Eco-House
![[Image of Eco-House]](house_sm.gif)
![[Image of back of house and garden area]](permwksp.jpg)
| People |
Members: Lola, Cicada
Residents: Scott Community Friends: Red Moon Song, Laura, Brendan, Kai |
|---|---|
| Plants |
Following is a partial list of trees, bushes and other perenials on our land:
Growing without our intervention (though some may have been planted by previous owners):Trees and Bushes: Wild Black Cherry, Red Oak, Post Oak, Silver Maple, Red Maple, Box Elder, Holly, Magnolia, Tulip Poplar, Black Locust, Mimosa, Staghorn Sumak, Dogwood, Hickory, Black Walnut, Privet, Ailanthus, Blackberry, Black Raspberry, Dewberry, Hibiscus (Rose 'O'Sharon), Mock Orange, Vines: Wild Grape, English Ivy, Bittersweet, Japanese Honeysuckle, Ampelopsis, Deadly Nightshade, Poison Ivy, Multiflora Rose, Root, Bulb or Rhizome based Perenials (Woody and Herbaceous): Golden Rod, White Bush Aster, Pokeberry, Comfrey, Wild Asperagus, Violets, Yarrow, Plantain, Dandelion, Wild Strawberry, Indian Strawberry, Cinquefoil, Buttercup, Chives Annual and Bienneal Herbs: Queen Annes Lace, Oxeye Daisy, Lamb's Quarters, Prickly Lettuce, Sow Thistle, Bull Thistle, Amaranth, Wild Pea, Vetch, Daisy Fleabane, Shepherd's Purse, Yellow Cress, Dame's Rocket, Giant Chickweed, Low Hop Clover, White Clover, Red Clover, Dovesfoot Cranebill (geranium), Red Dead Nettle, Blue Wax Weed, Ground Ivy Other: Many varieties of Grass, Moss, and more which I will save till later to catalog...
What we have planted :Trees and Bushes:(Most of these are still very small and won't bear fruit for years) Red Bud, Arborvitae, American Chestnut, Paw Paw, Sea Berry, Blueberry, June Berry, Mulberry, Service Berry, Elderberry, White Bush Cherry, Red Bush Cherry, Ume, American Persimmon, Jujube, Trifoliate Orange, Winesap Apple, Golden Delicious Apple, Mutsu Apple, Sops o' Wine Apple, Buerre d'Anjou Pear, Moonglow Pear, White Pine, Virginia Pine, American Filbert, Carnelian Cherry Dogwood, Flowering Dogwood, Crab Apple, Hawthorn, Lilac, Forsythia, Nandina, Vines: Kiwi, Root, Bulb or Rhizome based Perenials (Woody and Herbaceous): Black Raspberry, Strawberry, Rhubarb, Sun Choke (Jerusalem Artichoke), Day Lilies, Bronze Fennel, St. John's Wort, Valerian, Comfrey, Horseradish, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Oregano, Marjoram, Mint (of varying kinds), Catnip, Hotunia, Echinacea, Butterfly Bush, Nettles, Lung Wort, Shasta Daisy, Hosta, Canna Lilies, Lavendar, Iris, Tulips, Blood Root, Wild Ginger, Trilium, Daffodils, Crocus, Annual and Bienneal Herbs: Other: and more... And we have annual gardens as well |
| living area approx. 1300sq ft. | 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, kitchen, dining room with bay window, living room |
| Additional Space |
partial basement
covered porch detached two car garage
two room guest house
|
| Amenities |
oil, forced air heating, battery powered programmable thermostat
wood stove electric water heater, mechanical timer to set on/off times during the day electric oven and refrigerator, propane stove top, lots of cabinets washer, dryer, clothes line partial solar electricity (6 panels - 14amps full sun, 440 amp hours of battery storage, Trace sine wave inverter) common rooms are mostly furnished stereo with phono, tape, CD computer, internet access |
| Interior |
walls and ceiling in good condition
carpet in one bedroom, fair condition, hardwood floors are in good condition, two rooms recently refinished kitchen has fairly new linoleum floor in good condition bay window constructed 7/99 - 11/99 Bathroom Rebuild in Progress, Fully Functional, some finishing work remains to be done |
| Structure |
Wooden Frame
Aluminum Siding Fiberglass Shingle Roof |
| Age |
Main structure built in 1915
Two Bedrooms and a Bathroom added in 1950's |
| Location |
Approximately 1 acre land
Evolving Edible Forest Garden Annual and Herb gardens Busy 2 lane street City Bus stops right at house Mixed culture neighborhood 3 miles from downtown |
You lie on a hemp hammock eating grapes from the arbor above. You're grateful for the privacy trees create on a mere acre of land. Estara calls your name. "Over here" you answer. "Could you please go to the co-op and get some quinoa and lentils? We need them for dinner." She brushes past the cherry dogwood and picks a kiwi from a vine. "No problem" you respond. She hands you cloth bags and house shopping money. "Can I go too?" asks four year old Amy from a nearby tree fort. "Both her moms consent" assures Estara. "Love to have you along Amy." You linger a bit, watching squirrels chase each other through the Chestnut trees. You wonder `Do they appreciate this haven with no dogs, cats or livestock as much as I?' On the way you stop at the composting toilet and praise Amy as she washes her hands unasked from the roof water catchment. At the pond you pause to spot one of the croaking frogs you hear. Then, holding Amy's hand, cross the street to the bus stop, where you accept instead, a ride from one of your friendly neighbors.
We're currently two on an acre of evolving Forest Garden in a farm style house, 3 miles from downtown. We've vision and determination. Come imagine with us. Create the transformation.
The land plan (The After Picture) is out of date. We have many more tree plantings than are indictated. In the 4 years we have been here the lawn has evolved to an early succession meadow. Lots of Golden Rod, Asters, Blackberry, Grape vine and Ampelopsis vine. Lots of baby Oak, Wild Cherry, Black Walnut and other trees. I maintain pathways and small cleared areas around planted trees, but generally allow nature to take her course. The Bird and Insect populations around the property have exploded. There are rodents, sometime rabbits, and once I saw a Box turtle. There are also a couple of cats which are on the property a lot, so much so that I wonder if they are feral. We do not feed them, as that would establish a dependency relationship.
![[Image land now]](before.jpg)
![[Image land future plan]](landplan.jpg)
