Unity Experience students build barn at Last Chance Ranch

Last Chance Ranch is an equine rescue center -- battered horses, otherwise bound for the dog food cannery. These are students in Dr. Phillippi's section of Unity Experience, an environmental engagement and UC orientation program required for all frosh.

This project was a good example of local lumber utilization in a building project. Hemlock is the local construction lumber of choice for outbuildings due to it's longevity. Pine is more expensive, but nice for interiors, especially in full timber-frame buildings. I wouldn't claim this as a green building, though. The foundation was all wrong. When students build buildings at UC (the Sugar Shack, the FFA Farm), I make sure they get local lumber. When contractors build buildings at UC, we make them get local lumber, including sheathing.