PSU Students Building Sustainable Garden Shed for Community Gardens

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In fall of 2011 students of Plymouth State University’s first Sustainable Structures class engaged in the natural building process by researching, designing and building an “eco” shed for the Eco-house on campus. Steve Whitman, environmental planner and permaculture instructor, and Bryan Felice, a long-time and experienced timber framer, lead the class. In hopes of offering the class again in the Fall of 2012, Bryan sought out a client in need of a community building. Audrey Eisenhaeur, the Executive Director at the Margret and H.A.  Rey Center in Waterville Valley, NH contacted Bryan after seeing the product of the first Sustainable Structures class. From there the discussion of building a community shed for the gardeners of the Rey Center’s Mary Bierbrier Community Gardens began.

Initial design of sustainable shed for the
Mary Bierbrier Community Gardens.

This fall the students in the class have been working to design and implement a shed that has multiple functions on site in Waterville Valley. The shed will provide safe storage, water catchment system, potting sink, community bulletin board for communication and natural materials. The shed provides an educational component for the Waterville Valley Community by being a demonstration site of natural building techniques. The students will engage on a hands on learning process where they learn natural building techniques such as timber framing, board and batten siding, cordwood siding, live edge siding, wattle and daub, and slate roof installation.

A natural building is labeled as one because of the materials and processes used through the design. Natural materials include those that are regionally available or harvested, minimally processed, non-toxic and biodegradable. Natural buildings range from a small shed to a multiple story timber frame house for a family or business. Natural building is a feasible strategy for constructing buildings that have long-term financial rewards and a low impact on the environment which is a smart sustainable option.

The students encourage anyone to come visit the site next to the Curious George Cottage located on Noon Peak rd in Waterville Valley. Look for updates on the project on the Facebook page Rey Center Shed Fall ’12. Students are breaking ground towards the end of October. Workdays will be Monday and Wednesday from 2:00 until 5:30 pm with hopes of completion by the beginning of December.