When you are involved in building your own house, you tend to learn things that you thought you might never learn.   Now I know, some of the more handier folks out there would look at learning about framing, or roofing, or plumbing as something that is valuable and manly.  Keep in mind that I grew up without a Dad around the house – so the portion of my brain that finds manly value in those things is skinny and malnourished.

 

That being the case – I have learned more about septic systems than I ever really would want to learn.  I have a large lot (2.65 acres), but a tiny buildable space – constrained by 50 foot county setbacks for the agricultural zoning – and 50 foot buffers from the creek to protect the “state waters”. 

 

Then there is Cherokee County.  Them buggers over there at the County Environmental Health Department are rascally folks.  First, they lop on an additional 25 foot buffer zone (just for Cherokee County) so I have to stay 75 feet away from the creek. 

 

Just to make sure I knew what was going on I went to the EHD on July 16th to get the scoop on all my land requirements for my septic absorption field.  This is where all the effluent absorbs into the soil.  That’s enough info for you.  Anyway, I have limited are with good enough soil to hold the field.  So, what I heard was that I needed 290 feet for a primary field – and 400 feet for a repair field, if the primary failed.  The result was this drawing by the Landman:

 

 Notice in the upper left, the 290 LF (linear feet) of septic lines.    So, I turned this in with my septic application a week ago and waited for the fine folks at Cherokee County to give me my permit.  This permit is the first domino in the house building process. 

 

Well, they called today – and they said that even though they are not going to require me to install 400 feet of primary line, they are going to require that I show that I have room for the line.  Yikes!

 

The inspector told me that I must move my house.  Now, if you really could see the nitty gritty on this map – you’d realize, their ain’t no where to move the house.  So…. I called up the Landman – and he fixed me up with this:

 

Notice the nice 400 LF of septic lines in the upper left.  This is what I need.  Hopefully, the County instpectors will see this as satisfactory and give me the permit.  I’ve seen people put together far less convincing evidence and get a permit, so – pray for a favorable disposition to my application.  I should know something by Thursday A.M.

It occurred to me that many of you may have never seen the dirt that we purchased over a year ago.  So – I offer you these photos – and hopefully a periodic update as to the progress of the new home.

What you see here to the right is the entrance to the property from the road.  In true Bulldawgy fashion, our neighbors, the Richardsons, have chosen a fine black mailbox.  This works nicely with the Red mailbox of the Lee family – all giving the entrance a true Bulldog motif.

 

 

 

 

Here we have the view from our neighbor’s home.  You are looking toward the south, down the hill.  Our house will be to the right of the gravel drive in this picture.

 

 

 

This is the view of the house.  But, the house isn’t there yet.  I have been assured that it will be done by Christmas!  That’s amazing to me.

Needless to say, quite a few of these trees are going to be felled.  If you look closely, there is a tree in the front left of the picture with a green ribbon on it.  That green ribbon is the ribbon of survival…. this tree won’t be chopped down.

 

 

 

Two of the three requirements necessary for the erosion control permit are in place.  The first, is this sign (procured from my neighborhood Home Depot).  It will hold my permits.

 

 

 

 

 

The second of these requirements is the double row, Type C DOT silt fence you see to the right here.   This will protect the "creek" (future pictures to com) from runoff when we fell all those trees and dig the hole for the basement.  I say "creek" because that is what the Georgia EPA calls it.  It’s really a ditch that has puddles in it when it rains.  Occasional puddles, that is.

The final step before we can knock over trees and move dirt is the septic permit.  We are waiting from word from Cherokee County.

More to come.  Don’t be strangers.