Community Timber Frame Project

I am building 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 my 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 and craniosacral therapies, host small groups for meditation or tai chi, and 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 January 3rd at my Columbia office - 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.