Rough construction heart redwood. Marco and I built these Wednesday. We attached welded wire mesh (1/2″ by 1″ openings) to bottom edges of boards, nailed down with 1 by 2’s for gophers. Filled up with compost and top soil. Makes me happy just to look at them. They’ve been in planning stages for a few months.
Yesterday on our way south to Glasgow we (unexpectedly) found ourselves driving along the west side of Loch Lomond and I can understand why it’s so well known. A pristine body of water, with trees all around it, some kinda magic going on fer shure. We stopped at a lochside hotel and had one of the best renditions of fish and chips ever plus a bottle of Loch Lomond Silkie Stout. Fortified by the stout, I jumped in the water — about 8 strokes and out. Cold! maybe 48 degrees F. But I follow an MO of getting immersed in its waters wherever I am to connect with the land. It always works! Then on into Glasgow, following the Garmin GPR to a Travelodge hotel in Glasgow central.
Last night we had a fabulous Italian dinner with Lesley’s cousin and husband at Fratelli Sarti on Bath Street, preceded by a couple of shots of Laphroid single malt whisky (Colin and me, that is) at the Butterfly and Pig bar, fine establishment.
I started out with leftside driving pretty shakily, it took several days for my brain to make the switch. And the roundabouts! Jesus, stress-city. Finally, I’m getting into it. Give way to cars on the right. My navigator informs me that leftside driving originated with duels on horseback, where lances were held with the right hand.
I don’t know how I missed Scotland over all these years of European exploration (starting with a 3-month Lambretta motorscooter/youth hostel trip in 1957-58). I’m overwhelmed by both the beauty of this land and the good-naturedness of the Scots. I think it’s possible that people who live in beautiful surroundings are happy and friendly. Hundreds of encounters, totally good vibes. If people see you looking around in the cities, they ask if they can help. And I’m gonna miss the brogue a wee bit when I get home.
Animal shelter and pen in recreated 1700s township at the Highland Folk Museum in Newtonmore, Scotland
Building at Highland Folk Museum in Newtonmore, Scotland
This is one of the buildings in a recreated 1700s township at the Highland Folk Museum in Newtonmore, Scotland. It started to rain just as we got there, but then the rain stopped. We spent about 2 hours there; I shot a LOT of photos.
The wattle walls facilitated drying of barley and oats. Opposing barn doors took advantage of cross drafts to winnow (separate chaff from) grain.
We got back yesterday from a week on the (small) Isle of Eigg. So much has happened that I’ve had little time to write and/or post photos about it. Tomorrow night (Tuesday, May 10), I’m doing a presentation at Kircaldy Galleries, titled “50 Years of Natural Building,” chronicling our building books from Shelter in 1973 up to the present. It’s been sold out for a few weeks.
I had a trial run Wednesday night in the community center on Eigg, about 30 people (half the population of the island). A ton of kindred spirits on the island.
I ended up shooting photos of the (very different) homes of 2 builders: Damien Helliwell and Karl Harding, which will go into the Small Homes book.
Eigg is one of a group of 4 islands referred to as The Small Isles, in the Inner Hebrides. It’s off the west coast of Scotland, reachable by a ferry from the fishing port of Mallaig.
We could live here, and I can’t say that for many places in the world.
So much to tell, so little time. Some photos
Stove in Karl’s round house
Shepherd’s bothy (hut)
Note:I’m not going to be so specific about where things are out here. I’ve seen too many small towns wrecked (or forever changed) by getting too much attention.
The Marin Museum of the American Indian (in Novato, Calif.) has an extensive basket collection (not now on display). Here is one of them.
Karuk tribe, Northwest California.
Twined open rim; beargrass
Alder dyed with black fern stems.
Beautiful twinned base shown in lower photo.
Info supplied by Coleen Hicks
Could not find the source of this, but it’s for sale at: https://www.etsy.com/listing/252861554/rustic-decor-reclaimed-wood-repurposed?ref=related-1
This is a gardener’s paradise: great garden tools, plants, trees, knowledgable staff.
Harmony Farm Supply & Nursery
3244 Gravenstein Hwy North
Sebastopol, CA 95472
SYNOPSIS:
Fairly dry and warm condition are forecast through midweek, except for a slight chance of rain in the north bay on Tuesday. Chances of rain increase by Thursday and then greatly increase into this weekend.
DISCUSSION:
The week will start out dry with patchy morning fog in various locations throughout the county. A light system far north of the county is expected to develop on Tuesday, but is not expected to produce very much rain. Rain, if any, from this system will be only along the northern county border. Fairly dry conditions are expected throughout most of county on Wednesday with a very weak system moving into the area late Wednesday night to early Thursday morning where very light rain is expected. Then, a much stronger storm is expected to move into the area by late Friday and will produce rain throughout the remainder of the weekend. Precipitation amounts may range from 1.35-inches along the eastern side and southern portions of the county, and up to 2.54-inches of rain along the coast, higher elevations and along the northern county boarder. This system is expected to produce heavy rain at times with strong winds throughout the weekend and into next week.
Hey Lloyd, hope you are well and working hard at it on your next project!
My name is Pete Robey and my wife Blythe and I live in Tasmania. The little island attached to the bottom of Australia.
Thought I would share with you that our house is the first approved cordwood home in Australia.
It is currently featured in Australia’s Owner Builder magazine.
You can get a link here at the bottom of the page:
https://www.thehousethatworkedout.com
I bought your 3 books: Shelter, Builders of the Pacific Coast, and Homework early on before we had even confirmed style.
The Baird House from page 28-31 of Builders of the Pacific Coast just grabbed me. Thanks Mike Baird and to you too Lloyd (House) for this inspiration.
We designed our home with the same ideal: every room and every area of the home can pretty much engage with every other area of the home. The village TeePee idea.
We have a massive 4ft diameter, 20 ft long tree holding up the earth roof and our 2nd story doesn’t go all the way to the middle so we have plenty of space.
We don’t have stairs, preferring to use a gym rope as exercise to get to the 2nd floor.
Catch you later.
Pete
On Mark and Meg’s NorCal homestead
Isle of Eigg from Ferry
