Community Timber Frame Project

I am attempting to build a timber frame structure on the farm to be a retreat in nature - where I and others in the community can offer holistic medicine treatment, education, and meditation with views of field, trees, and sunrise (not a house or road in sight!)

I expressed my hope to build a structure for a hyperbaric chamber to Allen Judy (owner of Heirloom Fungi with wife Mandy), and he said, “We need to talk.” A master timber frame craftsman, having built more than a hundred across the country, Allen offered to chisel the beams so that they fit together on crane day like a gigantic beautiful jigsaw puzzle (I’ve seen it!) He said his room for error in measurement is the tip of a pencil :)

Allen and Mandy have been selflessly providing direction and oversight on this project. Sent me these pics for inspiration:

Our design is 26’ by 26’, enough space up front to provide a treatment area for my acupuncture/craniosacral work, hold small groups for meditation or tai chi, or to set up tables for seminars in Food as Medicine and other holistic topics. With the 5’ x 5’ windows stretched all that way around, the hydronic floor heating will be important for Missouri winters and the crossfooting trenches need to be 3’ deep x 2’ wide. Volunteers welcome!

*Adopt-A-Beam* Fundraiser:

• $500 - Your name, dedication, or personalized message will be woodburned into a timber beam as a lasting part of the structure’s history and story.

In addition to Adopt-A-Beam, I will be holding a fundraising sale on November at my Columbia office with more than a hundred items (you may request the sale list beforehand with photos and descriptions).

I will be blogging the journey as we go. Stay tuned!