Juniper Hill Farm - "Sensible Shelters"

Juniper Hill Farm is expanding again with the first of our "Sensible Shelters". The first of many to come, we call "Gideon's Getaway", is an 8' x 12' camp with an 8' x 8' sleeping loft. Across the country there is a Tiny House movement that is a great alternative for some single folks or couples. "Gideon's Getaway" is intended to be a first dwelling for a single college student while keeping living expenses down and giving a young man the freedom that he will want. After choosing a good spot we framed the deck. This camp is designed to be able to be loaded on a trailer and to go over the road to its future home, wherever that may be. Right now "Gideon's Getaway" has a view of the farm pond and access to the barn loop road.

It was a family learning experience with everyone pitching in to help where they could. Taking on a bigger building project later in life won't seem so hard when the kids get some on-the-job training at an early age.

With the frame nearly completed, the sheathing is next. The lumber was cut from our pine and hemlock right here on the farm and sawed on our Hud-Son band saw mill.

With so many folks struggling with housing insecurity, it is a shame that a sensible shelter like this couldn't be a popular alternative to homelessness. With traditional wiring and insulation, three windows and a door, this cabin could make quite a home for a single person. With steel roofing and Adirondack siding this camp should look good and last a long time. Gid already has a wood stove for heat and plans for lots of small items to outfit the little place. You will have to go to the outhouse for your dirty business, but that makes sense for anyone. Running water will come later. I'll post some more pics soon. Thanks for visiting.

Summer times

Things are still busy here on the farm. I´m milking two does now and the garden is really starting to produce. The wild blackberries are getting ready to harvest. I have been sawing some lumber on the Oscar 28, and trying my hand at making Adirondack siding for Gideon´s Getaway. I will post some pics soon. The recent rain storm washed lots of things away, but all ok here. We have made some progress at the Litchfield house, mostly grading improvements to get water away from the house. So far the new sump pump is working good. The firewood is underway, but I'm a bit behind schedule. My land surveying business is going well, my clients are very patient as I do my best to keeps things moving along. Gideon and I are helping at the Bowdoin Fire Department, learning what we can. Staying self-sufficient is as hard as ever when my time is at a premium. Try it.