Rachel Preston Prinz's Blog, page 5
April 22, 2015
Growing your Own: Dan’s EPIC Garden
An important part of the original vision for the Earthships is that they be able to grow all the fruits and vegetables needed to support the family that lives in them. That ideal has not proven to work out so well for most people, so we wanted to get to the bottom of what could be done better so readers could be more successful at growing their own food.
Our friend Dan Jones is a renowned gardener and horticulturist in Taos. He works professionally helping people to cultivate and maintain their own gardens, trees, and landscapes. He built his own home a couple of years ago, and his personal garden has been such a resounding success that a few months ago he started a CSA to share his bounty with friends. I sat down with him over coffee one morning and interviewed him to discover how he did it.
His site is a little over an acre, and on that are his home, extensive vegetable gardens, a detached garage, a driveway, an irrigation ditch, and beautiful floral gardens crossed by walking paths and dotted with places of repose. He even has a little running stream powered by his rainwater catchment system in a cascading landscape he created at his front entry. He uses a combination of raised beds, ground beds, cold frames, and a greenhouse to grow enough food to feed at least ten people.
The success of his gardens is partially attributable to Dan’s careful attention to detail as he was choosing the land where he would locate his home, and is partially due to his cultivating the plants in the way the plants want to be treated – an advantage a horticulturist may have over some of us. He assures me that this is nothing some studying, hands-on experience, and/or coaching with a professional cannot overcome.
Dan, being from the northeast, knew that without water, he would not feel at home. So he chose a piece of land along a traditional Hispanic-period irrigation ditch called an acequia that had been cultivated for decades and maybe as much as a century. The acequia watered his fields, which were originally grazed and used to grow hay. When he first walked the land, Dan noted that the land was liberally dotted with nitrogen-fixing clover and alfalfa, which told him that the soil would likely be nutritionally sound. The land also had a high water table and acted much like a wild meadow. It was filled with wild flowers in the summertime. It features an outrageously good 360° view of the Taos rift valley, punctuated by the beautiful and sacred Taos Mountain to the east.
Dan remarked that, in hindsight, he did not think to dig a hole before he bought the land to determine what the soil really looked like beneath, but he knew that he had found a place that he could work with, it would just mean some work. When he started really working the land, he discovered that while the soil was, in fact, fairly good, the topsoil was somewhat shallow and full of cobbles. Preparing the soil for cultivation started with working with a neighbor, who brought in 2 truckloads of compost and topsoil which they spread throughout what would become the roughly 1/4 of an acre of vegetable garden, and then they plowed and disked. He then planted a cover crop of winter rye on it for the winter, and the following spring he cultivated the rye into the earth, fortifying the soil with natural rich nutrients. He created paths, pulling the loose dirt out of them and putting it in the garden, which gave him slightly raised beds to enhance drainage in times of high water. By doing this, he turned his paths into micro swales, where in a good rain, they would collect the water and slowly allow it to distribute through the garden. The garden is planted with love and careful attention to the requirements of each plant – how much light they want, how well they want to be drained, how much water they want. The perimeter is planted with perennial crops including rhubarb, asparagus, strawberries, red and black raspberries, elderberry, aronia, currants, serviceberry and honeyberries.
Dan also has an orchard along the acequia with “every type of fruit that can possibly be grown in Taos.” Dan’s many fruit trees are planted into raised mounds 12-15 inches high, which allows the stone fruits especially, who do not like to be too wet, to be up and out of the high water table. He is successfully growing multiple varieties of cherries, apples, pears, peaches, apricots, nectarines, and plums.
The vegetable garden in the center of the property produces, in season: potatoes, tomatoes, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, carrots, peas, beans (string and drying), chard, kale, ground cherries, corn, parsnips, peppers, lettuce and many herbs.
Dan cycles his garden regularly, giving each area planted, especially those with tomatoes or potatoes, a three year rest to reduce disease transmission. In the parts of the land he allows to go fallow, Dan plants legumes for nitrogen fixation. This year, he is abandoning the idea of planting winter cover crops in his garden, because tilling them back into the soil in spring is too cumbersome to do by hand, and using a rototiller is just too much for his body any more. He offers that in many schools of thought now, rototilling is considered harmful to the soil structure. So this season, he has just added composted manures, some used potting soils, and composted wood chips to hold the soil down. Trying to find ways of working the land well, and in a less maintenance heavy way, is part of his strategy for long-term gardening.
Building a 3 foot tall raised planting bed was also an important part of his strategy, allowing him to grow root crops which would otherwise be stunted by the hard ground and cobbles beneath his topsoil. That bed had 18 inches of junk fill dirt beneath for height and drainage, and was topped by another 18 inches of a superb mix of composted topsoil. D an also built a 25 foot long and 2-1/2 foot wide cold frame against the greenhouse. This serves the double duty of insulating the outside greenhouse wall.
One of the cornerstones of Dan’s amazing garden is his “L”-shaped 25 foot long and 8 foot wide production greenhouse, which sits on the south and wraps to the west of his home for another 15 feet. Depending on the season, he can grow just about any vegetable. His only limitation is temperature fluctuations, which are typical of these types of simple greenhouses because of minimal automation to the heating and cooling systems. The greenhouse is a production-type, separated from the home by a thermal mass wall and exterior rated doors, with an automated ventilation system where chemical pistons open the upper vent windows once the temperature inside reaches 70 degrees. Dan hand-opens manual windows for ventilation at the base of the walls, which are raised above the external ground a couple of feet to accommodate the cold frame below. This does double-duty, ventilating as well as keeping his low windows up off the ground and operable even in the case of big snow. His greenhouse is heated from below by radiant tubes connected to his main house solar hot water radiant heating system, located 18” below the soil and in the concrete walkway.
Were there to be no heating, Dan’s greenhouse would fail to produce in the winter. The radiant heat allows him to throw a frost blanket over the plants, creating a microclimate favorable enough for growing salad greens and cold-hardy plants during the coldest months of the year.
Dan uses a peat and perlite mix of soil in his greenhouse, because traditional soils do not really work in enclosed conditions, being susceptible to diseases and being too dense. He noted that these soils have to be amended constantly so they are fully capable of supporting all the plants, and that next year he is going to start using a coconut fiber-based soil in his greenhouse and potted plants, because coconut fibers are renewable resources and allow the roots to get good aeration.
Another critical component of Dan’s successful greenhouse system is hose bibs at each end of the space, as well as a utility sink plumbed with hot and cold water. A floor drain and a misting system are the only items on his wish list. A swamp cooler would be an expensive addition, but another option for cooling and humidification, which is helpful in Taos’ arid environment. Dan uses a shade cloth along the top and side of the west face of the greenhouse to prevent overheating from May through September. He does not need a shade cloth for the south because his home has a 5 foot overhang on the roof to prevent summer overheating of that thermal wall.
Because the acequia is on the downslope below Dan’s garden, he cannot use the water in it without a pump, so uses well water for irrigation and supplements that with rainwater catchment. His recirculating rainwater catchment system is genius. He keeps captured water clean and constantly flowing by using a small pump to bring it to a high point near the front entrance of his home where there is a barrel with a running spigot for filling buckets for hand-watering. The water then flows through a manmade stream to the bottom part of his landscape. It is beautiful and functional. He decorates the front entrance of his home with annual water-thirsty flowering plants, which he hand-waters from the barrel nearby.
Dan made a special note that using solar hot water in a greenhouse (or for any other means, for that matter) is contingent on there being sunlight. Even yesterday, when there had been no sun during the day and the nighttime temperatures got down to well below freezing, there was a 60 degree difference in the water temperature he fed into the greenhouse from what he had available to use in summer. In worse weather, this detail can be critically important for the plants to survive. Dan’s home’s hot water system has the somewhat unique feature of a woodstove which is plumbed to heat hot water as a backup, so in cloudy weather he can still have ample hot water while the stove also sheds approximately 50% of its BTUs as heat for the house.
Dan notes that production greenhouses and tropical solarium style greenhouses like the ones used in the Earthships have different purposes and treatments. In a solarium greenhouse, or a conservatory in the old parlance, you can grow tropical plants and fruits year-round because you retain most of the heat.
One of the highlights of Dan’s garden is an outdoor heated tub, which can be filled with solar hot water from a hose out of the greenhouse. It is simply an old cast iron claw foot tub set in a brick foundation, which is left hollow beneath the bottom of the tub. At the foot of the tub, there is a small fireplace, and at the head, a 4 foot chimney to draw the heated air under the tub and out the stack. This allows him to enjoy a heated bath even in freezing temperatures. He sets the fire about an hour before he wants to enjoy it, puts down a wooden board to sit on so his bum does not get burned, and he enjoys a good long soak. Dan noted that learning the nuances of how the fire bath works takes a bit of time and experimentation, but now he can soak for up to three hours with minimal disruption for stoking the fire. Like the greenhouse, learning the nature of the tub’s inner workings is a bit of an art, and not for those who want instant satisfaction and no maintenance.
Dan says a successful garden is all about how much love, hard work, and dedication you put into it. He suggests starting with a small plot, finding out what you can manage easily and what grows, and then expanding a little more every year.
One of the best aspects of Dan’s garden and now his CSA is that he is now making money on something he was doing anyway. The money he makes bringing his veggies to market will allow him to quickly pay off the investments he made in making his home more sustainable. His investment in his home and the investment of his time in the gardens are truly paying off for him, financially and spiritually. He is more comfortable, enjoying his garden more, and worrying less.
Another fabulous aspect of Dan’s garden is that by creating so many microclimates and accommodating hot, arid/dry, warm, temperate, cool, and humid plants and planting areas… he has improved biodiversity on his land. That means better soil, and more diverse insects and birds for pollination, which means more diverse mammal visitors, the possibility of raising bees, and even a great opportunity to grow medicinal herbs as well as food. These are great ways to achieve both healthier ecosystems as well as true sustainability.
Check out Dan’s professional work and get loads of inspiration at his website http://www.beyondwildflowers.com
Our friend Dan Jones is a renowned gardener and horticulturist in Taos. He works professionally helping people to cultivate and maintain their own gardens, trees, and landscapes. He built his own home a couple of years ago, and his personal garden has been such a resounding success that a few months ago he started a CSA to share his bounty with friends. I sat down with him over coffee one morning and interviewed him to discover how he did it.His site is a little over an acre, and on that are his home, extensive vegetable gardens, a detached garage, a driveway, an irrigation ditch, and beautiful floral gardens crossed by walking paths and dotted with places of repose. He even has a little running stream powered by his rainwater catchment system in a cascading landscape he created at his front entry. He uses a combination of raised beds, ground beds, cold frames, and a greenhouse to grow enough food to feed at least ten people.
The success of his gardens is partially attributable to Dan’s careful attention to detail as he was choosing the land where he would locate his home, and is partially due to his cultivating the plants in the way the plants want to be treated – an advantage a horticulturist may have over some of us. He assures me that this is nothing some studying, hands-on experience, and/or coaching with a professional cannot overcome.
Dan, being from the northeast, knew that without water, he would not feel at home. So he chose a piece of land along a traditional Hispanic-period irrigation ditch called an acequia that had been cultivated for decades and maybe as much as a century. The acequia watered his fields, which were originally grazed and used to grow hay. When he first walked the land, Dan noted that the land was liberally dotted with nitrogen-fixing clover and alfalfa, which told him that the soil would likely be nutritionally sound. The land also had a high water table and acted much like a wild meadow. It was filled with wild flowers in the summertime. It features an outrageously good 360° view of the Taos rift valley, punctuated by the beautiful and sacred Taos Mountain to the east.
Dan remarked that, in hindsight, he did not think to dig a hole before he bought the land to determine what the soil really looked like beneath, but he knew that he had found a place that he could work with, it would just mean some work. When he started really working the land, he discovered that while the soil was, in fact, fairly good, the topsoil was somewhat shallow and full of cobbles. Preparing the soil for cultivation started with working with a neighbor, who brought in 2 truckloads of compost and topsoil which they spread throughout what would become the roughly 1/4 of an acre of vegetable garden, and then they plowed and disked. He then planted a cover crop of winter rye on it for the winter, and the following spring he cultivated the rye into the earth, fortifying the soil with natural rich nutrients. He created paths, pulling the loose dirt out of them and putting it in the garden, which gave him slightly raised beds to enhance drainage in times of high water. By doing this, he turned his paths into micro swales, where in a good rain, they would collect the water and slowly allow it to distribute through the garden. The garden is planted with love and careful attention to the requirements of each plant – how much light they want, how well they want to be drained, how much water they want. The perimeter is planted with perennial crops including rhubarb, asparagus, strawberries, red and black raspberries, elderberry, aronia, currants, serviceberry and honeyberries.
Dan also has an orchard along the acequia with “every type of fruit that can possibly be grown in Taos.” Dan’s many fruit trees are planted into raised mounds 12-15 inches high, which allows the stone fruits especially, who do not like to be too wet, to be up and out of the high water table. He is successfully growing multiple varieties of cherries, apples, pears, peaches, apricots, nectarines, and plums.
The vegetable garden in the center of the property produces, in season: potatoes, tomatoes, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, carrots, peas, beans (string and drying), chard, kale, ground cherries, corn, parsnips, peppers, lettuce and many herbs.Dan cycles his garden regularly, giving each area planted, especially those with tomatoes or potatoes, a three year rest to reduce disease transmission. In the parts of the land he allows to go fallow, Dan plants legumes for nitrogen fixation. This year, he is abandoning the idea of planting winter cover crops in his garden, because tilling them back into the soil in spring is too cumbersome to do by hand, and using a rototiller is just too much for his body any more. He offers that in many schools of thought now, rototilling is considered harmful to the soil structure. So this season, he has just added composted manures, some used potting soils, and composted wood chips to hold the soil down. Trying to find ways of working the land well, and in a less maintenance heavy way, is part of his strategy for long-term gardening.
Building a 3 foot tall raised planting bed was also an important part of his strategy, allowing him to grow root crops which would otherwise be stunted by the hard ground and cobbles beneath his topsoil. That bed had 18 inches of junk fill dirt beneath for height and drainage, and was topped by another 18 inches of a superb mix of composted topsoil. D an also built a 25 foot long and 2-1/2 foot wide cold frame against the greenhouse. This serves the double duty of insulating the outside greenhouse wall.
One of the cornerstones of Dan’s amazing garden is his “L”-shaped 25 foot long and 8 foot wide production greenhouse, which sits on the south and wraps to the west of his home for another 15 feet. Depending on the season, he can grow just about any vegetable. His only limitation is temperature fluctuations, which are typical of these types of simple greenhouses because of minimal automation to the heating and cooling systems. The greenhouse is a production-type, separated from the home by a thermal mass wall and exterior rated doors, with an automated ventilation system where chemical pistons open the upper vent windows once the temperature inside reaches 70 degrees. Dan hand-opens manual windows for ventilation at the base of the walls, which are raised above the external ground a couple of feet to accommodate the cold frame below. This does double-duty, ventilating as well as keeping his low windows up off the ground and operable even in the case of big snow. His greenhouse is heated from below by radiant tubes connected to his main house solar hot water radiant heating system, located 18” below the soil and in the concrete walkway.
Were there to be no heating, Dan’s greenhouse would fail to produce in the winter. The radiant heat allows him to throw a frost blanket over the plants, creating a microclimate favorable enough for growing salad greens and cold-hardy plants during the coldest months of the year.
Dan uses a peat and perlite mix of soil in his greenhouse, because traditional soils do not really work in enclosed conditions, being susceptible to diseases and being too dense. He noted that these soils have to be amended constantly so they are fully capable of supporting all the plants, and that next year he is going to start using a coconut fiber-based soil in his greenhouse and potted plants, because coconut fibers are renewable resources and allow the roots to get good aeration.
Another critical component of Dan’s successful greenhouse system is hose bibs at each end of the space, as well as a utility sink plumbed with hot and cold water. A floor drain and a misting system are the only items on his wish list. A swamp cooler would be an expensive addition, but another option for cooling and humidification, which is helpful in Taos’ arid environment. Dan uses a shade cloth along the top and side of the west face of the greenhouse to prevent overheating from May through September. He does not need a shade cloth for the south because his home has a 5 foot overhang on the roof to prevent summer overheating of that thermal wall.
Because the acequia is on the downslope below Dan’s garden, he cannot use the water in it without a pump, so uses well water for irrigation and supplements that with rainwater catchment. His recirculating rainwater catchment system is genius. He keeps captured water clean and constantly flowing by using a small pump to bring it to a high point near the front entrance of his home where there is a barrel with a running spigot for filling buckets for hand-watering. The water then flows through a manmade stream to the bottom part of his landscape. It is beautiful and functional. He decorates the front entrance of his home with annual water-thirsty flowering plants, which he hand-waters from the barrel nearby.
Dan made a special note that using solar hot water in a greenhouse (or for any other means, for that matter) is contingent on there being sunlight. Even yesterday, when there had been no sun during the day and the nighttime temperatures got down to well below freezing, there was a 60 degree difference in the water temperature he fed into the greenhouse from what he had available to use in summer. In worse weather, this detail can be critically important for the plants to survive. Dan’s home’s hot water system has the somewhat unique feature of a woodstove which is plumbed to heat hot water as a backup, so in cloudy weather he can still have ample hot water while the stove also sheds approximately 50% of its BTUs as heat for the house.
Dan notes that production greenhouses and tropical solarium style greenhouses like the ones used in the Earthships have different purposes and treatments. In a solarium greenhouse, or a conservatory in the old parlance, you can grow tropical plants and fruits year-round because you retain most of the heat.
One of the highlights of Dan’s garden is an outdoor heated tub, which can be filled with solar hot water from a hose out of the greenhouse. It is simply an old cast iron claw foot tub set in a brick foundation, which is left hollow beneath the bottom of the tub. At the foot of the tub, there is a small fireplace, and at the head, a 4 foot chimney to draw the heated air under the tub and out the stack. This allows him to enjoy a heated bath even in freezing temperatures. He sets the fire about an hour before he wants to enjoy it, puts down a wooden board to sit on so his bum does not get burned, and he enjoys a good long soak. Dan noted that learning the nuances of how the fire bath works takes a bit of time and experimentation, but now he can soak for up to three hours with minimal disruption for stoking the fire. Like the greenhouse, learning the nature of the tub’s inner workings is a bit of an art, and not for those who want instant satisfaction and no maintenance.
Dan says a successful garden is all about how much love, hard work, and dedication you put into it. He suggests starting with a small plot, finding out what you can manage easily and what grows, and then expanding a little more every year.
One of the best aspects of Dan’s garden and now his CSA is that he is now making money on something he was doing anyway. The money he makes bringing his veggies to market will allow him to quickly pay off the investments he made in making his home more sustainable. His investment in his home and the investment of his time in the gardens are truly paying off for him, financially and spiritually. He is more comfortable, enjoying his garden more, and worrying less.
Another fabulous aspect of Dan’s garden is that by creating so many microclimates and accommodating hot, arid/dry, warm, temperate, cool, and humid plants and planting areas… he has improved biodiversity on his land. That means better soil, and more diverse insects and birds for pollination, which means more diverse mammal visitors, the possibility of raising bees, and even a great opportunity to grow medicinal herbs as well as food. These are great ways to achieve both healthier ecosystems as well as true sustainability.
Check out Dan’s professional work and get loads of inspiration at his website http://www.beyondwildflowers.com
April 1, 2015
Fun! Morning Brew interview!
It was so fun to get to share the Hacking the Earthship book for the first time at UPublic, where I was a tv production intern a couple of years ago!!! Buy the book here!
March 25, 2015
LAUNCH! Hacking the Earthship book sales are live!
Our book Hacking the Earthship is finally available!!
HAPPY SPRING!We didn't have a lick of funding to make it happen, but with perseverance, awesome investment support from pre-orders, and the AMAZEBALLS help from our co-authors, all 390 pages of full-color design goodness is finally ready!!! Hacking the Earthship: In Search of an
Earth-Shelter that works for EveryBody
is ready to purchase! Just click on the logo beneath the version you want to buy! Complete Table of Contents Chapter Outline
Book Launch Video The PRINT EDITION is a full color 8.5x11" book on 50 lb paper stock with a silky matte finish. This lightweight edition is the most affordable color print available and is ideal for taking onto the jobsite during the build. While Amazon charges $49.95 for the CreateSpace version on 60lb paper, we made this 50lb paper version to make the book as affordable and portable as possible! $39.95 at all major retailers starting 3/25/15. A discount is available for students and bulk orders. Email us for details.
The 8.5x11" full color PDF features a complete linked table of contents, lots of full-color photos, and links to all the Pinterest boards, blogposts, and websites we offer for inspiration. Both Gumroad and Google Play have this $15 book available at 9.99 for the next month!
The Ebooks are available in almost every format at Smashwords Premium. This 550+ page version is sized to fit e-readers and has traditional e-reader table of contents and lots of links too. The first 50 purchasers can use Coupon Code SA24R to get this book for $5.55 for the next month!
Or, you can order a combo so you can have both the digital book on your laptop at the build site, as well as the print book!
We're also planning our first conference about building your own earth-sheltered home for early this fall! We'll connect with you about that as details firm up! Come play in the mud with us in Taos!
Thank you for your interest in this project!!!
Brightest Blessings!
Please consider liking us on Facebook Twitter Pinterest
2015 Copyright Archinia. All rights reserved.
HAPPY SPRING!We didn't have a lick of funding to make it happen, but with perseverance, awesome investment support from pre-orders, and the AMAZEBALLS help from our co-authors, all 390 pages of full-color design goodness is finally ready!!! Hacking the Earthship: In Search of an
Earth-Shelter that works for EveryBody
is ready to purchase! Just click on the logo beneath the version you want to buy! Complete Table of Contents Chapter Outline
Book Launch Video The PRINT EDITION is a full color 8.5x11" book on 50 lb paper stock with a silky matte finish. This lightweight edition is the most affordable color print available and is ideal for taking onto the jobsite during the build. While Amazon charges $49.95 for the CreateSpace version on 60lb paper, we made this 50lb paper version to make the book as affordable and portable as possible! $39.95 at all major retailers starting 3/25/15. A discount is available for students and bulk orders. Email us for details.
The 8.5x11" full color PDF features a complete linked table of contents, lots of full-color photos, and links to all the Pinterest boards, blogposts, and websites we offer for inspiration. Both Gumroad and Google Play have this $15 book available at 9.99 for the next month!
The Ebooks are available in almost every format at Smashwords Premium. This 550+ page version is sized to fit e-readers and has traditional e-reader table of contents and lots of links too. The first 50 purchasers can use Coupon Code SA24R to get this book for $5.55 for the next month!
Or, you can order a combo so you can have both the digital book on your laptop at the build site, as well as the print book! We're also planning our first conference about building your own earth-sheltered home for early this fall! We'll connect with you about that as details firm up! Come play in the mud with us in Taos!
Thank you for your interest in this project!!!
Brightest Blessings!
Please consider liking us on Facebook Twitter Pinterest
2015 Copyright Archinia. All rights reserved.
March 23, 2015
Table of Contents
For those who wonder what all we cover...
pdf
Introduction Background and Methodology Our Earthship Survey
The Earthship Reality Project The Mythos The Myth of “The Most Economical Building Design in the World... (which will) cost about the same as a conventional non-sustainable home…” The Myth of “A Radically Sustainable Home Made of Recycled and Natural Materials…” The Myth of Earthships and Recycling The Myth of “The Most Efficient, Easy to Build Construction Method on the Planet” The Myth of Build-Out Time
The Myth of “Will Perform as Expected in Any Part of the World, in Any Climate” or, Reality Check: There is no such thing as a Global Model The Myth of “Will Provide You with What You Need to Survive…” The Myth of Thermal Comfort The Myth of Performance: Known Issues in Earthships Worldwide The Myth of Custom Design The Myth of Education The Myth of Getting it Built by People who are Willing to Pay The Myth of “A Higher Resale Value.” The Myth of Awesome Community
“Just the Facts, Ma’am” Issues with the Data The Tire Issue The Earthship at the End of its Life Earthship Life Cycle Cost Assessment Earthships are not for Everybody Motivation: Why we have to do something MORE The Science: Academic Research and Tire Off-gassing Academic Research on Earthship Performance Analysis of the Performance of Earthship Housing in Various Global Climates Thermal Comfort of Global Model Earthship in Various European Climates Learning from ‘Earthship’ Based on Monitoring and Thermal Simulation The Sustainability of Conventional Houses, Passive Houses and Earthships, Based on Legislation, Environmental Impact Energy and Operating Energy Earthship Performance Case Study Report: The Brighton Earthship: Evaluating Thermal Performance Earthship Ironbank Testing and Analysis of Modified Rammed Earth Tire Walls Earthship Biotectures: Experimental Subdivision in Taos, New Mexico: The Greater World Earthship Community Research Conclusions Tires and Off-gassing Research
A Way Forward Earthship .: Reinventing Home Design with YOU in Mind Sustainable Home Working towards a Better Definition of Sustainability Cost Effective Sustainable Features Minimizing Waste and Pollution From Vision to Reality Where You Live Now Wish List Setting a Vision Idea Book Site Diagram Where is the Money? How to Afford to Pay Cash for Your Home Mortgage Financing Tools to Facilitate Financing Creative Funding Solutions Pick the Right Materials Homeowners Bill of Rights Tax Incentives for Green Design Budgeting for a Contractor Deciding Factors Insurance for the Non-Traditional Home Planning a Build Getting it Built: Managing Volunteers Regulatory Forces –The Code
Design The Building’s Context and Site Land Uses The Best Design of All: At the Intersection of Two Ecosystems Choosing a Building Site Geography Topography and Climate Working with Microclimates General Site Design Criteria Landscaping Growing your Own: Dan’s EPIC Garden Outdoor Living Fire-Wise Design Vernacular Design Principals North Pacific Vernacular Zone Rocky Mountain Vernacular Zone Southwest Vernacular Zone Great Plains / Prairie Vernacular Zone Lakes Vernacular Zone Northeast Vernacular Zone Southeast Mountain Vernacular Zone Southeast Coastal Vernacular Zone Designing for Thermal Comfort Passive Solar Design Ultra-Tight Construction Other Ways of Staying Cool Other Ways of Staying Warm Thermal Mass versus Insulation Thermal Mass for Heating Thermal Mass for Cooling Earth-Coupling and Earth-Sheltering Natural Ventilation Strategies and Indoor Air Quality Using Windows for Ventilation Other Means of Ventilation Earthship Ventilation Issues Earthship Cooling Tubes and Alternatives Indoor Air Quality Humidification Matters Thermal and Moisture Protection Roof Thermal Performance Improvements Framing for Thermal Performance Thermal Bridging Choosing Insulation Earthship-Specific Thermal and Moisture Protection Issues Acoustics - Sound Insulation The Structural System Foundations Rubble Trench Foundations Floor Structures Framing The Enclosure System Secrets of Great Curb Appeal Walls Natural versus Sustainable Materials Insulating Versus Thermal Mass Building Materials Strawbale vs. Cob Traditional Earthship Building Blocks Tire Walls Earthship Greenhouse Glass Block and Bottle Walls Can Walls Other Types of Walls Soil Factors for Rammed Earth, Adobe, Cob, and Earthbag Construction Expansion and Control Joints Adobe Cob Rammed Earth Earthbags Wood Block Concrete Forms Wood and Log Construction Timber frame Log Buildings Cordwood Strawbale Stone Concrete Roofing Earthship Roofing Considerations Roof Structure Roofing Types Doors and Windows Doors Windows
Rooms, Spaces, Colors, & Textures Create an Efficient Floorplan Starting Small Easy Spaces What about All My Stuff? Living Simply with Less Other Interior Considerations Entrance Courtyards Hallways & Hidden Hallways Living Room Dining Rooms Great Room Kitchens and Baths Kitchens Bathrooms Bedrooms Second Floors and Lofts Storage Laundry Room Garage Root Cellar Stairs and Towers Standard Furniture Dimensions Details of Design Planning for the Long Game Universal Design Finishes Glues Paints and stains Wall Coverings Floor Coverings
Mechanical Systems Mechanical Heating and Cooling Mechanical Rooms Mechanical Heating Fireplaces and Stoves Mechanical Cooling & Air Conditioning Typical Earthship Mechanical Systems Electrical Systems Lighting Power The Art and Science of Outlets and Switching Appliances Plumbing Water Flow Water Heaters Waste Management Rainwater Harvesting and Collection Greywater Maximizing Efficiency in Water Use Final Notes on Mechanical Systems Imbuing Space with Spirit What is Happy, Anyway? Your Core Desired Feelings Locating “Power Spots" Creating Sacred Spaces Correct timing Vaastu & Feng Shui Vaastu Feng Shui
Conclusion: A New Set of Earth-shelter Building Criteria
Overwhelmed? Need Help? Hiring an Architect or Designer Stages of Design
APPENDICES New Home Design Worksheet Site Design Checklist Participate! Suggested Reading Earthships around the World
Index About the Author Contributors
Buy the book now
Introduction Background and Methodology Our Earthship Survey
The Earthship Reality Project The Mythos The Myth of “The Most Economical Building Design in the World... (which will) cost about the same as a conventional non-sustainable home…” The Myth of “A Radically Sustainable Home Made of Recycled and Natural Materials…” The Myth of Earthships and Recycling The Myth of “The Most Efficient, Easy to Build Construction Method on the Planet” The Myth of Build-Out Time
The Myth of “Will Perform as Expected in Any Part of the World, in Any Climate” or, Reality Check: There is no such thing as a Global Model The Myth of “Will Provide You with What You Need to Survive…” The Myth of Thermal Comfort The Myth of Performance: Known Issues in Earthships Worldwide The Myth of Custom Design The Myth of Education The Myth of Getting it Built by People who are Willing to Pay The Myth of “A Higher Resale Value.” The Myth of Awesome Community
“Just the Facts, Ma’am” Issues with the Data The Tire Issue The Earthship at the End of its Life Earthship Life Cycle Cost Assessment Earthships are not for Everybody Motivation: Why we have to do something MORE The Science: Academic Research and Tire Off-gassing Academic Research on Earthship Performance Analysis of the Performance of Earthship Housing in Various Global Climates Thermal Comfort of Global Model Earthship in Various European Climates Learning from ‘Earthship’ Based on Monitoring and Thermal Simulation The Sustainability of Conventional Houses, Passive Houses and Earthships, Based on Legislation, Environmental Impact Energy and Operating Energy Earthship Performance Case Study Report: The Brighton Earthship: Evaluating Thermal Performance Earthship Ironbank Testing and Analysis of Modified Rammed Earth Tire Walls Earthship Biotectures: Experimental Subdivision in Taos, New Mexico: The Greater World Earthship Community Research Conclusions Tires and Off-gassing Research
A Way Forward Earthship .: Reinventing Home Design with YOU in Mind Sustainable Home Working towards a Better Definition of Sustainability Cost Effective Sustainable Features Minimizing Waste and Pollution From Vision to Reality Where You Live Now Wish List Setting a Vision Idea Book Site Diagram Where is the Money? How to Afford to Pay Cash for Your Home Mortgage Financing Tools to Facilitate Financing Creative Funding Solutions Pick the Right Materials Homeowners Bill of Rights Tax Incentives for Green Design Budgeting for a Contractor Deciding Factors Insurance for the Non-Traditional Home Planning a Build Getting it Built: Managing Volunteers Regulatory Forces –The Code
Design The Building’s Context and Site Land Uses The Best Design of All: At the Intersection of Two Ecosystems Choosing a Building Site Geography Topography and Climate Working with Microclimates General Site Design Criteria Landscaping Growing your Own: Dan’s EPIC Garden Outdoor Living Fire-Wise Design Vernacular Design Principals North Pacific Vernacular Zone Rocky Mountain Vernacular Zone Southwest Vernacular Zone Great Plains / Prairie Vernacular Zone Lakes Vernacular Zone Northeast Vernacular Zone Southeast Mountain Vernacular Zone Southeast Coastal Vernacular Zone Designing for Thermal Comfort Passive Solar Design Ultra-Tight Construction Other Ways of Staying Cool Other Ways of Staying Warm Thermal Mass versus Insulation Thermal Mass for Heating Thermal Mass for Cooling Earth-Coupling and Earth-Sheltering Natural Ventilation Strategies and Indoor Air Quality Using Windows for Ventilation Other Means of Ventilation Earthship Ventilation Issues Earthship Cooling Tubes and Alternatives Indoor Air Quality Humidification Matters Thermal and Moisture Protection Roof Thermal Performance Improvements Framing for Thermal Performance Thermal Bridging Choosing Insulation Earthship-Specific Thermal and Moisture Protection Issues Acoustics - Sound Insulation The Structural System Foundations Rubble Trench Foundations Floor Structures Framing The Enclosure System Secrets of Great Curb Appeal Walls Natural versus Sustainable Materials Insulating Versus Thermal Mass Building Materials Strawbale vs. Cob Traditional Earthship Building Blocks Tire Walls Earthship Greenhouse Glass Block and Bottle Walls Can Walls Other Types of Walls Soil Factors for Rammed Earth, Adobe, Cob, and Earthbag Construction Expansion and Control Joints Adobe Cob Rammed Earth Earthbags Wood Block Concrete Forms Wood and Log Construction Timber frame Log Buildings Cordwood Strawbale Stone Concrete Roofing Earthship Roofing Considerations Roof Structure Roofing Types Doors and Windows Doors Windows
Rooms, Spaces, Colors, & Textures Create an Efficient Floorplan Starting Small Easy Spaces What about All My Stuff? Living Simply with Less Other Interior Considerations Entrance Courtyards Hallways & Hidden Hallways Living Room Dining Rooms Great Room Kitchens and Baths Kitchens Bathrooms Bedrooms Second Floors and Lofts Storage Laundry Room Garage Root Cellar Stairs and Towers Standard Furniture Dimensions Details of Design Planning for the Long Game Universal Design Finishes Glues Paints and stains Wall Coverings Floor Coverings
Mechanical Systems Mechanical Heating and Cooling Mechanical Rooms Mechanical Heating Fireplaces and Stoves Mechanical Cooling & Air Conditioning Typical Earthship Mechanical Systems Electrical Systems Lighting Power The Art and Science of Outlets and Switching Appliances Plumbing Water Flow Water Heaters Waste Management Rainwater Harvesting and Collection Greywater Maximizing Efficiency in Water Use Final Notes on Mechanical Systems Imbuing Space with Spirit What is Happy, Anyway? Your Core Desired Feelings Locating “Power Spots" Creating Sacred Spaces Correct timing Vaastu & Feng Shui Vaastu Feng Shui
Conclusion: A New Set of Earth-shelter Building Criteria
Overwhelmed? Need Help? Hiring an Architect or Designer Stages of Design
APPENDICES New Home Design Worksheet Site Design Checklist Participate! Suggested Reading Earthships around the World
Index About the Author Contributors
Buy the book now
March 16, 2015
First mention of the book in print!
BUY THE BOOK
It's crazy seeing the first mentions of the book in print! this one is from the latest Green Fire Times!
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March 10, 2015
Requests for the New #HackingTheEarthship Edition! Already! lol!
Well, the book isn't even out yet but we have already started receiving special requests for more things people would like to learn about for the next edition! ; )
We'll be adding:
AquaponicsBiomimicry House BlessingsMore Natural and Alternative Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Systems.What else would you like to see? Email us after you get your copy of the book and let us know!!
We'll keep this list updated and start working on the Second Edition soon!
We'll be adding:
AquaponicsBiomimicry House BlessingsMore Natural and Alternative Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Systems.What else would you like to see? Email us after you get your copy of the book and let us know!!
We'll keep this list updated and start working on the Second Edition soon!
Looking for MEP Mentor for the Next Edition of #HackingtheEarthship!
We already know we want to get WAY more into the Mechanical Electrical, and Plumbing options for the next edition of the book, covering even more natural options and we'll do a breakdown of what systems work best in what climates just like we did for the Enclosures chapter.
The amazing news about this is Asha's class at UNM-Taos was super inspired by the early presentations and they have stepped in to do some of the research! What we need now is someone to check their work and add to it if needed!
Is that expert you? Do you want to contribute to the next edition of the book and help some great students figure out how to do what they dream of doing... better? let us know!
Brightest Blessings!
Rachel
The amazing news about this is Asha's class at UNM-Taos was super inspired by the early presentations and they have stepped in to do some of the research! What we need now is someone to check their work and add to it if needed!
Is that expert you? Do you want to contribute to the next edition of the book and help some great students figure out how to do what they dream of doing... better? let us know!
Brightest Blessings!
Rachel
March 4, 2015
Concrete Takeoff
We did a takeoff off of plans for a Global Model Earthship to help budget for cement and concrete costs. Contrary to popular belief, concrete makes up the majority of the materials used in the build. Here is the overview of how much concrete might be needed: (Please note that haul numbers do not include sand or aggregate.) For the COMPLETE takeoff, please see this pdf.
GLOBAL MODEL CONCRETE TAKEOFF
# Bedrooms (without vestibules)
Studio One Two Three Interior Footings 0.68 1.13 1.58 2.7 Can Walls 1.71 1.71 6.84 15.4 Front Face Footing 2.39 3.66 4 5.79 Stem Walls 0.4 0.4 0.27 0.5 Exterior Footing at Doors 0.37 0.37 0.37 0.37 Bond Beams 4.07 4.95 5.18 6.42 Buttress & Footing 1.31 2.43 1.97 2.35 Cubic yards required 10.93 14.65 20.21 33.53 concrete truck loads at 8 CY/truck
(or # of logical pours)=
2 2 3 5 or, Bags of cement 66 88 122 202 at 90 lbs/bag = x lbs. to move 5940 7920 10980 18180 x 1000 lbs. / truckload = # of hauls 6 8 11 19
GLOBAL MODEL CONCRETE TAKEOFF
# Bedrooms (without vestibules)
Studio One Two Three Interior Footings 0.68 1.13 1.58 2.7 Can Walls 1.71 1.71 6.84 15.4 Front Face Footing 2.39 3.66 4 5.79 Stem Walls 0.4 0.4 0.27 0.5 Exterior Footing at Doors 0.37 0.37 0.37 0.37 Bond Beams 4.07 4.95 5.18 6.42 Buttress & Footing 1.31 2.43 1.97 2.35 Cubic yards required 10.93 14.65 20.21 33.53 concrete truck loads at 8 CY/truck
(or # of logical pours)=
2 2 3 5 or, Bags of cement 66 88 122 202 at 90 lbs/bag = x lbs. to move 5940 7920 10980 18180 x 1000 lbs. / truckload = # of hauls 6 8 11 19
March 3, 2015
#Astrologically Correct Timing - When to Cut Timber and Do Building Projects
We know how the moon affects tides here on earth… when the moon is full, the tides are highest, and when the moon is new, the tides are lowest. Well, the same gravitational pull between our planet and her orb pulls water up not only into the atmosphere, but into our bodies, the trunks of trees, the leaves of plants, and even into solid rock!
It was once common knowledge that if you wanted lumber to last, you harvested the wood on certain days. Or if you wanted your firewood to burn as long as possible, you would harvest that on certain days too. There is a great book called Moon Time – The Art of Harmony with Nature and Lunar Cycles by Johanna Paungger and Thomas Poppe which goes into many chapters worth of detail about these traditional ways of building. But allow us to offer a brief overview here so you can determine whether you might want to use correct timing to fell your wood and build your home. We will not get into all the “whys” - you can grab the book if you would like to know the details! We will at least give you the “whens”!
For me, the biggest benefit of connecting buildings to the movements of the planets is more about connecting to the cosmos than it is about astrology or right timing. The functional benefits are a perk of setting my intentions!
The moon is waning after the full moon and before the new moon. The moon is waxing after the new moon and before the full moon. As with everything, the ideal wood cutting astrology dates may vary slightly by region. Check to see if your area has its own criteria.
If you would like to find out where the moon is today, or for any days this year, please check out our friend Molly Cliborne Gauthier’s Google Plus Moon Calendar at:
www.mollysastrology.com/map
Best days for Cutting Wood
The three days after the new moon each month, in winter when the moon is waning, February evenings when the moon is waning, September 27, December 21.
Non-rotting Hardwood
New Years, January 7, January 25, January 31-Feb 2, the last two days of the moon on the wane in Pisces (usually in March).
Fire-resistant Wood
March 1st after sunset, any day the new moon is in Libra, 48 hours before the new moon in March, the last day before the new moon in December.
Non-Shrinking Wood
December 21.
Firewood
The first seven days of the waxing moon in October, after the winter solstice when the moon is on the wane
Planks & Building
Waxing phase of the moon in Pisces.
Floors & Tools
Scorpio days in August (peel the bark immediately).
Load-Bearing Walls, Concrete & Stone, Stairs, Electrical
Anytime.
Site Inspections & Geotechnical Reports
Moon is waning, close to the full moon if possible so the water table is as high as it should get.
Excavation
Moon is waning, preferring earth days ruled by Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.
Foundations
Avoiding watery days ruled by Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.
Basements & Cellars
During light and warmth signs – days ruled by Gemini, Libra, Aquarius, Aries, Libra, and Sagittarius.
Earth & Concrete Ceilings
Avoid days ruled by Leo.
Walls
During the waning moon.
Wooden Stairs, Windows & Doors, Wooden Floors, Setting the Roof Trusses or Vigas, Ceilings, & Paneling, Paving Stones, Verandas, Paths
During the waning moon, preferable on days ruled by Capricorn, avoiding Cancer days.
Plumbing
Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces days.
Plaster, Exterior Cladding, Floor Coverings
Moon is waning.
Paint, Varnish, Waterproofing, Gluing
Moon is waning, not on Leo or Cancer days, or Scorpio or Pisces Days either when drying is involved.
Turn the Heater on the First Time
Moon is waning, on Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius days.
Best days to ventilate or “air out” the house
Days ruled by Gemini, Libra, Aquarius, Aries, Leo, Sagittarius.
It was once common knowledge that if you wanted lumber to last, you harvested the wood on certain days. Or if you wanted your firewood to burn as long as possible, you would harvest that on certain days too. There is a great book called Moon Time – The Art of Harmony with Nature and Lunar Cycles by Johanna Paungger and Thomas Poppe which goes into many chapters worth of detail about these traditional ways of building. But allow us to offer a brief overview here so you can determine whether you might want to use correct timing to fell your wood and build your home. We will not get into all the “whys” - you can grab the book if you would like to know the details! We will at least give you the “whens”!
For me, the biggest benefit of connecting buildings to the movements of the planets is more about connecting to the cosmos than it is about astrology or right timing. The functional benefits are a perk of setting my intentions!
The moon is waning after the full moon and before the new moon. The moon is waxing after the new moon and before the full moon. As with everything, the ideal wood cutting astrology dates may vary slightly by region. Check to see if your area has its own criteria.
If you would like to find out where the moon is today, or for any days this year, please check out our friend Molly Cliborne Gauthier’s Google Plus Moon Calendar at:
www.mollysastrology.com/map
Best days for Cutting Wood
The three days after the new moon each month, in winter when the moon is waning, February evenings when the moon is waning, September 27, December 21.
Non-rotting Hardwood
New Years, January 7, January 25, January 31-Feb 2, the last two days of the moon on the wane in Pisces (usually in March).
Fire-resistant Wood
March 1st after sunset, any day the new moon is in Libra, 48 hours before the new moon in March, the last day before the new moon in December.
Non-Shrinking Wood
December 21.
Firewood
The first seven days of the waxing moon in October, after the winter solstice when the moon is on the wane
Planks & Building
Waxing phase of the moon in Pisces.
Floors & Tools
Scorpio days in August (peel the bark immediately).
Load-Bearing Walls, Concrete & Stone, Stairs, Electrical
Anytime.
Site Inspections & Geotechnical Reports
Moon is waning, close to the full moon if possible so the water table is as high as it should get.
Excavation
Moon is waning, preferring earth days ruled by Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.
Foundations
Avoiding watery days ruled by Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.
Basements & Cellars
During light and warmth signs – days ruled by Gemini, Libra, Aquarius, Aries, Libra, and Sagittarius.
Earth & Concrete Ceilings
Avoid days ruled by Leo.
Walls
During the waning moon.
Wooden Stairs, Windows & Doors, Wooden Floors, Setting the Roof Trusses or Vigas, Ceilings, & Paneling, Paving Stones, Verandas, Paths
During the waning moon, preferable on days ruled by Capricorn, avoiding Cancer days.
Plumbing
Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces days.
Plaster, Exterior Cladding, Floor Coverings
Moon is waning.
Paint, Varnish, Waterproofing, Gluing
Moon is waning, not on Leo or Cancer days, or Scorpio or Pisces Days either when drying is involved.
Turn the Heater on the First Time
Moon is waning, on Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius days.
Best days to ventilate or “air out” the house
Days ruled by Gemini, Libra, Aquarius, Aries, Leo, Sagittarius.
Site Design Checklist
This is a checklist of the factors that may be involved in evaluating a site for construction. Information is usually collected only for those items that are pertinent to the project. We hope this will help you answer questions about what it is you really need and want for your homeOverview of Design Requirements
Please describe the qualities of your building site that your designer should know about. Include likes and dislikes and any features that should be incorporated into the design.
Site Considerations
Climate
Prevailing winds Direction Maximum, minimum, and average velocities Special considerations (g., tornado, flood, hurricane-prone areas)
Solar orientation Sun angles Days of sunlight Cloud cover Shading of (or from) adjacent structures, natural features, and vegetation
Temperature Variation Maximums and minimums for various times of year
Humidity Variation Maximums and minimums for various times of yearPrecipitation
Peak period total Annual and seasonal total
Topography
Legal property description, including:Limits of propertyEasementsRights of wayNorth indication
Topographic maps and aerial photos Contours and spot elevations Slopes: percentage, aspect, orientation Escarpments Erosion channels Location and configuration of rocks, ledges, outcrops, ridges, drainage lines Visual characteristics Potential problem areas during construction: silt, erosion, et
Analysis of physical featuresViews and vistasNeighboring structures: buildings, satellite dishes, etceteraShading and solar accessNoise from streets, emergency services, aircraft, etceteraOdors
Access and circulation Vehicular Road access to property line existing Number of Parking Spaces required outside Garage Pedestrian
Vegetation
Water bodies Location, size, depth, direction of flow Water quality: clean, polluted, anaerobic conditions, et Use: seasonal, year-round Wetlands: ecological features Variations: expected water levels, tides, wave action Coastal features
Drainages: rivers, streams, marshes, lakes, ponds, etcetera Natural and built Alignments and gradients Pattern and direction
Waterway easements Surface Subsurface
Surface drainage Location of streams and washes Proximity to floodplains Maximum flood levels Frequently flooded areas Local watershed areas, amount of runoff collected, and location of outfalls Swampy and concave areas without drainage Other obstacles that may interrupt or obstruct natural surface drainageUnique site featuresGeotechnical/soilsBasic surface soil type: sand, clay, silt, rock, shale, gravel, loam, limestone, etceteraRock and soil type: character/formation and origin Geologic formation process and parent material Inclination Bearing capacityBedrock Depth Type classificationSeismic conditionsEnvironmental hazards
UtilitiesPotable water Municipal Well If a well, is there a well-share? Y / N SpringElectricity Public Utility already at property line? Y / N Photovoltaic location:Gas Natural already at property line? Y / N PropaneTelephone How many numbers needed?Television None Satellite Cable AntennaSanitary sewer service Municipal Septic Septic with supplemental blackwater treatmentStorm drainage (surface, subsurface)Irrigation same as potable rainwater catchment greywaterFire protection
General ServicesFire and police protectionTrash/refuse removal servicesSnow removal, including on-site storage
Cultural Factors
Site History
Former site uses Hazardous dumping / Landfill Old foundations Archaeological groundsHistory of existing structures Historic value Affiliations Outline Location Floor elevations Type Condition Use Land Use, Ownership, and Control
Present zoning of site and adjacent property Site Location in Town Subject to review Site location in County Subject to review Restrictive Covenants (please provide) Subdivision with architectural Guidelines (please provide) Subject to reviewAdjacent (surrounding) land uses Present Projected Probable effects of site developmentType of land ownershipFunction and pattern of land use: public domain, farm type, grazing, urbanized Present PastLocation, type, and size of pertinent community services Schools and churches Shopping centers Parks Municipal services Recreational facilities Banks Food services Health services Access to highways, public transportation
REGULATORY FACTORS
Zoning CodesPermitted uses By variance By special use permits Accessory structuresMinimum site area requirementsBuilding height limitsYard (setback) requirementsLot coverageOff-street parking requirementsLandscaping requirementsSign requirements
Subdivision, Site Plan Review, and Other Local RequirementsLot requirements Size Configuration
Setbacks and coverageStreet requirements Widths Geometry: grades, curvesCurbs and curb cutsDead-endsIntersection geometryConstruction standardsUtility location(s)SidewalksDrainageRemoval of spring and surface waterStream coursesLand subject to flooding Detention/retention pondsParks Open space requirements Park and playground requirements Screening from adjacent uses
Environmental RegulationsWater, sewer, recycling, solid waste disposalClean air requirementsSoil conservationProtected areas, wetlands, floodplains, coastal zones, wild and scenic areasFish and wildlife protectionProtection of archaeological resources
Other Codes and RequirementsHistoric preservation and landmarksarchitectural (design) controlsSpecial districtsMiscellaneous: mobile homes, billboards, noiseSite-related items in Building Codes Building separation Parking and access for persons with disabilities Service and emergency vehicle access and parking
Please describe the qualities of your building site that your designer should know about. Include likes and dislikes and any features that should be incorporated into the design.
Site Considerations
Climate
Prevailing winds Direction Maximum, minimum, and average velocities Special considerations (g., tornado, flood, hurricane-prone areas)
Solar orientation Sun angles Days of sunlight Cloud cover Shading of (or from) adjacent structures, natural features, and vegetation
Temperature Variation Maximums and minimums for various times of year
Humidity Variation Maximums and minimums for various times of yearPrecipitation
Peak period total Annual and seasonal total
Topography
Legal property description, including:Limits of propertyEasementsRights of wayNorth indication
Topographic maps and aerial photos Contours and spot elevations Slopes: percentage, aspect, orientation Escarpments Erosion channels Location and configuration of rocks, ledges, outcrops, ridges, drainage lines Visual characteristics Potential problem areas during construction: silt, erosion, et
Analysis of physical featuresViews and vistasNeighboring structures: buildings, satellite dishes, etceteraShading and solar accessNoise from streets, emergency services, aircraft, etceteraOdors
Access and circulation Vehicular Road access to property line existing Number of Parking Spaces required outside Garage Pedestrian
Vegetation
Water bodies Location, size, depth, direction of flow Water quality: clean, polluted, anaerobic conditions, et Use: seasonal, year-round Wetlands: ecological features Variations: expected water levels, tides, wave action Coastal features
Drainages: rivers, streams, marshes, lakes, ponds, etcetera Natural and built Alignments and gradients Pattern and direction
Waterway easements Surface Subsurface
Surface drainage Location of streams and washes Proximity to floodplains Maximum flood levels Frequently flooded areas Local watershed areas, amount of runoff collected, and location of outfalls Swampy and concave areas without drainage Other obstacles that may interrupt or obstruct natural surface drainageUnique site featuresGeotechnical/soilsBasic surface soil type: sand, clay, silt, rock, shale, gravel, loam, limestone, etceteraRock and soil type: character/formation and origin Geologic formation process and parent material Inclination Bearing capacityBedrock Depth Type classificationSeismic conditionsEnvironmental hazards
UtilitiesPotable water Municipal Well If a well, is there a well-share? Y / N SpringElectricity Public Utility already at property line? Y / N Photovoltaic location:Gas Natural already at property line? Y / N PropaneTelephone How many numbers needed?Television None Satellite Cable AntennaSanitary sewer service Municipal Septic Septic with supplemental blackwater treatmentStorm drainage (surface, subsurface)Irrigation same as potable rainwater catchment greywaterFire protection
General ServicesFire and police protectionTrash/refuse removal servicesSnow removal, including on-site storage
Cultural Factors
Site History
Former site uses Hazardous dumping / Landfill Old foundations Archaeological groundsHistory of existing structures Historic value Affiliations Outline Location Floor elevations Type Condition Use Land Use, Ownership, and Control
Present zoning of site and adjacent property Site Location in Town Subject to review Site location in County Subject to review Restrictive Covenants (please provide) Subdivision with architectural Guidelines (please provide) Subject to reviewAdjacent (surrounding) land uses Present Projected Probable effects of site developmentType of land ownershipFunction and pattern of land use: public domain, farm type, grazing, urbanized Present PastLocation, type, and size of pertinent community services Schools and churches Shopping centers Parks Municipal services Recreational facilities Banks Food services Health services Access to highways, public transportation
REGULATORY FACTORS
Zoning CodesPermitted uses By variance By special use permits Accessory structuresMinimum site area requirementsBuilding height limitsYard (setback) requirementsLot coverageOff-street parking requirementsLandscaping requirementsSign requirements
Subdivision, Site Plan Review, and Other Local RequirementsLot requirements Size Configuration
Setbacks and coverageStreet requirements Widths Geometry: grades, curvesCurbs and curb cutsDead-endsIntersection geometryConstruction standardsUtility location(s)SidewalksDrainageRemoval of spring and surface waterStream coursesLand subject to flooding Detention/retention pondsParks Open space requirements Park and playground requirements Screening from adjacent uses
Environmental RegulationsWater, sewer, recycling, solid waste disposalClean air requirementsSoil conservationProtected areas, wetlands, floodplains, coastal zones, wild and scenic areasFish and wildlife protectionProtection of archaeological resources
Other Codes and RequirementsHistoric preservation and landmarksarchitectural (design) controlsSpecial districtsMiscellaneous: mobile homes, billboards, noiseSite-related items in Building Codes Building separation Parking and access for persons with disabilities Service and emergency vehicle access and parking
