Just Placed An Offer for Land

[float5]

When is this house expected to be finished? Or more importantly, when is the RV garage going to be done?

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by float5

When is this house expected to be finished? Or more importantly, when is the RV garage going to be done?

We were supposed to start construction mid September, but as many who've built a house on their own land can tell you, the "supposed to's" are often delayed for one reason or another.

We should break ground next week, then it's about 7 months to completion.

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by float5

I actually did not think that you could grow much in Wisconsin, at least northern. I have been told that Door County just cannot grow a number of crops because the growing season is too short.

We grow numerous crops in Minnesota and Wisconsin
Corn , soybeans , oats ,wheat , barley ,hops , sunflowers , alfalfa.
apples ,cherries , squash , blueberries , cabbage , broccoli, eggplant ,tomatoes , green beans , peas ,beef cattle , hogs, dairy cattle ,sheep etc etc etc .
Today's high temp in Northern Wisconsin is predicted to be 60 deg F. As the climate changes and our winters slowly disappear, things change. Where once it was thought that you could not grow crops or farm dairy cows in the desert ( Arizona, Southern California ) , we have discovered that with the government's help , cooperation and financial aid it's possible
Growing citrus crops in the Midwest is just an extension of that can do thinking . In our area they currently cultivate tomatoes year round so the theory has been tested.
I am just trying to expand the variety of locally grown foods in our area and eliminate the transporting of food stuffs half way across our nation.
The U of Minnesota and the U of Wisconsin agricultural development depts have done great work developing crops for our climate. Some of the best apple varieties were developed at the University of Minnesota along with disease resistant wheat that has helped to prevent famine across the globe.

Happy Holudays

[float5]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

We grow numerous crops in Minnesota and Wisconsin
Corn , soybeans , oats ,wheat , barley ,hops , sunflowers , alfalfa.
apples ,cherries , squash , blueberries , cabbage , broccoli, eggplant ,tomatoes , green beans , peas ,beef cattle , hogs, dairy cattle ,sheep etc etc etc .
Today's high temp in Northern Wisconsin is predicted to be 60 deg F. As the climate changes and our winters slowly disappear, things change. Where once it was thought that you could not grow crops or farm dairy cows in the desert ( Arizona, Southern California ) , we have discovered that with the government's help , cooperation and financial aid it's possible
Growing citrus crops in the Midwest is just an extension of that can do thinking . In our area they currently cultivate tomatoes year round so the theory has been tested.
I am just trying to expand the variety of locally grown foods in our area and eliminate the transporting of food stuffs half way across our nation.
The U of Minnesota and the U of Wisconsin agricultural development depts have done great work developing crops for our climate. Some of the best apple varieties were developed at the University of Minnesota along with disease resistant wheat that has helped to prevent famine across the globe.

Happy Holudays

Lived in Iowa decades and been to Wisconsin many times. Our first Escape was from there. They grow them, too, almost! I have gone to Washington Island more than once and they said that they could not grow everything up there. They grow a lot of apples, it seems, on the peninsula. Maybe they get subsidies. I think there was switching from cherries to apples.

Yes, it seems we are getting warmer. Had warmer winters and less snow in Iowa in recent years.

Hope your venture gets going.

[rbryan4]

No longer a bare piece of land. It's nice to finally get started, even though it doesn't look like much yet.

[Jim Bennett]

What exactly are we looking at there? I have the porta-pottie figured out.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

What exactly are we looking at there? I have the porta-pottie figured out.

Just some outer forms for the foundation, along with the beginnings of some gravel fill. It'll probably look quite different in a week. When it's ready to pour, it'll look very much like the photo in post #61. Here's a shot from directly overhead.
And yes, that'll be the trailer's new home on the right. As a scale reference, the RV garage will be 25 x 12.

[float5]

Cotton balls.

[Brian B-P]

The foundation construction threw me at first, too. That wouldn't work here, but I'm sure it's suitable down there. It is certainly looks a lot cheaper and easier than excavating to below frostline and building footings and foundation walls! I would miss the basement storage and shop space, though...

[float5]

I understand that Texas has a lot of rock that one would have to get through in many places to have basements. There are some basements, but slab and pier and beam are common for foundations. We have a basement in Iowa and I won't miss it after a tree pushed part of it in and we had to rebuild some, and I won't miss the steps to there either (and three stories). Glad to have one story.

[cpaharley2008]

and what are those white spots??

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

Just some outer forms for the foundation, along with the beginnings of some gravel fill. It'll probably look quite different in a week. When it's ready to pour, it'll look very much like the photo in post #61. Here's a shot from directly overhead.
And yes, that'll be the trailer's new home on the right. As a scale reference, the RV garage will be 25 x 12.

The white gravel threw me off for starters, and like Brian said we are used to seeing full foundations here, primarily for frost protection of the footings, but it also provides relatively inexpensive square footage. Our double garage is in the basement.

Is that my RV pad in the top right of the photo?

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Is that my RV pad in the top right of the photo?

That's Past Tents house I'm afraid. Unless you like to camp indoors, not suitable. If I do build campsite number one, it'll probably be straight of the top of the culdesac along the property line, slightly uphill from the house area. Better view and privacy. It could go as far back as I'd like, since the property line goes from the top of the street back about 600 feet.

[Mike Lewis]

Looks like a nice area. That house down the street is a whopper, though; I wouldn't want their electric bill. Not looking forward to seeing mine after this cold snap, either.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

Looks like a nice area. That house down the street is a whopper, though; I wouldn't want their electric bill. Not looking forward to seeing mine after this cold snap, either.

If you mean the green one, it's a bit larger than ours. But the white and gray stone one in the background on the bluff overlooking the Guadalupe River is a monster. That house was 1 million. Has a full apartment over the detached garage, a gate house, two pools, and they bought the lot to the right, where the road turns as well.

[Mike Lewis]

Yes, the white and gray one in the distance. Wouldn't want to replace the roof on that thing, either. Wow.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

Yes, the white and gray one in the distance. Wouldn't want to replace the roof on that thing, either. Wow.

Yep, it's a big one. I don't think they'll ever have to worry about the roof however. It's metal shingles, shaped to look like shakes. About a 100 year rating. The roof alone on that one was probably 80K.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

If I do build campsite number one, it'll probably be straight of the top of the culdesac along the property line, slightly uphill from the house area. Better view and privacy. It could go as far back as I'd like, since the property line goes from the top of the street back about 600 feet.

Ah heck, I was hoping for one closer to the river.

Originally Posted by rbryan4

But the white and gray stone one in the background on the bluff overlooking the Guadalupe River is a monster. That house was 1 million. Has a full apartment over the detached garage, a gate house, two pools, and they bought the lot to the right, where the road turns as well.

It's a crazy world. The same amount of money here would get you a 60 year old rancher with a broken slab foundation and a carport converted to a family room.


Ron

[Marry]

Beautiful spot Robert!!! Can't wait to see your house coming!

[Mary F]

Exciting! Been there, done that, so I know just how you feel!

Here's ours in 2004. Limestone outcropping. Foundation filled to minimize concrete needed.