This is the story of Natalie Bogwalker’s tiny log cabin in Western North Carolina.
She and her friend Eric did most of the log cutting and hauling. Then one year later, she began building with the help of many friends. Today she operates Wild Abundance teaching online and onsite classes on self-sufficiency, tiny living, gardening, acquiring land, construction, and hide tanning. It’s wildly fascinating and you can learn more below!
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Her Tiny Log Cabin In Asheville!
Images via Natalie Bogwalker
The original build was 12 ft. x 16 ft. and all of the logs were full length and saddle notched. We did this build with round logs that were harvested largely from the land that I live on here in Western North Carolina.
Images via Natalie Bogwalker
My friend Eric and I did most of the log cutting and hauling. Within one year, I built the foundation and the floor and stacked logs, with lots of help. We did a stick framing for the top of the building and put a roof on it. I then let it sit and settle for 5 – 6 months and then we cut out all of the doors and windows and framed them in.
Images via Natalie Bogwalker
We then chinked everything, which took a couple of months. For chinking, we took chunks of wood and split them down until they fit perfectly into the gaps between logs. We then put nails into the chinks, made cob, and applied the cob into the spots with nails. After applying the cob, I put clay plaster over it on the interior of the building, and on the exterior, I applied lime plaster to safeguard the chinking. The chinking has held up pretty well over the past nine years.
Images via Natalie Bogwalker
This house was crafted with passive solar design in mind. I crafted the sink and window sill from soapstone, which absorbs heat from the sun that shines in from the south-facing windows. When the cookstove gets roaring, the soapstone also absorbs that heat and keeps the space nice and warm. I used old slate roofing on the walls upstairs, and when light shines in and hits the slate it radiates the heat back into the room.
Images via Natalie Bogwalker
I’ve added many additions to the original log cabin build over the years.
Images via Natalie Bogwalker
I’m the Director and Owner of Wild Abundance, a permaculture and building school-based in Western North Carolina. We offer in-person and online classes on tiny house building, women’s carpentry, foraging, and other Earth skills.
Images via Natalie Bogwalker
We recently released a free class called Top 10 Ways to Save Money When Building a Tiny House. The class is open for registration through September 1, 2021. We’ll then be releasing a more comprehensive online tiny house class in October 2021.
Images via Natalie Bogwalker
Barron Brown, a Wild Abundance instructor, and a dear friend helped with the tiny house log cabin build.
Images via Natalie Bogwalker
Learn more
- www.wildabundance.net
- Instagram: @wildabundance
- Facebook: @wildabundance.net
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2fHS1qIw7-QGV90pL3mMlA
- Free Class: Top 10 Ways to Save Money When Building a Tiny House (available for registration through Sept 1, 2021): https://www.wildabundance.net/classes/top-10-ways-to-save-money-when-building-a-tiny-house/
- Online Tiny House Class, launching October 2021: https://www.wildabundance.net/classes/online-tiny-house-building-class/
- Free Class: https://tinyhousetalk.com/free-tiny-house-class-at-wild-abundance/
Our big thanks to Natalie Bogwalker of Wild Abundance for sharing!🙏
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Alex
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Pretty amazing build. Very pretty inside and out. Love all that wood and the way the skylight is over the porch with a swing. This what we used to call a rambling house, one that gets added onto so it seems to be moving out into the yard, like someone rambling around. I love them! They have so much character because each new room is a little different than the one before. All the rooms you have built so far are beautiful and inviting. Best wishes for your school.
What an amazing, creative, beautifully inviting build! I can’t say enough good things to this warm, cozy house, bravo!
What an amazing human you are! …and great friends too. Your life and work are very inspirational to me, thank you
I have a rural property where I would like to install a well powered by solar energy. Can someone direct me to a knowledgeable source for off-grid solar installations? I contacted one company, but the conversation ended on their end when they realized they couldn’t make a sale without listening to the customer’s needs. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, the local electric co-op in my area wants nearly $35,000 to hookup to the grid. That amount I cannot afford.
Look into EcoFlow units, as they can provide 120 AC power from their lithium-ion batteries that are recharged by Solar. That allows usage of a standard off the shelf well pump.
In addition, you can run smaller AC appliances like a Toaster oven, small fridge, etc.
Units can go up to 7,000 watts of power, but you would likely only need a smaller unit, say 3,500 watts.