Final Exterior colour Applied

This month we completed the exterior protection: it involved sealing any cracks, applying the Eco House primer sealer, then two coats of the Eco House Quartz Guard and finally, a coat of rainsil. This will in effect 'gortex' the exterior.

I chose a yellow ochre, diluted to 5%.
Eco House web site:

www.eco-house.com

The 'almost\'finished product

A beautiful fall sunset, with the colours peaking in the background.

The Ontario Straw Bale Building Coalition's annual Straw Bale house tour is tomorrow, October 13th. Check out their web site for more information: www.strawbalebuilding.ca

My home is available for private tours by appointment if you are unable to make the tour. I will not charge a fee, however, I will be collecting a $50 donation to the Orillia SPCA.
Please contact me thru this web site on the comment area to set up a date.

Wood Stove

Wood stove went in this week - it is a Hearthstone Tribute model. I chose this because it is small (although, it will heat 1300 sq ft approx) and very attractive. It does not dominate the room, as these stove sometimes can.
It is a soapstone stove, which absorbs the high heat of the fire, then radiates it back out in to the room. Once heated, soapstone stays warm for hours to continue warming witha gentle, even, radiant quality of heat that's as comfortable as it is lasting.

Landscaping ready for plants...

Looking west -pathways complete for the first phase.
Pine wood chips
Looking east along the front of the house. Cedar posts, pine woodchips, natural rocks from the property all extending the natural feel of the project.
Front entrance.

More landscaping...

This is the garage end. Slowly building up the grade and finishing off with pine chips. I would have preferred cedar, but could not source any.
Flower bed beside the main entrance.
Main entrance.
Moving the big rock! Thank goodness for great neighbours with the right equipment for the job!

The Evolution of Landscaping..

Landscaping is taking shape. Using rocks off the property and the cedar posts.
There is plenty of good topsoil from when the site was cleared.
Incorporating old tree roots for texture and height.
Pine chips (also called nuggets apparently) were very hard to source but I finally found some.
Most of these plants are annual and will be lifted in the fall, when I will plant perennials.

Landscaping begins....

Finally, just starting to landscape the front. I am using 16" cedar posts, angled on the top for drainage. This will mark my planting beds.
Plenty of grading and leveling to do!!
Eaves trough are in, so full steam ahead to work on the outside. It is so hot during the day (and the front is full southern exposure), that the only time to work is early in the morning and late afternoon/early evening.

Acknowledgements

I would like to recognize and acknowledge some of my suppliers and people who contributed to this project.

Firstly, the crew at Orillia Home Depot............ I cannot Thank You all enough, you were always there to help out wherever possible, working with Pat from Havencraft and myself, delivering on time, and doing whatever it took to get the job done.
Bruce, Dan, Jo, all the folks in Shipping, plumbing, electrical and everyone else who came to share a happy smile and Hello with the 'Straw House Lady'! You are all a credit to your industry.

Jim Drury who perservered with me thru the trials and tribulations of getting the permit, and keeping my bales safe until I needed them.

Eric from Aquasafe Water - my lifetime plumber that is for sure! Visit him at http://www.aquasafe-water.com/

The crew from Camels Back Construction for the plaster; My Designer, Dale Brownson, who put up with many plan revisions and had lots of patience with me!

The Engineers: Blackwell Bowick and Slavish Steenhoff

Enzo at Anig Windows. Joe Consilla HVAC, who installed the HRV system. Dave Vinson Well Drilling. Direct Buy of Barrie. Steel Tile. Kent Trusses. Kemiko.

And last but not least, wonderful neighbours, and friends who have supported me through the whole process............ where would I be without you all?

finally............... Pat Marcotte and his crew from Havencraft Natural Homes who have left their legacy here for those who will come after. May our paths bring us together again in the future!