More Stuff...and Then...

Well, it's been about 6 weeks since I wrote anything but there has been NO progress on the cabin...other than the collection of materials to build it. So far, I have $0 invested and should have enough stuff to put together about a 400 square foot cabin and deck! This weekend, I'm going to look at an old one car garage to tear down for materials...they even bought the shingles to re-roof it, and then after they tore off the old shingles, they discovered it needed new decking, so they are done working on it. They said I can come take it down AND take the new shingles that they bought! What luck! I'll send pictures soon!

And...we're off...

On Saturday, one of my sons and I are going to be taking down a 10 x 14 shed for the materials and our cabin up north will be born! I'm as excited as a kid at Christmas! With the reclaimed lumber I already have, I should be able to construct a 14 x 20, or 16 x 20 cabin with a loft for just a few additional hundred dollars, complete with large deck (from a demolition job last summer)...wish me luck!

Well, So much for THAT Idea...

Ok, I know it's been awhile since I've posted, but I've spent most of that time stewing over getting my hopes up...the cabin (log) that my buddy's father-in-law has is about a 16 x 20 cabin for...wait for it...$5000! I can build a cabin twice that size using conventional lumber for about the same money, so, back to the drawing board! What I'm really thinking is a Lowe's (or Home Depot) 16 x 16 cabin (with loft) x 2 end-to-end...that would give me about 1000 square feet, AND privacy with respect to the bedrooms...I think this is a do-able deal, all for about $3000 rough-in cost...I'm getting excited...does anyone know if any lumber yards sell the plans for this little cabin?

Ok, so here's the deal...

I don't want to start out untruthfully about what's going on up at what we'll call "Future Cabin Spot." I said that my wife and I have plans to build. That IS true. My wife wants to build a house AND get a mortgage. I don't. I want to either:

A. Build/buy a smaller building and start work up there soon (I can sometimes procrastinate if I don't start something right away...) and consider it a TEMPORARY spot to rest when I've worked hard all day preparing the REAL home...

B. Build/buy a smaller building and add on to it and make it more liveable and practical as I go along.

A buddy of mine told me that his father-in-law may have an un-used hunting cabin that he MIGHT give away or sell to me. This might be the start of something...good.

I also have been scouring online to find discounted/used building materials/storage buildings/etc to start the process that way.

This week, featured in an online garage sale site, is a finished 40 x 20 foot A-frame cabin for only $6000. Problem 1: It sits approximately 90 miles away from where I want it. Problem 2: It's not really the style of house the wife and I were looking for. Problem 3: It won't afford much in the way of passive solar design. One good thing, though, is that it's CHEEEEEEP!

Stay tuned!

So, I've Decided to Build...Now What?

My name is Dave and I'm finally fed up with IT all. No, I'm not talking crazy, just fed up with the rising cost of EVERYTHING, and I am unable to control ANY of IT. I'm the father of 5, yes 5 children, two of which are grown and out, one is a senior in high school, one is in middle school, and one that is 3 years old. My (and my wife's) plan is to start making the move and build a house in about 3 to 4 years. In two years, she graduates from college and I'm eligible to retire in about 10 years. I would like to raise our youngest son in the same environment that I was raised in...plus, I plan to homeschool the little guy to keep out most of the bad stuff. The cabin site is on approximately 9.5 acres that's about 11 miles from where we live (in the city). I'm starting this blog to document my path to establishing a working homestead OUTSIDE of the city, on land that is bought and paid for...and that's as far as I am right now, with pictures to follow...wish me luck!