Resources for Nurturing The DIY Spirit
Turn and tap the shoulder of the person next to you. Now, ask them what they’re up to. Chances are they’ll tell you they are learning to build a nearly forgotten form of kayak from a nearly extinct indigenous people of Greenland. Or, maybe they just rented tools for a home tiling project. Perhaps they’ve watched youtube clips on making rain barrels out of wine barrels. You get the idea, Portlandia loves to make stuff. Your chances are really good that they have explored some of these resources to help them get there.
Do-It-Yourself Resources in Portland, Oregon
PLACES for DIY Resources
ADX
Watershed Industrial Arts
North Portland Tool Library
SE Tool Library
ReBuilding Center
ReStore
PCC Classes
Oregon College of Arts & Crafts
Pacific Northwest College of Arts
EVENTS for DIYers
Fix-It Fairs
ADX Open Houses (tool demos)
Curiosity Club at Hand Eye Supply
The DIY spirit is strong in Portland, and we have great resources to support it. I realize this may have little to do with real estate, but this is part of what I love about living in Portland. Whether it’s a home and garden project or some other DIY adventure, enjoy your next project!
Save the Date!
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. various topics at the Info Fair (Green Depot)
9 a.m. ADU Basics at tour stop #14 (Peterson Backyard Cottage)
2 p.m. Rainwater Harvesting at tour stop #10 (Cash-Darienzo Passive House)
2 p.m. Naturescaping at tour stop # 7 (Whitridge Full Plane House)
2:30 p.m. Gray Water Reuse at tour stop #8 (The Water House)
2:30 p.m. Permaculture at tour stop #3 (Planet Repair Institute)
3 p.m. Living Building Challenge at tour stop #16 (June Key Delta Community Center)
3:30 p.m. Passive House at tour stop #10 (Cash-Darienzo Passive House)
4 p.m. Small Home Communities at tour stop #11 (Cully Grove)
4 p.m. Energy Performance Score at tour stop #1 (Svaboda Court)
The Green Homes of Spring 2012
Thank you for indulging us after such a blatantly corny pun. After all the buzz around all things “green,” I couldn’t help it when I noticed the pattern of selling numerous green homes this spring. This is not meant to be misleading. I am not writing about LEED certified or Earth Advantage certified green homes, but when it gets down to it, each of these homes actually do have some valuable green features worth noting.
- 6215 NE 31st Ave., Portland, OR 97211, LISTED @ $359,900
- 205 SE 91st Ave., Portland, OR 97216, SOLD
Second, we have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath home in Montavilla. Just to make this post corny from beginning to end, I like to call this one, Sweet Home, Montavilla. Again, the flexibility in the floor plan and bonus spaces makes this home uniquely adaptable for various lifestyles, households, and uses. With a metal roof over head and triple paned windows to seal up the sides, and a 95% efficient furnace, this home can provide great quiet and affordable comfort for years to come.
- SOLD in MAY for $219,000
Lastly, this is the green home that kicked off the spring and just closed in southeast Portland. This home represents a timeless aesthetic with smaller footprint that inherently reduces the footprint of this home. For more about the overall life-cycle analysis of smaller structures, see Jordan Palmieri’s recent report at the DEQ site.
There’s nothing corny about any of these homes, in fact, their integrity and authenticity are what make these timeless homes green. They include long-lasting finishes and materials. They cover all the basics that make people feel that their home works for them and then throw in some bonus spaces that help homeowners become long-time homeowners and community members. [This is where the little tangential hypothesis begins. It's a personal theory, and it may be unpopular in the real estate community, but I don't think it's unreasonable.] When a house can adapt to people’s needs over time, people don’t need to move so much. I could take it a step further and say they’re more likely to establish lasting relationships within their community and feel a sense of social wealth and abundance that is difficult to achieve in short-lived circumstances. It’s not for everybody, but it is possible when you have a well maintained home.
Contact us, if you’d like to find a well maintained house that you could call home for a long time to come. Thanks again for indulging us.
More on Meldrum
4655 SE Meldrum in Milwaukie, OR; SOLD
Feel immediately at home in this warm & inviting home. Sited perfectly on over 1/3 acre, each thoughtfully designed space will invite you. Functional & open floorplan with main floor master suite, cook’s kitchen, and captivating living room overlooking private yard. Additional detached garage/workspace offers a myriad of options too. This home is dialed-in and ready.
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Agent Profile
In addition to offering sound real estate services, I bring a broad awareness of sustainable living and design to my practice. I thrive on making connections that help clients live and invest in alignment with their values, while supporting our local community, economy, and environment. Contact David today to learn how your next realty decision can enhance the place you call home. AGENCY INFO
2505 SE 11th Ave. #233 Portland, OR 97202
