Stewardship
Man's heart away from nature becomes hard.Standing Bear
In forested areas Timber Framing has the potential to provide a sustainable, local and ecological approach to modern building practices. It is a building method with centuries of structures in use, proving its longevity. This ability to last for centuries, reduces the amount of resources extracted over its lifetime and improves the community where it resides through its lasting beauty, integrity and strength.
Rather than putting money into the rapid timber cut cycles demanded by dimensional lumber, OSB, I-Joists and other wood product manufacturing, we support high quality, dense timber, which in turn supports slower cut cycles. By cutting at a slower and sustainable rate, we can create healthier forests that support wildlife, create clean water and improve the local community that depends on it for its livelihood.
Straw light clay (lighemblau), Wood chip light clay, straw bale, clay and lime plasters are all relevant in todays homes.
Air quality, high efficiency heating and cooling systems, passive solar, solar gain, site orientation and site evaluation are all incorporated into the design of your home.
At this time 50% of our Timber Frame projects have used 100% Forest Stewardship Council Certified material.
God's Art and Mountain Vernacular
Straight timbers have their place, but crooked wood really brings out my love for this craft. I am continually on the hunt for crooked wood. Through my relationship with woodlot owners, sawyers, and others I am able to keep a supply of interesting timbers for your project. Rather than cut curves in straight timber, which creates short grain run out or laminating curves I prefer to find natural curves in the forest where they originate. Using natural curves takes devotion, but also cannot be replicated by any machine and confirms our interdependence with the forest.
Crooked timber has been used since the inception of Timber Framing. It was often the most practical solution on hand, yet it was also sought after for its inherent beauty, emphasizing of sacred symbols, and creating harmonious geometry. Examples of this are exemplified with the Welsh Cruck mirroring the Gothic Arch. Using crooked timber presents a specific set of creative and design challenges that I feel completely synchronizes the many facets of advanced Timber Framing, and it is in these challenges that I find my strength.
Finding ways to minimize our impact on the earth is an ongoing process.
Presently we are addressing this by utilizing waste wood for fuel, creating on site recycling, running our vehicles on bio-diesel, purchasing renewable energy credits and using Forest Stewardship Council certified timber.
