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Forest owner accused
2007-02-25 21:13:02
Here in Finland a landmark legal case is brewing about forest treatment. Single forest owner is being accused of mismanaging his forest. According to the government dictated forestry regulations, one can only cut as much as sustainable development requires. What do you think that means in practise? It means that if the owner wants to leave the forest into natural state, owner is allowed to do that. However, if the owner wants to cut trees, owner must follow the law about forest treatment. The law states very clearly, how many trees there must be left standing and how big they should be. After this comes whole slate of different treatment measures. This bureaucratic system leads into forest cultivation, is that sustainable development? In this case, the enforcing forestry official says that the area, which was cut, should have been cut almost to the bare bones, then treat the soil and plant pine trees instead of firs that used to be dominant tree on the location. Government now...
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Directory of log
2007-02-19 09:08:02
Montana Tom is one of those people who took part into linkdonating project. Tom is running a directory where you can find information about log homes and log cabins, based on location and category. If you can’t find the company to suit your needs from this directory, then you are in the beginning of a very long search. He placed the link over here.
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Finland log cabin rentals
2007-02-12 03:02:02
Log cabin used to be a family affair in Finland . Everybody seemed to have that special log cabin somewhere on the countryside. Log cabins were self-built and maintained, big part of the fun being slate of chores needed to keep the cabin in shape. That has changed. Nowadays the traditional approach on log cabins has stagnated and a new trend has overtaken the old way of spreading log homes to deep forests by lakes and rivers. Today the idea is to get a carefree vacation cabin that doesn?t need constant attention like log cabins used to need. Solution has been to focus on building new log cabins around skiing resorts. Around these resorts, cabins locate side by side, making it easy and profitable for service industry to take care of the cabins. Owners can forget maintenance and hit the slopes, go motor sledging, cross-country skiing etc. How this has changed the log cabin industry? Prices have rocketed. Skiing resorts are mostly in Finnish Lapland, which basically is galaxy far, ...
More About: Log Cabin , Rental , Rentals , Land

Should you buy a Log cabin to rent?
2007-02-12 03:02:02
This is a post that fits nicely to my article about log cabin rentals in Finland. I found it from a site that took part into linkdonating project. Let?s say you own that vacation log cabin, but are facing the problem of distance. You only visit the cabin few times a year and more than just couple of days at each time. Rest of the year it goes unused, and bit like money under mattress it doesn?t earn interest. As you can see in the post, it is very important to understand local markets.
More About: Log Cabin , Should , Rent , Cabin

First linkdonating partner
2007-02-08 15:01:01
The first linker is a non-governmental organization, called The Urgenta Foundation. Following is an excerpt from their website: ?The Urgenta Foundation is a Dutch non-profit volunteer charity organization (NGO) engaged in community development aid to Eastern European developing countries like Romania and Moldova.? As you can see, this is a perfect match as through Kiva one can micro-finance projects in Eastern Europe. I know this might not bring much added value for those of you that are surfing this site because of log homes, but I promise it will remain the main focus of the site. Ok, one dollar going for Kiva and 999 more pending, deadline being the last of February. Then it is time to change the project. Let?s see how much we get to donate in links and in money.
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February linkdonating project is Kiva
2007-02-08 15:01:01
Here are the linkdonaters for Kiva : De Stichting Werkgroep Urgenta
More About: Project , Link , G Project , February

The right way to get a log home
2007-02-05 02:59:01
I must disappoint you, because there is no specific and right way to get a log home or log cabin. However I try to demonstrate how to build a log home. I will show the process from the start to finish and explain the details and motivation. There will be pictures, video, articles and interviews that document the whole project from the idea to the finished log home. I am able to do this, because it?s me who is going to build the log home. Time frame is staggering because I have reserved three years for the whole project, starting from the beginning of the year 2007. I don?t know how many of you will have the patience to follow the progress or the lack of it, but I publish the information here anyway.
More About: Home , Right

Do companies care?
2007-02-05 02:59:01
I remember the first time that I was dealing with Americans. Whenever I met people on the street that I knew, they said, ?Hi, how are you doing?? I stopped there in the middle of the road ?Well, now that you asked?? but they didn?t stop neither looked back they just kept on walking to the opposite direction. I wondered why they pretended to be interested but then just walked away? That above memory came to my mind when I was reading an article at Seth Godin. He tells an example about corporate communication that sets expectations high. If you listen to the customer but don?t act accordingly, you will leave them standing on the street wondering whether to keep on walking or running after a real communication. For few times I have sat in a development meeting where customer feedback has been the topic of the day. Just as many times the conclusion of those meetings has been that we need to change our marketing communication to better fit the image that customers have on us. We promi...
More About: Companies , Comp , Care , Compa

The difficulty of inspiring others
2007-02-04 02:58:02
Nobody emailed me about linking to the One House At A Time organization. It is really hard to get people aboard on something, even if it is good. We could be so busy with our lives that there is time for reading the web not for doing the web. Anyhow, February?s linkdonating target is Kiva. For me this word is especially nice, because in Finnish it means ?nice?. I must say that this non-profit is Kiva indeed. Rules are basically the same as before: 1. Link to Kiva 2. Email me and point me to that link 3. I will link to you 4. I will donate one US dollar for Kiva for your link 5. I will write about your site The fifth rule is there to further sweeten the pot. So you get to donate one dollar, you get a link and an article about your site. Do good.
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The wrong way to get a log home
2007-02-04 02:58:02
I have noticed that many people start to chase their log home dream from the wrong side of the street. What these people do is that first they are mesmerized by some of those stunning pictures at log home magazines. The second thing they do is to start shuffling through some floor plans, because those log home magazines are all about floor plans and log home dreams. Together those trends put people in situation where they have high hopes, possibly unrealistic budget expectations and tentative contacts with log home dealers about the price of building a log home. Inexperienced and inspired are two adjectives that make sales people think about money. I am not saying that you shouldn?t be inspired, after all, burning desire and passion are often the last two resorts, which keep any project running while facing hardships. However, I would like you to decide between ? are you a log home owner-buyer or are you a log home owner-builder? If you envision yourself as a buyer then you don?t...
More About: Home , Wrong

It arrived!
2007-01-05 14:39:01
I bought myself another log home book. This time it?s Jim Cooper?s Log Homes Made Easy. First I will read it and review will come shortly after finishing the book. First impressions are: workbook or handbook styled, lots of tables and sheets, down to earth? I chose this book, because the previous book that I reviewed was builder orientated. This time I wanted to take another approach, the approach of a contractor. Here the most important aspect isn?t how to build but how to compare and buy the right stuff. Hope this book will answer that sort of questions.
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Comments are open
2007-01-05 14:39:01
I got tired fighting against a tidal wave of spammy comments so I turned them off and slept my nights like a baby. However, I read this post at Lifehack.org and felt the nasty sting of a bad conscious. I think I should make it easier for you to interact with the stuff that I write. It?s again comments open here at Loghomescabin, in case someone would like to ask a question or give a comment, without the hassle of writing an email to me. Now the next task waits ahead. I?d better write an introductory page where you can get all the necessary background information about me and this site.
More About: Men , Open , Comments , Comment , Comm

Goals for the year 2007
2007-01-01 20:36:01
Here is a good visit if you are interested in real estate ? BiggerPockets. They have a group writing project called ?2007 Real Estate Goa ls Group Writing Project? that I want to be part of. Related to log cabins and log homes, I have three goals that are worth to mention for the year 2007. 1. Complete the lakeside log cabin sauna. This is the most time sensitive project that I have going at the moment. For the moment the sauna is in weather-locked state. It can manage these terrible weather conditions (constantly raining here) that Finland has had during this winter. However, it is pretty much out of use, as there is no floor, just the concrete foundation etc. I have to finish the inside work to be able to test it by Mid Summer. Future master log home that will be erected just next to the log cabin sauna is not on the to-do-list during this year since financial requirements are too massive. Possibly during 2008 or 2009, oh? who knows? Anyway, ask me how the sauna felt just afte...
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Happy New Year
2007-01-01 02:34:02
I wish all you readers have a wonderful year 2007. Let your log home or log cabin dreams come true (and all other dreams as well).
More About: New Year , Happy , Happy New Year , Year

Construction cost estimator
2006-12-31 08:32:02
Before you all get carried away, I must point out that currently this program is only available in Finnish. It is based on the research done by the Cons t ruction faculty of the Tampere University of Technology. Results speak for themselves. For example, my friend did crude cost calculation for his house project and walked away with estimation figure of 162 000 euros. Year and a half later he had his final inspection and the tab for construction cost was closed. The real total cost for the whole project came to 159 thousand euros ? pretty accurate. So I decided to set a price for a log home made by Honkarakenne Oyj with this tool, let?s see how it turned out: First of all, I chose Honka?s Aikamatka as the test model. Aikamatka means ?time travel? in English, but that is not why I chose it. I chose it because of the simple structural design, which is as close to ordinary house as possible. Also, later it is easier to do some comparative cost estimating with different materials, wh...
More About: Estima , Cost

Post and beam cabin
2006-12-13 08:19:01
This is another cabin that is very close to me. I built it for my cousin together with my father. Cabin has been standing tall for almost ten years now, but unfortunately it doesn?t get used much these days. Cabin has the look of a squared log home, but actually using post and beam technique with wood paneling as siding makes it look like one. In case you want to know more about post and beam building, please go and read this book.
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Environmental infiltrating
2006-12-08 02:13:01
I had my log cabin kit and my winding forest road to my lot. Cabin kit was supposed to function as a lakeside sauna. Having sauna this close to the lake is going to enrich the lake water. Therefore I had to get myself a small infiltrating system to treat the wash water produced by the use of sauna. I turned to Labko® Saunakaivo 300, which is very small system, designed for minimal usage. Unfortunately I wasn?t clever enough to photograph the installation process (I also should have done that for the road construction). I?ll be a tad wiser next time.
More About: Environment , Mental , Environmental , Men , Menta

McCartney must smash his log cabin
2006-12-07 14:12:01
Old and tested trick doesn?t always work. I don?t know if you are familiar with this traditional trick. First you pick a nice spot, which is free of any structures, quite possibly because that particular spot can?t be built. When officials come asking after licenses and permits, it?s time to start applying them. Usually this process can be ironed out with little negotiations and under the table offers. Sir McCart ney hasn?t been able to convince authorities and he has been ordered to tear down the one million pounds log cabin that he constructed. Tough luck, so be prepared and get to know the people who sit in district councils that way you know beforehand if you can secure a retrospective planning permission. Can?t buy me permit…
More About: Log Cabin , Must , Smash

Corner cut
2006-12-06 02:11:01
Back in the old days, log homes were technology, which almost every man mastered. As time went on specialized carpenters kept on developing log home designs and their own skills. Eventually things developed so far that builder would hire a master carpenter to oversee and run log home building project. These carpenters wanted to leave a mark on their work from which they could be recognized, something of business cards. Solid corners were needed to keep log structure in one piece therefore corner became natural spot for carpenters to leave their trademark. There were as many variations of corners as there were proud carpenters. Nowadays we have lost our animal sense of log home building and therefore we fall as a prey of marketing, trademarked or patented corner cut this and that and so what… Check the picture, there is a model-protected corner cut as well as model-protected thru-bolted log fastening system. Every modern log home and log cabin has those features, so what?s ...
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Road nowhere
2006-12-05 02:10:02
Lakeside property and beautiful view are nothing if you can?t get there, hence road was needed. Several trees had to be felled in order to clear the way for the passage. Then we turned over the soil and drove some gravel and sand on the spot. Tedious work but at the end of the day (took couple of months in real life) we had our road. Do you want to see it? Here is a picture, nice view, eh? Oh, you know it! I was just pulling your leg. We didn?t manage anything as grand as that, but the road we cleared is enough for us. Here is a picture of our road and as evidence a tractor parked on it so you know that it is solid. Now that we have convenient access to the lot, it will be lot easier to service the construction site. However, that is a subject for another post.
More About: Road , Nowhere , Where

Kiln-dried logs
2006-12-05 02:10:02
Are kiln-dried logs such a technological breakthrough as log home companies market them to be? What does this technology do anyway? Freshly felled logs will shrink as they slowly dry out. General rule of thumb is that it takes about 3 years of drying before logs can be used as log home raw material, without experiencing drastic settling. This means that somebody has to attend those logs for 3 years before they can be used. Processing and storage costs keep on piling continuously. Few log home company has the resources to keep their own storages. Moreover, ramping the production up and down according the demand is very difficult if one has to think about raw material cycle. It is pretty clear that log drying costs money. If outside party does this natural drying process, it will most certainly want to set higher price for their product than normal logs have. Therefore, big enough log home companies prefer to set up technology, which they can use to kiln-dry their logs. They c...
More About: Logs

Land ahoy
2006-12-01 06:08:06
The story so far: Get a phone call ? check! Get a crazy idea ? check! Get a cabin kit ? check! Get a piece of land ? what? Honestly it didn?t come as a surprise for me. I already knew that land was coming my way, so I only had to come up with an idea what to do with it. Newly bought log cabin kit gave a purpose for the lakeside lot.
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Sandworm eating a tree
2006-12-01 06:08:06
The pine box has now transformed into a tiny pine seedling. I replanted it into a bigger pot. Now I’m thinking that if I manage to keep it alive, I’m going to plant it on my yard. Coming out of the box, it looked like this.
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The use of campaign
2006-12-01 06:08:06
Log homes and log cabins can be surprisingly difficult products to understand. You get all kinds of sets and degrees of deliveries. Moreover, log homes and log cabins are image products, just open any log home magazine and it is all about emotion to have one not about money it takes to buy one or skill it takes to build one. These are the reasons why it is so easy to be lured by advertising while shopping log building. Seth Godin had a piece about nutty pricing. I don?t know how was the case with Seth?s example, but nutty pricing can sometimes be clever pricing. Many log home companies name various delivery choices with normal buyers campaign mentality in mind. They might have four different delivery packages for certain model e.g. like this: basic, normal, deluxe and service. The idea is to rely on our logic thinking. We automatically go and presume that service package is the best, however they set the package pricing lower than deluxe so we believe the company when it says th...
More About: Campaign , Campa , Camp , The U

Honkarakenne Oyj
2006-12-01 06:08:06
FIFTIES Honkarakenne Oyj is the company behind the Honka brand. Company was founded during the fifties. This was the time when Finland was being rebuilt in the aftermath of the WWII. Name of the game was speed and new technologies and materials. To stay with the competition, Honkarakenne took hand hewing and started to turn it into an industrial process. SIXTIES Industrialization and use of heavy machinery in the production of round logs cemented Honkarakenne?s position as one of the market leaders in Finland. Industrial manufacturing in turn helped Honkarakenne Oyj to increase productivity and that lead into sales expansion towards export markets. After all, Finland is a small market and wouldn?t suffice as a sole market area, thus next big areas of development were marketing, sales and exports. SEVENTIES Sales started to pick up and volumes grew rapidly. Increasing home market saturation and also Finnish mark (currency) devaluations were reasons for internationalization. Japan...
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List of Finnish log home manufacturers
2006-12-01 06:08:06
This is a growing list of Finnish log home companies. Honka
More About: Manufacturers , Home , Fact , List , Innis

Water and wood don?t mix
2006-12-01 06:08:06
Just ten hours later from watering the cube for the first time, here is the result. Dry wood and water do not make a good couple.
More About: Wood , Water

My log cabin project
2006-12-01 06:08:06
Before I start to go through the visual documentary of my own log cabin project, I?d like to build a foundation for the story. It started long ago, back in 1997 when my cousin told that he had a million dollar opportunity (actually it was a two thousand dollar opportunity, but let?s not mind about that). He had come across two cheap Honka log cabin kits that just screamed to be bought. After a quick phone call, Honkarakenne made some arrangements and following day the log cabin kit was resting in my cousin?s garage. Actually at that point there were two of them, but since this is a story of only one of those cabins… You?ll just have to follow the storyline of the late bloomer. Unfortunately it took almost a decade from the kit to finally make it to present location by the lake. But that is a topic for a whole new picture.
More About: Log Cabin , Project , Cabin

Not working
2006-12-01 06:08:06
I have gotten two contacts from Asia, concerning a trade of pine block. Unfortunately, customs have been very much against sending soil and seeds without airtight packaging and sterilizing treatment. Looks like this item is bit more complicated than I originally thought. Therefore I would like to make an announcement. I will turn this trading project into sponsoring project. I?ll let Finnish log home manufacturers pimp my log home for me.
More About: Work , King , Working , Workin

Cube tree project
2006-12-01 06:08:06
Remember the tree cube from my faltering 1 Big Dream project? As project was cut, there was need to downsize the key personnel in the project, namely the tree cube. This is why the cube is now assigned to other duties like to grow into a tree. Here?s the cube after first watering.
More About: Project , Tree , Cube