Workshop TA: Difference between revisions

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I'd like to build the Earthship on a large plot of land with a lot of trees (>10 acres at least 20% forested). Before starting the earthship, I'll spend some time constructing the workshop. The timeline is going to be to get this set up much sooner and spend years expanding it before starting on the earthship.
I'd like to build the Earthship on a large plot of land with a lot of trees (>10 acres at least 20% forested).
 
The first decision that needs to be made here is if the shop is permanent or temporary. If permanent, it will need to be near the earthship and designed to eventually house all the systems (water, power, climate).
 
The shop will be a cob construction with a basic roof. It needs to be long enough to mill 10' boards. The shop will operate off solar and wood gasification. It's probably just easiest to use an electric generator, though it may be worth looking at direct drive in some cases.
 
The operational plan is to cut down trees and run them through the mill. All wood will be solar dried and the wood chips will be run through the CEB press to make fuel bricks. The dried scraps will feed to the generator for power and the boards will be used to construct the house (and other parts of the shop). Saw dust will be collected and used for mushroom farming.
 
The only major tool I'm missing is a CEB press. I'll also need some metal fabrication tools - welding and a metal brake, possible a lathe and mill.
 
A lot of this can be taken from [http://opensourceecology.org/ Open Source Ecology]. They use a 27hp engine, I was able to find a few in that range for around $700. Looking at this, and the price of steel ($150 / ton) I think the best starting point would be a small foundry and a cnc mill that machine steel plates. I can do a sort of multi-pass process. I can machine wax, then make a sand casting, then finish the casting - for instance, cooling fins can't be cast, but they can be machined.


== Areas ==
== Areas ==
The structure will be long and narrow. The wider it is, the taller the roof needs to be. It will be 16' wide. It can be as long as needed and I can have one end cut to accommodate expansion.


=== Office ===
=== Kitchen ===
Computer desk and electronics desk, 12x12 should be fine. This is also where the automation computers will live.
Doesn't need to be fancy, but I'll need it to process some of the food and to eat while I'm onsite. After completion, I'll use this for canning and vinting so I can keep those supplies out of the house. Again, optional. I can use the [[Earthship Tiny House|tiny house]] or even just limit myself to uncooked food while I'm on site.


=== Bathroom ===
* 3 basin sink
Not a large area consideration, but adds the complexity of a cesspool or methane digester.
* gas burner
* work table
* lots of storage


=== Kitchen ===
I won't need an oven, fridge or dishwasher.
Doesn't need to be fancy, but I'll need it to process some of the food and to eat while I'm onsite.


=== Shop ===
=== Shop ===
Holds all the tools and I need room to work. On the larger side 15x60?
Holds all the tools and I need room to work. On the larger side 16x60?
 
Larger static tools will live along the edges of the shop. The center will be open with doors at both ends so that larger things (like trees) can be processed.


=== Systems Area ===
The rafters need to be fairly strong because I will use them for wood storage. I'll setup one or two kilns up there so that new wood can be dried out. Then I'll just stack it off to the sides.
Hold water tanks, water pump, wood stove, gasifier, sewage handling. Should probably be close to the office because that's where all the automation hardware will live.


=== Mushrooms ===
=== Mushrooms ===
Should be fairly small, but getting the systems setup will be tricky.
Should be fairly small, but getting the systems setup will be tricky. Certainly not something I need setup to start with, but it will be good to reserve space in the floor plan.
 
=== Aquaponics ===
The fish tanks will be indoors so they will be easier to climate control


== Systems ==
== Systems ==


=== Electrical ===
=== Electrical ===
Solar and wood gasification. The system needs to be able to maintain itself on solar. Gasification can be use when I'm there to provide extra power to run the shop. It may also be worth putting a few wind mills along the peak of the roof.
The solar array will be it's own mini-structure and will house the batteries. So that won't be here. I may setup a wood gassifier.
 
I'll need deep cycle batteries to store the power, though I shouldn't need much. I'll need a way to dissipate excess power safely.
 
There will need to be transformer equipment to step power up to 110 and I'll need an electrical box. I should try to run as much off DC power as possible.


=== Thermal ===
=== Thermal ===
Semi passive cooling should be enough (pumping air through under ground passages to cool it) to keep it functionally cool in the summer.
Semi passive cooling should be enough (pumping air through under ground passages to cool it) to keep it functionally cool in the summer. I want a wood stove to keep it warm in the winter and this will give me a chance to test out that system before the complete build.
 
For heating, when I'm not there, I really just need to keep the fish tank warm. When I am onsite, there will be plenty of wood fuel. I'll also setup a solar water heater and circulate that through a radiator system.


=== Water ===
=== Water ===
While the system will eventually require a lot of water, it cycle rate is very low. I think I can get by with rain water collection.
Initially I was going to put the water systems here, but I no longer think that's the right choice. Putting them in the house is better.
 
=== Sewage ===
My earlier tests with methane were unsuccessful, but they were also limited. I think I can get a system working here.  


== Build Order ==
== Build Order ==
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=== Initial Setup ===
=== Initial Setup ===
I'm not sure what the overall shape will be, probably like a barn. I'm also not sure where the earth from the CEB will come from - if there is a good hill, I can use that. It may also make sense to just dig down and have the floor of the workshop be below the surrounding ground level.
I'm not sure what the construction approach will be, but it should at least partially mirror the complete build. Regardless, I think I can lay out the main supports and build the roof first. Then I can get the ground leveled. This will give me a large work area, even if it is open.
 
Step one is actually going to be lumber for the roof. Get the gasifier setup and running the lumber mill. Cut down trees, seal the ends and setup a solar kiln they can be cycled through. I'll need a really simple shed to keep the wood dry.
 
Based on the site get the main building perimeter laid out and setup the CEB press under a tarp. I'll need to begin work in late spring. Make bricks, get them wrapped up and leave them out to dry. Get an estimate on how many are needed - make some extras. And that's it for a while. Make sure to sample the bricks during the drying process to see how things are going.
 
=== First Round ===
 
I need to get to a point that the necessary lumber is dry, and the bricks are set. Then the exterior walls will be built along with internal support columns. Boards will be cemented to the tops of the walls, trusses built and attached to the boards. Then the lumber goes on to form a roof and roof tiles on top of that. Sounds easy, but it will probably take 2 years just to do that.


I'm not sure what I'll do for the floor, I like the idea of compressed earth tiles, but it will require some research. During this phase, bury pipes leading into the shop at different point. These can be used for stoves. It will also give me a chance to test that approach before using it in the house.
=== Walls ===
Get the external walls up, then (if necessary, depending on material) add insulation.


=== Internal Order ===
=== Internal ===
# systems
Setup the internal walls and start getting the systems setup.
# shop
# bathroom
# office
# kitchen
# mushrooms


Aquaponics will be last because the green house will be exterior and can wait.
[[Category:Terram Amoenam]]
[[Category:Buildings TA]]

Latest revision as of 15:22, 18 August 2020

I'd like to build the Earthship on a large plot of land with a lot of trees (>10 acres at least 20% forested).

Areas

The structure will be long and narrow. The wider it is, the taller the roof needs to be. It will be 16' wide. It can be as long as needed and I can have one end cut to accommodate expansion.

Kitchen

Doesn't need to be fancy, but I'll need it to process some of the food and to eat while I'm onsite. After completion, I'll use this for canning and vinting so I can keep those supplies out of the house. Again, optional. I can use the tiny house or even just limit myself to uncooked food while I'm on site.

  • 3 basin sink
  • gas burner
  • work table
  • lots of storage

I won't need an oven, fridge or dishwasher.

Shop

Holds all the tools and I need room to work. On the larger side 16x60?

Larger static tools will live along the edges of the shop. The center will be open with doors at both ends so that larger things (like trees) can be processed.

The rafters need to be fairly strong because I will use them for wood storage. I'll setup one or two kilns up there so that new wood can be dried out. Then I'll just stack it off to the sides.

Mushrooms

Should be fairly small, but getting the systems setup will be tricky. Certainly not something I need setup to start with, but it will be good to reserve space in the floor plan.

Systems

Electrical

The solar array will be it's own mini-structure and will house the batteries. So that won't be here. I may setup a wood gassifier.

Thermal

Semi passive cooling should be enough (pumping air through under ground passages to cool it) to keep it functionally cool in the summer. I want a wood stove to keep it warm in the winter and this will give me a chance to test out that system before the complete build.

Water

Initially I was going to put the water systems here, but I no longer think that's the right choice. Putting them in the house is better.

Build Order

Pre Setup

The major thing I'm missing that will be needed for this is welding and machining. I don't think I need much, but a good welder and a basic lath and mill will probably be necessary.

  • Sawmill
  • Gasifier
  • Generator
  • CEB press

Initial Setup

I'm not sure what the construction approach will be, but it should at least partially mirror the complete build. Regardless, I think I can lay out the main supports and build the roof first. Then I can get the ground leveled. This will give me a large work area, even if it is open.

Walls

Get the external walls up, then (if necessary, depending on material) add insulation.

Internal

Setup the internal walls and start getting the systems setup.

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