Jack Edmondson

Oh, we are here.  I think most of us are quietly executing our own versions of 'the plan'.  I am a year older than you.  Never married no kids.  Building a plan for how the rest of my time may be used productivly.   (Dogs are always part of the plan, but coming to peace with the knowledge I only have time for a few more furry friends commitments.  My current pals area a half Great Pyr and German Shepard cross; and a very old schitzu that adopted me.)

In our age cohort, we are out there.  It is just more difficult to make connections.  Most of the avalble dating pool is either already on a set path; or trying to rebuild and regroup from the complications in life that disrupt plans.  My advise is to set a path that brings you joy and ignore all daily distractions that impinge on that joy.  Find Peace in your own company; and validate yourself and mission.  No one needs to approve or even understand what you are doing.  Only you.  We only get a few trips around the sun.  Don't leave with regret.

... and welcome to Permies.    

For ease of construction and cost consider the gothic arch.  It can either be laminated or use inexpensive lumber.  

It can be made into quite a nice little cabin for not much money.  If you go with a tamped earth floor or other natural foundation it can be very inexpensive.  

Here are some examples, but it can be done as two story as well.  There is a gentleman in Russia that has plans for a 200 sq ft building that I have lost in my bookmarks.  If I find it I will add it to the thread.

Late to the party....

I did roughly 30 years in supply chain/logistics in different industries mostly inventory management.  5 years ago, I was looking for a challenge and fell into industrial maintence fora  'factory food' manufacturer in the midwest.   I sold my project property in Texas and am now looking for the next turn of the wheel...

I have been dreaming of a 'greening the desert' project for several years; but have my eye on a place in Costa Rica that would 'retire me' to raise liverstock in Central America should all the stars align.  

angle grinder and a cutting disk cut axially will yeild 2 (halfs) animal feed bunks/troughs.  Cut along the circumference give a few nice planters/raised beds.  Just be careful to cut in a ventilated area.  Galvenized sheet will give off some not so nice gases when heated.  Welders call it zinc flu.  It will pass in a day, but can't be good for the body.  

Oh, thank you.  I needed that smile.  I had to give a thumbs up on this.  As a 58 yo guy whom quit dating over a decade ago, I know I am "too old" for the 30 and 40 year old crowd.  But now I know I am too old for the 50 somethings!  

There are some great suppliers online.  But to do a cost comparison it will all come down to shipping cost to your locale.  Find a good local seed store and tell them what you need.  If they can't get it then go online to the nearest region.  I like green cover crops, but they are local to the midwest region.  Petcher's seed in the southeast is also a good source. along with Handcock seed in Florida.  I am not familiar with the northeast.  

I am working so can't dig it up, but you might try youtube for a search on aircrete from (i believe) the Honeydo carpenter.  He has done an aircrete tilt up shed with forms made from metal stud material and mesh.

I don't want to dissuade you, but a DIY option in King County will be a real trick.  The project is possible, but doing it legally and without heavy fines is not.  Any septic grey or otherwise will require a licensed engineer's plan submitted and approved.  If your are anywhere near what is regulated as a wet land, much of the foot hills on the eastern Cascades, it is a hard "no".  There are entire government agencies chartered to protect watershed in Snohomish and King counties.  If it is not a  "cookie cutter" solution that fits their paradigm, I doubt they will even listen much less consider.  Contaminate a wet land area and they will bankrupt you.  Please proceed with caution.  

There is a forum here on Permies call "land shares" that might be helpful.  Do you have a farmer's market, co-op or natural foods store near you?  I would write out a short requirement list and put a posting there.  Talk to local master gardener programs to get the work out for what you are looking for.  

Post more details here?  ... Region, state, community... ecolgocial zone rainfall, soil type.  The more you can share to better chance you find what you need.