Selfsufficientish.com

Green Aura wrote:I don't know if anyone remembers an episode of Grand Designs, a few years ago. The chap lived in Surrey or Sussex or somewhere like that, owned a wood from which he made a living making charcoal. After long negotiations he got planning permission to build a wooden, straw bale lined house which was my idea of heaven. It was a complete work of genius and unbelievably beautiful. It made me cry. The guy really knew what each different type of wood would be best for, and grew it all on site, with help from friends, students and oh how I want that house.
Maggie

I loved that show, a lot of it was built by him and his friends, it was lovely but I remember that he was only allowed to pass it on to his children, he was never allowed to sell it. He was around 40 maybe, and didn't have a significant other, and I remember thinking 'what are the chances of him having kids '
Then when they did the re-visit a year later he had a lovely lady who was holding a 2 week old baby.... then I cried...A house, a wife and a child in a year - instant domestic bliss


As everyone else has said location is a big factor, We live in a terraced cottage which has to be factored into our thoughts. We must think about what will get through planning, but also what will sell to the wider market when we move out - This house hasn't got everything I want and I am always thinking, 'in our next house, we'll have...'

Depending on the land you might have limitations to building styles, drainage, planning, etc, etc........ but having said all that you should have the longest wish list you can, then you can prioritise, then you can afford to loose some of the things on the bottom of the list.

I love this thread! My OH and I have dreamt about our dream home. Here goes;

* straw balehouse, either round or with some round walls. Maybe taking the fibbonnachi (sp?) sequence into account.
* little alcoves inside the strawbale wall for me to put things of significance in.
* open planned living area, beautiful big kitchen with natural cabinets that look like the tree that they came from. tiles on the wall, with tiles here and there with the handprint of each current family member (there maybe more by the time this dream is realised!)
* craft room, for all my craft stuff and sewing machine. it will need loads of storage!
* laundry room; warm room near the kitchen for washing and hanging laundry. If we cannot have a seperate room then i want a couple of those celing airers that you hoist up.
* wood burning stove, with a back boiler
* big south facing windows to catch the sun
* solar heating system, solar panels/wind turbine
* probably not a compsoting toilet (i have tried them, too green for me!) but like the leach field idea
* seperate area within the open planned living space for a huge comfy sofa and a massive bookcase full of my books!
* tv and sky box for OH (what can i say? he is green but loves his tv! weare a modern, green, family lol)
* covered area or shed type thing for my bike and trailer to be put away quickly and easily.I have to struggle to stuff it into an over full garage at the moment!
* veg plots course!
* medicinal and culinary herb garden right outside the back door
* lots of fruit trees
* and right next to our own woodland (i have always wanted to own some woodland) to use for foraging, long lonely walks, quiet thinking, wood for fuel, for the kids to play in and for me to attend to my pagan spiritual matters!

i am sure there would be more, but that isall i can think of right now!

AnnPan - I wonder if she married him for his house lol No just kidding I saw it too I was sooo chuffed for him

The list is taking shape I know you say location makes a whole world of difference but as someone said you have a huge list and then take what you can from it to use in the house in you chosen location.. Thank you everyone I will start copying it soon if you all don't mind

Green Aura wrote:I don't know if anyone remembers an episode of Grand Designs, a few years ago. The chap lived in Surrey or Sussex or somewhere like that, owned a wood from which he made a living making charcoal. After long negotiations he got planning permission to build a wooden, straw bale lined house which was my idea of heaven. It was a complete work of genius and unbelievably beautiful. It made me cry. The guy really knew what each different type of wood would be best for, and grew it all on site, with help from friends, students and oh how I want that house.
Maggie

That'll be Ben Law. He now runs a financially successful business training people in woodland skills, and has written books on the subject.

what a great thread! we've been 5yrs trying to decide how to renovate our ruin, with many delays for various reasons, but at long last the builders will start work in a couple of weeks.

after getting excited about all kinds of possibilities/dreams such as a total self-build cob house, etc we've now come full-circle back to our original plan of just work with what we've already got, this being the cheapest and most realistic option. one of the big downsides for me is that i really really really don't want a "square box" house, and this is basically what we'll have.

so ... i just wanted to say how great it has been reading this thread as it has made me realise that although we don't have / won't get all of our dreams incorporated into the house, we do have many many great things already and i really should feel very lucky rather than a bit disappointed!

ps. we've got a compost toilet and i LOVE it.



more compost loo info & photos
http://www.portugalsmallholding.org/200 ... st-toilet/