tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-106671592011-04-21T20:55:02.618-04:00Notes from the Raccoon Creek CommunityEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.comBlogger1131100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-69501884055788523042007-08-16T00:00:00.000-04:002007-08-17T10:05:50.902-04:00

After more than two years working to establish Raccoon Creek Communitywith my fellow members, it has become clear to me that the community,as we have envisioned it these past years, cannot become a reality onthe site in Owen County, Indiana, at least not within a reasonabletime frame, one much longer than I can accept, nor without furthercompromises on waste treatment and perhaps other areas.Over

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-56992532630557783562007-05-09T18:37:00.000-04:002007-05-10T12:57:34.051-04:00

While there has been no progress on the ground at the Raccoon Creek Community site since last fall, we have been moving along on the task of getting our waste treatment system(s) designed. More to come on that soon we hope.In the mean time I've spent the winter working to get our home in Indianapolis ready to sell. We are planning to move as soon as it's sold, whether that's to temporary quarters

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-88233096107898943162007-02-02T14:29:00.000-05:002007-04-12T15:14:43.243-04:00

We are finally "paying" for the mild fall and winter we've had so far. Temperatures over the next few days will likely fall below zero. We are more convinced than ever that we need to sell the home in Indianapolis and make it available for a larger family that can justify its size.So what can one do while it's too cold outside to do any real work? How can one continue to promote a smaller

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-42826359900554250562006-11-15T13:34:00.000-05:002006-11-15T14:09:58.695-05:00

Time and the weather have caught up with us and we have decided to postpone erection of the barn until spring.Of fifty-eight main timbers and twelve top plates, only four, two 24-ft posts and two 23-ft beams, and the bulk of the top plates (8X8s, 20-24 feet long) remain to be completed. We will finish them this year, but the days are getting very short, the weather will soon be very cold, and

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-41262018685676086792006-10-29T22:51:00.000-05:002006-11-15T14:43:47.747-05:00

In 1977, Christopher Alexander and others wrote the book, "A Pattern Language" which, in a collection of over 250 interrelated "directives" called "patterns", describes and explains the reasoning behind each of the directives for creating communities, buildings, parks, roads, and building interiors in a way that satisfies human needs for community.Each pattern entry includes a statement of a

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-80222683427082503852006-10-29T22:06:00.000-05:002006-10-29T22:39:04.853-05:00

That's the question we are considering.Today, on the way home from the site, we visited a fellow who has converted his barn into his home and had a new silo added next to it. We learned of him from the fellow who built the silo. Here's a picture. Ours would be taller.Since a stairway in the barn will use most of an entire bay, we have discussed using a silo instead to provide access to the barn's

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-10514083064148630892006-10-29T21:43:00.000-05:002006-10-29T22:05:44.609-05:00

We had a great time last night just having fun at the Raccoon Creek Community site. Absolutely nothing practical was done! More than 20 friends visited, and some stayed until well past 10 PM.The weather was nice all day and it wasn't too cold after dark. A nice fire and good conversation made a perfect end to the day.Those who came before dark got a tour of the site, and almost everyone got a

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-78883523870413567282006-10-03T23:58:00.000-04:002006-10-04T00:02:46.503-04:00

I found this guy on the tent Monday morning. It was about five inches long.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1159931508462688022006-10-03T22:43:00.000-04:002006-10-03T23:11:48.526-04:00

It's Monday evening and this picture doesn't do the sunset justice.We completed the second of six bents today, and stacked them on the waiting pile. The outside posts and beams in the second and fifth bents are the easiest, meaning they have the fewest cuts to be made on them. The posts have just two housings for braces, and a single mortise for the beam. The beams have just two tenons. These two

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1159499348659322382006-09-28T21:59:00.000-04:002006-09-28T23:30:36.500-04:00

More than two feet of this post's rotted end had to be removed. A chainsaw is the fastest and generally most accurate way to do this.Using a carpenters square, Jason marks the cuts for a mortise and its housing on one of the original posts. A mortise is a hole in the post or beam that accepts a tenon. The tenon is the extension of a beam or a knee brace that fits into a mortise. A housing is an

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1159494901821745432006-09-28T20:46:00.000-04:002006-09-28T21:55:01.866-04:00

Though there have been no posts to the blog in more than a month, it doesn't mean nothing has been happening.We got bad news about the timbers we saved from the barn. Our timber framers, Red Tail Timberframes, LLC, evaluated all of them and found nearly two-thirds could not be used structurally in the new barn. Consequently we have to cut and mill many more timbers than we had planned. This has

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1156222623682400182006-08-21T23:20:00.000-04:002007-03-11T19:42:00.777-04:00

Once again it's been a long time between posts. That's because it's been a very busy summer so far.I have been scraping and painting the last section of the eaves in the house in preparation for selling it. We held the last yard sale last weekend and got rid of a lot of stuff that we won't need in the future downsized house. We have rented a 10X20 storage room about 7 miles from Raccoon Creek and

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1153446888407138102006-07-20T21:45:00.000-04:002007-03-11T19:42:43.817-04:00

We are working on the final plan for the layout of the barn. We are in a hurry to get the frame and roof up before cold weather. We do not want a second winter to go by with the frame stored near the ground.Owen County officials have said they will approve the plan for just the frame and roof so we can concentrate on preserving the barn. Later, after it is up and safe, we will design and get

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1153446287278238322006-07-20T21:01:00.000-04:002006-07-20T21:44:47.323-04:00

It's been a month and a half since the last posting. It doesn't seem that long since three weeks of it were spent in Europe. We had a great time and saw lots of things that will help at Raccoon Creek Community.Since returning we have met with Red Tail Timber Frames owner and have agree to have them manage the reconstruction of our barn. They will begin in early August.Missing posts and beams -

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1149191993918732472006-06-01T15:19:00.000-04:002006-06-01T15:59:53.956-04:00

It's been about 3 weeks since the last posting. I've been occupied helping an elderly family member who has been in and out of the hospital and rehabilitation centers for the last 10 weeks or so. Except for the permaculture class week, it's been nearly an every-day visit to one facility or another.Things have settled down and steady improvement is evidenced so we feel we can "safely" follow

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1147723266615394462006-05-15T14:49:00.000-04:002006-05-15T16:01:06.773-04:00

Our second eight-day class is complete and three of us now hold certificates for the Permaculture Design Course. We're not experts yet, but we have done, as part of the course, a very extensive design for the layout of the Raccoon Creek Community.The plan includes the location for the community center (barn), the housing areas, one east and one west on the north side of the community property, a

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1146590118929734212006-05-02T11:57:00.000-04:002006-05-02T13:15:18.986-04:00

News flash: Never try to use a level that isn't!Last Friday afternoon and most of Saturday was spent at the site constructing a structure to house our toilet facility. We set up a canvas shelter last spring and it has been passable for us members, but starting Friday and running all next week we will have the Permaculture Class participants on site often and the canvas (not to mention the idea of

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1146076470643507382006-04-26T14:22:00.000-04:002007-03-11T19:43:35.268-04:00

This is just a quick note since it's been a while since the last entry. Last weekend we finished about all we can do with the new road route without some larger equipment.There are about a dozen trees too big to dig out without help. We could cut them off at the ground, but the threat of new shoots growing from the roots in the middle of the road is too great. A large machine can push them over

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1144207790382126552006-04-04T22:42:00.000-04:002006-04-04T23:29:50.413-04:00

We've been planning and drawing and talking and it was finally time to do something that we can see on the site. So last Saturday we started our new road.Instead of the existing road which winds east, north and northwest from the bridge over Raccoon Creek to the clearing, the new road is being routed almost directly to the site where the barn will be erected. In four hours two of us cleared about

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1142173408004009002006-03-12T08:40:00.000-05:002006-03-12T09:29:38.516-05:00

We made a trip to the site yesterday to see the result of a few days of persistent rain. Wet "barely" describes it.There was evidence that the water had risen well over the bridge, at least enough to float a lot of leaves, twigs, branches and a part of an old stump onto the bridge and leave them there. The drive on the south side had a large puddle still, and was muddy enough that we had to open

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1141353466333084702006-03-02T20:41:00.000-05:002007-03-11T19:47:09.227-04:00

Yesterday and today I had to drive to the Raccoon Creek Community site for two different reasons. Yesterday I met with a fellow from the power company, and today I met a class from Indiana State University. Both meetings were fruitful, but that's not the lift I'm referring to.The "lift" I'm talking about is seeing cranes, sandhill cranes, lots of sandhill cranes.As we were about to leave the site

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1140019312794391122006-02-15T10:47:00.000-05:002007-03-11T19:46:17.827-04:00

Plans are now set for Part 2 of our Permaculture Design course. It will begin the evening of Friday, May 5th and end on Saturday, May 13th, after lunch.The Permaculture Practicum will be held at the Raccoon Creek Community site. Lodging will be at McCormicks Creek State Park, just up the road.Participants who complete both parts earn a Permaculture Design Certificate. If you missed Part 1,

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1138126997791341762006-01-24T12:46:00.000-05:002006-01-24T13:23:17.833-05:00

Now I'm in one!A podcast is like an online radio broadcast that is recorded and made available over the Internet, usually for free.Last weekend, Dave Ponce, the creator and co-writer of the "Rustle the Leaf" environmental comic strip, called and asked if I'd like to talk about Raccoon Creek Community. Silly guy, of course! Most people can't stop me. Then he explained that the interview was to be

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1138039456522916472006-01-23T12:46:00.000-05:002007-03-11T19:47:53.802-04:00

In my never-ending quest to find new and useful features on the internet, I discovered "Frappr!", a service that allows groups of people to mark their locations on a group map.I set up a Frappr map for Raccoon Creek Community. You can add your "pin" to the map, with only two restrictions:Please select your pin color accurately. There are five choices shown under the map.If you choose to enter a "

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1133848552795223082005-12-05T23:46:00.000-05:002006-01-05T17:58:41.166-05:00

Starting before dawn on Saturday morning, and ending after dark on Sunday evening, I was away from home at our Raccoon Creek Community site with our surveyor and his assistant surveying most of our property. The two of us who carried the "sticks" probably each walked about 10 miles, up and down, up and down, ...The finished product of the survey will be a topographic map of the site with 1-foot

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1132879867913219842005-11-24T19:15:00.001-05:002006-01-27T19:27:23.026-05:00

On Monday, November 14, students from two graduate classes at Ball State visited Raccoon Creek in preparation for a short planning project. With them and two faculty members we walked much of the community site. Questions were asked and answered, lots of notes were taken, and the students saw most of the site and its possibilities.Over the next few days a few phone calls were exchanged and the

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1130794217207778212005-10-31T15:02:00.000-05:002005-10-31T16:31:34.686-05:00

Half way to our Permaculture Design Certificates that is.A small but fiesty group of would-be (make that "will-be") permaculturists has completed the first half of the curriculum for permaculture design certification. Starting on October 21st and ending on the 29th we spent 8 days at the retreat center learning many aspects of permaculture. We also visited Raccoon Creek twice.On the first visit

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1128470129831844252005-10-04T18:00:00.000-05:002005-10-07T20:33:46.970-05:00

Here are a few pictures from the work day on Sunday. It wasn't a particularly exciting effort, but we had to get the barn parts under cover and protected for the winter.Five members, two volunteers, three who came with the truck and trailer, and one very small person were on site to help unload the trailer. The truck bed lifts, so it unloaded itself, though we had to stack all the beams that were

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1128216341489948032005-09-30T23:45:00.000-05:002005-10-10T20:18:13.733-05:00

It's been a long summer. After nearly 20 working visits to the barn site, and a few trips to Raccoon Creek to prepare for and unload wood from the trucks, it is all down to the ground.On Tuesday we arrived at the site with a crew of two experienced in taking down barns and an enormous crane that could be raised to about 90 feet and its operator.The crane was able to lift small and large sections

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1127351330267658872005-09-21T19:47:00.000-05:002005-09-21T20:08:50.286-05:00

Due to numerous requests from folks who have been getting our announcements, a new email discussion list has been set up to allow people to ask questions, get answers and discuss Raccoon Creek's progress. Community members will also subscribe to the list so we can answer specific questions about Raccoon Creek.Subscribers are encouraged to discuss issues related to Raccoon Creek, such as

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1127098253849543922005-09-18T21:09:00.000-05:002005-09-18T21:50:53.856-05:00

We just returned from two days at the Simply Living Fair in Bloomington. We spent last night at Raccoon Creek rather than driving home to Indianapolis.The number of visitors to the fair was down from other years, but the quality of attendees was as high as ever. Many of the participants in the various presentations were as informative as the knowledgeable presenters. There were sessions on

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1126571693104735682005-09-12T19:06:00.000-05:002005-09-12T19:34:53.110-05:00

I returned last night from a week out of town all fired up to head down to the barn tonight to get ready to take it down starting tomorrow. This morning when I called the fellow who is running the show for us on this step I learned that the operator of the large piece of equipment that we will use was on vacation! Why we didn't know this before this week was scheduled I cannot say, but the fact

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1126120556171745952005-09-07T14:15:00.000-05:002005-09-07T14:16:52.103-05:00

I hope there will only be a few more entries before the entire barn in New Albany is dismantled and moved to Raccoon Creek.Last weekend we removed all the nails in all remaining wood that has been taken off the building. All the board were stacked in preparation for transporting them to Raccoon Creek, and a large load of rafters and purlins was moved and slid off the truck in the larger

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1125285154460877922005-08-28T21:25:00.000-05:002005-08-28T22:12:34.466-05:00

With the help of a rented lift platform, yesterday and today we took down all the rest of the purlins (3/4s of the roof area) and all 124 rafters! What a hoot!Using the lift, one person rode to the top of the inside of the barn while another climbed the purlins on the lower pitch of the roof's west side. (The upper pitch purlins were removed weeks ago.) Each pried off one end of each rafter and

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1124662084962496432005-08-21T16:54:00.000-05:002005-08-21T17:08:04.973-05:00

One of the grandsons of a past owner of the property on which the barn we are dismantling stands, investigated and wrote the following history. Our thanks go to Don Smith for this contribution to our community history.At the time of the 1859 map of Floyd County, the property at what is now 201 Hausfeldt Lane (Hossfeld) was owned by Peter Smeaton and his wife. As of 7-06-05, I have not been able

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1124590546513731682005-08-20T20:57:00.000-05:002005-08-20T21:17:11.693-05:00

Well we finally bit the bullet and rented a van for two days to move most of the wood and roofing we have removed from the barn to Raccoon Creek. It took a total of 24 man-hours to fill the van twice, Friday and today. It took 6 man hours to unload and stack siding and other wood this morning, and will probably take about 3 hours each for two of us to unload in the morning tomorrow. That doesn't

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1124122907825850272005-08-15T11:09:00.000-05:002005-08-15T11:21:47.830-05:00

Recently the Sierra Club added a new feature to its web site named "everyday matters." Club members across America were invited to submit a short article telling what they were up to on the same Saturday in August. If you're interested, here's the entry I sent. You also can read some of the nearly 200 others.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1123950757911724632005-08-13T11:04:00.000-05:002005-08-13T11:46:36.886-05:00

Web siteDue to a gift of DSL service for my birthday and the pending loss of my old web site that came with the soon-to-be-defunct email address, I have finally made the effort to set up a simple web site for the Raccoon Creek Community.Our new web address is http://a.domaindlx.com/RaccoonCreek/.It's not fancy but it should be an easier way for one to find information about us without having to

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1122394357980136102005-07-26T11:08:00.000-05:002005-08-30T10:33:54.613-05:00

That's the ZIP code for Tecumseh, Missouri."Yeh, so what?" you ask.Tecumseh happens to be the community closest to East Wind, an intentional community in the Ozarks that was started in 1973 and has 75 residents today."And?"And East Wind is the subject of an article starting on page 114 of the new August 2005 National Geographic magazine."OK, so why are you telling us?"I mention it in an attempt

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1122337268978389722005-07-25T19:20:00.000-05:002005-07-25T19:28:05.976-05:00

We have worked up our budget and determined the fee for the 8-day Permaculture Fundamentals course from October 21 through 29 to be $650, including lodging for eight nights and 24 organic meals. Those who wish to camp would save $50 off the fee. Campers would still have access to the showers, and the Solsberry Hill property will be beautiful in late October.Remember, this is the first of a

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1122337213323030342005-07-25T19:18:00.001-05:002005-07-25T19:20:13.326-05:00

Another week of barn dismantling is over. The temperature on Sunday reached 99 degrees, and the humidity was high enough that the barn floor was still wet Sunday evening after Thursday's rain. Despite that we made good progress last week. A friend who has recently moved to New Mexico was visiting Indianapolis and volunteered to put in two weekdays (what a guy!) and two other members helped

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1122334076835219442005-07-25T19:18:00.000-05:002005-07-25T19:33:11.093-05:00

The crew (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1122334139672216192005-07-25T19:17:00.000-05:002005-07-25T19:31:57.916-05:00

Look what the wind blew in (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1122337080933730722005-07-25T19:16:00.000-05:002005-07-25T19:18:00.936-05:00

One of the least satisfying aspects of dismantling the barn is the loss of habitat for birds. When we first arrived at the barn there were dozens of swallows flying everywhere. We also found multiple robins' nests. Since we knew that later broods would not survive, we have been removing nests we find as soon as the babies leave to discourage reuse this season.Most of the swallows have now left

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1122334206677719532005-07-25T19:10:00.000-05:002005-07-25T19:31:03.790-05:00

The three amigos (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1122336991387311542005-07-25T18:43:00.000-05:002005-07-25T19:16:31.393-05:00

Many people have been asking when we would have or legal structure in place. At the Raccoon Creek Community meeting last week, after many discussions at many meetings, we decided to form a limited liability corporation (LLC). We recognize that we might want a different legal structure in the future, or even additional legal structures, but the LLC should serve us well for the time being.Our

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1121735863592669712005-07-18T17:30:00.000-05:002005-07-18T20:17:43.616-05:00

The Raccoon Creek Community proudly announces its first Permaculture Fundamentals class to be held near our Raccoon Creek Community site from the 21st through the 29th of October, 2005. Successful completion of this class and the Permaculture Practicum class soon to be scheduled for next spring will earn those who complete both a Permaculture Design Certificate.For those who haven't heard the

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1121657616144926622005-07-17T22:35:00.000-05:002005-07-17T22:33:36.156-05:00

What a weekend! We had five adults and a youngster working at the barn site.Friday went pretty well. Two of us took off more than half of the west side roofing sheets while the others continued to move boards, pull nails, remove some of the lower nails on the roof from a ladder and pick up lots of wood pieces.Saturday was another story. It started out pretty well, but then it rained, and rained,

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1121657720537902972005-07-17T22:30:00.000-05:002005-07-17T22:37:34.393-05:00

Not much there, and that's a good thing (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1121035798626986732005-07-10T13:34:00.000-05:002005-07-10T17:49:58.633-05:00

It's been nearly three weeks since my last posting. Funny how time flies when you're exhausted.Since then we have made four more trips to the barn, each less than three full days. Most of the siding is now off the first level. Some has been left near the corners to provide stability for a while longer. About half of the higher levels of siding is off also. Some had to be left in place for now

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1121020321011569592005-07-10T13:32:00.000-05:002005-07-10T13:32:01.010-05:00

Frame and purlins (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1121020212764802322005-07-10T13:30:00.000-05:002005-07-10T13:30:12.773-05:00

The ladder stack (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1121019950243882522005-07-10T13:25:00.000-05:002005-07-10T13:25:50.246-05:00

East side with most siding removed (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1119498048925718982005-06-22T21:55:00.000-05:002005-06-22T22:40:48.933-05:00

Vacation is over and it's time to get back to the barn. This weekend we hope to finish clearing out the ground floor. That shouldn't take more than half a day.Next we'll remove the flooring from most of the loft area, leaving just enough planks to support ladders to reach the highest siding on the inside of the barn ends. We'll remove the nails from all reusable boards as we have so far, even the

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1117515241491500612005-05-30T23:12:00.000-05:002005-05-30T23:54:01.496-05:00

From Sunday about noon until today about 4pm two of us knocked down all the interior walls, mangers, and gates in eight of the ten long-wall, outside bays of the barn in New Albany. The two pictures below show some of the results.We also pulled nails and stacked lumber that we might be able to reuse, and sorted the unusable lumber into nail-free and with-nails piles. Maybe we can find someone who

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1117512427202471702005-05-30T23:07:00.000-05:002005-05-30T23:07:07.203-05:00

Reusable lumber stacking up (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1117512182858082582005-05-30T23:03:00.000-05:002005-05-30T23:03:02.883-05:00

Most bays now empty (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1117340271502926002005-05-28T23:12:00.000-05:002005-05-28T23:17:51.510-05:00

Tomorrow and Monday we will be working at the barn. On Wednesday, yours truly is off on vacation until June 17th. If we see anything that might be useful for Raccoon Creek --permaculture sites, straw bale or other natural buildings, intentional communities-- and if I can access a computer while away, I might slip in a posting or two. Aloha.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1116998868062815632005-05-24T23:41:00.000-05:002005-05-25T00:30:04.023-05:00

This past weekend, Friday evening through Sunday afternoon, four of us began the work of cleaning out the barn in New Albany. The picture below shows some of the junk we removed.So far we have removed a few dozen old house doors, about 40 old windows, dozens of steel panels that we think may have been from the facade of an old gas station (visible in the right foreground below), a cast iron bath

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1116995744311376962005-05-24T23:35:00.000-05:002005-05-24T23:40:58.833-05:00

After a day of cleanup (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1116562381095065872005-05-19T22:47:00.000-05:002005-05-19T23:13:01.100-05:00

The old organ pictured below is currently in the barn in New Albany. If you know anyone who could make use of any parts in it, let us know.We are obligated to remove everything in the barn so it will be sent to the dump after June 22nd if someone hasn't asked for it by then.

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1116562071546032382005-05-19T22:40:00.000-05:002005-05-19T23:14:16.963-05:00

We could be an organ donor (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1115937427412567992005-05-12T17:21:00.000-05:002005-05-12T17:37:07.456-05:00

I read an article Tuesday from the New York Times News Service published in the Indianapolis Star. In it author Richard Louv is credited with coining the term "nature-deficit disorder". The article, Kids today losing touch with nature, laments "society's whole attitude that nature isn't important anymore."By creating Raccoon Creek Community I dearly hope to encourage our grandchildren, and lots

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1115871418290030842005-05-11T23:01:00.000-05:002005-05-11T23:16:58.356-05:00

Lest anyone think Raccoon Creek Community's site is just a lot of pretty flowers and trees, take a look at this fellow. When we returned from a group hike on Sunday morning, we found what I believe to be a black rat snake.See the entry for the black rat snake on the Center for Reptile and Amphibian Conservation and Management's web site. It is also called cow snake, chicken snake, timber snake,

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1115869501059400532005-05-11T22:45:00.000-05:002005-05-17T19:06:47.176-05:00

It's not all flowers! (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1115865606009009932005-05-11T21:40:00.000-05:002005-05-17T19:05:49.810-05:00

Early May ferns and flowers (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1115782152973370452005-05-10T22:27:00.000-05:002005-05-10T22:29:12.976-05:00

There are no "facilities" at Raccoon Creek yet, so we tried a sawdust toilet. It was as easy to set up as it sounds, and it was as odor-free as promised.Earlier in the week we stopped at a local saw mill for a trash barrel full of sawdust, an easily found, and usually free, local by-product in our hardwood forest area. A scoop for the sawdust was made from a plastic milk bottle with its bottom

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1115781807504890032005-05-10T22:21:00.000-05:002005-05-10T22:24:37.756-05:00

Our first "open-field" weekend is behind us and everyone seems to have both survived and had a good time.At least 25 people came by over the weekend. Some just dropped in for a while. Others camped overnight. (See "Tent city" picture.) Folks roamed the trails while community members held a few meetings, and we led three organized hikes, though I use the term "organized" loosely.Some joined us for

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1115782689168716382005-05-10T22:10:00.000-05:002005-05-17T19:02:49.390-05:00

Tent city (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1115782613735867062005-05-10T22:00:00.000-05:002005-05-17T19:04:12.646-05:00

Campfire (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1114920421239694252005-04-30T23:00:00.000-05:002005-04-30T23:07:01.240-05:00

Cathy Moore has just agreed to come speak to us at our camp-out on Sunday morning, the 8th of May. Cathy has built her own home southeast of Bloomington and continues what she terms her "experiments" with simple living. She will tell us about some of them and maybe give us advice on choices we will be making.If you can't wait 'til then, or if you can't be at Raccoon Creek on the 8th, check out

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1114828807268419702005-04-29T22:50:00.000-05:002005-04-29T22:40:53.990-05:00

We finally found a day to visit the site. Spring is in full flower at Raccoon Creek!The power company has cleared their right-of-way on our western boundary, so there's not much to see in that 50-foot swath, but everywhere else the flowers are having their day. I've included a few pictures. If you let us know by May 4th you can join us on the 6th, 7th and/or 8th to see them for yourself and to

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1114832045315812562005-04-29T22:34:00.000-05:002005-05-17T19:11:13.946-05:00

Star chickweed (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1114829646077977122005-04-29T21:54:00.000-05:002005-05-17T19:10:51.050-05:00

This fellow left home without it! (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1114829500636594222005-04-29T21:51:00.000-05:002005-05-17T19:10:19.096-05:00

Morel (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1114829319006069602005-04-29T21:48:00.000-05:002005-05-17T19:09:56.946-05:00

Southern trilium (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1114829130249821652005-04-29T21:45:00.000-05:002005-05-17T19:09:31.370-05:00

Virginia bluebells (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1114828243419952762005-04-29T20:50:00.000-05:002005-04-29T21:30:43.423-05:00

Over the past few months community members have discussed permaculture as a design principle for Raccoon Creek. (Google "permaculture" for tons of definitive information.) Wednesday night some of us traveled to Bloomington to see a set of four programs on video at the library. These were arranged by Cynthia to help spread the word about permaculture. She hopes to schedule them again so if you'd

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1114018290959249912005-04-20T12:06:00.000-05:002006-11-15T14:18:39.348-05:00

It's official. The large barn (see "Where we've been") is now ours to dismantle and move to Raccoon Creek.We are planning the process of taking it down. We'll do what we can ourselves, but if the superstructure is too difficult or dangerous to take down, we'll hire someone with experience to do it.We plan to go to the site many times and stay at least a few days each time. It will take a few days

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1114016773605219942005-04-20T11:44:00.000-05:002007-03-11T20:24:43.680-04:00

I've been itching to get to the site for weeks now. It looks like maybe this Sunday will be the day. We need to get the site ready for our first camp-out weekend of the season. Yes, the the first full weekend of May, the 6th through the 8th, everyone who can get there is invited to join us at Raccoon Creek to see what we're planning,learn about the project, share meals, have fun, hike, relax,

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1113583921013252982005-04-15T11:59:00.000-05:002005-04-15T12:00:03.290-05:00

It's been a few weeks since my last entry. My excuse? A week on the road for the school spring recess, about two weeks getting over a multi-symptom illness, a day at IU, a day at Purdue, and, finally, two days helping a wheelchair-bound third grader at a school camp. But though I haven't been posting, things have been happening on the Raccoon Creek Community front.At the end of the spring recess

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1113584214589806102005-04-15T11:56:00.000-05:002005-05-17T19:08:44.660-05:00

Big, isn't it? (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1113584273448847712005-04-15T11:53:00.000-05:002005-05-17T19:08:21.350-05:00

But it's lookin' good for a 135-year-old! (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1111364513745368082005-03-20T19:15:00.000-05:002005-03-20T19:21:53.746-05:00

Though we haven't been to the site for a while due to the weather and other commitments, just like spring bulbs, things have been growing unseen.As a result of our outreach efforts, our lists of interested and active potential members have grown considerably. We could have as many as four families who, now having attended two community meetings, should be bringing their personal vision statements

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1110559726564046102005-03-11T11:31:00.000-05:002005-03-11T11:53:19.306-05:00

Though some of us will live at Raccoon Creek, residences are only one reason that one might visit our community. Eventually we will have facilities to accommodate classes from elementary to graduate levels, plus other groups, that would study the forest, sink holes, springs and other natural aspects of the property, our water treatment system, solar electricity generation, organic gardening, and

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1110377029806051962005-03-09T09:00:00.000-05:002005-03-09T09:10:22.450-05:00

Today's Indianapolis Star had an Associated Press article titled "Modern pioneers go "wire-less". It does a pretty good job of describing part of what we want to do at Raccoon Creek. A few excerpts:Just because [they] live 2 1/2 miles from the nearest power line doesn't mean they have to live by candlelight and take cold showers.The inside ... looks like it's out of a home design magazine - not

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1110308980841092212005-03-08T14:09:00.000-05:002005-03-08T14:09:40.840-05:00

Creek view upstream (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1110310879642701032005-03-08T14:00:00.000-05:002005-03-08T14:41:19.650-05:00

We have discussed various methods of generating power at Raccoon Creek. After reading about wind power, studying the maps of reliable winds in the area, and recognizing the density of trees at Raccoon Creek, we decided that wind power wasn't a likely option for us.Photovoltaics, of course, will always be in the mix. We will be siting our buildings for maximum exposure for solar exploitaion, both

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1109991121678670272005-03-04T21:55:00.000-05:002005-03-04T21:52:01.680-05:00

Well that's not exactly what I've been working with lately, but you'll see the connection.Recently I've been doing some work for the White Violet Center for Eco-Justice to help pay for a week-long Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Management Field Study this May at their site. So far my contribution has been pruning apple trees. We finished the first orchard today and started on the

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1109632743417461492005-02-28T18:18:00.000-05:002005-02-28T18:19:03.420-05:00

Since Ruth Holladay's column about us on February 17th, we have been to see three barns. Though none have been quite right for our initial need, each has some value in it's beams, posts, braces and other members.First, thanks to the three new friends who have considered offering their barns to us.So far none is complete enough to allow us to reconstruct an entire barn with it. One is too small,

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1109704248910707522005-02-28T18:12:00.000-05:002005-03-02T12:03:26.833-05:00

Too small... (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1109704302321195092005-02-28T18:08:00.000-05:002005-03-02T12:04:19.326-05:00

Too damaged... (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1109704333497066252005-02-28T18:04:00.000-05:002005-03-02T12:04:47.000-05:00

No first floor... (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1109258254812805732005-02-24T10:15:00.000-05:002005-02-24T10:18:12.106-05:00

Our group met in Bloomington, Indiana, last night for dinner and to meet some new folks who are interested in what we're doing. About a dozen of us enjoyed dinner together and then walked a few blocks to a meeting of the Natural Building Group, one of many groups that meet under the umbrella of the Center for Sustainable Living (CSL) in Bloomington.CSL has recently moved to a smaller location

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1108698209315221102005-02-17T23:00:00.000-05:002005-02-17T23:00:38.513-05:00

I had another chance today to visit the living machine at PAWS in Muncie. (See earlier post.)I could not believe how much growth there has been in the marsh and how many more hyacinths are growing on the surface of the tanks. Russ says he has to cull the hyacinths at least every two weeks in the summer and every six weeks or so during the winter. The papyrus plants in the marsh have more than

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1108699086200306572005-02-17T22:58:00.000-05:002005-02-24T21:35:49.976-05:00

Water hyacinth (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1108698673573259982005-02-17T22:51:00.000-05:002005-02-24T21:34:53.906-05:00

Papyrus in marsh (pic) 

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1108649514259265692005-02-17T08:56:00.000-05:002005-02-17T09:26:36.910-05:00

This morning's Indianapolis Star, on the front page of the City/State section, carried Ruth Holladay's column with the title "Group dreams of community with communal interests".We appreciate the thoughtful brief on what we're up to, though it's my first memory of ever being described as "bookish-looking." Those who know me might suggest that's better than the truth, but I'll leave that to folks

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1108338701189282212005-02-13T18:14:00.000-05:002005-02-13T18:51:41.193-05:00

We have been discussing for months what building should be built first.We envision a community building that is large enough to hold a community meeting, or for a visiting group to be able to hold a meeting in the building. It should allow us to feed a large group in one seating. But such a building, even with a frugal construction manager and the use of found materials where possible, might be

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10667159.post-1108319084544348442005-02-13T12:02:00.000-05:002005-02-13T13:24:44.546-05:00

Yesterday we wandered out to Greencastle to attend the Midwest Small Farm Conference. The conference is produced by Sustainable Earth, a not-for-profit established by Steve Bonney that promotes sustainable agriculture and education in its value.There were eight sessions on two tracks. I sat in on "Finding Your Niche in Small Farm Agriculture" presented by Greencastle "pastured poultry" farmer

Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12644345000332108715noreply@blogger.com0