• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Carla Burke
  • Nancy Reading
  • John F Dean
  • r ranson
  • Jay Angler
  • paul wheaton
stewards:
  • Pearl Sutton
  • Leigh Tate
  • Devaka Cooray
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
  • Timothy Norton
gardeners:
  • thomas rubino
  • Matt McSpadden
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • Likes 5
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
This is a badge bit (BB) that is part of the PEP curriculum.  Completing this BB is part of getting the sand badge in Community.

In this Badge Bit, you will improve a physical location that has already been branded. To see how to brand a location, look at this thread.

Ideas for improving a location:

      - Set up a water proof log and trinket center - possibly a mail box  etc. etc. etc.
      - add art
      - add benches (like this three log bench or this half-log bench with four legs)
      - add a stool
      - add a small shed for tools, snacks, toys, garbage, seeds, etc.
      - chalk board
      - if appropriate, water
      - if appropriate, electricity
          - music
          - solar powered lights
      - add a covered bench (maybe in combination with the small shed)
      - hugelkultur
      - picnic table
      - an arbor/trellis/bean teepee for shade
      - a rock pathway
      - decking
      - a bird house
      - a frog pond
      - a decorative gate or fence, like those in the junkpole fence thread

To qualify for this Badge Bit, you must:
 - Post link to the post in the thread about the branded location, that has info and pics about your improvement
 - Post before, during and after pics.
 - this improvement must rack up 1.5 points by the rules of Oddball points

COMMENTS:
 
steward
Posts: 21564
Location: Pacific Northwest
12053
11
hugelkultur kids cat duck forest garden foraging fiber arts sheep wood heat homestead
  • Likes 3
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Approved submission
Today I installed two improvements to Tree Fort House (https://permies.com/t/101799/Tree-Fort-House#844073)

We got a bucket (I asked my husband to buy a metal bucket on his way home...instead he got a plastic red one, since red is my son's favorite color). I went up and predrilled a hole in the tree (with the fiskars non-electric hand drill) and then screws in the hook (previous owner had a bunch of these already installed in our garage, so I unscrewed from the garage, and put it in the tree instead.). We actually installed it last night...but it got too dark, so we came out again to play today!

Here's the before picture


Here's the installation picture (it was dark)


and one from today


And some with it in use!


We also made a sign for the little nook nearby that the kids want to connect somehow to the Tree Fort House.


Before picture


First installation


Second Installation (they wanted it higher)


And then we turned the slope between the areas into a sledding area (had to add snow and compact it down so that they could sled easily.)




Staff note (paul wheaton) :

I need more to certify this BB

 
author and steward
Posts: 52522
Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)
hugelkultur trees chicken wofati bee woodworking
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Dead center of the last image:  is that a giant lizard trying to get into the tree?

Where does the bucket go?  Is it a permanent installation?  I think if there is a tree house up there, then the bucket on a pulley is an excellent addition.   But it seems the bucket goes up and then there is nothing there.  ??

 
Nicole Alderman
steward
Posts: 21564
Location: Pacific Northwest
12053
11
hugelkultur kids cat duck forest garden foraging fiber arts sheep wood heat homestead
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
It is a permanent installation! So far, they like playing up there as it is, but we have plans of installing some decking (WOOT! another badge bit to work on) and maybe railing to enlarge the area. It's actually about 6+ square feet up there, since it was a large maple when it got copiced (by whomever copiced the thing.)

We're planning on putting in a few ladder rungs to make it easier to get up there for my daughter, and a rope swing, and whatever else the kids start wanting. I like that this project is kind of driven by my kids and what they want done and when. Right now, they DON'T want decking, and since it's their Tree House Fort, I'm doing the improvements they want. My daughter really wanted the sign for Huckleberry Book Nook, so I worked on that.

I'll see if I can find a picture that shows how big it is up there....
 
Nicole Alderman
steward
Posts: 21564
Location: Pacific Northwest
12053
11
hugelkultur kids cat duck forest garden foraging fiber arts sheep wood heat homestead
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Oh, and no, it's not a giant lizard. It's a big ol' curled root. I used it to stand on to stick on the Huckleberry Book Nook sign (thus it's lack of snow.)

I don't have an areal picture of the base. I'll try and get one for you tomorrow! There's about 2 feet of walking area behind my son, and 2 feet to our right of him.
IMGP0460.JPG
[Thumbnail for IMGP0460.JPG]
 
Nicole Alderman
steward
Posts: 21564
Location: Pacific Northwest
12053
11
hugelkultur kids cat duck forest garden foraging fiber arts sheep wood heat homestead
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Finally got some more work done on the Tree Fort House! Yesterday I got out the woodburner to burn the edges of the ladder rungs, only to have the kids want me to make designs on them instead. So, now the rungs have little hearts and stars and hot air baloons and a rainbow! I installed them with lag bolts, and discovered when drilling that the sap was flowing! Drilled a second hole and stuck a straw in it, and we collected the dribbles with a cup (my camera's autofocus malfunctioned, thus the blurry picture).

Now my daughter can climb up by herself. She also likes to sit on the rungs!

First run installed


Extremely flattering picture taken by my son of me ratcheting in a lag bolt



All three rungs installed!


Maple tapping, the quick and easy and not-as-effective way!



 
Nicole Alderman
steward
Posts: 21564
Location: Pacific Northwest
12053
11
hugelkultur kids cat duck forest garden foraging fiber arts sheep wood heat homestead
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Approved submission
Here's a closer view of the ladder rungs.
IMGP0981.JPG
[Thumbnail for IMGP0981.JPG]
Staff note (paul wheaton) :

I certify this BB is complete!

 
pollinator
Posts: 553
Location: Mid-Atlantic, USDA zone 7
428
forest garden trees books building
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Approved submission
I made five new improvements here to our recently branded "Kinder Garden" plot.

1. An expanding guerilla garden fence line, with perennial possibilities.  This will enable more community gardeners to participate in our garden, even if they don't win the yearly plottery.
2. A wood-burned sign designating where to keep watering cans.  The location in the shade will help prevent their premature UV degradation.
3. Another wood-burned sign and new location for sharing surplus pots and gardening supplies, helping more people in the community grow, and reducing unnecessary purchases.  (Some pot bottoms based under the roof eve will also catch a smidgen of rain water for insect hydration.)
4. A burndoodled bird house for my robin friend.
5. Safer, more centrally located spot for tool sharing.

1-In-April-we-started-out-with-bare-dirt.jpg
[Thumbnail for 1-In-April-we-started-out-with-bare-dirt.jpg]
2-And-a-lonely-Fence.jpg
[Thumbnail for 2-And-a-lonely-Fence.jpg]
3-I-gave-a-little-of-my-time.jpg
[Thumbnail for 3-I-gave-a-little-of-my-time.jpg]
4-I-shared-some-knowledge.jpg
[Thumbnail for 4-I-shared-some-knowledge.jpg]
5-Now-the-garden-is-green.jpg
[Thumbnail for 5-Now-the-garden-is-green.jpg]
6-And-the-fence-is-coming-alive.jpg
[Thumbnail for 6-And-the-fence-is-coming-alive.jpg]
7-I-discovered-resources-all-around-me.jpg
[Thumbnail for 7-I-discovered-resources-all-around-me.jpg]
8-Scrap-wood.jpg
[Thumbnail for 8-Scrap-wood.jpg]
9-Makes-for-quick-and-lasting-signs.jpg
[Thumbnail for 9-Makes-for-quick-and-lasting-signs.jpg]
10-Maybe-it-will-make-a-lasting-difference.jpg
[Thumbnail for 10-Maybe-it-will-make-a-lasting-difference.jpg]
Staff note (gir bot) :

Mike Haasl approved this submission.

 
If you try to please everybody, your progress is limited by the noisiest fool. And this tiny ad:
A rocket mass heater heats your home with one tenth the wood of a conventional wood stove
http://woodheat.net
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic