by Jenn, our newest member
I can only think of one word to describe my current home: rugged. It's smaller than Bella Ciao, grimier than the Outdoor Kitchen, and less insulated than the outhouse. It sways in the wind, it still smells faintly of cat pee, and I'm constantly finding strange little treats like chunks of soap, a gift bag with a bizarre, diabolical face on it, and about six inches of hose.
Nevertheless, I'm grateful and excited to be the next person to live in the wonderfully broken-in structure known by three basic names: "Ray's Trailer" after it's original owner, "The Cat Trailer" because it was home to Amy's cats until recently, and now its (hopefully) final title, "Jenn's House". (I heard it called "The Cat House" a couple of weeks ago, but let's not use that one.)
Insulation for the building is one of the important projects that I'll need to deal with. When I first moved in, heat from a fire in the stove would dissipate the instant the flames went out, escaping through the metal walls, the many cracks in the floor, and the five perpetually open windows. Living in such a poorly insulated home is both uncomfortable and ecologically harmful Ñ I need to burn much more wood to heat it than would be required in a more solid structure.
Within a few days of moving into the trailer, I got to work on "wallpapering" the inner walls of the building with loose fabric. This served three functions Ñ it added a bit of insulation by creating a dead air space between the walls and the room, it made the bare, cat-scratched styrofoam walls a little less of an eyesore, and it provided a bit of a barrier to keep rainwater from leaking directly into the trailer. I used a lot of commie (ie Ñ held in common; shared) fabric to do this, so the patterns and colors are inconsistent, but I think that those inconsistencies give the interior a sort of rustic charm.
Sealing off the windows was also a very important task. Storm windows are useful in any home to keep heat from leaking through invisible cracks; they're particularly useful in my case, in which over half of my windows are incapable of staying closed. I noticed an immediate difference in indoor temperature when I put them up and it was a relief to no longer feel cold wind gusting into my house. Although they'll be an issue when the weather heats up, they're a welcome addition to the trailer right now.
Next spring, I hope to install an earthen floor and a cob lining for the stove to provide additional thermal mass. I also look forward to planting evergreen vines to provide yet another layer of protection from the elements. Although it will be a difficult and ongoing task to keep the space at a comfortable temperature, I'm looking forward to the challenge. Ray's trailer has been a part of Dancing Rabbit for nearly a decade, and I'm glad to be able to give it the T.L.C. it needs.
Every Little Bit •
Knitting •
Dignified Poncho •
Cat House •
Ask a Rabbit •
Hey/Hay! •
Roof Interview •
Nature Corner •
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