Lately, I've been checking out every possible library book about owner-built dwellings. You know: log cabins, "pole-buildings", even off-beat stuff like cordwood cabins and yurts. In nearly every case, these manuals are written by people who have successfully built their own home... for a family of three or less.
What the heck?
Is there some unwritten rule that says: "In order to be able to build your own home from scratch, from sustainable resources, without paying an arm-and-a-leg, your birthrate must be less than the average for say, Russia."??? Come on, authors, aren't you aware of the Demographic Winter we're having?
Well anyway, My wife and I are the proud and vibrant (albeit often-harried) parents of five (5!) incredible children. And yes! -- we fully intend to build our own home, on a strict budget, big enough to accommodate our family and the occasional visitors. This is a major part of the vision that the Good Lord has planted in our hearts, decades ago, and we believe that He will see it through. We have a goal of accomplishing this task without debt; for debt, in the economy-to-come, will become the enslaver of hundreds of millions of people. (Look what it's done to our nation's well-being, thus far!)
So, if you are wandering through your local book retail store (if they even continue to exist apart from Amazon :-), and you happen to spot a title that looks something like "How To Build A Sustainable Cabin for a Large Family Without Completely Losing Your Sanity or Family Unity", buy it on the spot!
After all, it'll probably be mine.
Have a blessed day, friends.
Here is an idea that you should seriously consider: http://www.undergroundhousing.com/ Most especially if you have a slope on your property facing south. There is really no structural limit to how large you can build as long as you have enough land. Your septic system would naturally be downhill from the house. An in-ground water tank could be uphill to give you water pressure whether or not you have power. "In-ground" also keeps it from freezing in the winter. Easily accessable solar panels on the roof would let your kids keep them clean for maximum efficiency. The advantages of this idea are many, and how well it looks depends on your own personal creativity. I would use concrete blocks for the back wall and poured concrete for the floor but the rest of it can be made from what is locally available. This is what the fronteer farms and ranches used in the "old west". The indians couldn't burn them out very easily and it was easier to defend. Lessons from our history are still relevant and useful today.
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