly rinse them under the bucket tap.

While I am the only person here, I am not alone. Since it
was open all summer, there are numerous critters inside with
me. I've seen 3 red backed voles, a mouse, a dark grey
rodent-like animal about 9 inches long with a stub or no
tail that I'm not sure what it is since I've only seen it
from across the garden not close up, even a grey jay managed
to get in one day through a tear in the plastic. Watching
them makes great amusement as they scurry around. While the
rodents have food and seem adjusted to being in here, the
bird was not. Luckily it managed to find its way back out
after spending most of a day with me.

One thing I think is especially important when living in a
closed, small space is exercise. Inside Mars Base Zero, ways
to get vigorous exercise are limited. Most activities are of
short duration limited movement, such as weeding and
harvesting. I can only walk 44 feet in one direction at the
most and this isn't regular walking since I would have to
step over a low wall, step up onto the planting area, walk
along 6 inch boards and around posts then step back down to
the floor. I do go up and down the loft ladder a lot but
again that is only short duration since the ladder is about
9 feet long. To keep fit I have been doing 30-45 minutes of
exercises, stretching, and yoga each day.

Living on a sailboat this summer gave me good practice in
living in a small space. I would definatly recommend anyone
who is to be in a closed enviroment live aboard a sailboat
first. In fact, the candidates for Biosphere2 spent time
training aboard the research sailing vessel Helaclitus.
There are several parallels. First they both have a limited
amount of room to move in any direction. For the most part
they are both autonomous for supplies. When you run out its
gone until getting to port or the end of the study.
Amusement is limited to what you bring with you and nature
in the immediate surroundings. Human companionship is only
the other crew aboard when at sea and during the study.
Although visitors are allowed at Mars Base Zero they must
stay outside, which isn't quite the same thing as having
someone with me since there is a layer of visqueen between
us. Storage is limited and every item must be throughly
considered before being allowed in.

So that's a few of my thoughts on living inside Mars Base
Zero. I am planning on coming out on Friday. I'd be happy to
address questions, comments, or concerns anyone has about my
closure, ISECCo or the Mars Base Zero project. Please feel
free to write me.

-Frankie

http://isecco.org
ISECCo
PO Box 60885
Fairbanks, AK 77706
(907)488-1001