Catarina Log

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Contents

Wed Mar 22, 2023

  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - Maysville22 - Full Assembly (j-channel detail, siding): [1]

Tue Mar 21, 2023

  • Assemblies - Trellis Band - Modules (revisions): [2]
  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - Maysville22 - Full Assembly (j-channel detail, revisions to trellis band, revisions to window trim): [3]

Windows

Tue Mar 14, 2023

  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - Maysville22 - Full Assembly (j-channel detail, revisions to terrace trim, revisions to terrace door trim): [4]
  • Trim BoM (revisions): [5]
  • Parts Design - tapered 1x6 (revisions): [6]
  • Parts design - single door awning: [7]
  • Parts design - single door awning - dimensions: [8]

Mon Mar 13, 2023

  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - Maysville22 - Full Assembly (roof runners detail, revisions to exterior trim): [9]
  • Parts Design - rail straps (positioning): Front and Back
  • Trim BoM (revisions): [10]

Thu Mar 9, 2023

  • Assemblies - Trellis Band - Modules (revisions): [11]
  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - Maysville22 - Full Assembly (trellis band revisions): [12]

Mon Mar 6, 2023

  • Assemblies - Trellis Band - Modules: [13]
  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - Maysville22 - Full Assembly (trellis band): [14]

Wed Mar 1, 2023

  • Parts Design - j-channel: [15]
  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - Maysville22 - Full Assembly (exterior trim detail, j-channel): [16]

Tue Feb 28, 2023

  • Parts Design - Drip Cap (updated): [17]
  • Parts Design - Drip Cap Corner (new): [18]
  • Parts Design - Termination Bar (updated): [19]
  • Assemblies - Roof Drip Cap Assembly: [20]
  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - Maysville22 - Full Assembly (exterior light boxes, roof edge detail)): [21]

Mon Feb 27, 2023

  • Rosebud3 - 20x20 Garage - Front Offset (revised terrace details): [22]
  • Parts Design - Cant Strip: [23]
  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - Maysville22 - Full Assembly (revisions to exterior trim and other garage/terrace details, exterior light boxes): [24]

Tue Feb 21, 2023

  • Parts Design - Window Boxes: [25]
  • Build Instructions - Window Box Dimensions: [26]
  • Parts Design - Tapered 1x4 Trim: [27]
  • Parts Design - Double Door Awning - 1x4: [28]
  • Parts Design - 3x5 window exterior trim assembly: [29]
  • Parts Design - 3x5 window exterior trim assembly - dimensions: [30]
  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - Maysville22 - Full Assembly (window boxes + updated front door awning): [31]

Mon Feb 20, 2023

  • Parts Design - Tapered 1x6: [32]
  • Parts Design - Double Door Awning - 1x6 (to correct for out of plumb front wall): [33]
  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - Maysville22 - Full Assembly (awning and front door trim detail): [34]

Tue Feb 7, 2023

  • Parts Design - Drip Cap: [35]
  • Parts Design - Termination Bar: [36]
  • Parts Design - EPDM 16x44 (revisions): [37]
  • Roof Assembly - Front Trim Risers (revisions): [38]
  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - Maysville22 - Full Assembly (additional detail on roof assembly): [39]

Fri Feb 3, 2023

  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - Maysville22 - Full Assembly (added roof edge sheathing, EPDM, front risers): [40]
  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - Maysville22 - Roof Trim Risers: [41]
  • Part Design - EPDM 16x44: [42]

Thu Feb 2, 2023

  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - Maysville22 - Roof Decking: [43]
  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - Maysville22 - Roof Tapers: [44]
  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - Maysville22 - Roof Insulation Box: [45]
  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - Maysville22 - Roof Insulation: [46]
  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - Maysville22 - Full Assembly: [47]

Mon Jan 30, 2023

  • Parts Design - Corner Post: [48]
  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - Maysville22 (added exterior trim detail to garage and house): [49]
  • Concord Vinyl Siding (used on Maysville house): Specs + Installation Guide

Fri Jan 27, 2023

  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - Maysville22 - Decorative Trellis Assembly: [50]
  • Rosebud3 - Decorative Trellis Modules: [51]

Tue Dec 13, 2022

  • Rosebud3 - 2k - Savannah22 (technical assembly): [52]
  • Rosebud3 - 2k - Savannah22 - FOUNDATION FOLDER: [53]
  • Rosebud3 - 2k - Savannah22 - FOUNDATION DIMENSIONS (3D CAD): [54]
  • Rosebud3 - 2k - Savannah22 - FOUNDATION DIMENSIONS (PDF): [55]
  • Rosebud3 - 2k - Savannah22 - SILL PLATE (3D CAD): [56]
  • Rosebud3 - 2k - Savannah22 - SILL PLATE (PDF): [57]
  • Rosebud3 - 2k - Savannah22 - FOUNDATION MODULES MAP (3D CAD): [58]
  • Rosebud3 - 2k - Savannah22 - FOUNDATION MODULES MAP (PDF): [59]

Tue Dec 13, 2022

  • Rosebud3 - 2k - Savannah22 (technical assembly): [60]
  • Rosebud3 - 2k - Savannah22 (wall modules count): [61]
  • Rosebud3 - 2k - Savannah22 (sill plate): [62]
  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - Maysville22 (sill plate): [63]
  • Rosebud3 - 32x32 Floor - Left Offset: [64]

Wed Dec 7, 2022

  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - Maysville22 (technical assembly): [65]
  • Rosebud3 - 20x20 Garage - Front Offset (technical assembly): [66]
  • House Wall Modules (technical CAD): [67]
  • Garage Wall Modules (technical CAD): [68]

Mon Dec 5, 2022

  • Modules Map for Placement of Foundation Anchors: freeCAD, PDF
  • Portal Anchors Placement: freeCAD, PDF

Fri Dec 2, 2022

  • 16x44 Floor(3D CAD): [69]
  • Foundation for Rosebud3-1.3k-Maysville22: [70]

Thu Dec 1, 2022

  • Foundations (3D CAD): [71]
  • Garage (3D CAD): [72]
  • Revised Wall Modules: [73]
  • Rosebud3 2k Savannah22: [74]

Wed Nov 30, 2022

  • Rosebud3 1.3k - Maysville 22: [75] (garage technical 3D CAD)
  • Garage Wall Modules: [76]
  • Changes to door and window modules (remove jack stud, raise sill, make top uniform): [77]

Tue Nov 29, 2022

  • Rosebud3 1.3k - Maysville 22: [78] (garage technical 3D CAD)

Thu Nov 24, 2022

  • BoM's and Budgets - Exterior Trim: [79]

Wed Nov 23, 2022

  • BoM's and Budgets - Exterior Trim: [80]

Tue Nov 22, 2022

  • BoM's and Budgets - Windows and Doors: [81]

Mon Nov 21, 2022

  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - Maysville2022: [82]

Sun Nov 20, 2022

  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - conceptual model (design revisions): [83]
  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - foundation: [84]
  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - 20x20 garage - foundation: [85]
  • Rosebud3 - 1.3k - Maysville2022: [86]

Tue Nov 15, 2022

  • Rosebud 1.3k and 2k conceptual models (design revisions): [87]

Fri Nov 11, 2022

  • Rosebud 1.2k and 1.3k conceptual models: [88]
  • Siding calculations and orders for Rosebud 1.3k and 2k: [89]
  • Window sourcing
  • Materials orders (call stores, etc.)

Tue Nov 9, 2022

  • Rosebud 1.2k and 1.3k conceptual models: [90]

Mon Nov 7, 2022

  • Rosebud 1.2k and 1.3k conceptual models: [91]

Sun Nov 6, 2022

  • Rosebud 1.2k and 1.3k conceptual models: [92]

Fri Nov 4, 2022

  • Siding calculator: [93]

Thu Nov 3, 2022

  • Siding calculator: [94]

Wed Nov 2, 2022

  • Revisions to canopy on all conceptual models: [95]
  • Siding calculator: [96]

Tue Nov 1, 2022

  • Rosebud3 Conceptual (1k, 2k variants): [97]
  • Rosebud3-2K Conceptual (w/ 2-car garage): [98]

Mon Oct 31, 2022

Engineering notes and revisions: [99]

Sat Oct 29, 2022

Rosebud 3 2K conceptual models (white, grey, black, seed, 2k): [100]

Tue Oct 25, 2022

Rosebud 3 2K conceptual model: [101]

Sun Oct 23, 2022

Rosebud 3 2K conceptual model: [102]

Sat Oct 22, 2022

Rosebud 3 2K conceptual model: [103]

Fri Oct 21, 2022

Rosebud 3 2K conceptual model: [104]

Thu Oct 20, 2022

Rosebud 3 2K conceptual model: [105]

Wed Oct 19, 2022

Rosebud 3 2K conceptual model: [106]

Tue Oct 18, 2022

Mon Sep 19, 2022

  • Rosebud 3 conceptual expanded model: [107]
  • Butcher Block w/ cooktop cutout: [108]
  • Kitchen Build Instructions: [109]

Fri Sep 16, 2022

  • Butcher Block w/ sink cutout: [110]
  • Butcher Block assembly: [111]
  • Kitchen Build Instructions: [112]

Thu Sep 15, 2022

Wed Sep 14, 2022

  • Kitchen build instructions: [114]

Tue Sep 13, 2022

  • Revised kitchen cabinets: [115]
  • Revised kitchen: [116]
  • Kitchen build instructions: [117]

Tue Aug 16, 2022

Sat Aug 13, 2022

Wed Aug 10, 2022

Tue Aug 9, 2022

Mon Aug 8, 2022

Fri Aug 5, 2022

Thu Aug 4, 2022

Wed Aug 3, 2022

Mon Aug 1, 2022

  • Redesigned window modules for 2x6 headers and then reverted to 2x12 as it appeared to add up to the same weight (when taking into account added height of cripples + additional blocking)
  • Added info on framing openings to Walls Design Guide
  • Code only allows replacing of jack studs with header hangers where table R602.7(1) indicates only 1 jack stud is needed (see Walls Design Guide). Since this table only covers building widths of 12ft (1 jack stud required) and 24 ft (2 jack studs required) and our building width is 16 ft, it is not clear whether we can: 1) replace all jack studs with hangers or 2) use only 1 jack stud on each side and replace the second one with a hanger.
  • Revised assembly CAD [126] with tapered roof deign (instead of riser)

Sun July 24, 2022

Sat July 23, 2022

Thu July 21, 2022

Wed July 20, 2022

Sun July 17, 2022

Sat July 16, 2022

Tue July 12, 2022

Sun July 10, 2022

Sat July 9, 2022

Thu July 7, 2022

Wed July 6, 2022

Tue May 24, 2022

Wed May 18, 2022

Tue May 17, 2022

Sat May 14, 2022

Wed May 11, 2022

Tue May 3, 2022

Mon Apr 11, 2022

Mon Apr 4, 2022

Sat Apr 2, 2022

Thu Mar 31, 2022

Mon Mar 28, 2022

Kitchen Design Guide

Mon Mar 21, 2022

Thus Mar 10, 2022

Interior detail - bottom landing corner: [128]

Sun Mar 6, 2022

Staircase - calculations and details: [129]

Wed Mar 2, 2022

  • Utiity channel around openings (technical CAD): [130]

Mon Feb 28, 2022

  • Added interior blocking to all 1st story wall modules: [131]
  • Interior finishing details (beadboard, utility channel, trim): [132]

Sun Feb 27, 2022

Double door utility channel: [133]

Sat Feb 26, 2022

Doors and windows CAD: [134]

Tue Feb 22, 2022

Interior design scrapbook: [135]

Mon Feb 21, 2022

Interior trim design guide: [136]

Tue Feb 15, 2022

Wall modules technical design: Wall modules CAD Techincal Design Parts CAD

Sat Feb 12, 2022

Rosebud II - Front Door Canopy: Conceptual Technical Construction Details BoM

Thu Feb 10, 2022

Rosebud II - 18" Canopy: BoM New technical design

Mon Feb 7, 2022

Rosebud II - 18" Awning: Conceptual Technical Construction Details

Sun Feb 6, 2022

18" awning technical design: awning + attachment to wall + construction detail

Fri Feb 4, 2022

18" awning: [137]

Mon Jan 31, 2022

Awning attachment detail: [138]

Sun Jan 30, 2022

48" awning: [139]

Sat Jan 29, 2022

  • Mounting a mini split unit on vinyl siding: [140] [141]
  • Duct Covers:

3" 15ft kit - $50 3" 7.5 ft kit - $35

  • Advantage of dutch lap siding over clapboard: it provides a flat (ish) surface to attach things to (lights, outlets, electrical boxes, mini split unit, etc)
  • Rosebud awning conceptual design: [142]

Fri Jan 28, 2022

Senville - Mini Split Systems:

  • Can coil tubing as long as it's flat - to avoid oil traps. Coil should look like a spring, not a rollercoaster.
  • Tubing should be a minimum of 10 ft, preferably 11 ft.
  • P6 error code means overpressure
  • Perforations in dutch lap siding: [143] [144] [145] [146] [147]
  • Range hood vent on clapboard siding: [148]
  • Installing a j-channel after the siding is installed: [149]
  • Notching clapboard siding to install thimble (This Old House): [150]
  • Running electrical cables through siding: [151]
  • Power meter mounted on clapboard siding: [152]
  • How to install a flanged mounting block on pre-installed siding: [153] [154] [155] [156]
  • Flanged outdoor outlet mounting block and box combo: [157]
  • Simplest way to to install an outdoor GFCI outlet : [158] [159]
  • 1/2" lap siding surface mounting blocks:

Outlet Light Light Light All purpose All purpose Spigot/All purpose All purpose All purpose - Menards


Sun Jan 23, 2022

Exterior trim: [160]

Sun Jan 23, 2022

Sat Jan 22, 2022

  1. Rosebud Foundation 3D CAD: [163]
  2. Door opening at foundation detail: [164]

Fri Jan 21, 2022

  1. Rosebud Foundation 3D CAD: [165]

Thu Jan 20, 2022

  1. Rosebud Foundation (freeCAD model, work in progress): [166]
  2. Installing doors on an insulated slab: [167] [168]

Wed Jan 19, 2022

Rosebud Foundation Detail:

REFERENCES

Insulated foundation details: [169] [170] [171] [172]

Materials:

Tue Nov 9, 2021

Black cabins and cottages: [173] [174] [175] [176] [177] [178] [179] [180] [181] [182] [183] [184] [185] [186]

Sun Jul 11, 2021

FeF Cabins

Mon Jul 13, 2020

Pop-Up House Timelapse (helical pier foundation?)

Sun Mar 15, 2020

Catarina OSE Hours

Sun Feb 23, 2020

Belize microhouse: Roof installation instructions

Sat Feb 22, 2020

Belize microhouse: Roof installation instructions

Fri Feb 21, 2020

Belize microhouse: Materials management; Revised CAD; Instructionals (revised to account for irregular rough-sawn lumber

Thu Feb 20, 2020

Belize microhouse: Materials management; Revised CAD

Wed Feb 19, 2020

Belize microhouse: Truss build instructions; Revised CAD

Mon Feb 17, 2020

Belize microhouse: Revised CAD (small change to window frames to improve ease of build). Documentation and Instructionals

Fri Feb 14, 2020

Belize microhouse: Documentation and Instructionals

Wed Feb 12, 2020

Belize microhouse: Finalize CAD and BoM

Tue Feb 11, 2020

Belize microhouse: CAD and BoM

Sun Feb 9, 2020

Window and door modules documentation.

Sat Feb 8, 2020

Window and door modules technical design (CAD).

Tue Feb 4, 2020

Belize Microhouse Roof CAD. BoM.

Mon Feb 3, 2020

Belize Microhouse Roof CAD

Fri Jan 31, 2020

Belize Microhouse Roof Design

Thu Jan 30, 2020

Belize Microhouse trusses

Wed Jan 29, 2020

Belize Microhouse CAD, roof design, materials

Fri Oct 5, 2018

OSE Hours - [187]

Sun Oct 8, 2017

PV System Log. 3D Printer Workshop Competitive Audit.

Mon Nov 16, 2015

Rabbitry.

Sun, Oct 25, 2015

Chicken House / Vermicompost

Sun, Aug 23, 2015

Growing potatoes in a greenhouse

What I learned about potatoes:

  • Potatoes need temperatures between 60 (ideal) and 70 F, moist soil (too wet and they rot, too dry and they die), and 6 to 8 hours of sunlight a day.
  • They also need to be hilled, which is easy to do with a container/bag.
  • The potato's cycle is not tied to season or day length, they will just sprout after 6 months (their dormancy period).
  • They can be hilled with soil, straw or leaves - soil and leaves seem to be the most successful methods.
  • 1 seed potato can produce between 2 and 5 pounds of potatoes.
  • Americans eat about 142 lbs of potatoes per year - that's roughy 1 potato per day.
  • There are roughly 3 types of potatoes: early harvesting (70 to 80 days), mid-season harvesting (100 days) and late harvesting (120+ days). I think only the late-harvesting are adequate for long-term storage, but was unable to find any solid info on that (see note at the end).
  • Early-harvesting potatoes produce smaller crops than late-harvesting.
  • In any kind of potato, "new" potatoes can be harvested after approx. 60 days. Bottom potatoes can be harvested in the mid-season. And the entire crop can be harvested when the vine dries out.
  • Soil used to grow potatoes should not be re-used for potatoes for 2 to 4 years - we'd have to rotate it.

Ok, so we know we can't grow potatoes outdoors because we usually don't have a long enough spring - between last frost and summer heat. So the only hope is to grow them in the greenhouse in the fall and late winter. Several people have successfully done this (see below). The only requirements are to provide the right temperature and control pests (which is a requirement for any greenhouse crop).

eHow says: "Growing potatoes in a greenhouse is virtually no different from growing the tuber out of doors. Potatoes require sufficient soil, a constant temperature of around 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and water about twice a week. Greenhouses are necessary for those who live in severely cold climates, because potatoes will not grow through frost. Keep the windows closed at all times, except for on particularly sunny days to allow for ventilation. You can grow potatoes either in pots or beds inside of a greenhouse to produce a large, starchy harvest perfect for homemade fries or mash."

The Horticultural Channel plants potatoes in containers in August for Christmas harvest. Greta, who has a solarium kept at 70 F, starts one crop in January - for Spring harvest - and another in August - for Christmas harvest. She says "Growing potatoes in the greenhouse is fun and they do not require much care. Early potatoes started in January or February will have a late spring crop. Another planting done in August will have a harvest for Christmas Day."

Here's a discussion - on a survivalist's board - about growing potatoes in a greenhouse. One person says they grow potatoes year round - at first in the basement with grow lights and now in a greenhouse:

"We live in Southern Wisconsin and grow potatoes all year long. Now we do it in the green house but we use to grow them on ourbasment. It's really easy.

Take at least a 30 gallon garbage can and drill some holes in the bottom of it. Fill it 1/3 of the way up with dirt and then put your seed potato slices on it. Then cover the seed potatoes with about an inch of dirt over the top of them. If you want to plant more than one kind of potato use a different garbage can for each kind. In our basement we used a $10.00 Walmart plant light over each garbage can, had them on timers for 12-14 hours a day. Then when the sprouts get to be about 6 inches high, cover them halfway with dirt. Continue to do that until the grow over the top of the garbage can, then mound straw over them and stop watering them. When the tops turn yellow, put a tarp next to the garbage can to catch the dirt and dump it over. Collect your potatoes and put the dirt somewhere where you will not grow tomatoes or potatoes with it for at least two years. Bleach the garbage can and leave it out in the sun for a month or so and it's ready to be used again. We have a system set up where we plant potatoes every 2 to 3 months this way. It's so easy.

If you are growing them in your green house make certain it stays well above freezing in there because potatoes don't tolerate frost. If they do die back though make certain you harvest the potatoes that did grow. They will be baby potatoes and won't last long in storage but they can be eaten right away."

The Modern Homestead says they have great success planting potatoes in a greenhouse in the late winter (which would solve the problem of the short spring): "In my experience, root crops such as beets or carrots, even though cold hardy, are also not suitable for planting in the fall greenhouse—they will grow, but do not receive sufficient energy in the shortening days to “make root.” I have, however, had excellent results growing carrots, beets, potatoes, and daikon (as well as the smaller radishes) in the late winter greenhouse, harvesting these crops up to two months earlier than their siblings in the garden." Several other articles mention planting potatoes in a greenhouse in January for Spring harvest.

The SFGate says "Fall Planting - As the weather cools, the season becomes perfect for planting baby carrots, lettuces and potatoes for winter harvesting. Potatoes are more successful in a heated greenhouse. Position the plants where they can take advantage of the waning fall sunlight. Using deeper containers provides more water and nutrients to your crops, which will improve them and make them easier to grow."

Off-the-Grid News says potatoes are ideal vegetables to grow in a greenhouse in the winter months.

The Royal Horticultural Society (of the UK) also says you can grow potatoes in a greenhouse during the winter: "The taste of tiny, tender new potatoes need not be restricted to summer. With a little bit of skill and good timing, they can also be grown for autumn and winter harvests, meaning you could enjoy them at Christmas."

There is one thing I'm still confused about. The consensus is that late-harvesting potatoes (planted in the spring/summer and harvested in the fall) will last 6 months in storage (a potato's dormant period). For this to happen, the skin of the potatoes needs to thicken before they're harvested - and this usually happens when temperatures drop to 45 F. It's unclear what happens with greenhouse grown potatoes. It might be the case that they're always "new" potatoes - the skin never thickens. I think this would be fine if we eat them as we pick them - rather than waiting to harvest all at the same time. But I did find an article that says you can "force" the skins to thicken by cutting the top growth and then waiting a couple weeks before harvesting.

Thu Feb 26, 2015

Sat Jan 17, 2014

Sat Jun 7, 2014

Chrow.jpg

Mon April 7, 2014

  • Left message at Jamesport Lumber asking for contacts of contractors in the area: 660-684-6404
  • Left message with two contractos recommended by Jamesport Lumber: Marvin Yoder - 660-772-3003; Jamesport Builders - 660-684-6931
  • Jamesport Hardware Store: Parton Hardware 210 S Broadway St., Jamesport MO 660-684-6418

Mon Mar 10, 2014

TO DO

  • Swimming Pool: check delivery date
  • Microhouse: order additional water heater, replace busted pipe, check and repair water leak.
  • Solar Cabins: clean, paint, floor, whack weeds + lay straw.

Spring Residency

Design work in the morning, infrastructure work in the afternoon.

Sat Mar 8, 2014

LA Wishlist and Requirements

Fri Mar 7, 2014

Vertical Garden Materials Suppliers

Plants

  • Sedum Master - Located in Canada, ships to US. Regular mat (17 varieties): $3.5 sq ft. Feather mat (lightweight): $4 - $4.50 sq ft. Mats not appropriate for walls (drainage and nutrients problems). Custom grow: need estimate. They also sell sedum in 4 inch pots.
  • Plant Delights Nursery (North Carolina) - $11 for 3.5 in pot of John Creech sedum.
  • Monrovia (California) - $14.99 for .65 Gallon of John Creech sedum
  • Digging Dog (California) - $7.5 for 6-9 in. pot of John Creech sedum (not clear if this is the correct pot size)
  • Succulent Gardens
  • Oikos - $68.75 for 25 plants in pots (2.75)

Structures

Sedum

For vertical gardens (short):

For horizontal gardens (taller):

  • Ogon (3-6 in) - zones 6 to 9
  • Tricolor (4-6 in) - zones 2 to 9
  • Palmeri (8 in) - 15 to 20 F (but it has been known to survive in 0F)
  • Tetractinum (up to 6 in) - zones 5 to 8
  • Sieboldii (6-12 in) - zones 3 to 9


My favorite variety: Sedum Spurium John Creech: "A very low mat-forming selection, this Stonecrop has rounded deep green leaves and small clusters of pink star-shaped flowers in the summer. Tolerates light foot traffic. Full sun / partial shade. Mauve / pink flower. 2-4 in. (5-10 cm). Zone 2-9." Some sources say it's deciduous, others that it's evergreen (?).

Sedum has shallow roots and easily propagates from cuttings - they'll take root within 7 to 10 days.

We could purchase a few specimens and use those to propagate a sedum horizontal garden - which we'd then use to get cuttings for the vertical gardens.

Vertical Garden Models

Vertical Gardening Systems

Living Pictures

Shallow wood box filled with soil and covered with galvanized mesh. Appropriate for succulents. This is probably the approach we want.

Challenges

  • Size: We may need to make several of these and tile them as in this example (plywood and mahogany frame, root barrier behind soil behind landscape fabric held in with wire). We can also make our own large tray (a wood grid) rather than individual boxes - but individual boxes may be more manageable (can be removed more easily). Victoria Gardens built wall-sized panels which appear to use burlap in between the wire mesh and the soil (more Victoria Gardens photos) - they probably have wood shelves behind the burlap.
  • Water flow/drainage: make holes at the bottom of each tray?
  • Weight: will the wall withstand the weight? Perhaps use bookshelf approach where most weight rests on the ground and picture hanging hooks keep flush to the wall (may require a row of bricks below the bottom tray).

Pallet

Not appropriate for succulents.

Vertical or Angled Pockets

Not appropriate for succulents.

Trays

Plastic trays with individual vertical compartments. Appropriate for succulents.

Thu Mar 6, 2014

FeF Improvements List

HabLab To Dos for this Week

  • Check water / install pipeline if needed
  • Clear rubble outside
  • Lay straw in front of the house
  • Clean room for Chris
  • Hang storage area curtain
  • Finish cleaning fridge
  • Wipe front door
  • Wash sheets
  • Wash vacuum filters
  • Install new water heater
  • Weld chimney
  • Close old chimney hole
  • Insulate new chimney hole

MicroHouse To Dos for next Week

  • Internet
  • Cell phone signal booster
  • Fridge
  • Repair water leak
  • Stucco south and east walls

Whitewash Recipes

Mother Earth News
Fiasco Farm
Homemade DIY Paint
Yahoo
How to Whitewash Furniture

BoM

  • Hydrated lime [188]
  • Salt
  • 5 gallon paint buckets
  • Coating brushes [189]

Mon Mar 3, 2014

FeF Requirements for Year-round Operation

HabLab

  • Insulate bathroom/kitchen wall
  • Robust water heater
  • Sufficient heating for common room, kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms
  • Finish interiors (paint walls/floor, close holes, finish ceiling, etc)
  • Mud room (physically separate from main room)
  • Covered porch/patio
  • Outdoors and indoors firewood racks
  • Finish exterior rooms
  • Robust plumbing
  • Robust water system
  • Robust electrical system
  • Robust internet
  • Cell phone signal amplifier

Exterior

  • Gravel or wood chip paths connecting all buildings - for both pedestrians and vehicles
  • A way to shovel/clear snow-covered paths
  • Solar lights or reflective cells along the paths

MicroHouse

  • Draft insulation
  • Permanent (buried) water system
  • Permanent sewage system
  • Permanent electrical system (30A)
  • Internet connection
  • Cell phone signal amplifier
  • Two additional modules (bedroom + living/working room)
  • Heating on all modules
  • Covered porch/patio
  • Outdoors firewood rack

Workshop

  • Second stove

House Painting

I think the best contrast colors for dark brown walls are white, yellow and apple green. See for example:

http://blog.styleestate.com/storage/thumbnails/2908662-2950705-thumbnail.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1243374071765

http://www.colourlovers.com/palette/844425/Da_Lime_inda_Coconut

Menards doesn't have any bright greens (only boring ones), but Home Depot does have one that looks pretty nice (bamboo leaf). So here's the palette I suggest:

Inline image 3

Links for the paints at Home Depot:

Bamboo Leaf (green): http://www.homedepot.com/s/Bamboo%2520Leaf%2520%2520paint?NCNI-5

Lemon Lime (yellow): http://www.homedepot.com/s/lemon%2520lime%2520paint?NCNI-5

Chalkboard Paint: http://www.homedepot.com/s/chalkboard%2520paint?NCNI-5

For the MH I think we should go with white for the walls as that will make the space appear bigger.

Fri Jan 16, 2014

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Looked into Swimming Pool idea for morale management.