Things of Value – From the New Escapologist
Below is a post from the New Escapologist:
What things are required for a pleasant life? Here are my answers.
– optimum health;
– as much free time as possible;
– a few dependable friendships;
– an appreciation of your existing surroundings (which can be enhanced through the basic study of astronomy, botany, architecture, culture, aesthetics, psychology, etc);
– sensual pleasure;
– the confidence to speak your mind in public (and a culture that won’t cause you problems when you do);
– purposeful and purposeless intellectual stimulation;
– a satisfying creative output, in which you have personal pride;
– a clean and dignified living space;
– a modicum of peer recognition;
– some good habits to be proud of;
– few dependencies;
– few secrets.
Not many of these things are commercially available.
New Boots for the Young Lady
My daughter finally dove in and made her first pair of shoes, primarily from the instructions given by Mr Morris of Seamlyne Design. I think it’s a fine tutorial for the uninitiated but would like to see a few photos along the way. Anyway, they came out excellently and fit rather well. Just FYI, they take about 10 square feet of leather as shown here. Neither of us felt up to documenting the whole process but here are the basics.
For durability, we added a rubber outsole of Soleflex (18 Iron). If you’re looking for a straight-forward tutorial on boot building, Mr Morris’ site is an excellent source. Maybe I’ll make a pair later this summer and try to photo-document the process.
English Shepherd’s Huts
Old time shepherd’s huts aren’t really in the same class as vardos or showmen’s wagons as they aren’t really for long distance travel. These great little portable homes are dragged around to new pastures and are ideal for guest houses, studios, and weekend homes. These are generally simple affairs consisting of a room and a few built-ins. The old models often included a lamb cage under the bed platform and little else. As they don’t travel far they are often furnished with regular home furniture.
Several makers are still professionally building these. Have a look at…
OR
to see some contemporary work.
There is a lot of good history of the design at Historic Shepherd Huts.
One appealing part of the design is the practicality. Many classic huts are covered in corrugated iron and painted making for easy upkeep against the changing weather. A far cry from high maintenance varnished wood.
A good feature I have noticed is the nearly ubiquitous transom vent in the peak. I have considered this myself as a matter of security on warm nights and am not surprised it was thought up long before me.
Above is a classic hut with lamb cage intact. Apparently these were used for all sorts of storage when lambs weren’t penned inside. The top of the rack held a mattress for the shepherd and the hut was generally fitted with a wood stove.
By far, the best examples I have found on the web are at Plankbridge Hutmakers. Above is a typical exterior and below, an exquisite modern interior.
Have a gander at their site for a load of great images and information.
More Stoves
Deryk Macleod sent me a few more links for boat heaters.
The above Shipmate stove is a real beauty and looks very practical for heat and cooking.
Salamander makes some great looking glass front stoves for small spaces. The above is the “Hobbit” model. Below is the tiny “Pipsqueak”.
I’m happy to find more and more alternatives available for heating small spaces without needing electricity or a propane source. The boating community has kept this technology alive and available. Used with care these are a great alternative to grid-tied heaters.
Stove Options
When I was designing the Vardo, I considered several heating options, including no heat at all. I went with the current Four-Dog tent stove because I already owned it and the size was pretty good for the space I had. However, I am still considering better options to increase floor space in the Vardo.
Initially, I set up the stove and adjacent counter at the same height to use as work surfaces when not in use for heat. Since the great majority of the time spent in the wagon is without a need for heat the surface is very handy but the stove uses a large amount of the limited floor space. Below are a few options I am considering.
The above stove is a “Sardine” stove designed for heating the cabin of a fishing boat. These are wonderful little stoves but a bit too costly for my taste. Click the image to see their website including their larger model “The Little Cod”.
Another option is diesel or kerosene heaters. These are commonly used in the boating community and work well in small spaces. I think these are a fine option and very efficient but cannot work without access to purchased fuel.
My preferred option right now is a Cozy Cabin Solid Fuel heater (above) as it mounts directly to the wall and is much smaller than the tent stove. The stove is the heart of the wagon, especially in cold, wet climates so it should meet your needs as closely as possible without too much weight or size. After spending so much time in my wagon, I think its time to move down in size and up in technology to a wall mount heater.
To be continued…
Pedal Power at the Maker Faire
Some of the interesting pedal power found at the Maker Faire. Crazy welder contraptions, wooden works of art, well designed cycle cars. The Faire had it all.
Vardo Panorama
A few mosaic panoramas to give a “feel” of the Vardo interior. Click the images for larger a version.
The bed and table retracted for maximum space.
Maker Faire 2012 Update
The Bay Area Maker Faire was bigger and more interesting than I thought possible. I have rarely been so busy in my life as the eighteen or so hours I stood and talked about the Vardo. There were many interesting and interested people who thoroughly examined every aspect of the wagon. As it was built on a whim and shoestring budget, I’m not proud of every inch of my workmanship. I never thought it would be displayed for public scrutiny but it was received with great enthusiasm. When I dove into this project I thought it likely that it would be looked at as some crazy art project but it seems there is a core of like minds who long for a micro traveling home with a certain amount of style and aesthetic.
Knowing that loads of people would be poking around in the wagon meant a bit of cleaning and spiffing up was in order. Most of the interior received a fresh coat of varnish and most personal things were stowed away. It was sad that I couldn’t actually stay in the wagon as it was on display but the grant helped cover the cost of a nearby hotel.
Location, location, location. The obvious place for a low tech micro home is between the underwater robotics and the universal charging station. The Faire is so chaotic, I don’t think it really mattered but I think our setup would have been more at home in the Homegrown Village area. As it was, the Vardo was an interesting Low Tech display amidst all the electronics. There was generally a line of five to ten people all day, both days to file in and around the Vardo, hear my explanation and ask loads of questions.
The nifty sign created for the display. They said it, it must be true.
Closed up, ready to hitch to the truck I noticed all the eclipse shadows filtered through the leaves onto the Vardo. What timing.
I have loads of photos I’ll put up shortly when I make some sense of them. All in all, if you are a MAKER OF THINGS or even just a dreamer, the Maker Faire is worth a visit.
Walking (Henry David Thoreau)
I WISH to speak a word for Nature, for absolute freedom and wildness, as contrasted with a freedom and culture merely civil,—to regard man as an inhabitant, or a part and parcel of Nature, rather than a member of society. I wish to make an extreme statement, if so I may make an emphatic one, for there are enough champions of civilization: the minister and the school committee and every one of you will take care of that.
I am re-reading much from the literature of my youth. I was heavily influenced by the transcendentalists and nature writers (Emerson, Thoreau, Muir).
Read the rest of Walking here.
Preindustrial Craftsmanship 