Synchronicity One Day Last June

Friends who had that same June come from a boat adventure heard of our pioneer project to build 'green' in a modernist style and listened with studious interest. Jim, a bespeckled bookkeeper, boat builder, and beer-maker had worked with my husband on an important restoration of the Smith Falls Library in 2003 where Bob had earned an Ontario Award in 2004 for his work. Michelle and I had shared many interests together and her trade as a restaurant owner in Merrickville always brought interesting stories of food preparation, tasting and even recipe writing. She had been recently completing a series of favourite recipes from her work at the Yellow Canoe and my tastebuds always perked with each new edition.

Bob and I soon proposed to the couple that their searching for land in the woods of Lanark could be over if they were interested in taking up residence on our land and pursuing a building project there. Our interests were similar, and their wish to build small, green and on a tiny budget seemed to fit into the allowance for a farm to have a farm accommodation unit or more clearly, a farm hands' cottage. The architect drew up the plans and the mini-house was born. Jim's sketches on graph paper were shared and the architect's adaptations were made. After a long wait for a building permit, the small footprint for the footings began. From our recollection, once the permit was in Jim's hands, the structure was built and occupied within 10 weeks.

We had created a temporary camp in the centre of the tract that we affectionately called Headwater Farm as just north was the visible beginning of a small creek wending its way south to the Black River north of South Bay. Our collective encampment contained the Pleasureway van borrowed from my father, a guest tent, a sleeping tent for Jim and Michelle along with a storage tent for them, and finally an elaborate kitchen with tarp, table camp stove and dining area for four. Jim had even outfitted the camp with an early purchase of their compost toilet place discreetly a bit away from the sit about but at the ready. So, in mid August our construction site was active as Jim's solar panel powered tools and a makeshift carpentry shop protected his working area for what would prove to be a very wet August for the County.

The mini-house is approximately 480 square feet in area, wood framed slab on grade with an open ceiling interior with two large patio windows facing due south. The home is heated in winter with a small woodstove, and is comfortable and cool in the summer. Solar panels provide energy for lighting and small ammenties in the evening, but their electrical use is carefully monitored to have a 250 watt system. Jim, throughout the fall added a small kitchen and dining area, along with handmade bedroom furniture. Take a peek at their blogspot at the-mini-house.blogspot.com. I am sure you will enjoy your visit.