Prepping the 8x10 foundation

It's now ready to pour the slab for the 8x10, 2-story micro-house. We used the dirt to build a ramp to bring the mixer up to the site.

Log Splitter Action

Sr. Josh Copus of Clayspace.org fame loaned us his splitter & we split wood for three days, making mountains of split logs and clearing up the pond space & future terrace areas.

Pond & wetland

The grey-water from the house (sink & shower water with no animal fats & only biodegradable soap) flows through irrigation tubing from the house to a swale that feeds the wetland. The wetland (4' deep) is connected to the pond by a narrow 1'deep channel. Native wetland plants will be used to filter the water before the overflow feeds the pond. Billy did this in 1.5 hours. To think that some say this steep land is useless. These terraces will nearly double the growing space.
Photo by Brian Blount

Cover crop down

We threw the seeds on the banks & terraces, minutes later it started to rain.
Photo by Brian Blount

Seed Mix

We mixed up cover crop seeds: fenugreek, mustard greens, amaranth, alfalfa, red & yellow clover & sunflower.

Yesterday Billy came out to dig 2 ponds. He used the dirt to build two terraces above the ponds and one below. The soil is black & nutrient-rich.

New Roof for the Tool Shed

The new roof has the same pitch as the house (appx.18:12).

Don't try this at home!

Matt was testing the limits of his flexibility - stretching out to put up the cedar trim with one foot on the ladder & the other on the roof of the tool shed.

Carolina siding

In Tennessee its called Carolina siding & in Carolina its Tennessee siding. It's fun to put up and looks great, locally milled wood & ring shank nails - no nail guns required.

A visit to Jake Dundee in Wolf Laurel

I visited Jake the other day and saw the forest on his property where he harvests black locust trees. He is the only person in this region who has them. They are stronger than concrete and will last at least 50 years if properly tamped into an earthen footer (no concrete), or, as Jake has done, resting on a rock. I will be using them as the posts for the deck and the greenhouse. These logs are no joke - a 6 foot post can weigh upwards of 1000 pounds. This is the deck he built with them - (the posts and perlins), the top boards are hemlock. His house is ALL hand-made.

Descendents of the founders of "Shelton Laurel"

Jake Dundee recommended I stop to visit Randy Davis to see the lumber he sells. He son explained that they are direct descendents of David Shelton who was the first person of European descent to found the region. This is the latch to their barn where I bought a big load of selectively cut & dried tulip poplar.

New Shelves in the Kitchen Space

Here Matt screws down a wormy heart pine board to one of the cedar brackets.

Mountains of Chips & Logs

The piles are building, ready for mulching & log splitting; and its only the beginning. Over 15 years of dry weather in this region has made everyone forget we live in a Temperate Rain Forest. Now that the rain has officially returned the roots of the trees are not prepared. Over 50 trees have fallen on Avens Springs land & they will be used to help build soil and heat indoor spaces.

Raw Shakti Chocolate New Logo

New logo for Raw Shakti Chocolate by Fernando Elvira; cut-out adhesive vinyl.

Avens Organics New Logo

New logo for Avens Organics by Fernando Elvira, cut-out adhesive vinyl.
Appalachian Avens is an endangered perennial herb of the rose family, native to Southern Appalachia, it is threatened by air pollution, trampling and development.

Cedar shelf brackets

Matt sourced some aged cedar boards he cut out to use as shelf brackets. We sanded and oiled them - each one unique.