The barn is designed as a central heating and electrical plant, with a 15kw solar array, a solar hot water vacuum tube system, 3 tarm boilers and hot water storage tanks, with expansion for doubling its capacity over time. It includes a cider room, meeting and storage space, an apartment footprint, and space for animals, currently used as a rescue duck sanctuary.

Salvaging the previous footprint, the house was gutted and adapted to accept the renewable heating and electrical systems, using site-harvested and salvaged materials, including interior timber-framing, salvaged brick, and all flooring and paneling.

We built a passive solar wood kiln to dry much of the wood harvested from the farm that was used in the interior finishes.

We use site-harvested wood to heat both the farmhouse and the energy barn, with expansion possibilities to heat 3-4 additional buildings on site.

The north face of the energy barn stores wood biomass to provide heat for the entire compound.

The south face of the energy barn collects solar hot water and electricity.

The farmhouse is clad in salvaged cypress and redwood clapboards from old wine casks. The renovation incorporated a root cellar and natural refrigerator, composting toilet, and five masonry heaters.

Apples in foreground with cold hardy kiwi and shisandra berries growing on porch.

Located on the north side of the house in the kitchen pantry, this insulated room functions as a refrigerator using only ambient air.

This shows the kitchen side of a two-sided masonry heater. The flue travels under a heated bench and winds through the center core to channel the fire’s heat into the stone. The mass incorporates a baking oven and wood-fired cook top.

Stairs leading to loft

Using site wood, and salvaged boards from original barn to create cabinetry.