With one chainsaw, three shovels, two hatchets, and an ax, my two siblings, four of my cousins, and I set out to build a cabin in the woods.
Just to clear it up, not a creepy one that includes redneck zombies.
To begin the process, we cleared a 14x14 foot area: the beginning of our tiny cabin. We decided on dirt floors, and possibly a window, because ya know, winter. We needed a cabin that would survive the brutalities that sleet, snow, wind, and bitter cold would press upon it. Naturally we want to sleep out here at random and live in the woods for a few days. You may be wondering, "Why can't they just use tents?" We may have asked ourselves the same question... Right before sawing through another log and digging up another rock. We are pursuing a challenge that will bring us together and let us escape in the wilderness for a couple hours a week. Growing up with a super cool carpenter dad, we went into this with a fairly stable knowledge of what has to happen, but no experience in that field.. * cough cough* its all good, right?
^ A few of our trusty tools/weapons. Wolves and bears are real.
Once we had the ground cleared, we dug four 14x14 trenches with a two foot "bridge" where our future door would be. For each corner, three large rocks were piled to support the cabin base to keep them off of the ground and dry. The trenches will be filled with smaller rocks to keep the rain filtering through, as well as to ensure the base logs don't rot.
^The base logs, which are supported by three large rocks per corner, are above the trenches.^
We then used logs that had been downed last year for logging and cut them to size. Each one was hand carved with a hatchet and carefully stacked. It's basically lincoln logs on a bigger scale. Given time, gravity will do it's job and the log wall will be strong, and stable, though we are discussing adding some kind of mortar just to be sure. This would be added once the cabin is complete. So far, we are enjoying the time spent out in the woods collaborating ideas and working together to create our cabin as a group. Everyone has a role, and hopefully within the next few days, I will be posting on the workforce involved in construction.
Well, thats all for now!
Cheers!
-youngwildfree