TreePee Tent

TreePee Tent

For those who like the idea of, camping in the trees, the TreePee tent may interest you.

The idea behind this tent is great: get off the ground and you're warmer, dryer, less dirty, and more comfortable. The TreePee combines the best aspects of a tent and a trampoline -- you'll never have to worry about hunting for a piece of smooth and rock free level ground to pitch your tent on again.

Setup is simple: hang it from a sturdy tree and stake it down on all four corners -- or not if you want a swinging treepee -- and your ready to go. Retail price is around $600 which is a deal considering the extra comfort factor.

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Treehouse Mired in Town Wetlands Law

Treehouse Mired in Town Wetlands Law

The Lewisboro Ledger (representing a number of communities North of New York city, NY) reports on a court case that started over the citation of a treehouse built too close to a protected wetlands area.

The suit was brought by a group of 10 residents who had been brought before the Planning Board by Mr. Fain for violating the wetlands law, which regulates what residents may do within 150 feet of a town-defined wetland.

The residents claim that the inspector was acting in an overzealous manner and was too intrusive into their private lives when he used the letter of the wetlands law, rather than the intent, to challenge a number of structures on their properties including a treehouse.

Mr. DeLucia criticized the acts of the town employees that led to the case.

"It's all a matter of perspective," he said. "Remember, this whole lawsuit started with a violation issued against a tree house. In my 16 years of code enforcement, I've often heard it said that you never write up an igloo or a child's tree house."

Peter Manbeck, Ms. Manbeck's husband, had originally been charged with a violation for building a tree house within a regulated wetlands buffer, although that charge was eventually dropped before the lawsuit was brought against the town.

How reasonable is it to ban the building of a treehouse near wetlands? This is a unique case because unlike traditional structures a treehouse doesn't usually touch the ground, or the wetland habitat, that the law is designed to protect. In fact the charge was for building a structure near the wetland not in it.

Furthermore, many wetland reserves and protected parks build viewing platforms -- structures similar in design to that of a treehouse -- because they mitigate harm to the wetland environment and allow the public to visit and experience the unique natural beauty of the place. This better describes the intent of the law to promote protection and enjoyment.

The charge against the treehouse was dropped; however, the case demonstrates how even environmental protection laws can be misapplied and overgeneralized to the detriment of common citizen's enjoyment of their private lives and experience of nature -- particularily when an unusual structure such as a tree house in involved.

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Treehouse Neighbours Meet the Joneses

Treehouse Neighbours Meet the Joneses

A friend sent me this photo of two treehouses (unfortunately I don't know who to credit so if you do please let me know).

I like the tree-house-neighbourhood look and that there are some interesting features about these structures.

First, Notice that the trees don't project through the roof of the houses. This tells me that they topped the trees and built the floor from there. Its as if the house is set on top of the two round trunk stumps.

This is a good way of avoiding problematic issues of sealing the branches where they protrude through the walls. Also, this method can provide an easier way to secure the floor because the beams can be nailed, screwed or bolted to the trunk tops without regard for damaging the tree.

However, this is part of the downside: completely topping the tree at a height like this is damaging and opens up other issues such as moisture, rot and pests.

Also, extreme pruning will cause the tree to sprout new shoots lower down the trunk. You can see them bushing out underneath the treehouse and around the spiral stair case. The tree needs photosynthesis to survive, and it will do whatever it can to gather that light! The builder can maintain control over these new shoots with further pruning or even weaving them to create aesthetic effects.

Lastly, I just like the evolved look of these homes -- the slanted walls, patchwork siding and shingles -- and, I wonder if they compete to keep up with the Joneses?

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Trees Can Be Possessive, Too

Trees Can Be Possessive, Too

Here are two photos from Shane at the Elite Feet site [link]. He posts photos of unusual scenes he stumbles upon while running in the backwoods and these two photos struck me as particularily interesting.

In our day-to-day life we operate with automobiles and motorcycles to amplify our personal mobility and we can easily see tree as static and immobile objects in the background of our activities. Its funny how our relatively quick time scale (as compared to trees) can bias our perception of machines as being alive and the trees as inanimate objects.

Yet the facts are just the opposite and these photos are the proof. I can't help but wonder what the operators were thinking the last time they parked there vehicles and walked away.

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