Inexpensive Retreats

[Irving]

Yeah, our "retreat" in CCC is just one of the large Wooden Tuff shed like structures. It's got a stove, loft, outhouse in back, fire pit. All we need is a well, and we'd be set. That will be an endeavor for the future.

This is what is on our land, except including a well. 300 acres and NO DAMN PRAIRIE DOGS!

[hurley842002]

This is what is on our land, except including a well. 300 acres and NO DAMN PRAIRIE DOGS!

300 acres sure would be nice, ours is only 40, a heavily forested 40.

[Irving]

320 acre, but it is near Pawnee, so there are right around zero trees. Doh! I wish it were wooded. My uncle got 200 acres up in Golden Gate Canyon about 15 years ago for a steal; but he's been selling off plots for a while now. He probably has some for sale if anyone is interested.

[ShooterJM]

This is what I've been researching. Looks like Park county is out due to the builidng codes, but I'm waiting on confirmation of that.

http://www.earthbagbuilding.com/projects/hart.htm


Same basic concept anyway. Although I won't do domes and will change other items (like windows, foundations, venting, etc)

[Irving]

I've seen some really cool stuff that my grandpa showed me, but I don't remember the website. I think it was something like spaceship earth, but when you google that, you just get Disney stuff. These homes were built out of tires filled with dirt, don't have any space wasting domes, and are just like a normal house inside. I'll look around and see if I can find them because they are very cool.

Also, people have moved on from packed earth tire homes (dirt packed into tires) to just using bails made out of shredded tires and bailed together with wire.

EDIT: Here is the one that I remember: http://www.touchtheearthranch.com/picstory1.htm click through the pages.
And here is the even better, more normal looking house: http://216.120.254.141/testimonials/...ire-house-tour

[Beprepared]

I've seen some really cool stuff that my grandpa showed me, but I don't remember the website. I think it was something like spaceship earth, but when you google that, you just get Disney stuff. These homes were built out of tires filled with dirt, don't have any space wasting domes, and are just like a normal house inside. I'll look around and see if I can find them because they are very cool.

Also, people have moved on from packed earth tire homes (dirt packed into tires) to just using bails made out of shredded tires and bailed together with wire.

EDIT: Here is the one that I remember: http://www.touchtheearthranch.com/picstory1.htm click through the pages.
And here is the even better, more normal looking house: http://216.120.254.141/testimonials/...ire-house-tour

Earthships- A few here in CO. The big community is out of Prescott, AZ (I think). Yep a bunch in Taos too.

[Beprepared]

Cool sandbag info, got my wheels turning. Wondered for a while now about Hesco Bastions Concerntainers that our military uses. They are also used a lot back in Louisiana for levees, erosion and such. I think you could make a damn fine and dandy house with those. Bullet resistant, bomb resistant, radiation resistant, you name it. Throw some stucco, adobe, shotcrete, whatever...that could be down right homey.

http://www.hesco.com/

[Cujo0920]

I've been looking for a rustic cabin (big enough for my family of four) with a well (preferably a hand pump) and a few acres, abutting a national park, preferably near a brook or stream and away from primary roads. Probably too much to ask, but I'd also like neighbors who act like neighbors, i.e. no low-lifes. My biggest concern, after cost, is that this place would sit empty virtually year-round, without a caretaker and possibly a tempting target for thieves or vandals. Would look forward to hearing from anyone who knows a place that might fit this description.

[Irving]

I have a friend who has a family cabin that abuts a national park. It is a nice place (3 stories) and is left vacant for most of the year (I think), and I haven't heard of any issues with vandals or thieves. Just to give you some confidence.

[Paladin]

You might take a look at the following link. I don't know what it contains, but back in the 70s and 80s there was a magazine with the same name that was great. I have issues 1-100. A lot of the stuff is outdated now, but at the time.....Too, if you were used to the "old" TMEN, you probably didn't like the mag after it was sold. It turned into a commercial magazine. I have seen some back-issues on ebay.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/

Enjoy,

Dave