Paul Coleman's Page

Hi Paul,

We just walked around our 15 acres, yesterday saw a lot of freezing rain, our power was out for 10 hours... que sera, sera. When we were up at the high point on our land I was able to show Toni where I thought a north-facing yet still passive solar house could go. As people will do and is normal for the current social/financial paradigm, a premium would be charged for optimal (at least via conventional understanding) south-facing (Canada/Northern hemisphere) building sites. I have read the PAHS book and believe I understand clearly enough the critical or non-negotiable aspects I need to balance for a sound application. To have this north-facing aspect is to further serve as a shock value, so observers are in  a way stripped of conventional assumptions of passive solar houses having to be more like solar ovens than a house! It should also be less expensive with drastically less glass required.

I was in Toronto and had found a cafe with wireless internet service for checking email. Coincidentally my waitress was Argentinian. It was so nice to pull up your site and share with her my envy of how beautiful your location is. And to point out how your house-type would not require chopping trees down to stay warm... Thank you for being a humble example and sharing so openly your life experiences. I've been to enough Transition Toronto (http://transitiontoronto.ning.com/profile/GeoffBuddle) and the like meetings that unfortunately I see too regularly people trying to "out green" each other. 

I should go, our hoop house (www.northerngreenhouse.com style) collapsed under the snow load this winter, it was easy to return to full height  and the chickens and ducks have come through the winter better than any previous, still my temporary ridge beam needs raising the last 6" and Toni wants to plant soon, easiest time to re-establish the rebar hoops to semi-circular is while I can move about unrestricted. I do want it to look good enough that it would inspire more than it would now to try a self-built rather than re-enforce the idea that only commercially produced greenhouses can be aesthetically pleasing.

Ta for now (Hasta luego!), Geoff

thanks for accepting me !

Thank you very much for your information. We have been anxious since Apl.11

when last mail was received ,wuth not having idea for where to and how to contact.

I owe you a lot really . We are impressed by beautiful scenery on your web site (exiting!) 

and prompted to visit sometime although it is  too distant from us in reality.

Thank you and Konomi san again.

Masaki Nakatani

Thanks so much for taking the extra time to document what you are doing. It is a great help and inspiration to those of us with big future plans!