Author Archives: Ted
Junk in the pipes – before/after
In previous posts I described the process (and hassle) of cleaning out the pipes which the crossing is built on. Since doing that, the pictures nearby represent the highest the creek has gotten since then. In point of fact, in … Continue reading
Beth and Ginny
The lady of our future home has been a vital part of everything from the beginning … even when Ted was musing about building a rammed earth home (another story) back in the mid-80s! Now that we’re on our way, … Continue reading
We have a construction loan :-)
So do most people who build a house, so … what’s the big deal? Here it is: most people who build a natural core (strawbale) house do it on a credit card or with cash — they don’t get a … Continue reading
Found a claw
After roughly 10 tries last week, we found an excavator with a claw (the grabber thing above the bucket in the picture). It got the crossing cleaned out! Since then, the creek has been happy, and we’re moving forward… Notice … Continue reading
Highlift, meet dead oak
A friend recently asked me, “What’s a highlift?” Behold… Our driveway, it turns out, needed to go right through a place where this huge, dead oak tree was standing. We got a bid of $800 to drop it, but then … Continue reading
We Need a Claw!
…with a backhoe attached to it. That’s because the creek keeps cutting the ends of our crossing out every time the water gets high, and before we can fix it we need the culverts cleared of debris. See? We think … Continue reading
Dig ready? – not – yet…
Weather (wet) and paperwork (govt.) have combined, and we have missed our goal… but we’ll keep at it. In the meantime, here’s our site plan. Notice the shaded area around the creek at the upper part of the diagram – … Continue reading
After 35 years of dreaming…
…here we go! As one might note from previous posts, our progress since 2007 has been somewhat uncertain. The 2008 financial meltdown, family and business issues and the general rush of life have meant that now, finally, we’re on the … Continue reading
Back on Track
After almost 3 years of delay (due to the recession and financing issues) we are back on track to begin building our new strawbale home in the summer of 2012. It’s going to be beautiful, and we’re excited! As you … Continue reading
Crossing is finished!
We are very pleased; Paul Clifford Construction did an excellent job, at a reasonable price.
Hay is food
If you grew up on a farm, thoughts about hay are second nature. By “hay” I don’t necessarily mean “square grassy thingys you see in the field” but rather food for animals in various forms. Alfalfa, fescue and other grasses … Continue reading
Fire? What fire?
Since “The Three Little Pigs” is the story everyone conjures up when told “we’re building a house out of straw”, it’s only appropriate to cover that subject right up front. Here are some facts to keep in mind: Yes- loose … Continue reading