Introduce yourself

Captjb98...
I just read the part you were talking about. Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but even though we may get paid by the gov't, it would be hard to consider police and firefighters as bureaucrats. We fall more under the frontline, expendable, knuckledragging (thus the moniker) worker label. Bureaucrats love red tape. Most of us emergency workers hate red tape because it keeps us from doing our jobs efficiently. Bureaucrats want to control others. If we truly take our jobs seriously, we like going into situations that are a bit beyond our control in an effort to help others. Bureaucrats are all about power and prestige. Most emergency workers I know can really identify with the Garth Brooks song, "I've Got Friends in Low Places," and couldn't care less about prestige.

I have not attended a class yet, but my impression of the people I have dealt with on this sight and who I have talked to personally that have attended a class is that they are fed up with the meddling government you mentioned. No one can identify better with those frustrations than those of us who watch government bureaucrats and bean counters make daily decisions that negatively impact our ability to do our jobs well and do our jobs safely. My understanding is that the LHBA is all about helping the common man who isn't afraid of a little hard work reach his dreams, get ahead by avoiding a mortgage, and get a profound sense of satisfaction in the process. In a nutshell, they're our kinda folk.

My name is Stephen Smith, I found this site and have been hooked on the idea. I am married have four kids. I was reading the comment about exclusions and I hope military is not included. My wife and I hope to take the class early next year.
Has anybody looked into solar power for the remote cabins?

Thanks for the info Kyle!

Hi Steve & everyone. My wife & i are wanting to attend your next class. Any date set yet? We live 35 miles north of Houston, Texas. The humity here is a killer. We want to take your class, find somewhere to build and get started.
ezyplay
Jim & Judy Dorman

Check out www.MotherEarthNews.com also check out www.solar-componets.com
Hope this helps! I also like the idea of using solar power.
Jim

Hi I'm Kimberley.

I currently live in Rockingham near Perth, Western Australia. With my 5 dogs on a small suburban block. It doesn't quite meet my needs .... So I am looking at moving to 100 acres or similar and building my own home with the aim of living as close as possible to a self sufficient lifestyle - but hey I admit it I want some luxuries too.

I visited Alaska and Minnesota last year and loved the States, along with log cabins. I am really interested in attending the classes and learning how to build one for myself. I am also interested in hearing if anyone knows of a similar course in Australia.

Kind Regards
Kimberley
ps The Tipi idea sounds cool too but I dont think I could get away with it here

Hi -

My name is John. I live in the Detroit area, in the great state of Michigan, the only state where you can use your right hand as a map! :)

I'm eagerly awaiting a new round of classes...building my own home using traditional methods is something I've wanted to do for a long, long time.

I like this site because it is a nice mix of practical advice with a financial twist. Most sites that try and teach you about finances and being financially independent don't give you real, practical information on how to do it, or have some sort of wacky scam they want you to follow.

I'm looking forward to learning lots of info in these forums, and will do my best to share in turn.

John

Hi all,
I'm Wayne and I don't think I have introduced myself online. I put this post in the wrong place and reposting here in the introduction section. I am recently retired (winter of '05) to Mississippi, Starkville, home of Miss. State Univ. I took the Log home building course under Elsworth and Steve (excellent instructors!) in June'04 while living in Yakima Washinton.

I own approx 25 acres on a small lake 5 miles from town here in Starkville and have spent the last several years clearing land, road building, cutting trees for timbers and a storage building that will later be used as a lake pavilion/gathering place, and generally gearing up in preparation for cabin building. I am currently in the process of building a log cabin "skip style". In fact, just finished pouring my foundation piers this past week and have some forms for sale cheap if anyone in this area is interested. I will cut my trees for the cabin off my land this winter and will be debarking next spring, if all goes as planned.

I built a 34'x42' x 20' tall log shed/pavilion "skip style" last Nov. to test my block tackle concepts and to store my cabin 4"x10"x 20' timbers and lumber under. While pouring the foundation piers I also poured a outdoor privy foundation and will have it finished real soon. While I will have power and water when the cabin is built I am currently living in town and just use an electric generator and soon an outhouse while working on the cabin. The lake provides water for work purposes. I have lots of pictures and trying to learn how to make a website using photobucket. Once there I will share my experiances with anyone interested.

I took the class in '05 with seriousvol and recently drove to his place near Birmingham AL to see his progress. He is well ahead of me in the cabin building process and we talk log home building every time we get a chance. In addition to the class, I have gained a huge amount amount of knowledge from the LHBoNA forum.
wayne

Hello everyone. My name is Jason P. from Raleigh, North Carolina. I'm a NC Registered Forester, and plan to build a log home in the next five years or so. My brother and I purchased twenty wooded acres near Chapel Hill (UNC), and I plan to take the next class to kickstart the process. I have a number of contacts in the logging industry, which I hope will allow me to purchase the logs I'll need for the project. Look forward to reading this forum and learning along the way...

Hi everybody! I attended the class in June '07 and asked Steve if I could play Skip's piano, since I'm a professional musician. www.dankonefal.net Maybe he remembers me. Anyway, he said the thing didn't work. I can relate, since my sister has a piano that's a great piece of furniture, too. I've been looking around for land and will be making an offer on a nice tract of land north of Pittsburgh maybe as soon as next week. Kyle, since you're in western PA like I am, maybe we can get together. Had a great time in Monroe and learned a heckuva lot. All the best, Dan Konefal.

hey. We are looking forward to an opportunity to attend a class. We would like to build in about two years. Living in SC/NC mountains...will it be difficult to find proper timber? Any advice for a family so far away from your home base?

My wife and I are in our early 50s, tired of the rat race, and want to be self sufficient, debt free, and off all the grids. The irony is that I am a Community Peace Officer who is tired of big brother, and am looking to go back to a simpler, more respectful. more decent time. I hope that building in the back woods of Alberta, where I have grown up and hunted, will allow for this dream to occur. I very much want to take the course, when the funds are available. (Money is being set aside as we speak--thanks Dave Ramsey!) God bless all of you like minded people. It tells me that there are still pockets of sanity in this crazy world. If there are any of you who reside in Alberta, or Canada, please don't hesitate to respond.

John

Hi Steve, My husband and I just bought some land in NC. The previous owner had rough cleared a section for a house. He knocked down many hard woods with a bucket loader. As a result we had to have a bull dozer smooth it out for a pad. We are now left with many downed trees. We want to use these trees in the building of a log "shed" that could be some day be used as a guest cottage. Any suggestions are very welcome.

Hi there, Where are you located in mountains? My husband and I just bought property in MillSprings outside Tryon. Maybe we can help each other.
Charlotte

Hi, my name is Lindy and I'm an artist living in Bend, Oregon. I just discovered this web site the other day and it came at a very good time! I want to learn all I can about building a log home. I read that taking the class 2 years in advance before you want to start building would be a good idea and that would fit right into my timeline. So I would love to take the next class! If there is anyone in Bend who is going through this same process, I would love to hear from you.
By the way, I also have an 18 ft. tipi that is very cool (I read about Kola's tipi in the Forum) and I could see somebody getting one and living in it while they build their log home. Mine is used for other things besides living in but it is pretty sweet!
Thanks for having this Forum...I hope to learn a few things from it.

It seems like the people who took this course has not built anything yet, is it that complicated or what because I am planning to take this class soon and it seems like it would be better for me to take a course that would be offered longer, like at the Lasko school of loghome building, I do have land but just need to build the log home or is it more difficult than having the land already, please someone help me and let me know what to do, THANX

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Originally Posted by delfinefrancis

It seems like the people who took this course has not built anything yet, is it that complicated or what because I am planning to take this class soon and it seems like it would be better for me to take a course that would be offered longer, like at the Lasko school of loghome building, I do have land but just need to build the log home or is it more difficult than having the land already, please someone help me and let me know what to do, THANX

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You will find some who do go on to build immediately after taking the class, but you are right, that most don't. The main reason is simply, the class teaches you how to build in the most affordable method possible. (hence, avoiding mortgages and striving for a debt free life) To do that, it usually involves finding great deals on everything from hand tools to land, and to do that, it involves time. Of course, you can custom tailor your build schedule to the amount of time/money you have to spend. It's not complicated, just that if you want to do it for the best price possible, you need the time to find the best prices. For example, say you are working on a project and you need a certain tool. You go out and buy it for retail and get back to what you were doing. Now say instead, that you are planning a future project and know you'll need this tool. You can take the time to wait for a sale, find a deal on a used one, etc., and save XX% from what you'd spend retail.

The class says prepare for two years. I thought it ridiculous that it would take that long, but here I am at 2 years, 4 months. How time flies!!! But I'm getting close to that goal of building. The biggest amount of time spent, has been liquidating unnecessary assets and finding the right property for the right price. But that's OK, since it's left me plenty of time to stockpile tools and research information for this eventual build.

The main thing you need to think about, is to not think with conventional thinking!!! LHBA's teaching methods are outside the typical mindset, through common sense pathways seldom seen anymore these days. If you take the course, set aside typical thinking and be prepared to have an eye opening experience!!!

Hello everyone.

I took the class in May and bought my first tool, a Toyota pick up truck, in June. Since then I have almost completed my backyard storage shed, stick and frame at 8 X 12 feet, in my backyard in Maryland. I am about 80% done and this little project allowed me to become familiar with the tools I have purchased and learn how to "try" to build things square, level, and plumb.... Also, to show my wife I can actually build something worthwhile.

This has been a great educational experience and is preping me to start my log cabin. I plan to put in the foundation in early Oct and then the shell and roof in the summer of '08. It takes about 10 hrs to drive to my land up in Maine so I have to plan efficiently and do a lot of coordination by phone.

Anyone want to talk about Maine and logs, supplies, etc. just hit me back...

Mark

I don't remember how I stumbled upon this site but I'm thoroughly hooked now. My wife and I plan on taking the class in the very near future.

I've always taken to stories of self sufficiency and not falling into the debt trap. I've always been keen on building my own place in the woods somewhere. If I could retire today I would do it. There are so many interesting things to learn and do in this world that having to work a full time job to put food on the table really puts a damper on everything. Know what I mean?

I grew up as a lower middle class blue collar guy in the great midwest but through hard work I'm trying my best to work my way up the social ladder. I'm currently living in VA because of my job but I've really been a "Cheesehead" all my life (i.e. from WI). In the next few years I should be able to move back there permanently and this is where I plan to build "the log home."

I'm a Computer Engineer working as an Examiner at the Patent Office. Technically I'm some kind of an evil bureaucrat. (If it makes you feel any better the Patent Office has never taken a dime of taxpayer money. You have a better chance of being struck by lightning then dealing with someone like me.) I'm quite Libertarian in my political views, and yes, I swore an oath to uphold the Constitution. I am an advocate of freedom, believe freedom stems from well-enforced property rights, and view taxation as a form of slavery. (You should hear the shocked responses from people on that last one!)

My wife and I own a house on ~2 acres of land. We plan on adding another building which will serve as an office so we can work from home. It's the perfect starter project to test the theories taught in the class, I think. Since it will be a good 2 years or so before we can move back, taking Skip's class now seems like a very good idea.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by delfinefrancis

It seems like the people who took this course has not built anything yet, is it that complicated or what because I am planning to take this class soon and it seems like it would be better for me to take a course that would be offered longer, like at the Lasko school of loghome building, I do have land but just need to build the log home or is it more difficult than having the land already, please someone help me and let me know what to do, THANX

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delfinefrancis,
I took the class in June of 2004. I was not in a position to build until I retired here in Mississippi in 2005, but started gathering tools. Since I've retired (age 63) I have started the process of building a 30'x30' two story cabin with large porches.

I have already cleared land, cleared a road/ had gravel road built, cut large trees to cut my timber/lumber, built a 34'x42' pavilion/storage shed to test out building tools and debarking techniques, built forms for and poured concrete piers for the cabin, and almost through with my outdoor privy(will use until cabin is built).

Yes, I learned a lot from the LHBoNA course and I have and am building for the first time (and loving it!). Please check out photoss of progress at this URL:

http://s196.photobucket.com/albums/aa19/wwlivin/?start=all ; and good luck with your decision to move ahead.

wayne

Hello All,
I have been a member of this site for a couple of years now. I have not had a chance to make a class yet. I moved to Viriginia Two years ago.
I purchased a cabin in the woods. Now I would like to sell some land. I know when I moved here I was looking to build. Now I would like to get back on tract with that vision.

Love the new site, Thanks Steve.

My name is Nora. My husband (Ernie) and I live in Florida, but own land in Coldwater, Mississippi. We are awaiting a class so that we can build our dream log home. I look forward to the class and meeting other ower builders. Please contine to share pictures, information, and definitely new class schedule with us.

Hello; My name is Ken, and I'm in Bend, Oregon. With no classes scheduled; what benefits are there for new people coming in? I'm looking forward to someday being able to build my own log home. I've purchased books on the subject; but there's no substitute for hands on experience. I'm assuming that everyone who has joined the LHBA has taken the class. (or am I missing something?)

My name is Daryl..from Memphis, TN. I am very interested in learning more about log cabins. I eventually want to experience this and get out of the rat race...what does everyone think??

Hi

I am trying to absorb as much as I can to get a feel for what's involved with this log thing. I have 40 treed acres of pines and oaks in the Sierra foothills. It just seems like building a log cabin myself seems like the right thing to do! I've looked at kits and prefabs and all seems OK but I got a feeling that for the same money I could do soooo much more if I do it myself! Just wait'n for a class I can attend.


I can do all things through Christ

Hey artc1,

Let me know if you're taking the class soon. Maybe I
can coordinate picking up my insulation with your plane.
If alll works out ok I'll give you a ride to the class.

-Rick

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Originally Posted by gr8art

Hello; My name is Ken, and I'm in Bend, Oregon. With no classes scheduled; what benefits are there for new people coming in? I'm looking forward to someday being able to build my own log home. I've purchased books on the subject; but there's no substitute for hands on experience. I'm assuming that everyone who has joined the LHBA has taken the class. (or am I missing something?)

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There's a sticky thread in this forum http://www.loghomebuilders.org/how-get-members-section-updated .

It says you can't get into the members forum until after you take the class. I'm guessing it's to keep the member forums from getting flooded with noobish questions that will usually be answered in the class anyway. I know I'm full of those questions, hehe. I've read every article in the "articles" section here, and read every post since I registered for the forums here.

But I do also feel sometimes like everything is under the Dome of Silence (tm) until you take the class, lol. And for those of us who are eager to learn, it can be an impatient wait.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gr8art

Hello; My name is Ken, and I'm in Bend, Oregon. With no classes scheduled; what benefits are there for new people coming in? I'm looking forward to someday being able to build my own log home. I've purchased books on the subject; but there's no substitute for hands on experience. I'm assuming that everyone who has joined the LHBA has taken the class. (or am I missing something?)

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Yea, the site, as well as the public portion of the forums is a great primer for the class. Klapton has some of it right, by keeping the questions commonly answered during the class, out of the member's portion of the forums. But there's more to it than that. A lot of the things discussed can get get rather technically involved, and someone who hasn't taken the class, doesn't have the "whole picture" of the construction technique. It could be a hazard to someone attempting to build their own home with only part of the information needed. It's sort of a CYA, (cover your assets) so please don't feel as if it's an exclusive club that's trying to keep you out until you pay your dues.

So please look over the site and forum, and if you got more questions then, by all means ask. One way or the other, you'll get an answer, whether it be what you wanted, or we'll politely let you know if you've delved into a section too technical to be discussed outside the member's portion.