East
I hear ya on that, we moved up here 5 years ago because DH job back in KY went to Mexico, didn't realize how much more it cost to live up here then back home.... now that job laid him off last June and we are hanging on my our finger nails.... will most likely loose this house and end up going back to KY and live with his family until I can get a job and he gets on medicare, since disability won't accept him even though his health condition is listed on their web site as a qualifying disability.
We have 5 acres back home but there are strict building codes and besides we are using up all of our savings just to hang on here.... which is probably stupid.... We already had the mortgage redone after he lost his job, but it really isn't helping much.
So what made you pick MO?
Janet
cord-wood home
Janet, I know of several people who have gotten one of those rent-to-own ready made sheds and made cute little cabins out of them. You could also find a cheap camper to live in temporarily until you got some money saved up. It's not ideal, but I know a lot of people who live in them full time on the road. Add a simple homemade septic tank and collect rain water for the basic washing up stuff. It's do-able, as a temporary solution.
Do not fret hang on a bit longer,For good people are coming!
YOU HELP I HELP quite simple you take you go you help you stay!
What????? You lost me...
Robin i swear Sam Drucker made me do it. Any way hello.OH MY LQQK@HER
I looked into bringing in a shipping container for a shop. Place 20 miles from here sells them. A bit pricey, but to deliver it just 20 or so miles was astronomical, and that didn't include figuring how to get it across the creek, nor the foundation platform. I can do stick-built much cheaper.
Every state has a state building code; they are all based on one of 3 national model building codes, and each state can alter the standards although few do. Then each county can add their own to the state code, likewise the incorporated cities. Don't be fooled that deep rural can get overlooked. I anticipate permits and inspections will get much tougher with the fiasco in the housing market and so many living now in make-shift shelters. (and the municipalities need the revenue)
The problem lies more with the inspectors than with the codes. Most of them MUST go by the book because they don't have engineering education beyond the book. If they believe you know what you are doing, they can cut you a lot of slack. I've even had footers "inspected" over the phone!
Cheap advice: get a used copy of Architectural Graphic Standards (NOT cheap), and learn how to read and understand the info for sizing beams/posts/spans/rafters relative to the wood species you use... learn stuff like live loads, deflection (where modulus of elasticity determines length between supports), bending (where fiber stress is the determining factor) ... and lots more. If you can't do that, at least buy a copy of the closest city/county code. Make friends with the building dept in the closest town, and ask for advice... they love it when you go in all friendly-like...
All codes now call for all lumber in habitable units to be brand-new, and stamped by the mill as to what strength it is tested for (or will withstand), which means technically you cannot use raw, local cut and milled lumber. Even logs must meet certain criteria. But usually if you can demonstrate you are using (for example) southern pine in a certain size which allows you to span twice what a hem-fir member of the same size would span... it increases your credibility and stamp of approval.
There's a minimum square footage, and a few other minimum requirements, too. Square footage minimum used to be pretty tiny; I don't build anymore and haven't kept up with code changes. Ceilings need to have an overall average height of 7'; 2 means in ingress and egress and a minimum size window in each bedroom in case of fire.
Also, find a copy of Edward Mazria's book, Passive Solar Energy Book... the Professional edition, which is out of print. Make it your energy bible even if you are planning active solar for electricity. It will pay for itself a hundred times over, and it starts with simple site planning...
Lastly, Good Luck!
Thank you very much Darius, Seem`s I must go post and beam.Even for temporary cordwwod bldg..Cordwood infill. Well Iwill give what need be got.STill going with container house next spring,nothing wrong with schmoozin a local inspecter this year. feel them out so to speak.Betcha his/her child may need a summer job,hehehe pays cash! we shall see, thank you so much darius, please keep me posted Slan, Brian
Often if they've never seen a particular style of building (and I'm thinking of the container here) they'll get huffy and stiff on you, even if it's technically legal. But if you begin by having your educational info ready, show them how its met other codes elsewhere, take the time to educate respectfully, many of those inspectors will come on board... they've just got to get over their inertia, and they've got to protect their job, which I think we can all appreciate these days.
Hey Brian... here's a temp. privy for ya to build!
(photo is from fishermansdaughter's photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/fishermansdaughter/2950300592/)
LMAO... Tp right to hand, too!
LOL sooooooo true .. hehee
Looks as if that out-house could double as an bomb shelter
Just a hint of advice in ky its easier to get on disability if u take any type of depression medicine then it is if u break ur back mother tried for 3 yrs the instant they put her on depression medicine she was accepted
Welcome to the Homesteading forum EOM. Sounds like your plans are quite well underway! I considered MO when I was shopping around; it was inexpensive when I started looking a few years ago, but in the end TN won out for me (plus it's close to my best bud MsRobin and her hubby and their extensive knowledge!) We planned to self-build, looked into shipping containers as well; moving them was the largest expense. Then my husband died, so....I had to go with something already built as I have -zero- building skills (unless passing tools counts!) I've only been here three months and still haven't figured out all the repairs needed, or even where my property lines are as I ran out of cash and 650 for a survey seemed ridiculous at the time. I had grandiose plans of what all I was going to do, but thankfully I took a reality pill and now have more modest ambitions (ya'll remind me of that when I am chomping at the bit to take on yet some other wild-eyed idea, 'k?) So right now I am just moseying around and getting a feel for the place. I've mastered very small skills like building a decent fire - and was able to keep nicely warm when money ran out to buy propane. I have SO much to learn, making the transition from girly-girl in the corporate world six years ago to a muck-boot wearin', tool-carrying homesteader reads easy in MEN and Countryside and the like, but it isn't. Working 12 hour night shifts also puts a damper on my get-up-and-go, time and energy-wise. Plus, I'm a scaredy-cat...LOL! Sounds like you have all the skills and the funds, so BEST WISHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep us apprised of your progress, as we love sharing each others dreams and encouraging each other. I just hate being on the computer these days when I'm not working, so I don't post as much as I used to.
Here's my li'l homestead, Sunflower Solace Farm, after our small 'snowstorm' in January.
Heneni,
beautiful house there. im sorry for your loss also. ya know all it takes is the will an ambition to do or try something new. best wishes in your endevors an dont laugh at my spellin im dislexic. LOL but sounds like u got ur ducks in a row so to speak also. little by little .. step by step.... no one came out running .. you have to crawl before you can walk ....
Henini sorry to learn of your soulmates passsing.I know the feeling,but we must press forward. Nice home,the snow well lets just pre-censor that sentence.hehehehehe
Hey, Hi, glad to hear you're getting settled in, but you know this is really the wrong bunch to help with restraint! I mean, on the one hand you've got Robin, who is starting a CSA single handed, and East, whose hackin' a 'stead outa raw forest so he can get a garden in in a couple a months, and Free who just bounces from project to project as the mood and weather suits him, and Sue who has kids, 'stead, and more ideas than hairs on her head, a cop with short-timers disease, and me, who's kinda followin' in Free's footsteps with ideas, plans and mood. (Sorry if I forgot anyone... rememberin' everyone's projects is a project in itself!) Oh NO, we are not the ones to help you restrain yourself.
We are your ENABLERS! We will give you MORE ideas. We will stand around and admire how deep a hole you've dug yourself into...
Welcome to Homesteaders Anonymous, where we freely, gladly, and joyously proclaim we have no control over much of anything around here.... !!!
Well Jay I couldnt have said it better myself.But your right this place goes off tangent occasionaly.But thats the reason this sites hip.Decent people sound advice along with some" humph" creative humor when neccesary.
ROTFLMAO....well said Jay!
Came in to take a quick break. Good heavens, it's 77 and this is the day I decided to move 3 forsythia bushes. So feel free to laugh, er, I mean admire the three holes I just dug myself into.
Love the way this forum has evolved since I joined DG.
Oh darn yer ornery hide, Robin! There you go agin... 3 holes. You are such an overachiever, you're going to keep us all worn out just watchin"! Now I feel an obligation to go dig 4 holes... LOL
This is becoming a very fun forum, busy, inventive, and uppity. Oh, I like uppity folks, I do. =0)
I'm just getting potted today...
Evolved,Oh I get it,leave all the creature comforts,sat.dish.tv,dsl,subway,bus,airport,deli`s massive farmers mkt.,crack heads theives,car jackers methheads,wife beaters,pan handlers,corrrupt politicians,taxes out of control,biased newspaper,slow mail,too much snow/cold.Hell why should I leave!
Oh gosh, East, I guess you haven't met your neighbors yet....
I've got crack heads, meth labs, thieves, wife beaters and the highest property taxes in the state to pay our corrupt local politicians... but because the politicians are friends of mine, the system works for me! LOL
Oh, we are certainly evolved!
Yo jay I`m re-locating already!If you have i`m in the bag to heck w/ Mo.
LOL tooooo funny n im keepin my mouth shut ... hehee
runs out to dig 5 holes .. just cause i can with out breaking some restriction or ordance .. :-P~~~~~~
Alpha Gamma Rho=Alan grab a hoe
I'm headin' for pilin' it higher n deeper...
Don't know what ya'll are on, but I want some.
Evolved as in not so serious. 8D
The 3 holes were not an attempt to out do everyone. I was merely fixing a mistake I made 2 years ago when I planted 3 little bitty forsythia bushes in a 2' wide flower bed. Forgot that they grow into nice big bushes.
It just hit 90* on my hilltop.
I'm wilting for you.....
No need, I already have. But I'm still getting lots done. ;)
We've jumped straight from winter to summer! The Pyrs are loving having a basement at the moment, and I think I will too this summer :) It's 60 down there and 88 outside, with a comfortable 72 on the main floor. Nice change!
LOL