Urban Again

Our house.

Here I am in Brisbane, finding myself in the world of urban agriculture again. Back to a shared house, but this time with a slightly bigger yard than I found myself with in Toronto (which really just means I have a yard). As I'm here trying to learn more about permaculture, I thought I might take this opportunity to start growing some vegetables in my own space. 

Garden.

The space gets a lot of sunlight and already has a good base, with some raised beds and fruit trees already established. So far I've found dragon fruit (the cactus like plant), a mango tree, some lime trees (some of which might be oranges and grapefruit that are currently just green), a potential cherry tree and some recently planted apricot trees. There is also a great rain water harvesting system in place with big barrels.

The canvas

I don't want to get too out of control as I won't be around forever to take care of the garden, but I'd like to leave this house knowing that there is a food system that should maintain itself relatively well. 

Therefore my goals for this space are:

1. A good compost system-- I found compost bins, but they're filled with all sorts of wires... weird.

2. An herb spiral.

3. One raised bed worth of veggies.

So time to get back to experimenting... Fun!

Winter Worthy

So here it is. The end of renovating for this year.

I love my house.

North side.

I'll be back in March to attempt to do some interior work. The exterior is basically where I want it to be. Still some details to finish up, but you get the idea of what it will look like. Just add on a wrap around deck, gardens and hops vines.

Probably doesn't look much different than my last posts, but I can see it.

Be ready for an August work party gang to get me moved in!

South side.

not quite done, but no animals can get in!

Almost winterized

Here are a few pictures to give you an idea of how the house is doing now.

Hopefully will have one more post before I leave for the winter of a completed exterior. The well, septic and wiring will have to wait until next year, but such is life. This could be home this time next year!

almost there....

the new tub... claw feet awaiting attachment.

the beginnings of a kitchen floor that isn't trampoline-like.

super siding

Quick update.

As the weather gets colder, more layers are going on to the house. Though it's not quite closed up for the winter, I think these pictures give a pretty good idea of what it will look like.

I've had so much help so far and feel so lucky to have such great people around me.

Almost time to call it quits for this year, but still some more outside stuff to do before it snows.

Maintaining Minimal

New 8' wide, 7' high window.

Here are a few more pictures and a quick update on house progress.

Front window view.

As I'm working at camp now, I haven't had a lot of time to be doing the work on the house myself. Luckily, I found an awesome contractor who is also working on my neighbours' house. I'd love to be doing it all myself, but the reality is he can do what would take me a week in a day.

The most recent work has been taking off all the siding on the front part of the house and re-studding the house. The studs were at random distances from each other, usually around every 3 feet instead of every 16 inches. While this was being fixed, we also reframed some windows (very exciting).

Unfortunately while doing this work it came to our attention just how bad the foundation is. Looks like it won't last a lifetime (surprise, surprise). For now, we'll keep insulating (grant money), redo the roof with tin (can be reused) and eventually this fall have a closed in living space.

Sliding glass door opening.

Even though it may not turn in to a permanent dream home this year, I still love the house and get more and more excited every time I go up there!

House update

It's been a while.

demolition looking at the south wall.

I'm now back from an amazing year of tree planting and have jumped right in to the reno process (with some time off for weddings and family/friend visits in between). So far we've managed to demolish the inside walls that are coming down to give us a better view of what the open concept will look like. In doing this the design has changed so that in the end I'll end up with a two bedroom house with a loft and cathedral ceilings. If all goes as planned.

The structure looks like it's in better shape than most anticipated. As we stripped off the layers of panelling we discovered that old raw wood was used as walls on the initial house (built in 1954). We also discovered that these walls were indeed holding the studs together and therefore were holding up the house. As those beautiful boards have to stay I've decided they'll be an awesome look for the walls and they'll be a focal point of the house. It mean insulating from the outside, but most of the outside has to come off anyways.

demolition of bathroom (new kitchen), notice the raw wood on the left.

I started pulling some of the chipboard off of the outside of the house. I started at the giant hole in the wall and found this less than gorgeous fake brick tar paper. It's coming off, but for now it makes the house look a little less ghetto.

I've had an amazing team so far to help in the deconstruction process. Ben, Gene, my mom and cousins Charlotte and Alicia have been an incredible help thus far. Feel free to come out too and help!

ghetto chipboard house.

home sweet home.

nice brick house.

House Heat

After a bit of chaos surrounding getting the wood stove from kijiji (my new favourite pass time) I am now the proud owner of a used Regency wood stove. I'm hoping this will be my primary source of heat when I'm eventually living in this house of mine.

Heat Source! Plus a kettle! And it all fit in the Jeep!

I also found a lot of insulation on Kijiji along with doors and a million other things, but realized I shouldn't get that far ahead of myself. 

I've also been working on getting a well put in. Who knew you had to get a septic report that requires a soil test by a technologist in order to put a well in. I do now. Looks like the well will have to go in to the list of August projects along with roof, fixing hole in the wall, insulating, etc.

For now, it's time to go tree planting again to pay for it all. Look for updates in August and make room in your schedules to see it first hand!

Maybe a window?

Needs a touch of work.