Our home is basically Skip's concept combined with timber-framing with whole logs. Much easier than all the complex joinery, etc. that goes into timber-framing done with beams. House hasn't budged or settled an inch. If you took the class, there is no need to have "someone" erect the frame for you. Just get some logs and erect away! In fact, we are thinking about doing another with just framing in using logs ourselves as we have access to lots of logs, but they are shorter than would make for a whole butt and pass house. Much cheaper than hiring someone to do it the regular way.
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lisa