Foundation: Wooden posts and concrete piers
Depth of foundation: average about 3 feet
Floor Beams: 2 at 24 foot long
Floor Joists: a lot of 2x6's
Subfloor: 3/4" plywood
Walls: Pressed particle board and 2x4's
Height Off the Ground: From mid shin at lowest point, to my nose at the highest. ( I'm 5'7" )
Width: 14 feet
Length: 24 feet
Height: a little over 14 feet from floor to ceiling inside
Sleeping arrangements: a 12 foot long by 14 feet wide sleeping loft
Heat Source: Quadra-Fire 2100 Millenium woodstove, bought new.
Windows: 3 windows and a door on north side, 2 on east side, 1 on south side, and 1 window in each east-west dormer. Wall of books, no window on west side. Future plans are for a greenhouse on the south side.
Electricity: None yet, it's too expensive. Candles for now.
Where I built it: On our 10 acre family farm
For how much: About $4,500 for all shell materials, siding, stain, some tools and sheetrock. Will spend more to decorate and furnish it.
How I got the money: Worked for a living.
What I do: Carpenter, Gardener. I was getting paid $5-7 an hour when I earned all the money for my house.
Building experience: Virtually none. Had built a kayak from a kit in a group, but had never built anything with 2x4's and plywood.
When I built it: Dug foundation holes in June 2001. Took off until October to travel and work. Have been working on the house off and on throughout Winter of 2001 and Spring of 2002.
With what tools: I borrowed a tape measure, 16 oz hammer, circular saw, chalk line, carpenter square, level, shovel. Bought my own 22 oz hammer, square, and chalk line. Slowly buying my own tool cache.
Help: Built house almost entirely by myself. Dad helped with advice and when I really screwed up or when a job needed more than one person, like raising a 24 foot wall.
Future Building Plans: A greenhouse, tool shed, dark room, deck, porch, hot tub, sauna, and many more...:-) Sometime soon (Next 5 years) I want to build a 30'+ wooden sailboat to sail around the world in.
Future Plans in General: Currently (2003) Hiking 5-6 thousand miles along the Eastern Continental Trail. After a year of hiking, I think I'll have a better idea of what I want to do with my life. Lots of time to introspect.
Eventually I would like to sell my photographs, travel a lot, become a backcountry park ranger, a chef, work for NOLS, Outward Bound, Bike Vermont, Backroads, cycle cross country, see the remaining 5 states I haven't been to, spend more time in Mexico, write a book or two, become a college professor, get to spend other people's money, lead trail work crews, and maybe fit a guy into the picture, if he's cute, has a sense of humor, loves traveling, has big plans, does big things, and likes talking and listening, without getting all huffy when I say something he doesn't like.
How I got to where I am: Read the rest of the webpages. I've been unschooled, live on an organic veggie farm, brought up in an underground house, etc. etc. A good place to start exploring is the Peace and Carrots Site Map. Some things from the site map:
Orion - The University I started, so I could study what I wanted at my liesure.
Unschooling - How to unschool, info about what I do and how you can too.
