Rico Loma

This plant  created a sort of yin yang in the twisting growth

Our best so far is the versatile trombone squash, eaten small and fresh but also saved for 12 plus months as a moschata

Gorgeous Moschata, I am about 1k feet elevation in N GA, a poor summer for growing all squash this year.    Some great years and some lean , over a decade, for moschata in our garden.  Could I connect with you on Purple Moo? Would love to trade a few seeds with you, congrats on a pretty harvest.

Some of your success  might be in the details, for example the raw earth used.  Sand and rock,  clay with rock, what do you have at the location?, and will it work as mass or insulation ?  It seems you already have a formidable plan afoot!
good luck on your build

Thanks, I needed that reminder, excellent advice on the clever application of chook poop.  You grasp the essence I think.....   let it age a bit, then make the tea, then age that. Spread in garden.  Repeat.  
 I need to get off my !_ss and use your method every two months, we certainly have infinite supplies of the half composted scat

Hi Ned
Some exemplary suggestions from experts here, from John et al, hope you find a great plan over time to fit your property. Your OP states that building all of it solo is not going to be easy, with roofing and cob structure you mentioned; some skills are new, in your experience as an electrician,  I think( that's one of your specialties).
Perhaps send some photos of the maple tree, roots, property involved, and a sketch /photo of your ideal sauna ?  And your yard's slope, soil type?  With that info I bet a better , more relaxing project will be a great experience for you,  to fit well with your land.  When winter hits hard, you will be tumbling out of your sauna in a cascade of joyous laughter.....
Best of luck to y'all
Rico

It looks a bit like Johnson grass, spreding by seed and rhizomes , but I'm no expert
Part of the sorghum family
We have plenty of it here in GA, in bad droughts it still grows and some folks make a tolerable hay with it

Eric, I feel your thorn pain, along with the entrenched agony in my left foot.  They are truly a devil's spawn of the homestead
George, good move planting the thornless variety....one other great attribute is using this tree for posts and firewood, just season for 3 or four years beforebะอพ burning

...hither and yon... .(bloody autocorrect )

We have a few honey locust, but a lot more black locust , growing hither and you.  Please be vigilant as you work with either. Takes a while to heal up from the copious thorns, especially if if through a shoe into bottom of feet. Ask me how I know, I got some steel shank boots after.   One thorn from a year ago is the gift that keeps on giving