Sovereignty Module: Raise the Walls
Complete Shelter Construction: From Emergency to Permanent
Shelter protects from elements, provides security, and enables all other work. This campaign covers emergency shelters through permanent construction using available materials.
Chapter 1: Emergency Shelters (Hours to Build)
| Shelter | Time | Materials | Capacity | Warmth | Weather Protection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debris hut | 1-3 hours | Sticks, leaves, debris | 1 person | Excellent | Good (rain, wind) |
| Lean-to | 30-60 min | Pole, branches, leaves | 1-3 people | Moderate (one side open) | Moderate |
| Snow cave | 2-4 hours | Packed snow | 1-3 people | Excellent (32°F inside) | Excellent |
| Tarp shelter | 10-30 min | Tarp, cord, stakes | 1-4 people | Low (no insulation) | Good (rain) |
| Wickiup (brush hut) | 2-4 hours | Poles, brush, bark | 2-4 people | Good | Good |
| Quinzhee (snow mound) | 3-5 hours | Snow | 2-3 people | Excellent | Excellent |
Debris hut (best emergency shelter): 1) Ridgepole: sturdy pole, 9-12 ft, propped at one end (waist height). 2) Ribbing: lean sticks along both sides (45° angle). 3) Lattice: weave smaller sticks across ribs. 4) Debris: pile leaves/grass/pine needles 3-4 feet thick over everything. 5) Floor: thick layer of dry debris inside (insulation from ground). 6) Door: stuff opening with debris bundle (pull in behind you). Body heat alone keeps interior warm. The key is THICKNESS of debris — minimum 3 feet on all sides.
Chapter 2: Semi-Permanent Structures (Days to Build)
| Structure | Time | Materials | Lifespan | Capacity | Best Climate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-frame cabin | 3-7 days | Poles, thatch/bark | 2-5 years | 2-4 people | Temperate, rainy |
| Wattle and daub | 5-14 days | Poles, woven sticks, mud | 10-30 years | Family | Temperate |
| Sod house | 7-14 days | Sod blocks, poles | 5-15 years | Family | Prairie, grassland |
| Tipi/tent | 1-3 days | Poles, hides/canvas | Years (portable) | Family | Plains, nomadic |
| Yurt | 3-7 days | Lattice frame, felt/canvas | Years (portable) | Family | Steppe, cold |
| Log lean-to | 2-5 days | Logs, moss/bark | 5-10 years | 2-4 people | Forest |
Chapter 3: Permanent Construction (Weeks to Months)
| Method | Materials | Insulation (R-value) | Lifespan | Skill Level | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Log cabin | Logs, moss/clay chinking | R-8 to R-12 (8" logs) | 100+ years | Moderate-high | Low (forest) |
| Timber frame | Heavy timbers, infill panels | Depends on infill | 200+ years | High | Moderate |
| Cob (monolithic earth) | Clay, sand, straw | R-3 per foot | 100+ years | Low-moderate | Very low |
| Adobe (sun-dried brick) | Clay, sand, straw, water | R-3 per foot | 100+ years (dry climate) | Low | Very low |
| Rammed earth | Subsoil, gravel | R-2.5 per foot | 100+ years | Moderate | Very low |
| Stone | Cut or field stone, mortar | R-1 per foot (mass effect) | 500+ years | High | Low-moderate |
| Earthbag | Polypropylene bags, earth | R-3 per foot | 50+ years | Low | Very low |
| Straw bale | Straw bales, plaster | R-30 to R-40 | 100+ years (if dry) | Moderate | Low |
| Cordwood | Short logs, mortar | R-12 to R-20 | 100+ years | Low-moderate | Low |
Chapter 4: Foundation and Roofing
Foundation options: 1) Stone pier (simplest — stone columns at corners and intervals). 2) Continuous stone (trench filled with stone, mortared). 3) Rubble trench (gravel-filled trench, drains water away). 4) Concrete (strongest, most permanent). Key: below frost line, drains water away from building, level.
| Roof Type | Materials | Slope | Lifespan | Difficulty | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thatch (grass/reed) | Bundles of grass, reed, straw | 45-50° | 15-30 years | Moderate | Abundant grass areas |
| Wood shingle/shake | Split cedar or oak | 30-45° | 20-40 years | Moderate | Forest areas |
| Sod (living roof) | Sod over bark/membrane | 15-30° | 20-40 years | Moderate | Cold climates |
| Slate/stone | Flat stone tiles | 30-45° | 100+ years | High | Stone available |
| Metal (if available) | Sheet metal | 15-30° | 40-60 years | Low | Any climate |
| Clay tile | Fired clay tiles | 30-45° | 100+ years | High (making tiles) | Any climate |
Chapter 5: Heating and Ventilation
| System | Fuel | Efficiency | Heat Output | Complexity | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open fire (central) | Wood | 10-15% | High (radiant) | Very low | Emergency, temporary |
| Fireplace (masonry) | Wood | 15-25% | Moderate | High | Permanent homes |
| Rocket mass heater | Small wood | 80-90% | High (stored in mass) | Moderate | Efficient permanent heating |
| Masonry heater (Finnish) | Wood (1-2 fires/day) | 85-90% | High (stored, slow release) | Very high | Cold climates, permanent |
| Kang (heated bed platform) | Wood, straw | 70-80% | Moderate (sleeping area) | Moderate | Cold climates |
| Hypocaust (underfloor) | Wood | 60-70% | Moderate (floor radiates) | High | Cold climates, permanent |
Reference Card
- Insulate from ground first (ground steals more heat than air). 2. Thick walls = thermal mass (stays cool in summer, warm in winter). 3. Roof pitch matches climate (steep for rain/snow, flat for dry). 4. Foundation below frost line (prevents heaving). 5. Ventilation prevents moisture damage (air flow essential). 6. South-facing windows (northern hemisphere) for passive solar. 7. Overhang protects walls from rain. 8. Build small, build well — easier to heat, maintain, and expand later.