Tom Lampros

We're building a SB house in upstate NY. We're using Larsen trusses and box beams for framing. This is a rainy/snowy area. We're in an open site, surrounded by trees. It is now early September and just about to get the metal roof on. I think we are getting late in the season to complete 3 layers of plaster, inside and out. I've been thinking about a scratch coat of plaster on the exterior, and a reverse board and batten to get us through the winter. I would remove the boards in spring (to be used on a new pole barn garage) and finish the plaster then. The reverse B&B would give me a 3/4" rainscreen. The board would be rough sawn and green. Does this sound reasonable?

Hi Jesse,
Looks like a sweet little cabin. I'm curious how you finished the underside of the floor joists.
Did you cover the bottom with planks or plywood? How did you critterproof?
I'm also wondering if you considered using helical piles, rather than concrete piers. That may not have been a possibility given your soil type and water table.
Thanks,
Tom

A couple things
I broadforked our clayish garden soil this year (10'x20'. Broadforking is less damaging to the subsoil organisms. Then I added 40# of gypsum (calcium sulfate, which is water soluble, unlike lime, calcium carbonate) and then added a couple yards of compost on top. The compost was very work rich, so the expectation is that they'll tunnel down into the broken soul.
If you have access to leaves, I'd add them on top after broadforking and let them sit over winter. We them well.
I've just read an article about crushed volcanic rock absorbing atmospheric carbon. On a hunch, I looked up whether it would be good for Clay soil; turns out it is. Yes, it'll cost you, but would be easy to transport in bags in your car.
https://growingorganic.com/soil-guide/volcanic-rock-dust/