Poor Carpenter Builds An Incredible Treehouse In The Wilds Of Canada

[Liberal_in_LA]

Poor Carpenter Builds An Incredible Treehouse In The Wilds Of Canada

Joel Allen was just 26 when he quit his job as a software developer to pursue his lifelong dream of inventing a get-rich-quick scheme.

Things didn't pan exactly as planned: He ran out of money, fell in love and found his calling as a carpenter.
But a brilliant new idea struck him. Allen could use his carpentry skills and materials gathered from Craigslist to build an incredible treehouse on government land in the wilds of British Columbia. He'd live for free in style, right in the middle of one of the most inflated housing markets in the world.

Allen's treehouse, Hemloft, has been featured on his blog and in Dwell magazine. We asked him to share his story and some pictures.

[Arctic Dave]

1. Whoa!

That guy has some skills!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

2. Who needs a foundation?

[bvar22]

3. Bad things happen in the USA...

...when you try to build a house on "government land",
or even try to grow a little garden.

[Nika]

7. As someone who has lived in Earth First! style tree villages aloft for weeks at a time, I agree with

you. This treehouse makes no provision for the tree to not bust it up as it grows and seems to be overbuilt and too heave to me.

I believe in a lower impact on the tree to show it the respect it deserves.

[Shankapotomus]

14. I agree

Is this more to your liking?:

http://www.luminair.co.uk/tt/

The price is another issue, though.

[Nika]

16. Nice, I love it.

It is light, weatherproof, durible, perfect for activism. Often we keep the food up in the sits to keep it from being taken by USFS/BLM twig pigs or Freddies. It offers lots of protection against extraction attempts too.

Most of what we build is with scrap lumber, cargo netting and other material. It is rare to finda shelter like that one so made to order for light, low impact habitation up in a tree.

This sort of activism can be expensive just because good rope, tree climbing harnesses and hardware is not cheap. And only a fool goes aloft in a game of brinksmanship with the authorities witout the right gear.

I've nearly died when a security guard pulled on my rope and worked at precipitating a 40 feet fall to the ground some years ago. I am more careful now when I climb, but will never stop doing it.

Thanks for the link.

[SammyWinstonJack]

18. yeah...so much for 'land of the free.....lol

[OnyxCollie]

4. That walkway scares the hell out of me. nt

[Baitball Blogger]

5. Some people's balancing abilities amaze me to no end.

[Liberal_in_LA]

9. i need a rail to hold on to

[WCGreen]

6. Sobriety test....

[OnyxCollie]

8. That's one helluva pass/fail.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

10. that is fantastic! thanks for posting this. must see more ...

off to google

[CelticWarrior1]

11. Public Television

Growing up, I remember seeing a show on public television about a guy named Proeneke. He left the lower 48 and homesteaded in Alaska until he was in his 80's. He filmed himself as he built his house. It was a very interesting documentary. If you get a chance, search the Internet and I'm sure you'll be able to find this documentary.

[Liberal_in_LA]

12. I've seen the documentary. It's still around. On youtube, I think. The cabin is still around.

[Arctic Dave]

15. Alone in the Wilderness.

Amazing what he did.

[pansypoo53219]

27. they did a part 2 and recently found more footage.

i stumbled on it years ago + couldn't stop watching.

[truedelphi]

28. KQED shows that documentry

About twice a year. Proneke was amazing. He could simply gather what he needed for whatever project he undertook, and then in less than 36 hours, he had it done. Masonry for his fireplace - 36 hours from start to finish. Made his own snowshoes. Made his own dwelling and everything in it.

[In_The_Wind]

13. I love it!

[Alameda]

17. what an inspiration!

nice, thank you for posting that. I needed it.

[shireen]

19. where's the bathroom? nt

[ConcernedCanuk]

22. Here's a link with more pix, as well as videos!

.
.
.

http://thehemloft.com/

I suspect they fertilize an acre or two around the area,

or make a compost if'n they are gardening out there

MORE links at

https://www.google.ca/search?q=Hemloft&aq=f&oq=Hemloft&aqs=chrome.0.57&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

[Kennah]

23. Nearest tree

[kickysnana]

20. May I suggest a lightning rod? n/t

[markpkessinger]

34. My thoughts exactly! n/t

[Heather MC]

21. I have furnished my entire house using Craigslist

Even used mostly craigslist materials when I remodeled my kitchen and Bathroom.

[Javaman]

24. Do you have a link to the original article? nt

[Astrad]

25. Here it is

http://www.businessinsider.com/joel-allen-builds-hemloft-2012-6

[Javaman]

26. Thanks! nt

[BobTheSubgenius]

29. Whistler is not exactly "the wilds of Canada."

It's 60-90 minutes north of one of the most expensive cities in NA, and is an incredibly expensive ski resort. The last Winter Olympics were held there.

Amazingly cool house, though.

Here is another pretty astounding house in Whistler, built by a friend of a friend.

http://vancouverrealestateblog.ca/2008/04/mushroom-house-whistler-bc-photos/

[Demo_Chris]

30. These are really beautiful

[Coyotl]

31. But, does it shed water.

That does not look like a real roof.

[harmonicon]

32. No link? I'd like to read more. (nt)

[Liberal_in_LA]

35. link

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2133977/Carpenter-builds-incredible-egg-shaped-treehouse-hidden-view-Crown-land-just-yards-multi-million-homes.html

[Callalily]

33. I want to live there! ;-)