http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog the unofficial real estate guide for the north carolina high country Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:53:54 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Dirtfeedhttp://feedburner.google.com Architecture firm DMVA have designed an interesting portable housing option.  Their egg-shaped, futuristic abode features a multi-purpose main living space with modular wall slots for storage, working and sleeping. A skylight and large main hatch connect inhabitants with the outside world, and a small bathroom and kitchen are even fit ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/lR7HbC7ipVQ" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/lR7HbC7ipVQ/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2010/01/26/is-this-the-home-of-the-future/ Stunning design and green architecture shouldn’t be reserved just for adults, as showcased by this gorgeous green treehouse built by the architects at Lord, Aeck & Sargent. Constructed as an extension to Camp Twin Lakes, a camp dedicated to kids with special needs, this treehouse is not only beautiful, fun ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/x4WmBLB1luw" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/x4WmBLB1luw/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/12/15/green-treehouse-provides-an-incredible-learning-playground/ War and conflict often bring about the destruction of architecture, however these forces can also result in new constructions that define a cultural identity and place. Stressed by China’s growing population, the Hakka people have been confronted with armed warfare for local resources since the 17th century. To remedy their ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/3dDu0VEwgCs" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/3dDu0VEwgCs/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/12/15/circular-hakka-houses-create-self-sustaining-communities/ The High Country Association of REALTORS released statistics today for residential homes sold through the end of November. Sales are off from October's numbers, approaching June's total residential units sold. Sales continue to fall below last year's figures. When comparing year-to-date numbers with the same time period in 2008, the number ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/fNQTZ2-rV0I" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/fNQTZ2-rV0I/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/12/15/real-estate-sales-still-sluggish/ I came across this listing of entertaining gifts, enjoy!<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/nyln9yegc6o" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/nyln9yegc6o/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/12/11/more-interesting-gifts/ Most of the trees on Grandfather Mountain are painted with rime ice Friday, while those at the top half of the mountain have a heavy coating.  The top half of the mountain is closed to the public as the Mile High Swinging Bridge is covered in inches of ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/9KGXvt3Het8" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/9KGXvt3Het8/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/12/06/a-winter-coat/ Nature Conservancy Protects High Country Mountain Peak—Little Yellow Mountain Purchase Part of ‘Nationally Significant Natural Area’ The Nature Conservancy this week announced the acquisition of 466 acres at the summit of Little Yellow Mountain in Avery and Mitchell counties…<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/4jTh_fE66oc" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/4jTh_fE66oc/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/12/06/nature-conservancy-protects-high-country-mountain-peak/ Here's a great way to clean up your iphone/cellphone power adapters around your house.  Take a look Read more from engadget.com http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/05/10-usb-power-outlet-leaves-no-plug-behind/<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/oXQ-O0xwLck" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/oXQ-O0xwLck/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/12/06/christmas-present-for-the-techie-in-your-life/ All of you know Stillwater Dwellings. This new company is indeed very busy these days with an array of orders. They have recently completed their first prefab home in Bend, Oregon. This home was built using the sd231 floor plan and includes 2,950 square feet of space. This house contains ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/12VUTjoCa5E" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/12VUTjoCa5E/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/11/05/a-beautiful-bend-oregon-green-prefab/ The Renewable Energy Initiative of Appalachian State University in Boone, NC is holding its official ribbon-cutting event on Nov. 12 at 3 p.m. for the 100KW wind turbine successfully installed at the university-owned Broyhill Inn & Conference Center. The project, installed by Alteris Renewables, was completed this past summer. The ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/yjiR3wAFYI8" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/yjiR3wAFYI8/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/11/05/asu-to-cut-ribbon-on-wind-turbine/ Citizens Take Part in Visioning Workshop for County Ag Plan Story by Anna Oakes About 50 people participated in lively discussions about farming in Watauga County at a community visioning workshop held October 29 at the Watauga County Administration Building. The Watauga County Soil and Water Conservation District hosted the workshop to ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/gLlm0v-dRXc" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/gLlm0v-dRXc/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/11/05/watauga%e2%80%99s-future-in-farming/ From Käsch: The Overflow bathtub series is designed in such a way that overflowing water is directed back into the tub which gives the bath the appearance of a natural waterhole. The concept resulted from the wish to combine the aesthetics of nature with the cultic character of bathing, and to ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/kiUFs_VZK_8" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/kiUFs_VZK_8/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/10/05/overflow-bathtubs-from-kasch/ Watauga Co. Tourism Development: Outdoor Recreation Video from Matt Powell on Vimeo.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/B-UYdawJFI0" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/B-UYdawJFI0/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/10/03/come-out-and-play-in-the-high-country/ Story & Photo by Sam Calhoun Since 2005, a flare of methane gas has been burning at the Watauga County Landfill as a glowing reminder of the potential energy that could be harvested if the current collection system was hooked into a custom energy converter. But the flare does not burn in ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/ROlmA2Pa1qY" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/ROlmA2Pa1qY/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/09/25/watauga-county-edges-closer-to-implementing-landfill-gas-to-energy-project/ Posted by Davezilla 1. Baroque = Broken 2. Casual Living = Your neighbors have a refrigerator on their front lawn 3. Charming = Corners don’t line up. Sagging porch. 4. Country Living = Your street will never see a snow plow. 5. Cozy = Cramped 6. Diverse Wildlife = Raccoons will raid your garbage. Bats ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/J-58KkZ41Jw" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/J-58KkZ41Jw/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/09/23/how-to-read-a-real-estate-ad/ Check out Charleston Forge online Browse their online catalog<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/VXW86Rt5aMc" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/VXW86Rt5aMc/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/09/18/featured-business-charleston-forge/ By: Scott Nicholson Three appraisers involved in county purchases of property assembled for the new high school tract had their licenses suspended by a state board. The North Carolina Appraisal Board's August bulletin announced the disciplinary actions against Hope W. Teaster, Pattie J. Tennille and David R. Roberts. According to the bulletin and ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/IGnZi46bWE4" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/IGnZi46bWE4/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/09/18/appraisers-suspended-over-county-land-deal/ By: Scott Nicholson The Watauga County Board of Commissioners gave the go-ahead for a gas-to-electricity project at the former county landfill Tuesday night. More from the Watauga Democrat<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/sTfAvHfxU2Q" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/sTfAvHfxU2Q/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/09/18/county-landfill-to-create-electricity/ Story by Celeste von Mangan Water heating in your home uses a large portion of electricity and is preceded in energy consumption only by air heating and cooling systems. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, using a solar water heating system in conjunction with a backup electric heater can cut ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/y4p_7bu2TPk" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/y4p_7bu2TPk/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/09/18/blue-ridge-electric-offers-solar-water-heating-rebate-program/ Early Registration for NAHB’s Certified Green Professional Courses Ends September 18 Story by Sam Calhoun Face it—if you are builder and don’t have a plan to go green soon, you are way behind the pack. Green is definitely the buzzword these days, especially in regards to building, as homebuyers are now more ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/GkcHmKQ3K9M" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/GkcHmKQ3K9M/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/09/11/attention-builders%e2%80%94last-opportunity-to-earn-cgp-designation-coming-this-fall/ Last year, High Country Press introduced readers to High Country Green Boxes’ DwellBox, the first permanent inter-modal steel building unit (ISBU) residential home in North Carolina. The brainchild of local entrepreneurs and partners Casey Pond, Ethan Anderson and Jeffrey Scott—collectively known as High Country Green Boxes LLC—the DwellBox certainly struck ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/wq9C7H7GgPk" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/wq9C7H7GgPk/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/08/27/first-isbu-in-north-carolina-matures/ Find a spot in the high country and be the first to have this Ger stilt camper/house for an awesome Appstate Football get away. I guess a kid never really grows up. Editor More from Trendir<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/r04mJxQwVDA" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/r04mJxQwVDA/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/08/24/cool-stilt-house/ It is a waterfall faucet that will fit on top of a concrete or solid stone basin to underline its solidity.  Hand-made of solid stainless steel, this latest version of Steel-55 is enhanced with a better water flow control and is refined with a more ergonomic lever design. Balance the new ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/vu-CTO9KOVU" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/vu-CTO9KOVU/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/08/24/industrial-style-bathroom-by-balance/ The High Country Association of Realtors released statistics on Tuesday, August 11, for residential homes sold through the end of July. When compared with earlier months this year, the numbers indicate a gradual improvement in residential sales in the area, as well as in the median sold price of residential ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/9sHtQ_PdYBM" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/9sHtQ_PdYBM/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/08/24/area-real-estate-numbers-improving/ Solar Insect Zappers Small Inexpensive Wind Turbine – Air Breeze by Southwest Windpower Solar Motion Sensing Security Light Solar Powered Lights from Ikea - Indoor and Outdoor Off Light Switch / Coat hook $12 More info: amronexperimental.com<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/Qvy7IEfm-DU" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/Qvy7IEfm-DU/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/08/24/cheap-sustainable-products-for-your-home/ Update: Green Park Inn sold in courthouse sale Thursday evening’s auction of the historic Green Park Inn in Blowing Rock didn’t go the way its owner, Ronnie Wrenn, and the auctioneers hoped it would. Auctioneer Mark Rogers started the bidding at $5 million for the century-old resort hotel and the 3.8 acres ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/1M0flcSNL_U" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/1M0flcSNL_U/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/08/21/green-park-inn-auction-up-to-12-million/ Heavenly Mountain to become sustainability center by: Scott Nicholson— Development of a 2,000-acre property in that once was planned as a spiritual retreat is shifting toward sustainability and affordable renewable technology. David Kaplan, along with his brother Earl Kaplan, are planning an advanced development that uses latest research to combine solar ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/R5gNrqQpflI" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/R5gNrqQpflI/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/08/20/kaplan-plans-advanced-green-development/ The Boone Town Council may decide on two rezoning requests at its regular monthly meeting Thursday. Click here for more from the Watauga Democrat View Larger Map<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/bObah-PQkxk" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/bObah-PQkxk/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/08/19/zoning-debate-for-delmar-whitner-residences/ by Bob Hunt - Tue, Aug 18, 2009—Like politics, all real estate is local. This is drummed into us time and time again. You hardly ever see a report ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/8aARFSuemgA" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/8aARFSuemgA/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/08/18/new-appraisal-rules-are-causing-problems/ The 54th annual Farm City Celebration, held on Saturday, recognized some of the key contributors to local agriculture, part of an afternoon focusing on local crops, produce, livestock, and the people who share them with the community. Dick Hearn, who served on the organizing committee, read from a proclamation adopted ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/ndJDzyMSo1o" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/ndJDzyMSo1o/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/08/18/local-farmers-recognized/