Put up a pole building for a fast, solid and cost-effective workshop, storage space or livestock shelter.
Structural aspects
Evolution of the Pantry Concept
This is what the pantry looks like today. I have finished all of the bag work and am now building the framework for the roof. The large turquoise pipe in the foreground is the inlet air vent that goes all the way down to the bottom of the hole with an elbow through the bag wall. In the distance, next to the motor home, is a 1500 gallon water tank that I got a great deal on. That tank will be dropped into the pantry hole for storage of rain water off the roof of the garage. The vertical walls that will meet the roof of the pantry will be cordwood construction, providing good insulation to keep the panty temperate; the roof will be well insulated as well.
Progress on the Barn / Garage
In the above photo you can see how the chicken coop (the A-frame shape) has been integrated into the barn design. The idea behind this whole grouping of functions was that you would be able to walk under roof directly from the house through the mudroom, into the garage and then either into the chicken coop or the recessed pantry.
You can tell that the skylight over each bay provides lots of open light. The space under the barn siding will be sealed up with mortared stones, so no wood will touch the soil anywhere. There will be a sink just to the left of the chicken coop that the hydrant will spill into.
Framing the Barn / Garage / Mudroom
This large 30′ X 30′ structure rests entirely on a dozen primary concrete piers. All of the lumber is rough-sawn from a local mill out of beetle killed wood. Most of the heavier timbers are Ponderosa pine, 6 X 6 posts and 6 X 10 beams, with 2 X 8 rafters. The beams are pinned … Read more
Foamed Lightweight Concrete
Natural builders strive to reduce their use of cement due to high cost and adverse environmental impacts. Sustainability conscious natural builders might use ferrocement, cement plaster or micro concrete roofing tiles which use relatively small amounts of cement, and avoid more concrete intensive materials such as concrete block. Foamed lightweight concrete is another material that could be added to the list of green building materials.
Roman seawater concrete holds the secret to cutting carbon emissions
This discovery shows how to make stronger, longer lasting concrete with far less energy. A green type of concrete like this could replace Portland concrete, which is viewed negatively by many due to its adverse environmental impact.