13Jun 15, 2012
Some pictures from the lot taken over the past couple weeks – Brian and Tony are almost done with the fencing, compost was delivered, garden beds are being built, and some of the fruit trees are planted already! Plus, Brian installed his birdfeeder and hammock hooks are going up soon. Lee returned from Brazil excited […]
14May 27, 2012
I left for Brazil just as everything started happening on the lot. I promised I wouldn’t disappear for a month but try and stay engaged in the project while here. Thus, I write this from a hammock in rural Northeast Brazil where we’re staying with an amazing community leader and learning about the Xukuru’s fight […]
15May 22, 2012
With the DCRA permit now in hand, today the good folks at KK Containers were able to bring us a 20’x8′ shipping container down from Baltimore, freshly painted and all tricked out with a new custom installed side door. This will serve as a combination garden shed and secure workshop/storage space as tiny house construction gets […]
16May 8, 2012
Without a registered address, it is not possible to do very much on an un-named alley lot (even if it has a lot/square number) apart from cleaning it up, as no city permits can be granted to a lot without a street address. After five meetings at DCRA, I have formal word from the Chief Building […]
17May 7, 2012
After 3 visits to DCRA, 4 contractor bids, and many hours of site planning, the concrete removal, site grading and cleanup work got underway last week. First step was to remove a stolen abandoned minivan off the site (thanks DC MPD!). Then the goal was to remove all the concrete and asphalt from the site […]
18Mar 26, 2012
After a month of searching and two months of negotiation, we just closed on the lot today! Thanks to the transfer the DC government received over $3000 in back taxes owed by the seller. We hope to be much better stewards of this space than the previous owner, and engage neighbors on the project. […]
19Feb 29, 2012
A revised site plan for the showcase, with 4 tiny studios on wheels, shipping container storage, south-facing garden area, limited parking, and fruit trees.
20Feb 22, 2012
How does one get a reliable supply of water to garden a forlorn alley lot in DC? There seem to be 5 options: Tap the water. So, how complicated could it be to install a water spigot 100 ft from a DC water main? Off to DC Water office for 2 hours to pull maps […]