Recycled Snow Shed

Up here at Lake St. Peter, the locals tell us snow loads can be quite troublesome for trailers. You could get more than 7 feet of snow. We were concerned for our trailer so we decided to build a snow shed. Well given that we just cleared/leveled the land and snow maybe upon us soon, this will probably be our last endeavor on the land - sigh - the build hasn't even started and we will have to head back to Toronto to make more money for next Spring.

Anyways we decided to build a pole barn with a truss roof, because we had some nice tree poles from clearing our build site and we had some used 2x6x8 lumber donated to us from a friend.

At a party we mentioned to some friends about our pole barn and they offered up some of their used galvanized roofing! Woo-hoo recycled shed!

 Dash in a precarious position! Yikes!

This was a scary moment. To see that two can of those trusses we built on the ground could actually stand close to square and straight was a relieve! Phew!

 I had to show proof that I was actually helping on the ground! :) !

Thanks Greg! This was a three man job and we were glad we had a burly great (in more ways than one) Dane with us!

Half the roof up! Woo-hoo!

Finito!

We did end up buying the hardware (screws and nails), plywood joins for the trusses, and the strapping wood that the roof is nailed to. Total cost for shed was about $300 - thanks to all our friends who shared their leftover used materials and labour!

Brush Pile Bonfiles!

After clearing the land we had lots of brush piles everywhere.... soooo on the suggestion of a Greg - we burned it all!

To make sure we were clear of trees we burned it on our newly leveled build site. The second photo is what happens when you throw in a small spruce tree.

We Have an Address!!!

A truly momentous occasion

Let The Tire Hunt Begin

Ontario has been recycling tires since 2009 under the Ontario Tire Stewardship program. While it is great that we no longer have piles of unwanted scrap tires lying around, collecting them for your own personal use has become difficult. Nonetheless, local garages are very helpful in letting you take whatever they have onsite. Be prepared to take them on the spot or lose them to the tire collectors!

Only 300 more to go!

Final Clearing of Build Site

Last tree cut down

Bring on the big machine for tree stump clearing and rough leveling

Site is now ready for final leveling and tires!

First overnight visitors!

A fun weekend of visiting and some "light" work...

First, a trip to Eagle's Nest look-out over the town of Bancroft after Indian food with friends Karen and Vince.

The Pioneers (aka Dash & YP)

Group shot with Adam, Victoria, Vince and Karen, The Pioneers

The driveway!  What a beauty!

 The Golden Falcon rests solidly beside the build site and is prepared for solar panel power!

The future build site.  Dash and YP have worked so hard to to get their temporary shelter and working quarters set-up towards the back with a tool shed (the foundation is truly a work of art), gazebo, tent, campfire, rain barrel, and a most-comfortable compost toilet facility now complete with privacy curtain and bug-screens!

View back towards the driveway entry (shed and gazebo behind us in this view). 

Adam works on making the final solar panel DC connections.  I admire Dash's customized stand and organized, well-labelled wiring!

Great job, Dash!

The next day the completed panel is brought over to the trailer and voila, off-grid electricity established. Quick, everybody charge their phones and laptops!  The sun has come out!

Rory, Emily and Scarlett arrive to join the party.  Rory expertly takes down a tree on the build site...

...under the watchful eye of YP!

Not pictured here:  The ever-lasting camp fire tended to by Victoria.  Multiple bug bites.  The amazing, delicious campfire dinners crafted to a chef's perfection by YP.  The endless piles of tree limbs and branches that YP cleared and cleared and cleared.  The look of wonder on Baby Scarlett's face when the fire was roaring.  The excitement of a sustainable community coming together with every action.

Thanks for a great weekend!

Love,
Victoria

Luna Moth Sighting

The Luna Moth (Actias luna) is a lime-green, Nearctic Saturniid moth in the family Saturniidae, subfamily Saturniinae. It has a wingspan of up to 114 mm (4.5 in), making it one of the largest moths in North America.

Harvesting Sunlight

Salvaged-wood rack for ground-mount solar panel system.

'Round back we have a plywood cabinet for batteries and electronics.

What? Trees are the best solar harvesters around right? Look at all that lovely sunlight converted to cellulose! OK, this is just a sneak peak. The actual solar system will be added shortly... honest.

The Tools/Equipment Finally Have A Home

Hey! How come the tools have a better home than we do? Oh wait, forgot we upgraded (see earlier post re: Golden Falcon).

A good home starts with a good foundation. A good foundation in 5 (not so) easy steps. Step 1: clear trees. Step 2: remove stumps/roots and topsoil down to subsoil. Step 3: fill with sand to raise the height of the foundation for good drainage. Step 4: level and lay down patio stones.

Step 5: assemble shed.

 

Wait... is it the camera or the level???

All tools/equipment in one (safe and dry) place.

 

A word to the wise: pouring concrete is easier than laying patio stones!!!

When Will This Driveway End? (Pun Intended)

OK, so who knew how much work goes into something as simple as a driveway? Two dump trucks worth of "4-inch-minus" fill (tech talk for sand and rocks up to 4 inches big).

 

Spreading of said fill by our friend and neighbour with his trusty littly Kubota farm tractor.

And finally... we can drive our truck into the property!

But it's not over yet... stay tuned for "Driveway III: Culvert Action", starring our friend and neighbour and his trusty sidekick Kubota the little farm tractor.

Golden Falcon Soars Again

Moving on up in the world. After a month of roughing it in a tent (during blackfly season!), we earned an upgrade to this luxurious 1988 trailer home.

Complete with running water, stove, refrigeration and no leaks during heavy rain! And, as an added bonus, there is enough head room that you can actually stand up (amazing how much you miss standing up when you live in a tent).

Guests welcome because all seating convert to beds!

 

Why aren't our houses designed this way?

Last Tree Stump Removed From Driveway

Removing tree stumps proved to be difficult, even with hydraulic equipment. But we persevered and at last the final stump gives way.

Truck & Trailer Make It!

Our fourth hand 1995 GMC 2500 (6.1L v8 diesel!) truck and second hand Home Depot trailer, loaded to the hilt with our gear, make the 250 km trek from Toronto to Lake St. Peter without a hitch (pun intended)!

Clearing the Build Site

More tree clearing?!?! Whadcha 'spect when you decided to live in a forest?