Creating the building "grade"

Today we are beginning the process of creating a level site that composed of a material that is stable enough to support the weight of the building and allow the site to drain ground water away from and in this case under the construction. The site slopes very gradually to the east/southeast at the rate of about 6" in 20 feet. The earth is composed of a fine sandy slightly clay loam between LARGE ( 1 ton ) limestone slabs.

Rather than dig trenches and fill them with concrete, severing tree roots, disturbing the soil ecology and its natural aquifer recharge matrix ,and generating the destructive battleground of heavy machinery stink, noise, mud, and broken trees... we form a pad.

A pad with permeability from earth through to the dwelling's interior that allows the subtle planetary life forces to" breathe" the home.

The pad is first composed of large limestone rocks dug straight from an ancient bed and uncrushed. These are spread 6" to 1foot deep and bring the circular site to approximate level, stabilizing the surface for a layer of smaller "road base" rock, sand, and soil mix that will be graded smooth to a dead level surface suitable for laying the block walls on.

The large limestone slab seen in the photo has been raised a couple feet and rotated 45 degrees to become an entry threshold. Although it required about 8 hours total to accomplish this, the 1 ton stone was naturally positioned at the entrance of the dwelling suggesting the possibility of a powerful energetic anchor for the space, should we be up to the job required of our will forces to raise, rotate, and level the rock to build the structure around.

Yes, it is the limestone slab's elevation and position that will now dictate the rest of the dwelling's orientation! And now the foundation pad will be spread out accordingly.