Video documentary of this project?

I’ve been toying with the idea of creating a documentary about our house project. In building our house, we’re doing something that is special for us, and we’re learning a lot in so doing. Quite a few months ago, I purchased Ted Owens DVD documenting the building of his hybrid home (Building With Awareness). This is a great resource – very interesting and very well done. I’ve really appreciated the information included on the DVD, and I continue to refer to it. I’ve not purchased the guidebook that goes along with the DVD, but I imagine it’s quite good too.

Early last week I received two more DVDs that I ordered from Andrew Morrison at StrawBale.com. The two I received are “Building with straw bales (post and beam infill)” and “Plastering with natural hydraulic lime (NHL).” Andrew has a lot of resources available to help individuals interested in building with straw bales.

Recently, my wife Anne and I watched a documentary on Youtube about a family’s attempt to develop a homestead and live off of the grid. I don’t remember the name of it, but we cringed and shook our heads a few times at some of the things they were trying to do and how they were going about it. Not quite how we would have approached similar problems.

Anyway, it would have been great if I had had and implemented my idea of creating a video documentary of our house-building project from the beginning. However, as we’re entering into the phase of the project after the timber framing portion, there is still a lot to be accomplished. I’m just a regular guy tackling a big and innovative project. I would like to be able to share some of the things I learn and how I approach some of the challenges and problems that are part of it.

If you think there might be some interest in such a documentary, let me know. I’m seriously thinking of doing it even if there isn’t much interest, motivated by many of the same desires that have led me to this blogging endeavor. At the very least, such a documentary would be neat for my family to have in the future.

This is a house blog

Some people have complained (mainly my sister and brother) that I haven't updated my blog in too long of a time. They are correct, of course. However, this is a blog about my house project. When I work on house-related projects, then I have something to post about. When I don't work on such projects, I don't have something to post about. Sure, I could post some non-related things, but I've refrained from doing so.

Over the summer and into the fall, my attentions were directed in other directions besides the house. We raise a lot of our own food, and this takes time. There were other projects to complete and limited funds to spend on the house. So, there wasn't much progress on the house. I am hoping that this will change as we progress into next year. I've made arrangements that should allow some funds to be made available for the house. My goal is to be able to move in by Thanksgiving 2009. It's an ambitious plan, but we greatly desire to realize it. Arrangements are being made that will free me from some of the food-production responsibilities so that I may devote my time to house building. So, keep your eyes on the blog in the coming months. God willing, there will be a lot of activity and progress on the house in 2009.

Since house-building is not the only thing occupying my time, I have started another blog focused on some of the everyday adventures and activities that are part of our lives here on Cedar Ridge Farm. If you're interested, you can check it out at New Kentucky Homestead. My new blog will allow this one to remain specifically a house blog.