From: Don Bowen KI6DIU <don.bowen AT earthlink.net>
To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [Homestead] build to last? was: preserving poles
Date: Fri, 02 Nov 2007 16:29:37 -0700
At 11/2/2007, you wrote:
Sustainability would say build to last as long as regenerating the
materials it is from.
I have given thought to this but have not come to any conclusion. If you
are building a large building then maybe building to last as long as
possible would be a goal. Developments dot the land that were built as
gene mentioned, to last one or two mortgages. Look at any 50 year old
development and most are now cheap starter homes or rentals. As tastes and
desires changed we want something new and fancy.
Gene has returned the favor and told me of an interesting book on
A-Frames. I read it with the idea I would get some information on the
construction of A-Frames but I got something totally different from the
book. Tastes and our self perceived social order change. What was the
opening of new recreational opportunities and chances of do-it-yourself
home building were some of the factors that brought us the A-Frame, a
relatively cheap weekend cottage. Over time it became just that, a cheap
get away and lost out in favor of fancy ski lodges and time
shares. Weekend retreats that were larger than some houses and cost
millions have caused some A-Frames to wind up in land fills.
If one were building a home in the woods, maybe building to last ones
lifetime would be the proper goal. Is it something we want to pass along
or would our kids rather live in a post modern place in the city? Maybe if
they do want the land then maybe they want to build something of their
own? All these questions go to the heart of what we want to do. Are we so
presumptuous that we know what those coming after want?
Maybe an admirable goal is to build as simple as possible using local low
energy materials and let it return to the elements when we are done.