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FIND YOUR DREAM HOME OR APARTMENT
Hello Slipcork,
The correct phrase is "babbling brook" it is derived from the sound the water makes while tumbling over rocks in a river bed or small water falls. It's also the standard sound produced on just about every relaxation gadget on the planet. Which if you think about it sounds like a misnomer for relaxation. Something that just won't stop making noise.
About 8 years ago myself and a buddy were able to get a great deal on two lots (which we then split up) of land in Wyoming with a small "babbling" brook. I think the sellers had never seen the property, maybe from some estate, because it was such a good deal. The next year we built a small 20x12 cabin on my lot. I paid for the tools and materials and he provided the skills. I let he and his family stay in it whenever they want. It sits on concrete footers so I only have to pay taxes for the land only since there is no real foundation. It has a 12 pitch metal roof so it sheds snow well. I have a nice loft as well as a window on every side. I have a wood stove and a solar panel and deep cell battery which runs the lights (low wattage) and radio or whatever all night . I also built a shed and put a porta loo in that. I haven't rigged up for showers yet but that will be easy. Town is only a half hour away and there are shower facilities there. I doubt that the whole thing cost me much more than $25k.
It is truly the most peaceful place on earth with lots of birds and wildlife... and my little babbling brook.
A foundation for a small cabin can be made by putting concrete blocks on each corner and some in the center. You have to be sure they are level. Years ago, all they used was rock.
A woman I know bought some land with an old house on it. It had settled and the floor was very uneven and slanted. It didn't have a concrete slab, it had an old foundation. Her parents cut out part of the floor and they used a level and concrete blocks and a jack and fixed the floors so they were level. They repaired the cut out and put carpeting in. It was a charming old house once it was painted.
We bought some land on the creek and there was already a storage building on it with unfinished walls and ceiling, so we insulated ($40) and added wood panels ($125). We put down a wood looking linoleum floor. ($89) There was plenty of room for a small fridge ($49), a table and chairs, plus a couch and a cook top. We bought a small window air conditioner ($100). I put hooks on the wall and hung up a few pots and we used paper plates etc. The former owner had put a regular frontdoor on it.
The only bad thing was it didn't have running water or a bathroom. The outdoor toilet was scary to sit on.
It was great if we just wanted to go there for an afternoon. We had a camper that we took for longer time periods. The best thing about it was we could store things in the cabin like life jackets, a canoe and paddles for the winter.
We had a portable electric heater for the winter. We bought a $100 big window for the side of the cabin that was overlooking the creek and bought some outside paint ($30). We had about $500 in the cabin..
A log cabin should be constructed like any basic home. Start with a one room kit, but make it a giant room, at least 20 x 30, with a twelve to 15 foot roof.
