| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Amie C. |
Posted - Mar 01 2006 : 09:35:16 AM
Hello. I'm looking for some advice about what I'm going to call, for lack of a better word, "semi-structures". Leanto? Summerhouse? That sort of thing. I was intriqued by the idea in MaryJane's book of using a cabin/platform tent as temporary housing. I slept in tents like that as a Girl Scout back in the day and I loved them. I had no idea you could buy one, I guess I thought the camp had been using the same ones since the 1950's. I immediately thought of setting up a tent on the land my husband's mom owns. They have a cabin there, but I'd like to sort of strike out on my own and start some new traditions away from the rest of the family a bit (my husband's childhood was not a happy one). Problem is, the land is about an hour from our home and is only used on summer weekends. There's been trouble with trespassers and theft. I'm afraid my tent would walk. I'm thinking now about some kind of small building, very open to the air but with enough roof to keep dry in the rain. Ideally, I'd like to be able to hang canvas and netting panels in order to close it in for sleeping. Kind of a "tent when you're there, permanent structure when you're not". Has anyone ever seen plans or kits? Thanks, and sorry if this post is long.
Amie |
| 13 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Judes |
Posted - May 06 2006 : 8:59:54 PM
Hi Amie!
Here's a link to another yurt site. I've been collecting information on such things, as well as green home building info. http://www.yurtboy.com/ I also found this website, which is for tiny houses, but may give you ideas for building something sturdier. (Check out the covered wagon!) http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/houses.htm
Judes
http://schoolstreet.typepad.com
www.jac.etsy.com |
| sonflowergurl |
Posted - May 06 2006 : 6:40:20 PM
Karin, I like your idea! We have a carport attached to our house, and we were talking about enclosing it somehow to make it more of a porch/patio. As soon as we get started on it, we'll be parking in the grass, but a nice outdoor kitchen/dining room would be nice too! I might just have to find something to hang between the posts of the carport to make it similar to what you described....it's a great idea!
Katee
The end will justify the pain it took to get us here.
"Looking Toward the Son"---- http://sonflowergirl731.blogspot.com
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| Mumof3 |
Posted - May 05 2006 : 3:18:02 PM
All of this talk about wall tents and wood structures has me hankering for some sort of little shelter at my house. I don't have much space, but I do have a deck (12x24) which has a roof over part of it. I think I will go get some muslin drop cloths from Lowe's, cut some windows and sew in screening and then sit back and pretend I'm in a tent far, far away.........a nice breeze is blowing through the grasses and the sun is just coming up over the horizon. A little song bird is bidding me "Good Morning!"...........Wake up!!
Maybe some day this dream will come true. 
Karin |
| KD Earthwork |
Posted - Apr 26 2006 : 04:43:39 AM
Amie,
I don't mean a cement foundation,just cement under the posts.You can use these sono-tube forms that are thick cardboard one foot diameter tubes.You cut them the length you want,maybe three feet down.Then mix ready mix concrete in a wheelbarrow.As you pour you can set into wet cement,Simpson ties.Metal brackets that the posts bolt onto.You can shape logs with chainsaw to fit into brackets.
Katie |
| Christine in Clark Fork |
Posted - Mar 24 2006 : 09:05:40 AM
A pole building is fairly cheap and easy to put up. You don't need a cement foundation and you could do it with hand tools. My husband and I lived in a pole building while we built our house. Now he uses it for a shop. Our first pole building we hired a company to put up. Since then we have built a barn and wood/tool shed both 16' by 24' with an upstairs loft. They are easy to build. We are also planning on building one as a dining/screen room for our tent and breakfast. Good luck on your country retreat. |
| JennyWren |
Posted - Mar 22 2006 : 12:41:49 PM
Hi Amie!
I too was totally facinated by the wall tents mentioned in Maryjane's book. I did a little research and found these links.. Right after I read her book. As I am convinced I am putting up a wall tent in our backyard! I am going to put a stove in it too.. so we can use it year around! You might be interested in some of them.
www.sweetwaterbungalows.com/photogallery.html and http://www.modular-home-systems.com/yurts.html http://redskyshelters.com/index.php?page=faq And then I really went out there and found this.. There are several alternative type homes.. I thought these were at least interesting.. I enjoyed looking at all of these. http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/natural_building.htm Click on the links to the right of the page... There are tons of different kinds of things that could be built.
I am totally amazed at how many people have so much in common! I am really enjoying the forums!
Take care,
Carla...
Ps.. I started a Urban Homesteading topic in the Garden gate. Actually it was your encouragement that got me thinking.. Sure! Why not.. :) Thanks!
If you treat an individual as what he is, he will stay that way, but if you
treat him as if he were what he could be, he will become what he could be.
-- Goethe
www.jennywrensurbanhomestead.blogspot.com/ |
| Amie C. |
Posted - Mar 09 2006 : 05:55:48 AM
Katie, that sounds a lot like what I have in mind. Metal roofing is something I hadn't considered. It may be cheaper and more convenient than shingle. I'll have to look into that.
The concrete foundation is what I'm most squeamish about. I have no idea how to pour concrete. Does the ground underneath have to be leveled off somehow? What if the ground settles? What about tree roots? These are the things that worry me. Also, the fact that there is no electric on the property means no relying on power tools. That's one reason I'm looking for a kit - all the wood would be precut.
I'd also need to build some sort of cache box to store things like dishes and blankets for the length of the summer. It's a long walk from the car to the spot I have in mind. Also, Western New York is quite humid and gets a lot of rain. |
| CabinCreek-Kentucky |
Posted - Mar 09 2006 : 05:48:11 AM
hi amie .. and welcome .. sounds devine! are you worried though about 'poachers' using your little house as a 'hunting cabin' or for their overnight camping (you mentioned a problem with trespassers). Is there another more protected place you can build? troooly don't want to put any kind of 'damper' on your plans ... but i would be concerned if i thought it would get broken into and anything i had in there might get stolen. hmmmmmmmm ... there just has to be a way for this dream to come true!
True Friends, Frannie |
| KD Earthwork |
Posted - Mar 08 2006 : 8:22:09 PM
I got really excited about that part of the book too.My husband and I stayed at a friends wonderful camp.The shelters there were out of rustic logs.I thought about it and probably they are on concrete footings with metal connectors.Then rustic trusses,metal roof.No sides.They didn't have anything but a dirt floor but decking would be nice.Underneath these shelters were a double bed,plastic on the mattress,I think,then nice flannel sheets blankets etc.Every shelter(they had three) had power and a light,but I think I'll use a lantern.They set the camp up in summer and kept tarps over the beds.Was great to sleep in. |
| Amie C. |
Posted - Mar 01 2006 : 10:41:22 AM
Thanks for the welcome. I will look at the Colorado Yurt site, but I'm really thinking more along the lines of a summerhouse, or maybe a Victorian gazebo. So much harder to steal, and I wouldn't have to set it up every time!
It will probably take me a couple of years to save up for either tent or structure, so for this summer I'm planning to try the outdoor room. Just an old table, some camp chairs, and a propane stove. Maybe I'll try stringing a rope between two trees and making a blanket tent.
It's funny, I played games like this as a kid, but it takes a book to make it OK to try in real life...we people are such herd creatures.
I'll scoot over to the welcome wagon and introduce myself properly now! |
| happymama58 |
Posted - Mar 01 2006 : 10:17:00 AM
I wanted to insert two small comments about Colorado Yurt Company.
I read about them in MF's book and mentioned them to a friend. She told me her brother and sister-in-law have a yurt on their property near coast. I asked her about the yurt and the company, and she said they rave about both!
2nd comment -- Just so you're prepared, I ordered a catalogue and it took almost a month to arrive. So don't be surprised if it takes a bit to receive the catalog. If you're in a huge hurry, I can copy mine and send it to you right away, to look at until the real (nicer, in color) copy arrives. Just let me know, okay? I don't mind at all.
Some people search for happiness; others create it.
http://happymama58.blogspot.com/ |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Mar 01 2006 : 10:05:38 AM
That sound so fun..I knew someone would have an answer for ya.....
hey Amie..be sure to go over to the welcome wagon section and introduce yourself!!! You sound like our kind of gal!!!
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| Libbie |
Posted - Mar 01 2006 : 09:41:14 AM
Check out the Colorado Yurts website - they have yurts, wall tents and teepees that are really cool. I SO want to create an "outpost" on my farm - I'm working in that direction, and it definitely includes wall tent(s)...
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
