Construction & Conservation: A Series on Becoming the Client and Growing Roots Part 1

Some people got quarantine kittens or puppies. Our family got quarantine land. Last December, we decided to take an incredible leap and purchase 155 acres at the base of a mountain in southwestern Maine. The spot is incredible. It’s part field with an existing, gigantic old barn and 100 acres in tree growth.  There’s a stream running through it and hundreds of wild raspberry and blackberry bushes, not to mention all the incredible fungi and trees and wildlife. We’ve seen turkeys, deer, grouse, and evidence that a moose calls the woods home as well.

A lot of people thought this purchase was a little crazy, and well, it IS a little bit crazy. While my husband and I are both passionate about sustainability and conservation, we’re not farmers. We don’t know how to “work the land.” We don’t even really understand how big 155 acres actually is. YET.

Our “adult bookshelf’, as our 6-year-old calls it, is filled with books on permaculture design, silvopasture, small farming techniques, biodiversity, mycelium, plant identification, plant propagation, native Maine people’s history and land use, foraging, food forests, water management, and several titles on natural movement. Our new homestead will be our place to experiment with some of the sustainable design strategies I want to bring to my clients. We’ll have the opportunity to educate ourselves and others on alternative farming and land use methods, accessible and impactful building techniques, and sustainable lifestyle changes for a healthier planet and person all from real, personal experience.

This experience will include building a house.

The hardest part of any project is finding the right team. I’ve always counseled my clients on prioritizing value over cost. Value may not mean hiring the lowest bidder but choosing the right people who can bring your vision to life and provide quality workmanship. It’s also important to actually like the people you’ll be working closely with for a long period of time! We spent months searching for the right architect. We looked at countless websites, talked to more than 15 different firms, and ultimately got proposals from two.

Did we consider cost? Yes. Was that the only factor? No. I knew from the websites, example designs, and preliminary conversations that both firms were quality groups and could design to the sustainability and wellness goals we have in mind. But what sealed it for me was in the interview when talking about whether or not the house would include a basement our architect said, “ME TOO!” when I said I don’t really like basements. It’s those little things that can have a big impact on choosing the right partner.

We had a similar experience in choosing a builder. We talked to lots of people, some who would have done a fine job and some who would have done a “cheaper” job. But the builder we chose was visibly excited about our project and eager to work with us and the architect throughout the whole process, bringing his own ideas and thoughts to us for a truly collaborative experience. It was clear that he wanted to work with us and was truly interested in what we’re trying to accomplish.

What are we trying to accomplish? The smallest and most sustainable house that is realistic for our family of 5 and our budget. At minimum, we’ll have a HERS Rating and a Pretty Good House (check out the important work coming out of Maine here: https://www.prettygoodhouse.org/ and watch out for their book release!). We’re also evaluating certifications while we make some tweaks to the floor plan. But that’s a post for another time. We’ve got a ways to go still. Stay tuned for more updates.