Canyon

For those of you out there, my many readers who have the book Canyon:last rural community in metropolitan America (notice the acedemic colon), I recommend a few sections. There is an amazing paragraph under Canyon Cinema where it's founder Bill Baillie describes the house we grew up in. He's a good writer adn it's a bit spooky is feelng about the place. But, of relevence to this blog is what another neighbor is quoated as saying in the book. I guess there were some thieving issues in Canyon back then (1960's) and his respose at a community meeting was "don't have anything worth ripping off". Sometimes I wonder if the hippy dream doessn't live just a wee bit in us. As silly as they were, they were not silly at all those parents of ours.
One of my readership pointed out too, that houses are not fortesses anyway. I agree. On a much less idealistic note, or at least a practical one, isn't this what Safes were designed for anyway. So your valuables go into a safe. You can afford it with a canvas house. Being out here in Canyon, my biggest issues are simply put, insulation. Anway, I'm leaning toward Polarguard Delta! These are basic issues that Yurt livers have already been dealing with. Maybe I can get some input from Yurt/Tipi pros?

Next post... School Buses for living...

Just kidding.

Theft

My neighbor and I were talking and he wondered if theft would be a problem with a canvas house. This led us to a conversation and some thoughts about contained preciousness. what is rally in our homes that can and would be stolen? High mass fortresses were initially established by those who were intent upon steeling from others. We are in the lineage of those thieves, and our excess is all that makes us vulnerable. Not unlike with ultralight backpacking, Low mass additions may require a systemic view of consumption and ownership. Look around your apartment or home and think about what could or would actually be of value to a thief. I for one would support a very warm thief. We build fortesses to house gold. Can we shed our need for both?
zp

Canvas Additions

I'm getting into the idea of low mass. Well no kidding, but not for backpacking or alternative living spaces, but for home additions. Living in the SF bay area has led me to disdain all talk of remodel, and picture windows. But, it is the talk of the town and I find it hard not tho think about how my own home could be cool, more useful. The thing is, all the green architecture in the world is still adding more mass and resources than doing nothing, except insulation i suppose. So, while I am interested in smallness, I want more room. Hum, an American. So, how about additions that are made of canvas. Now, I like Yurts and everything, and despise domes, you would have to know me a long time to understand exactly why, and it has little to do with wet patch. But yurts and domes just don't jive with my sense of line. I like straight lines. I'm a mid century modernist by disposition, or at least sensibility. So, on with it, clean straight line structures skinned with canvas or other cloth. The coolest thing about indigenous homes it turns out is not their hippy dippy circle shape (which I do like for its own sense), but really what they are about is low mass. Low mass. I guess I have to address the earth ship issue. I like them, I guess. Do I want to live underground? Maybe. I wont rule out earth ships, but until then, how about a kitchen addition made of canvas?

Request Thrift-gear

Tell me your size, the particular piece of kit you need, and your use (temp range ect) and I will send you a piece free.
My basic premise for establishing this practice is to promote the idea of a new relationship with material culture around outdoor recreation. It's my hope that if you don't need the piece you will give it away or return it to a thrift store, and hope that you tell people about Thrift gear.
Zimparka