First area repaired was the foundation. The previous owners had recently dug a 9 ft basement which was not very well constructed and moisture damage was the result. A "moat" was dug around the house, revealing endless rot and ugly conditions. 1/3 of the basement walls were removed entirely and replaced with poured concrete. A 10 ft square pit addition at the south side was also dug and concrete footing and 4 ft walls poured below grade (subsequent woodshed/seedling nursery built on top). The entire surface was covered with waterproofing material, Big"O" drainage and gravel at the footings and the earth put back into place. The interior of the basement walls were insulated and sealed. The structural and cosmetic finishing of the basement area ensued. Now there are two guest bedrooms, a furnace / freezer / water pressure tank / water heater / storage room and studio/sitting room with wood fired heater completed.

Second the structure of the pit woodshed was attached to the south side of the house with an entrance of double french doors to let light into the basement. The area has 4 ft walls below grade. The south side has a transparent roof enabeling the area to be used as an attached solar greenhouse where seedlings for the first crops of the market garden are grown in the spring. In the winter, the full supply of wood for heating can be stored inside, and of a cold January night, it is pleasant to find fuel there without having to venture into the blizzard in your jammies.