Step 5: Pouring the retaining wall and thermal mass

Thermal mass form work using snap ties.

Inside the thermal mass.

Retaining wall forms.

Video of the pour on wed. The crane is huge!

Zucchini!

Summer squash.

Katie's vegetable garden

Early spring, just when the ground was thawing out we excavated the front lawn, thanks to the permission of our landlord, (and mother in law) Dorothy.

In April, we had the front lawn excavated 6 inches down. We took 2 dump truck loads of soil out.

The soil has been prepared with manure, newspaper, peat, and a light layer of compost.

Squash mounds.

Front yard. Small rhubarb plant.

Front yard herb garden.

Front garden view from house. Pre-irrigation.

Back yard garden. Plants are coming up!

Early stages of the garden with irrigaion system.

Canning mess.

End of July cherry picking in Creston, BC. Pre-dehydration.

Front yard garden.

Front yard herb garden (still developing).

Backyard garden, sugar snap peas, beans, raspberries, and compost pile

Step 4: Basement Foundation

Wednesday August 14th. We spent a couple of intense hours pumping the concrete right into the ICFs. 4 truck loads (30.5 cubic yards) later, our basement became solid. Unfortunately we couldn't get pictures because we were too busy, even Katie kicked ass.

Katie's studio southeast facing windows.

The basement suite entrance and kitchen window.

The back wall of the basement.

ICFs (Insulated Concrete Forms) "lego" foundation for winter temperatures.

Step 3: Footings

Rane's partner, Andrew, helped with the footings and the pour.

Step 2: Digging the hole.

As I was heading to work, I noticed a some deer eating away at the fresh tree branches.
How many deer do you see??

Step 1: Clearing the lot.