Help Morganne Finish Building Her Eco-home
Donation protected
Morganne needs your help to finish her hemp & limestone block home on Salt Spring Island.
Morganne was injured, once last October with a broken and dislocated rib and then again in January with a broken arm. The arm had a severe and complicated break needing surgery with 2 plates and 8 pins to connect the jagged pieces together. With a resulting accompanied neurological condition, she is left with compromised mobility, weakness and is in constant pain in her dominant right arm and hand.
Unfortunately, these injuries have occurred while in the process of building her hard-fought-for Eco-home.
As anyone close to Morganne can attest, there have been a series of seemingly endless and heartbreaking challenges since she bought her property in 2011 on Salt Spring Island. With her own green building background, she was delighted to find a lot with a 310 sq. ft. “ready-to-move-in tiny home.” However, after numerous incidents and a lot of bureaucratic effort and expense, the home’s original promise has never been realized. Morganne has not lived more than a year and a half in the tiny home during all these years. Within this span, she has received three “No Occupancy Notices” stapled to her door and the decree to demolish it or build up to an engineer’s specification; it made no sense to do either.
Fast forwarding to 2019, Morganne had given up on the original tiny home, move it out of the way, only to be allowed to use it in the future as a storage shed. Deciding to take a big leap she planned for the build of a carefully designed block home. Due to the characteristics of the hemp limestone, the block structure, and her attention to green building practices, her walls are carbon neutral with low energy and technology expenditures, high insulation factors, great air quality, and have fire and pest resistance. Morganne also insisted on using salvaged building materials where ever possible and has hunted for second-hand appliances, lighting, kitchen cabinets and various finishing materials and paints to use when the time comes. So important to her is that this special home will last for several generations and require very little maintenance; it will be Morganne’s legacy.
Working toward her goal with limited resources, Morganne went through the rigors to became certified as her own site construction supervisor. The build would also incorporated participant workshops to build the walls, plaster them and create an earthen floor. With her previous hands-on experience and skills in construction and design, she would be an active part of the build and landscaping. Plan in place, the build was going to fit within her budget!
However, just four days to the scheduled build commencement in April 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic escalated to the point where the block company’s experts gave notice they were no longer coming. With forty-four thousand pounds of blocks and materials at risk of deteriorating and no guaranteed start date, Morganne had to find a local crew who would be willing to learn the novel building technique. All this drastically changed Morganne’s financial picture and it was a devastating setback. Luckily, a great local crew agreed to take on the challenge, and since has had Morganne’s best interest at heart.
It took longer and considerably more funds than a typical structure due to its new technical system and unclear but required engineering. However, it was a great relief when the walls were up, the roof on, and doors and windows in. At this point Morganne was healing from her broken rib and looking forward to doing much of the finishing work from there on.
Of course, just after New Years Morganne broke her arm. Just like that, she was no longer capable of driving, wielding a hammer, using her skill saw and drill, or shovel. On top of not being able to participate in her project, it has been a drastic blow for her future; limited mobility in her dominant arm has jeopardized her self-reliant, simple but enriched lifestyle. Her plans for food production and educational mentor-ship dreams are now less likely.
Morganne’s story fits into a much bigger one; one of conviction, follow through, and a sense to do the right thing with great regard to her community and the planet. For over 30 years, her uniqueness comes from a gentle but tenacious manner to inspire individuals and groups to do more, not only for themselves but for others.
Making the Way for the Knick Knack Nook RE-Use-It Store
She has worked tirelessly to look after her own “backyard” in an ever-increasing world of resource depletion, consumerism, and climate changes. Her time and energy, either through paid work or countless hours of volunteerism has made a big impact. She has worked within various organizations to develop composting initiatives and zero waste and resource recovery strategies and was project manager, fundraiser, and a hands-on leader for the building of Bowen Children’s Center. Later, Morganne initiated the Knick Knack Nook RE-Use-It Store Society. Having been on numerous boards and committees to further social and environmental wellness, she has also volunteered beyond Canadian borders in Greece, Guatemala, Cuba, and California for permaculture and earth-bag projects and internships.
Tecpan, Guatemala, Project Somos Children's Village
Sancti Spiritus, Cuba: Permaculture Internship Project
Hesperia, California, Cal-earth: Permaculture and Earth-bag Construction
Given her current situation, there is a sincere need for financial assistance for Morganne. While her house remains unfinished and vulnerable to the elements, her damaged arm is preventing her from working safely on her home or at her former place of employment. This assistance is needed to cover escalating material and paid labor costs.
For a person who has given generously of her time with so many positive outcomes for others, it is a wonderful opportunity to be able to give to her to help her realize her worthy dream.
On behalf of Morganne, thank you.
Project Budget for Morganne Keplar
Exterior Plastering - 5400
Exterior Window & Door Finishing - 3700
Scaffolding - 800
Hydro Upgrade - 1200
Rough-in Electrical including 200 amp cable - 3000
Roofing Venting (Chimney & Plumbing) - 1500
Wood stove and Installation - 4500
Earth Floor - 2000
Interior Plastering & wall finishes - 5200
Reclaimed kitchen Cabinet refit - 4000
Soundproofing and Drywall interior walls - 7000
Plumbing and Electrical Hook up - 2000
Fridge and Stove - 1600
Total Proposed Funds Needed - 41,900
Morganne was injured, once last October with a broken and dislocated rib and then again in January with a broken arm. The arm had a severe and complicated break needing surgery with 2 plates and 8 pins to connect the jagged pieces together. With a resulting accompanied neurological condition, she is left with compromised mobility, weakness and is in constant pain in her dominant right arm and hand.
Unfortunately, these injuries have occurred while in the process of building her hard-fought-for Eco-home.
As anyone close to Morganne can attest, there have been a series of seemingly endless and heartbreaking challenges since she bought her property in 2011 on Salt Spring Island. With her own green building background, she was delighted to find a lot with a 310 sq. ft. “ready-to-move-in tiny home.” However, after numerous incidents and a lot of bureaucratic effort and expense, the home’s original promise has never been realized. Morganne has not lived more than a year and a half in the tiny home during all these years. Within this span, she has received three “No Occupancy Notices” stapled to her door and the decree to demolish it or build up to an engineer’s specification; it made no sense to do either.
Fast forwarding to 2019, Morganne had given up on the original tiny home, move it out of the way, only to be allowed to use it in the future as a storage shed. Deciding to take a big leap she planned for the build of a carefully designed block home. Due to the characteristics of the hemp limestone, the block structure, and her attention to green building practices, her walls are carbon neutral with low energy and technology expenditures, high insulation factors, great air quality, and have fire and pest resistance. Morganne also insisted on using salvaged building materials where ever possible and has hunted for second-hand appliances, lighting, kitchen cabinets and various finishing materials and paints to use when the time comes. So important to her is that this special home will last for several generations and require very little maintenance; it will be Morganne’s legacy.
Working toward her goal with limited resources, Morganne went through the rigors to became certified as her own site construction supervisor. The build would also incorporated participant workshops to build the walls, plaster them and create an earthen floor. With her previous hands-on experience and skills in construction and design, she would be an active part of the build and landscaping. Plan in place, the build was going to fit within her budget!
However, just four days to the scheduled build commencement in April 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic escalated to the point where the block company’s experts gave notice they were no longer coming. With forty-four thousand pounds of blocks and materials at risk of deteriorating and no guaranteed start date, Morganne had to find a local crew who would be willing to learn the novel building technique. All this drastically changed Morganne’s financial picture and it was a devastating setback. Luckily, a great local crew agreed to take on the challenge, and since has had Morganne’s best interest at heart.
It took longer and considerably more funds than a typical structure due to its new technical system and unclear but required engineering. However, it was a great relief when the walls were up, the roof on, and doors and windows in. At this point Morganne was healing from her broken rib and looking forward to doing much of the finishing work from there on.
Of course, just after New Years Morganne broke her arm. Just like that, she was no longer capable of driving, wielding a hammer, using her skill saw and drill, or shovel. On top of not being able to participate in her project, it has been a drastic blow for her future; limited mobility in her dominant arm has jeopardized her self-reliant, simple but enriched lifestyle. Her plans for food production and educational mentor-ship dreams are now less likely.
Morganne’s story fits into a much bigger one; one of conviction, follow through, and a sense to do the right thing with great regard to her community and the planet. For over 30 years, her uniqueness comes from a gentle but tenacious manner to inspire individuals and groups to do more, not only for themselves but for others.
Making the Way for the Knick Knack Nook RE-Use-It StoreShe has worked tirelessly to look after her own “backyard” in an ever-increasing world of resource depletion, consumerism, and climate changes. Her time and energy, either through paid work or countless hours of volunteerism has made a big impact. She has worked within various organizations to develop composting initiatives and zero waste and resource recovery strategies and was project manager, fundraiser, and a hands-on leader for the building of Bowen Children’s Center. Later, Morganne initiated the Knick Knack Nook RE-Use-It Store Society. Having been on numerous boards and committees to further social and environmental wellness, she has also volunteered beyond Canadian borders in Greece, Guatemala, Cuba, and California for permaculture and earth-bag projects and internships.
Tecpan, Guatemala, Project Somos Children's VillageSancti Spiritus, Cuba: Permaculture Internship ProjectHesperia, California, Cal-earth: Permaculture and Earth-bag ConstructionGiven her current situation, there is a sincere need for financial assistance for Morganne. While her house remains unfinished and vulnerable to the elements, her damaged arm is preventing her from working safely on her home or at her former place of employment. This assistance is needed to cover escalating material and paid labor costs.
For a person who has given generously of her time with so many positive outcomes for others, it is a wonderful opportunity to be able to give to her to help her realize her worthy dream.
On behalf of Morganne, thank you.
Project Budget for Morganne Keplar
Exterior Plastering - 5400
Exterior Window & Door Finishing - 3700
Scaffolding - 800
Hydro Upgrade - 1200
Rough-in Electrical including 200 amp cable - 3000
Roofing Venting (Chimney & Plumbing) - 1500
Wood stove and Installation - 4500
Earth Floor - 2000
Interior Plastering & wall finishes - 5200
Reclaimed kitchen Cabinet refit - 4000
Soundproofing and Drywall interior walls - 7000
Plumbing and Electrical Hook up - 2000
Fridge and Stove - 1600
Total Proposed Funds Needed - 41,900
Organizer and beneficiary
Megan McPhee
Organizer
Vancouver, BC
Morganne Keplar
Beneficiary