Well… for now. This is 1000% going to change, so this is a road map that is ever re-adjusting to the environment. This is the big list that I’ve been keeping in my head.
STEP ONE: JUST MOVE IT
So, we need to get out there to Camp Monstro “The Land”, as soon as possible. But not like crazy-crazy fast, but every month just costs us more money.
We need a place to live:
We’re in the process of purchasing a 2007 Keystone Montana Fifth Wheel camper
We need the trailer moved to Portal; cost: $1260 or so
We need to hook up water; we have a well
We need to hook up power; I’ve applied for this to be done, on YES… paper
We need to hook up the toilet system to the septic system
We need to buy a compact washer/dryer (LG 2.8 cu. ft. Washer, 4.2 cu. ft. Dual Inverter Heat Pump Ventless Electric Dryer)
We need to move Steam Crow HQ:
We’re buying three 40 ft high-cube reefer containers
Reefers are fully insulated with R-30 insulation, and have metal walls AND floors
1 is for our STORE; mailing station, shipping supplies and product storage
All of them will be insulated to R-30
All will require ventilation plan
All could use some natural light of some sort
1 is for our STUDIO; laser, 3d printers, band saw, drill press, tools, and product storage
1 is for our STUFF, furniture, collectibles, appliances, books, game table, miniatures, etc.
This one becomes Dawna’s art studio
Put in nice glass doors behind metal doors
Needs natural light
We need land to be flatened so that the containers will be level
We need to get the containers wired with outlets, and electrified
We have some solar shop lights for them
We need to hookup the well water to RV
Probably need to replace electrical box pole, and/or electrical box
Talk to County
Somewhere in here, we need to do get county approval.
Submit site plan
With drawings for superadobe house - drawing in progress
Plot placement/easement
Apply for RU-4 Owner-Builder Permit
Washroom is part of this plan
Apply for RV living permit
Apply for container permits
Apply for whatever other permits that come up
STEP TWO: FIX UP OUR HOUSE TO SELL
We need to funds to really get to working on Camp Monstro, and to pay back our loans. But first, we have to make some improvements and repairs. Once the house is empty, we can get more of this stuff done.
Fix the taco’d garage door
Finish painting the house interior
Paint the 2 bathrooms, 3 bedrooms, hallway
Patch floor cracks
Paint the floors, or add carpet. (I’m leaning towards paint)
Fix the back porch roof issues
Do minor repairs in the bathroom
Get the landscape freshened up
Clean clean clean!
STEP THREE: SELL SELL SELL
Time to sell collectibles, house, etc. Some of this happens in STEP ONE and STEP TWO, while selling the house happens when it’s empty and fixed up
Have a yard sale - sell Con stuff, products, and collectibles
Get a Realtor - we have one in mind
Sell our house - Average selling time in Peoria is like 4-5 months
Hopefully this can happen by around March or so.
Step 4: SOLD: GET TO WORK
Once the house is sold, we move on to other efforts. Things begin to blur a bit, in terms of timeline.
Probably First:
Fix hole in fence
Remove the shoddy barbwire gate, or replace it with a ranch gate
Figure out Cooling/Heating for 2 containers
Dual-Split heat-pump…
Or experiment with first airtube cooling - this would solve the ventilation issue
Build Washroom shed
This can happen later as we have a bathroom in the RV
Shed has been purchased and will be delivered in November
Need to extend/improve/add to the septic system first
Lay larger concrete pad
Put in shower, toilet
Figure out water header. Passive + heat pump?
Set up first small water collection
Extend roof on side for outdoor shower and galvanized stock-tank bathtub
Container Ramada
This can happen later, but it will shade the shed and containers
The Containers will make up 2 sides of a camp ramada
Add roof to span about 50 ft. (Covers the width of the ramadas, plus the 24 ft inner area
Setup mega water collection - 1500 sq ft of roofing
Something like this, perhaps.
Step 5: HOMESTEAD
Finally, we’ll also need to get going on our superadobe homestead.
Hopefully by this point we’ve either taken a class or helped some other builders on their own builds. (Build group, or simple volunteering.)
I’m in the process of drawing up some plans… currently they look like this:
View fullsize
THIS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
First we’ll need to -
Setup Home Septic System
Have gravel brought to build up a hill to build on
Bring in Road Mix (or other clay/sand mix) to save a ton of time “making” proper dirt
Purchase more equipment (updated) like a tractor and earthbags, mixers
Continue to improve the road, fences, driveway, etc.
Next we’ll -
Layout foundation with spraypaint
Dig foundation into the gravel; pack it tightly. Usually 24 inches but often deeper
Dig earthtubes for cooling, probably up the hill
Dig cellar, connecting to earthtubes
Begin Earthbagging -
Build doorway forms, window forms
Build out cellar, since it’s deepest
Then begin rounding the various domes
Add electrical boxes, wiring, plumbing where needed
Continue to labor; see about teaching classes, or offering classes once we think that we know what we’re doing
CONTINUE UNTIL DONE
FINISH WORK ON HOMESTEAD
From here, things get a little foggy. We know that we’ve got lots of other stuff to do.
Exterior Cobb and Lime Wash (During cooler seasons)
Interior Cobb and Lime Wash (During hot season)
Build kitchen
Cast iron sink probable
Build bath
Hand made earth tube
Build fireplace in Sanctuary
Build pizza oven
BUILD WALLS
Then we build the compound walls with Hyperadobe
Build Garden wall & Gates
Build Patio wall & Gates
Cover with cobb
Paint lime wash over the top
BEGIN WORK ON CAMP
BUILD:
Camp Entry Gate
Bamboo Scout style, but made of rebar and cables, welded
Big enough to drive under with big truck
First Rangers Cabin
One of the 12 Branches
Or Goblin Post Office
Or Cargo Tiger Depot
Group fire pit - Adobe, with seating
Trails (raised?) to walk on safely (and to move water around)
Shaded areas to discover
Trees put in to hide areas and promote mystery
Use swales to collect/store water
Convert Shed into Ranger Supply Depot (store) and Camp Registration
“Rangers Great Hall” - Also gaming room
Totem Pole, but Rangerfied
Barter Circle Totem
Goblin themed
Tables around for Barter Circle
Danger zone demarcated on the ground somehow
Doomwood Derby Track - adobe
Make permanent
Add a jump
Modular slide-in traps that can be replaced
Be nice if there were shade/seating
Create retro camp signage
Traditional National Parks signage… but weirder/artistic
State real rules
But also state weirder dangers like “night magnets” and “star bats”
Mash-style sign with arrows pointing to all features
Warning signs about snakes and tunnel people, but mostly snakes
Make “neighborhoods” of experiences + cabins
Make adobe sculptures hidden throughout the property for folks to discover
And so on… ENDPLATE
This is about as far as I'm comfortable with planning ahead… it easily veers into fantasy writing. There are surely plenty of missteps along the way, but this is what we want, currently.
CONTRIBUTE TO CAMP MONSTRO PROGRESS
Funds will be used for our new SEPTIC SYSTEM. It’s not sexy, but it is necessary.