Shelter- fast, cheap and creative - Page 2

[wahm]

Is there any mature woodland on the property? I was thinking maybe a simple log cabin for now. It is possible, but would take a lot of work. There are numerous books on building simple shelters, like log cabins and slip form methods of building stone homes, which you could probably get from the library. Think like an early settler and look around the property. Use what you have.
Does the land owner own a piece of digging equipment? You could dig a foundation and build it of stone. It will be a lot of work.

It might also pay for you to watch that area's, and yours, for a free house or camper. Is your husband skilled in carpentry? How about tearing down an old barn for the lumber / logs to reuse? I have seen a free house and a free double-wide around here. You could also post a wanted ad for the same. Maybe a yurt. We have a 3 person tent, but how will you cook? In that case, I would try to locate a small wood stove and create a temporary summer kitchen. I have seen old summer kitchens for free, too, but you have to have a way to haul stuff.

[bubbagirl]

We planned on setting up a tipi but long story to the point - someone lent us their 5th wheel they used for hunting for a few months while we built a small cabin we are still in. We plan on putting up something more efficient and earth sheltered and are in the planning stages now. We made some compromises to get on the land with no rent as soon as we could. Good luck with it! Sounds like a great opp. If it all fits.

[rissierae]

I hear good things about Yerts. But it depends on your area's zoning laws and all that kind of stuff. We are looking into straw bale/timber frame homes (because we have a lot of trees on our property that can be used as timbers), but I have a feeling we'll run into some trouble when it comes to getting a permit. If you can get away without needing any kind of county/township permit, you can get away with a lot more. Also, if you can build something with out a permanent foundation (up on treated wood), in some areas it would not make the property tax go up because it's not considered a permanent structure.

Here's a website I was looking at: http://www.solarhaven.org/StarterStrawBale.htm

[weliveintheforest]

I like the idea of tipis and yurts, but it may not be ideal for winter, depending where you are. I know yurts can be winterized and made more permanent but the woodstove and everything else will cost quite a bit more than the basic yurt cost.

I read somewhere about a family who stayed in a plastic greenhouse type thing all winter because their house wasn't ready... can't remember where though. Maybe an old Mother Earth News mag?

Is the older couple willing to sink any money into building up the farm, or will that be your responsibility? I'm thinking of fencing and animals and stuff.

[BabyMae09]

Originally Posted by 2xand2y

Sadly, DH is extremely resistant to change. I tend to be a dreamer and would make huge sacrifices to get something whereas he is not will to sacrifice and will only move on a "sure thing". At this point it looks like a no go- very frustrating, especially, since I know he has this skills.

Yeah, my DP is that way, too. It takes months and months to make him see how awesome this or that opportunity is. But, usually, since I am highly intelligent, and always right he comes around!

If you feel this is right for your family, I say go for it. The pieces will either fall into place or not. If they don't, it wasn't meant to be. But, I think they will.

[kimmom]

Originally Posted by weliveintheforest

I like the idea of tipis and yurts, but it may not be ideal for winter, depending where you are. I know yurts can be winterized and made more permanent but the woodstove and everything else will cost quite a bit more than the basic yurt cost.

I read somewhere about a family who stayed in a plastic greenhouse type thing all winter because their house wasn't ready... can't remember where though. Maybe an old Mother Earth News mag?

Is the older couple willing to sink any money into building up the farm, or will that be your responsibility? I'm thinking of fencing and animals and stuff.

Dont think it was us BUT we do live in a greenhouse right now We built a HUGE greenhouse overtop of our 5th wheel for this winter. So when our cob home is done we will be able to move into it and still have a big useful greenhouse space. It protected us very well this winter, through rain wind etc. Inside it we built a cob bench and table so the kids have an area to eat and play outside even in yucky weather.

[chr157y]

I am no help with the housing/shelter, but my SIL's parents own 2 alpaca's. The wool from the alpacas produces enough money to provide them with the tax breaks. They have an alpaca farm not far from their land, so it's convenient to get them sheared every year. Just an idea. Good luck!

[happydance]

watch this show. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEvYT3CMtQI

We have an RV luckily so thats what we would live in.

[goddessjulia]

good points by pp. also, in many areas it's not even legal to move old single wides, so that's probably not an actual possibility. (here in GA for example, once they are over a certain age they can't be moved.)
I feel for you being the dreamer! that's me too! good luck exploring options!!

[demetria]

So many good ideas. I am really enjoying this thread.

[I Fly]

I vote tent too, although I'm not sure where you are, and that might make a difference. We are living in a 12'x20' tent from Cabella's right now as we finish building our house. In all, we'll spend four summer/fall months living full-time in the tent. It has enough ventilation to stay the same temperature as outside, unless in full sun. There is a special hole for a woodstove if we wanted to do that in cold months. Then tent is holding up really well, and we've stayed dry. We have had a lot of lightning this summer, though, which is a little scary. A tent offers zero protection from lightning.

We wanted to do a yurt about 18 months ago, but couldn't figure out how to legally do it in our county. In the tent, we have no "floor" (i.e. permanent platform) under the tent fabric, which is much cheaper and makes it so we are really "camping." We use the port-o-john from the construction (although a composting toilet would work better), have a kitchen set up outside with a sink-cart, 2-burner propane stove, and storage cart/countertop. We shower with cold running water from our well via a hose. We charge our computer and occasional other things at the temporary power pole for our construction. Also, I had the washing machine hooked up during construction so that I can wash clothes here. Dry them outside. We use a cooler with ice to keep a few groceries cold, and that doesn't work well at all. We buy $5-10 worth of ice every day!!

The sun and HOT weather has been a little tough. We don't have a lot of shade options between 9am-4pm, and we have constant contractors in and out. It has been hard to feel like we have a real place to be. We can't be in our tent until afternoon because the sun beats down on it and it's too hot. My son was sick today, and I wondered where I could take care of him, since not here! Thankfully he perked up. I think if it was very cold, and getting dark at 5:30, it might be clausterphobic and hard in a different way. Best to do this in spring and fall!

In all, the tent houses our clothes, toys, and beds pretty well. Everything else is in storage or outside. It cost about $1000 to buy the tent.

A travel trailer might be a good addition to our situation if it were more long-term. Good luck!

[brennan]

Its just like the pioneers! How amazing, what a great oppurtunity. I don't have any advice as the property we're looking at has a 400 sqft cabin on it to live in while we build so I haven't looked at other oppurtunities. This is a very exciting idea!

[BunnySlippers]

Google Navajo Hogan. They look fast, cheap, easy, STURDY!

http://earthworksinstitute.org/proje...hogan-project/
http://builderswithoutborders.org/im...lery/index.htm

[EllyMayMomma]

We lived in 2 metal buildings for a couple of years and had intended to make into a permanent home. They were 2 storage buildings that we insulated and finished inside. We ended up in my grandfather's home next door a couple of years ago and now use them for a guest house.

But, please be cautious on this. A will is only binding when the person dies and in some states, a contract to leave something in a will to another person is not enforceable if it is not done. If you move in and make this your home, the older couple could still, at any time, change their will, even if you have a contract otherwise. It is not unusual for older people to change their minds on such things and it is very hard to fight. A promise to give something in the future is not the same as giving something now. A will is a promise to give in the future - until that person dies and then it becomes a present promise, if that makes any sense?

On top of that, if they have children, those kids could haunt you after their parents die, suing to dispute the will - VERY VERY expensive to fight.

There are other, MUCH more secure ways to go about getting the same result - such as creating an irrevocable life estate where the older couple gives you "the land" but they retain the right to live on the land and do with it as they please until death. They would still be responsible for the taxes. I strongly recommend talking to a local attorney about how to set up the paperwork. Not cheap I know but a lot better priced than having it taken from you and forcing you to start over in a few years.

[JudiAU]

There are a lot of stories like this in Mother Earth News. If you don't read it or aren't familiar with it, check out the website or old issues at the library. Any library that has a general EBSCO subscription will have access.

[SleeplessMommy]

what mnnnice said


sadly i think it will be very hard to make this work. the more you improve their property, the more you increase their resale value. (and also increase their prop. taxes if you build a 2nd house.)