Cordwood shelter

Im sitting here eating my lunch and realized I dont think I ever shared any pictures or information about this cool shelter a bunch of us volunteered building the last couple summers.

This is near the shores of a local river that’s commonly used for canoe and kayak trips but that has no places to camp nearby. So the idea was to build a shelter for first-come-first-serve use to any river travelers or anyone else that wants to use it. Its totally empty inside. Just a place to sleep or hang out if its raining.

It is octagonal shaped and sits on a concrete pad. It is cordwood with a cement like mortar and the majority of the wood used was local cedar. None of us had ever done cordwood before or built an octagonal structure, but with the help of maybe 15-20 volunteers over a couple summers, we got it done. It had a “green roof” as well that has the sod from where the structure was built placed on the roof. Now there are wildflowers and wild strawberries dangling from the roof down to the ground.

It was a lot of work but it was fun and we all learned something. Plus, the community has something cool to look at and use. Either the mortar shrunk as it dried or the wood did, but some of the wall logs are loose now. But so long as nobody messes with them, they should stay put.

Just thought I would share

That's awesome; great work! I like the shelves.

How many can it sleep?

I looks wonderful and I love the green roof!

Jay Angler wrote:How many can it sleep?

I looks wonderful and I love the green roof!

Yea the roof is great! Were all a little concerned with rot but put a lot of effort into avoiding it. If I remember right, its like 3” thick cedar boards with ice and water shield, some sort of rolled roofing, gravel and then sod. And the sides of the roof were also cedar but treated with that copper based wood preservative and we cut grooves and drilled holes along the bottom edge for drainage.

We havent slept in it yet as its has been super dry and windy here and we would really want a campfire if we’re staying there. Its raining now so maybe next weekend we will make it out there, so long as its not too cold. Im thinking 3 adults on individual cots could sleep in there, or maybe 2 couples if they were on matts on the floor partnered up

Christopher Weeks wrote:That's awesome; great work! I like the shelves.

Thank you! The shelves and bottles were random additions to the walls that turned out pretty cool.