The digging begins.

In mid August, 2008 we began digging the rubble trench for the end of the house that will have a basement.

Linda by the curved north wall that will be our bedroom.

Tons of gravel were laid and compacted in the trench, providing drainage and a foundation. We are trying to use as little concrete as possible since it creates so much CO2, a major global warming gas. On top of the gravel we built a frame (see above with Linda in the house) to create a small grade beam (see beam below) to take the full weight of this section of the house.


The grade beam (above) is concrete, reinforced with rebar. We had to use some concrete to pass code and hold the house up. On top of the grade beam we will place standard block (piled in photo above) to make a small basement.

In the picture above, longtime Charles Town resident and foundation foreman, John Edmonson lays block. After this wall is in place, we'll dig the rest of the foundation and begin placing the posts and beams to make the actual structure of the house.