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The pit of death is a little cozier and my new walls smell like clean laundry

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Well, it has been some time since my last post but we haven’t disappeared entirely. Not much travel to report. Instead we have been holed up designing, plotting, backtracking, redesigning, budgeting, redesigning and pulling hair out (especially the new grey ones).  Now we have moved into the building phase and counter-intuitively made the pit of death larger and deeper so that we could make it smaller and safer. It is actually going to be our new home. . . in the pit . . . covered by dirt on three sides. We are nothing if not adventurous! Here is our progress so far.

 

September 2015 – cleared the alder trees and this view appeared

cleared lot

We have had a stream of curious onlookers wondering what we are up to. These guys are my favourite so far. Although I believe we had more daffodils before they showed up.

goat neighbours

Here is the pit before we made an unsuccessful attempt to fill some of it in.

pit cleared
pit with gravel

After realizing this idea just wasn’t going to work, we went back to the drawing board to reconsider our options. It stayed like this until early March when we moved forward with out new plan to embrace the pit and build within it.

pit dug out
forms in pit
icf blocks in
icf blocks up

Standing here taking this picture I noticed a rather overwhelming smell of clean laundry. On closer inspection I realized it was coming from the brown dimpled foundation wrap. It’s not an unpleasant smell but it just makes you wonder what kind of chemical concoction is in there and I am quite happy that no one can see me down there sniffing my walls.

foundation walls

Things are moving fast now. We just need the weather to cooperate with a little less rain and a little more sun.

Billy Goat Bluff - Alderview Ridge - Pit of Death (or at least a whole lot of hurt)
Well that was quick!

4 thoughts on “The pit of death is a little cozier and my new walls smell like clean laundry”

  2. Fabulous! You know what fans we are of the earth ship concept! Really looking forward to the next phase – thanks for sharing Jenn – Bear has been asking if I’ve heard anything and now it’s clear why we haven’t. It makes so much sense to use the earth to heat and cool. Love your visitors – wonder what Brody thinks of them!

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  4. You’re putting down roots . . . literally! Can’t wait to see the finished product. May have to plan a trip up there for a visit.

    Hope you’re doing well, my friend. Pat

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