Architect 301 built a tree platform 8′ above ground in a large shady elm for his children to enjoy. Brainstorming on a log ladder to reach the platform led him to critically assess the dirt around the tree.  While taking a walk in his neighborhood he noticed a series of freshly cut elm stumps at a nearby home.  The next day the stumps were on Craigslist and available for free pick up.  Dirt patch problem solved!  Instead of a lawn, a luxury in the desert, or a rock Xeriscape, he would cut the elm tree into rings and begin building a fun floor for his kids to play on and from which to construct imaginary worlds. I like to imagine a tightly packed grove once stood there.

After getting his brother-in-law to help retrieve the stumps, he set to cutting them into short pieces with a borrowed chainsaw.  This was not the first time Architect 301 wielded a chain saw, the other was long ago in Mexico when he cut off limbs from avocado trees with his father.  Unfortunately the chainsaw’s blade wasn’t long enough to cut through diameters larger than 12″.  He will be using those larger pieces for firewood.  With this size limitation in mind Architect 301 continues to search Craigslist in search of telephone poles he can chop on site.

Shown here is an area about 1/4 of the total surface to be covered.  We will continue to follow this project so keep on the lookout for more posts.