Fire has a way with wood. It can turn it into light or it can make it better at heavy-lifting. Three hundred years ago the Japanese discovered a technique for weather-proofing cedar siding. Shou sugi ban. We decided to use the method for our roof timbers. It turns out scorching the surface of wood makes it water resistant, bug repellant, and fire retardant. Plus it was a fun and easy way to give our timbers the rich chocolate color we desired. An added bonus, we can look up for years to come and remember that a little bit of pain and suffering can bring a wealth of good.
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Issue Five
Somebody or the wind buried treasure in our cornfield. We discovered it by accident on a trek out to the back of the property to check on our bees. A tree. And then another and another and a trio! Bravehearted little saplings testing their newfound liberty. Our neighbor said he was astonished that the seeds survived and made their home on land devastated by decades of insecticide spray. Some kind of resilience. In just a year, here’s the beginnings of a forest on 10 acres cultivated for generations.
You are here…
You are here. We’re glad you are here.
A house is for your body what a family is for your heart.
A place to rest. A place to be nourished. A place to grow.
And they’re built the same way…