Design challenge: under a north-facing deck

I can't abide wasted space.  I'm building a small house (not really tiny).  There will be a deck right the way around.  I'm going to have  storage (some insulated) on the outer north wall to buffer from the cold.  But I currently have nothing planned for under the deck.  It will be about 3.5 ft.above ground.  Wood storage, maybe?  What other cool things could I think about using that space for?  It'll probably be 6-8' deep.

Thanks heaps,

Will the deck be roofed? That makes a big difference in what you can do with it and the underfloor space.

Wood storage on the shady side of a deck near the ground will not give much scope for drying... You want dry seasoned wood for any kind of burning, and you need it for a rocket mass heater if that is in your plans.

The problem I see with storing wood under the deck is that the wood attracts insects and critters like snakes.

I see termites invading the new deck.

I would suggest planting hostas because they like shade and are edible.

This thread is all about hostas:

https://permies.com/t/74610/perennial-vegetables/Favorite-Hosta-varieties

Flower pots might be store under the deck.

Glenn Herbert wrote:Will the deck be roofed? That makes a big difference in what you can do with it and the underfloor space.

Undecided as yet.  Probably at least partially (over the door).  I suppose that will depend upon availability of materials and/or funds to build the roof.

Anne Miller wrote:The problem I see with storing wood under the deck is that the wood attracts insects and critters like snakes.

I see termites invading the new deck.

I would suggest planting hostas because they like shade and are edible.

This thread is all about hostas:

https://permies.com/t/74610/perennial-vegetables/Favorite-Hosta-varieties

Flower pots might be store under the deck.

Excellent point about termites.  Hostas are a great idea.  Flower pot storage also excellent.  

The space nearby will be a small orchard and a chicken yard (either side of the driveway leading to the little house).

Being in a Province known for extreme wildfire events, I'm personally not keen on wood storage under a deck which might be required for emergency egress.

However, do you think you could dig down to make more of a 5.5 to 6ft height under part of the deck and turn it into a cold cellar?  Even for just medium term storage of things like cabbages and apples? You would have to be able to keep the water from dripping on them, or it from filling up with water, so much depends on the lay of the land.

Nissa,

Using the space under the deck will make the deck look not so nice any more. It has to "breathe". If this is on the northern side you could try to grow mushrooms there among some nicely laid stones that would create some pattern matching your house.

Cristobal Cristo wrote:Nissa,

Using the space under the deck will make the deck look not so nice any more. It has to "breathe". If this is on the northern side you could try to grow mushrooms there among some nicely laid stones that would create some pattern matching your house.

I like that idea!  Very cool.    Hostas and mushrooms out the back door.  That's a great possibility.  And stones?  We have a lot of those.  So many.

If you do a vermicompost toilet, the insulated tank or tanks could live there.
Bagged leaves.
Barrels of feed.
Tree hay.

It sounds like good place for an outdoor kitchen,except it's too low.
"Lay down yard"
Outdoor tool storage.
Compressed air tanks.
Water heater.
Kerosene heater.
Generator.
Hammock hanging spot.Probably too low
Laundry hanging spot.You can hang the cloths on pulleys.
Bug-in panic room.
You could enclose it in plastic and pull a negative pressure on it with a low wattage fan.
Rock garden.
Mushroom cultivation.
Above ground water capture/storage  which should act as a big thermal buffer.
Below ground stealth pond.

Jay Angler wrote:Being in a Province known for extreme wildfire events, I'm personally not keen on wood storage under a deck which might be required for emergency egress.

However, do you think you could dig down to make more of a 5.5 to 6ft height under part of the deck and turn it into a cold cellar?  Even for just medium term storage of things like cabbages and apples? You would have to be able to keep the water from dripping on them, or it from filling up with water, so much depends on the lay of the land.

That's understandable.  While we do get fire in this area sometimes, it's nowhere near the risk as in other regions.  Thank goodness.  Damp is a major issue, though.

I like the cool storage idea.  I thought to make closed built-in storage along the back wall of the house itself for that.  It should also provide a bit of a buffer for the living space during the winter months.  I have a place where I can get metal boxes to keep rodents out.  The storage could be built to suit the dimensions of those boxes.

I love file cabinets for rodent proof storage.
They even work outdoors for many items, and they are fairly standardized.
I probably have about thirty of them over three different properties.
I tell my children that when I die, one phone call To the scrap man will clear out out 90% of my furniture for free.