What makes your home a Green or Healthy Home?
The forest is the biggest reason this property is carbon-negative for us. Aside from this major benefit, significant factors include:
- off-grid alternative energy system
- largely reclaimed, local and/or natural building materials
- wood fuel supply is sustainable from the property
- high-efficiency appliances and fixtures maximize resources
- gardens provide much of one's own food productionProperty Description
Private, romantic 1 1/2 storey 1840s log home nestled in pines, hardwood and larch forest with trails and pond. Lovingly reconstructed in 1987.
Open-concept custom pine kitchen/livingroom with skylights, large reclaimed brick fireplace with high-efficiency catalytic wood insert. Stargaze through the skylight in the cozy loft bedroom. 2004 addition includes window-lined dining room with exposed log walls and beams. Dining room french doors walk out to 10' x 20' cedar deck overlooking perennials, wildflowers and the pond. The pond in Spring comes alive with peepers (frogs) which are probably the loudest noise you will hear around here. The pond is full of life but not recommended for swimming or stocking fish at its present depth. In winter we have had a few winters cold enough to skate on the pond (use extreme caution and verify ice thickness before trying this!).
Bathroom features warm ceramic flooring and lovely old tub with sunlit view through pines. Radiant heat throughout main floor plus wall radiators in lower level can be heated by propane and/or the lower level woodstove.
Utility cost of $2040 was what we spent on propane total for 2007. This includes being away the entire month of March relying on propane to maintain low heat. We also ran the propane a fair bit as we were new parents and had frequent visitors. If you keep the fires stoked you can lower this cost significantly. The two stoves are more than adequate for heating -- but some propane will be required for cooking and water heating supplementation.
Lower level includes a large, open finished recreation and/or office space with cork flooring and a full wall of pine cabinetry storage. Rear basement workshop/storage and utility rooms with high ceilings.
Enchanting cordwood masonry guest cabin features windows on four sides, an earth roof and a small ship stove for cozy comfort and morning coffee.
All-new systems installed in 2004 include large photovoltaic array, wind turbine and system, 220' well, plumbing, septic and 120V electric wiring throughout. Broadband wireless internet.
Equipment includes:
- 12 x roof-mounted 155 watt Photowatt photovoltaic panels
- 950 watt Lakota wind turbine mounted on a 72' tilt-down tower
- Xantrex 4000 sinewave plus inverter
- Outback charge controller, MX60 meter
- Sterling sealed-gel battery bank on heavy-duty metal rack
- Briggs & Stratton 7000-watt electric start propane generator
- Grundfos slow start up well pump
- Grundfos sump pump
- Blaze King "Princess" catalytic wood insert
- Sundanzer ultra-high-efficiency 8.1 cu. ft. fridge
- Sundanzer ultra-high-efficiency 8.1 cu. ft. freezer
- propane stove
- Kitchen Aid energy star dishwasher
- Kenmore high-efficiency side-loading clothes washer
- lower level woodstove plumbed to hot water system
- winter wood supply split and stacked in the woodshed, ready for you and your autumn/winter guests
Low taxes, your own water, electricity and wood make this an exceptionally reasonable property to maintain! We invite you to compare the taxes with those of other properties. The low tax is dependent on participation in the Managed Forest Incentive Program which requires some time and planning in the maintenance of the forest.
We have lived very comfortably here full-time since 2004. Winters have been particularly peaceful and enriching. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and quiet evenings snuggling up together or with a good book by the fire will be among your best memories made here.Neighborhood Description
Farmers, artists and local business owners own surrounding properties. Keady is an easy bicycle from here and hosts one of the largest farmers markets in Ontario. Our 'local' is a 5 minute drive due South - the Desboro Inn provides a relaxed atmosphere to sip a beer and enjoy a game of billiards or to catch the latest game.Market Area
Grey-Bruce is a naturally beautiful area that fosters an enhanced connection with our Earth. It is home to a World Heritage Biosphere and many forests including old-growth. The area is known for its waterfalls, beaches, (one of the world's top sand beaches, Sauble Beach, is a 30 minute drive from here), the Bruce Trail and its many navigable rivers.
For more information and view maps of the area, please visit
http://www.visitgrey.ca/
and
http://www.explorethebruce.com/
Flanked by Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, the Grey-Bruce peninsula is lined with expensive recreational properties. Living inland from these shores gives this property lower taxes and good access to all the area has to offer, including the best skiing, scuba-diving, horseback riding, cycling, sailing and hiking in the province. Another unique advantage of the area is a longer growing season than many other parts of the province due to its proximity to Lake Huron.
A pretty 20 minute drive Northeast takes you to the city of Owen Sound (pop. 22,000). Here you will find an excellent Saturday morning market featuring local, organic and fair trade produce, fish, meat and crafts. Also available are all the supplies you require from both boutique and chain retailers like Sears, Home Depot, Staples, A&P, Zehrs, Wal-Mart etc.
Downtown Owen Sound offers several beautiful cafes, a variety of decent restaurants (vegetarian, asian, continental, bistro, greasy-spoon, etc.), an excellent health food store, fashion boutiques, artist co-op, night spots, a Kundalini yoga studio plus a well-maintained YMCA, beautiful public library, very active art gallery, live theatre, movie theatre and a drive-in theatre.
Owen Sound services include a good-sized hospital with helipad, spas, golf clubs, health & tennis club, boat launches, yacht club, public parks and beaches, all major Canadian banks, Fedex depot, UPS depot, truck rental, tool rental, public and private schools, campgrounds, social services, computer and internet services and all kinds of professional and building services and related specialty retailers.
The region is also very active with cultural and sporting events. Local bluegrass, blues, jazz, celtic, folk, rock, classical and big-band groups perform year-round at legions, bars and performance venues. In the summer months, there is a wealth of festivals suiting every taste in music. The Leith Festival features the best in classical performances, The Summerfolk Festival is highly recommended for folk, blues, rock and high-quality crafts, The Electric-Eclectics festival attracts cutting-edge international DJs, electronic and performance artists from around the world, The Celtic Festival is a popular event featuring dance and music, plus there are many more events to choose from.
The Owen Sound Attack is the local hockey team and games at the large, modern arena are well-attended. Other popular activities include mountain biking, snowmobiling, hunting, ice-fishing, step-dancing, stock-car racing, antique and collectible car cruise nights and golf.
Autumn in the area is exceptionally beautiful and provides the opportunity to experience small-town fall fairs every weekend from late August to late October. Highlights include Pumpkinfest, where you can see enormous pumpkins and enjoy local talent contests, a car show and social events, and the Owen Sound Fall Fair, complete with horse shows, dog contests and midway. Not to be missed is the International Ploughing Match where you will find chainsaw artists, tractor square dancing and hands-on demos of all manner of farm and rural equipment.
Winter can be as quiet or as active as you choose. Excellent cross-country skiing and snowshoeing is available outside your own door. However, ski destinations such as the Town of Blue Mountains, Collingwood and Talisman (all within 40 minutes) can provide downhill skiing and tubing. These vacation spots are very alive in the winter with entertainment, fine dining and social events.
Other local attractions include the Grey Roots visitor center and museum, the Emancipation Festival, which celebrates the area's heritage as the terminus for the underground railroad, the Salmon Spectacular event which includes a salmon contest, Scenic Caves, the Bruce Trail, Symphony in the Barn... the list goes on.Location of Home or Land
Rural
Elevation of Home
Sea Level
Air Quality
| Agriculture in Area | yes |
| Industry in Area | no |
| Air Pollution in Area | no |
| Pesticide Free | yes |
| Fragrance Free | no |
| Cleaned with Green Products | yes |
Interior Environment
| Heating System | Hydronic Floor Heat (radiant) |
| Cooling System | Other |
| Ventilation System | Other |
| Whole House Filtration | None |
| Whole House Vacuum | no |
Energy & Water
| Energy System | Photovoltaic (PV) |
| Water System | Well |
| Wastewater System | Septic System |
Construction Information
| Exterior Finish | Masonry Wood |
| Interior Finish | Wood - Solid |
| Interior Paint | Other |
| Floor Material | Concrete |
| Roof Material | Asphalt Composition Shingle |
| Window Material | Vinyl or Vinyl Clad |
| Insulation Material | Fiberglass |
Garage / Car Port
| Garage / Carport | no |
| Garage Type | attached |
| Number of Cars | 1 |
