Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
4 min of reading 
4 comments 
Tonzinho Is 74 Years Old, Lives Alone in the Countryside, Sources Water from a Spring, Grows Corn for Consumption and Reveals That His Greatest Dream Is to Have a House with Running Water
In the middle of the fields, far from the city and without any connection to the power grid or piped water, Tonzinho continues to live the way he always has. He is 74 years old and lives alone in a simple house built about 10 years ago, after dismantling the old one.
There, there is no electricity, refrigerator, or faucet. Everything works at the rhythm of nature and his own effort. The water comes from a spring on the hillside, carried in bottles into the house. Food is cooked on a wood stove, without waste and without rush.
A Lifetime Without Electricity and Water Inside the House
Tonzinho says he has never had electricity at any stage of his life. Neither in the old house nor in the current one. For him, the absence has become a habit, although he acknowledges that it is missed.
-
How an innovative city combines high technology, well-being, and sustainability to become the largest reference in clean energy on the planet.
-
Couple buys 1846 church in ruins for R$ 660,000, invests R$ 3.2 million in renovations, transforms it into a millionaire mansion, and even preserved a historic cemetery with over 300 graves.
-
He started running at 66 years old, broke records at 82, and is now a subject of study for having a metabolic age comparable to that of a 20-year-old, in a case that is intriguing scientists and inspiring the world.
-
Oldest tree on the planet reappears after 130 years of searches: Wattieza, 385 million years old, was 10 meters tall and had no leaves or seeds; Gilboa fossils in New York solved the mystery in 2007.
When he needs to preserve meat, he turns it into lard, melts the fat, and stores everything in cans. There is no refrigerator or freezer. Everything is done as it was in the past, in the way he learned in the fields.
Spring Water Provides Essentials in Daily Life
The water used for drinking, cooking, and washing comes from a natural spring. It flows from the hillside and descends clean, with green sediment, a sign of purity according to those who live in the countryside.
Every day, Tonzinho goes down to the well, fills bottles, and carries them back to the house. There is no plumbing, pump, or water tank. It is physical strength and a repeated routine, with no shortcuts.
Planting for Personal Consumption and a Simple Routine in the Field
On the land of about half an acre, he mainly grows corn and beans for his own consumption. The corn is turned into cornmeal, a staple food.
Part of the heavier work, such as plowing the land, is done with the help of a rented tractor, since age no longer allows him to handle everything with just a hoe.
Chickens, Losses, and Plans to Restart Poultry Raising
Tonzinho once had chickens, but lost them all after animal attacks. Today, he plans to restart the poultry raising with a bamboo enclosure, a material abundant in the area.
He believes that with a good enclosure, it will be possible to raise them without losses. The bamboo also appears as an alternative source of income, as he intends to sell clumps to those who work with crafts.
Bamboo Grove, Crafts, and Possibility of Extra Income
On the land, there are different types of bamboo, including species used for crafts and others that are large and require a chainsaw for cutting.
The idea is to sell the bamboo while still standing, by clump, helping to clean the land and ensuring some financial return, even if small.
Solitary Life, Battery-Powered Radio, and Occasional Trips to the City
Tonzinho has never married and has no children. He lives alone, accompanied by a battery-powered radio, which helps break the silence of the countryside.
When he needs to buy something, he goes to the city. He doesn’t make large purchases since he has no way to store them. Everything is planned to last a short time and not spoil.
The Greatest Dream at 74 Years Old Is to Have a New House with Running Water
When asked about his greatest dream in life today, Tonzinho doesn’t mention luxury. He says, with emotion, that he dreams of building a new little house, simple, with one bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, and running water inside.
The wood already exists, including eucalyptus on the property. For him, it’s not a matter of size, but of dignity. A place to age with more comfort, sitting in the afternoon, observing the nature he has always cared for.
Tonzinho’s story exposes a reality still present in the interior of Brazil. People who age without access to the basics but maintain humility, resilience, and hope. At 74 years old, after a lifetime without electricity and running water, the dream isn’t big. It is simply to live with a bit more ease what he has always faced with courage.
Source: É DU CAMPO and EDUARDO PÁDUA
Eu estou enganado ou a reportagem não menciona a cidade e nem o Estado onde a pessoa mora. Porque se informasse, poderia se cobrar ações do prefeito e do governador do Estado!
Onde está o adestrador de **** que tirou o Brasil da miséria?
Ué pelo que acompanho da história dele , ja tem uma boa casa, água e lLuz. O Youtuber Angelo Português o ajudou muito a melhorar a situação dele. Isso que tá falando não existe mais.