tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86299648558477944652011-12-04T19:38:04.453-08:00Bioregional Custom Timber Frame Design and Construction. Michael Hollihn. Midway, B.C. michaelhollihn@gmail.com * phone 250.449.2232michaelhollihn@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425818149899205298noreply@blogger.comBlogger141100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8629964855847794465.post-75065337113300188362008-02-12T22:07:00.000-08:002008-03-24T11:07:23.499-07:00

These are some of the things I've come to feel strongly about in the design and building process. I welcome any corrections, suggestions, and additions that may make this list more useful to those in the design or building process.Guideline #1: Do this if you do anything from this list! You will be glad you did.Find your timber first and then begin the design process. Most people design first and

michaelhollihn@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425818149899205298noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8629964855847794465.post-1381046083492463572008-02-11T09:05:00.000-08:002008-03-14T12:45:38.736-07:00

To build a home one must be healthy. To do anything that requires strength, skill and endurance one must be healthy. As I cross the threshold of middle-age I notice my body taking longer to heal and respond to rest. Responsibility means the ability to respond. Some people respond to health issues by trusting in an alopathic doctor. Over the years I have chosen to respond to my health issues

michaelhollihn@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425818149899205298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8629964855847794465.post-73304408849400378432008-02-10T10:42:00.000-08:002008-03-10T11:50:56.272-07:00

Since my years in University I have come to the conclusion that our only real democratic vote now lay with our dollar/peso/pound; our consumer currency.We vote once a year or once every four years for someone that is so wrapped in bureaucracy and under-the-table handshakes to be rendered useless if not harmful to the greater good.We are much more powerful in our daily activities to vote each and

michaelhollihn@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425818149899205298noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8629964855847794465.post-67101709811122397012008-02-02T12:47:00.000-08:002008-03-14T12:25:55.486-07:00

Experience can lead to wisdom if nurtured with due focus and attention. Where knowledge has its roots in the past, wisdom has its roots in the present drawing energy from the humus of the past and turning into the fertility of the future. It is wisdom that is the essence of craft.It is safe to say that an elder has had the most experience along both the beaten and less traveled paths. The craft

michaelhollihn@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425818149899205298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8629964855847794465.post-88737209675645369492008-02-01T07:47:00.000-08:002008-02-14T08:51:04.249-08:00

Should our homes heal and recharge us is another way of asking this question. Healthy homes are the latest movement towards personal and planetary health.Many modern materials tax our immune systems in stead of recharge them. Given todays high paced culture I can't see this as being a wise decision. Formaldehyde is one of the leading identified toxins that off-gas into the modern

michaelhollihn@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425818149899205298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8629964855847794465.post-81289537769395755302008-01-22T00:52:00.000-08:002008-01-22T11:00:22.639-08:00

It is important to me that all joints are fully housed. I am surprised how many timber frames I see without housed connections. It is a corner cut for sake of time and money, however, one that could seriously jeopardize the integrity of the frame.This tie beam seen here is housed one inch into the post. This allows the weight of the second floor to transfer properly onto the post and down to the

michaelhollihn@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425818149899205298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8629964855847794465.post-63391878549528494952008-01-21T23:07:00.000-08:002008-02-12T11:32:01.276-08:00

Have tent will travel seems to be my motto this year. This past spring I taught an organic farmer how to build a timber frame fruit stand for his farm.This fall I taught a father and son how to build a timber frame home.Many people want to build their own home and some of these people are drawn to the art of timber framing. What I have found so rewarding about this approach to timber framing is

michaelhollihn@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425818149899205298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8629964855847794465.post-35726730709862041362008-01-20T23:50:00.000-08:002008-01-31T14:52:40.234-08:00

Timber frame additions are great added value to a home.Here's a before and after look at a home in Osoyoos.I built this frame with Bruce Baker of Rock Mt. Land and Timber. We used locally harvested standing dead Douglas Fir and Western Larch. Both of these species are the hardest of the softwoods used as posts for mine shafts and as railway ties. Fir and larch are almost as strong as oak in

michaelhollihn@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425818149899205298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8629964855847794465.post-71212092958638077722008-01-20T01:22:00.001-08:002008-01-22T11:21:00.006-08:00

I believe in the saying "We don't inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children." Now that I have children I realize my children and other children look at me and our elders for guidance. It's a monkey-see monkey-do, lead by example experience. If I feel that I am part of the solution , and not part of the problem, then I am doing my part for our children.I saw this picture

michaelhollihn@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425818149899205298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8629964855847794465.post-63503160461572974552008-01-19T23:19:00.000-08:002008-01-22T23:45:32.292-08:00

I had the honor of learning from Merv and Anne Wilkinson. They are an inspiration on how to walk softly and live simply.The sign on the douglas fir tree reads "Douglas Fir, seedling 190 A.D., 1300(?) years old when Columbus sailed, 1677 years old at Canadian confederation, 1800 years old in 1990." This is one of hundreds of trees on his woodlot.When he was 30 some years old he bought 100+ acres

michaelhollihn@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425818149899205298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8629964855847794465.post-46074422368228051642008-01-19T16:52:00.000-08:002008-01-21T03:27:13.585-08:00

What is Prana?Prana is vital energy. Vital means necessary to life.I learned about Prana at university and it has dramatically improved my life. I no longer have chronic asthma that had me dependent on pharmaceutical drugs and afraid of farms, animals and feather pillows. I now realize I was using a small fraction of my lungs to breath. No one had ever taught me how to breath properly.From the

michaelhollihn@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425818149899205298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8629964855847794465.post-66726697317151643392008-01-18T11:04:00.000-08:002008-01-27T11:58:39.951-08:00

Timbers are heavy.They have taught me the importance of a healthy back and hips.Flexibility and strength is key to working with heavy objects.Strength alone will eventually break without flexibility.Yoga simply means to 'yolk' or join body and mind harmoniously.When body and mind are flexible and working together,One is strong and does not break easily.Tai Chi simply means flow of energy.Energy

michaelhollihn@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425818149899205298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8629964855847794465.post-37778162286422869472008-01-18T09:14:00.000-08:002008-01-22T11:04:13.299-08:00

The Timber Framers Guild puts on many projects and rendezvous over the year.Here framers volunteered their time and skills to the lay out, cutting and assembly of two matching gates and an information pavilion for the Japanese American Internment and Exclusion Memorial on Bainbridge Island."On March 30, 1942, 227 Bainbridge Island residents were the first Japanese Americans in United States

michaelhollihn@gmail.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18425818149899205298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8629964855847794465.post-67638581202068708132008-01-04T21:33:00.000-08:002008-03-04T21:40:42.326-08:00

As a longtime supporter of the Rainforest Alliance Roseanne Cash was presented with a Smart Wood guitar in a 1996 benefit concert for the protection of remaining rainforests. As Miss Cash gently fingers the strings on her new guitar she explains, "Musicians take their instruments seriously, each one has its own life. If its made of wood, the tone is affected by the way the material was aged and

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