The straw bale construction used on our newest cottage is just a little bit different than the more commonly used form of construction. It is a mixture between regular stick framing with 2 x 6's and post n' beam when larger dimension lumber is used and spaced farther apart. To make the walls using straw bales the centres between the vertical posts are greater, similar to a post n' beam house, and we use a couple of 2 x6's like most houses have, but they are aligned together to make a thicker wall. In between those spaces are where the bales of straw are stacked "on edge". Hold things together from above are larger box beams which are designed to carry the weight of the roof over those larger spans. In the end, the walls consist of 14" of straw bales and about 2" of a mortar type mix which is smoothed over the straw inside and out.
Our construction has been somewhat stalled this week with the wetter weather. We were hoping to get the steel roof on this week but we'll have to wait 'til next week. The roof trusses are all up and it's starting to look like a house.
What sounds like a roaring train and can send shivers down your spine? A swarm of bees! A swarm is loud, impressive and a bit frightening if you don't know that swarming bees are incredibly docile and practically never sting. Swarming is the natural way for bees to expand and grow their numbers. When a hive is strong and healthy and the accommodation starts to feel a bit tight, the queen will ensure that the hive is full of honey, brood, eggs and newly developing queen cells. Then she, and about 20,000 of her closest attendants gorge on honey, exit the hive en masse and settle in a clump near by. There they stay until scout bees find a suitable location for them to set up their new house. This is incredibly unselfish. She does the work of building up a safe and secure hive, then leaves it behind to face the risk of starting over. Commercial beekeepers do not like their hives to swarm as it slows down honey production in the old hive and leads to the loss of thousands of bees- unless of course, the beekeeper can capture the swarm and settle it in a new hive of their choosing.On inspection of our hive a few weeks ago we did not find any eggs- often a sign that the queen has died. Instead, we found nectar stored in the brood space (the part of the hive where the queen usually lays her eggs). We had planned to wait a few days and check the hive again but before we had a chance, they swarmed! As we have learned since, nectar was flowing, but not abundantly, so the bees did not prepare the comb provided for honey storage but instead stashed it in the brood space. When the queen wanted to lay eggs and found her brood space full she decided the hive was too crowded and instigated the swarm. The bees settled in a very high branch of a nearby tree (pictured above). We tried to capture the swarm, intending to start a second hive, but when we dislodged it the queen flew back to the original hive, all her attendants in tow. We quickly added another honey super and some new frames in the brood space and so far she seems content with her expanded quarters. Life is never dull at Foxwood Resort and we have great honey!
At just about the same time that the foundation was filled, the wall framing began. That was June 15. Since then the roof trusses have been put into place and so we should be ready for the metal roof sometime next week. We are about a week off schedule but are still doing well overall considering the amount of rain delays that we ran into a month ago. A skyhook made moving the trusses into place so much easier. After labouring away for weeks, excavating and getting the foundations done, it has only taken about a week for the place to really take shape with the walls and roof almost complete. The month of June has generally been great and we have been lucky not to have been held up by wet weather. In fact, the biggest challenge has been the good weather...it has been so hot that it has made working on the site tiring. The lake has warmed up about 10F in just the last 5 days and is nearing 75F or 21C. At least one of the building crew has discovered it refreshing effect! While building is going on we are busy sorting out kitchens, doors and bathrooms along with the day to day routine of running the resort. Just this weekend we had terrific wedding and hosted about 100 persons. There was also a rather interesting event involving our bees which we'll tell you about in our next BLOG
Since receiving the building permit on May 25 crews have made great progress on our straw bale project. In fact, by May 27 we had concrete footings and then, 9 days later, the foundation was poured. The worksite was a bit mucky and there was lots of rain to contend with. Our design has a frost wall foundation which is capped with a concrete slab containing an in-floor radiant heat system. The frost wall was built using insulated concete forms or ICF. They go together like Lego blocks and make up the wall forms and insulation all in one. Concrete is then poured into the hollowed centres of the blocks. It took almost a week of hauling truck load after tuckload, and over 800 tons of gravel, to fill up the inside of foundation which will eventually support the concrete floor. On June 15 wall framing began.
Spring is always a good time to plant and set roots. Our straw bale cottage is no different. Last November we demolished the Gatehouse with the help of an excavator and a Bic lighter. Sadly, it took all but a few hours to reduce 60 years of history to rubble. The old building was stubborn and it took more than a week for the burning embers to finally become exhausted. We were looking over an old resort rooming plan and saw that the 8 Gatehouse units were called Fe, Fi, Fo, Fum, He, Hi, Ho, Hum. What could be more simple! In a way it reminds us of how we are building this new cottage...out of straw, which is uncomplicated and well, simple! Since construction began in May the new building now has been planted and its foundation is firmly rooted into the ground. Next will be the walls and roof which we plan to get erected over the next 2 weeks.
Last November we decided to retire the Gatehouse...we'll show you pictures of how we did it in a future BLOG...and then on May 19 we began the process of constructing a new straw bale home. When done it will be about 2500 sq ft with 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a den/bedroom and a huge living area looking down to the lake. Evolve Builders have been contracted to do the work (learn more about them and straw bale construction by visiting http://www.yourhome.ca/homes/article/615983).
If all goes as planned it will be ready in Spring 2010. To do this we are working towards getting the foundation and roof on before the summer holidays. We'll then stop much of the work for July and August and resume again after Labour Day. This is an exciting project for us as it further solidifies our commitment to be a prime example of an eco friendly resort. To our knowledge, this will be the first straw bale cottage to be built at a resort. We haven't given the new building a name yet and we would be keen to hear any suggestions.
