As I suspected, its been a while. Blogging certainly isn't my fortay. There are always so many things to say that I become overwhelmed with writing my stories. I suppose that is why I am a photographer and choose to document them instead!
As you know I have been building my dream in Nicaragua during the winter months of Canada. This is because mostly I do not work these months. Although this sounds super alluring, it can be pretty stressful. Life of the entrepreneur, where money ebbs and flows and dries up for an entire season! It often feels like you will never work again! haha. I am used to this feeling now, but certainly having a new focus in my life during these months helps tremendously!
Over the past few months living in Nicaragua, I have managed to work on my house designs and invest in some items for the land. Firstly, I have chosen a submergeable water-pump that goes directly into my well. It automatically pumps to the sinks and toilets and turns off when nothing is running. This is the newest technology in Nicaragua and I hope it isn't too advanced to repair! The pump works in a system where it pumps water from the well to a pressure tank, where it then is directed under ground to where-ever it needs to be. Because I still do not have electricity, it is powered by my shiny new generator and for the time being, is being pumped into a 10,000 litre water tank. When I get electricity, the generator will be used as back-up and the water will come out of the taps etc as needed without having to turn anything on. I am very lucky because my well has plenty of water which is a huge goldmine in Nicaragua (especially in the dry season). The water tank will eventually be hoisted onto a tower, whereby its sole purpose will be to use this water as a back-up in the case the electricity goes out. I know I keep mentioning this factor...and this is because the electricity goes out A LOT! The water tank will then feed the house through gravity. Water is the probably the biggest problem in Nicaragua. You are not always certain that you will have it, that it is clean or that it will be enough to service your needs. Many properties do not come with a well, and so it is a gamble when choosing your dream property. Will it have water? Will you get water on the first drill or dig? How deep will you need to go? All of these elements need to be questioned and can cost you anywhere from $5,000 to $30,000US!
After the water project was up and ready to go, I decided to start planting some fruit trees. A lot of my land is bare farmland and I don't want to be waiting a lifetime for shade or fruit! I bought 150 coconut trees for $150 and also added some plantains, bananas, avocado, papaya and pineapple to the mix. Trees are very inexpensive to buy but don't forget you need water to keep them alive! I am now paying about $100 in gasoline to power the generator to power the pump so that my guard can water these trees everyday!!!! Luckily it is almost rainy season so until about December, I can save some cash and know that Mother Nature will take care of it.
My vision for the property is firstly to get a house built, furnished and running. Before ever turning it into a wedding venue, it will be rented out on airbnb, and utilized to house workshops for yoga retreats, phototours etc. This unfortunately is the only way I can build my dream, little by little because lets face it...I am working on a wedding photographers salary here! lol.
With that being said, I have been working on getting my drawings translated into something technically sound and I am now waiting for the final structural plan from my architectural team. This team is from the city nearby to my property which consists of engineers, architects and the entire building team. They are a bit more expensive that other teams, but have a great reputation for building projects on time, following the plans and not going over budget.
It is notoriously known that in Central America, people can cut corners when it comes to service. I have done my research and read many horror stories of people investing in teams that half way through the build, have spent all of the money, or gone back to the client claiming that they forgot to add the windows or beams into the quote. These types of stories are a dime a dozen, and you have to be super careful about the reputation of the people you choose. I have a good feeling about the team I have chosen and am awaiting the final drawings which will also have the final quotes. I am crossing my fingers that the quote is within my reach.....(I have impeccable taste so I am scared...no lie)
The design of my house I will not release yet as I am super possessive of my creation! It is the first time I have ever designed a house (other than architecture class in highschool which I loved btw) and am soooo excited to see it come to life! Of course I also fear that I have no clue what I am doing so hope that I love the house once its done too! hahaha. Imagine???
Anyway, envision this: white concrete, flat roofs, palm leaf roofs, raw wood with a Moroccan meets Tulum or Ibiza flare. This is my vision!!!! I have spent countless nights measuring my rooms on the sand, sketching the rooms out and searching and searching for inspiration online. I would then sit in the office for hours, translating my sketches to the architect Hilde. After hours in the office measuring, discussing and copying my scribbly sketches, I would then go home, and look at the architects digital drawing and come back with changes and new measurements.
I am sure Hilde wanted to kill me, but he patiently sat there and made my changes. Might I mention that I do not speak Spanish and Hilde does not speak English so this process was lengthy and frustrating. It also reminded me that language isn't everything when it comes to communication. Luckily I have hired a husband and wife team to help do my translations, leg work and be my eyes and ears when I will be building and not physically there. I rely heavily on Jessica and Fernando and together we have become quite a good team..and almost like family. Since I need to be in Toronto making money during the summer season, I will have the two-some manage the build in Nicaragua. We have gone to a lawyer to ensure that they have the paperwork to make legal decisions on my behalf and we are in the process of working through some contracts. If all goes as planned, we will have the design ready in a few weeks, and the process of attaining permits underway. My aim is to have the work started by the end of August.
I won't have all the money to build the house entirely, so my guess is that I will build what they call the "greybuild" first. It basically consists of the skeleton of the house; the concrete walls, roof, structural beams and connections to electrical, plumbing etc. The house will be without finishes like woodwork, paint, windows, toilets etc. I think the finishing can be left to me hiring teams as I have money and of course bringing my father and brother down to Nicaragua to help!!! (yay handymen)
All in all, I am super excited to see my house come to life! Stay tuned for the ups and downs of this adventure of building a dream! hahaha. Do you think I'm crazy yet???
xx - april
As I suspected, its been a while. Blogging certainly isn’t my fortay. There are always so many things to say that I become overwhelmed with writing my stories. I suppose that is why I am a photographer and choose to document them instead!
As you know I have been building my dream of making a Wedding Destination Venue in Nicaragua during the winter months of Canada. Mostly, I do not work these months, so it is a perfect time to work towards a life goal..and eventually make money year round. Although this sounds super alluring, it can be pretty stressful. The life of the entrepreneur, where money ebbs and flows and dries up for an entire season! It often feels like you will never work again! haha. I am used to this feeling now, but certainly having a new focus in my life during these months helps tremendously!
Above I have added the official document of my property line above. The red dot indicates where I plan to build the house. It has a great view of the ocean about 500 metres away. This long rectangle is 17 acres of land.
Over the past few months living in Nicaragua, I have managed to work on my house designs and invest in some items for the land.
Firstly, I have chosen a submergeable water-pump that goes directly into my well. (in the first photo you can see the white tube coming out of the well – this is connected to the pump)
It automatically pumps water whenever a water source is turned on such as the sinks and toilets. The great thing about it is that it turns off when it isn’t being used. This is the newest technology in Nicaragua and I hope it isn’t too advanced to repair! The pump works in a system where it pumps water from the well to a pressure tank, (see the silver tank in the photo above), gets pressurized and then is directed under ground to which ever source is turned on…like a shower or sink.
The silver device on the wall is the “brain” of the pump which essentially connects to an electrical source. For now, I connect this to my generator. My guard Dennis built a concrete pad underneath the pressure tank so that it will not move around. He will use wood from the property to build a wall around it with a roof to protect it from anyone tampering with it or from the rain.
Because I still do not have electricity, it is powered by my shiny new generator and for the time being, is being pumped into a 10,000 litre water tank. When I eventually get electricity, the generator will be used as back-up and the water will come out of the taps etc as needed without having to turn anything on. The water tank will then be hoisted onto a tower, whereby its sole purpose will be to use this water as a back-up in the case the electricity goes out. The tower will produce water flow purely by gravity.
I am very lucky because my well has plenty of water even in the dry season which is a huge goldmine in Nicaragua. I know I keep mentioning this factor…and this is because the electricity goes out A LOT! If you expect to be offering a high end service, guests will expect water and lights!
Water is probably the biggest problem in Nicaragua. You are not always certain that you will have it, that it is clean or that it will be enough to service your needs. Many properties do not come with a well, and so it is a gamble when choosing your dream property. Will it have water? Will you get water on the first drill or dig? How deep will you need to go? All of these elements need to be questioned and can cost you anywhere from $5,000 to $30,000US just for the dig!!!
After the water project was up and ready to go, I decided to start planting some fruit trees. A lot of my land is bare farmland and I don’t want to be waiting a lifetime for shade or fruit! I bought 150 coconut trees for $150 and also added some plantains, bananas, avocado, papaya and pineapple to the mix. Trees are very inexpensive to buy but don’t forget you need water to keep them alive! I am now paying about $100 in gasoline to power the generator to power the pump so that my guard can water these trees everyday!!!! Luckily it is almost rainy season so until about December, I can save some cash and know that Mother Nature will take care of it.
My vision for the property is firstly to get a house built, furnished and running. Before ever turning it into a wedding venue, it will be rented out on airbnb, and utilized to house workshops for yoga retreats, phototours etc. This unfortunately is the only way I can build my dream, little by little because lets face it…I am working on a wedding photographers salary here! lol.
With that being said, I have been working on getting my drawings translated into something technically sound and I am now waiting for the final blueprints from my architectural team. This team is from the city nearby to my property which consists of engineers, architects and the entire building team. They are a bit more expensive that other teams, but have a great reputation for building projects on time, following the plans and not going over budget.
It is notoriously known that in Central America, people can cut corners when it comes to service. I have done my research and read many horror stories of people investing in teams that half way through the build, have spent all of the money, or gone back to the client claiming that they forgot to add the windows or beams into the quote. These types of stories are a dime a dozen, and you have to be super careful about the reputation of the people you choose. I have a good feeling about the team I have chosen and am awaiting the final drawings which will also have the final quotes. I am crossing my fingers that the quote is within my reach…..(I have impeccable taste so I am scared…no lie)
The design of my house I will not release yet as I am super possessive of my creation! It is the first time I have ever designed a house (other than architecture class in highschool which I loved btw) and am soooo excited to see it come to life! Of course I also fear that I have no clue what I am doing so hope that I love the house once its done too! hahaha. Imagine???
Anyway, envision this: white concrete, flat roofs, palm leaf roofs, raw wood with a Moroccan meets Tulum or Ibiza flare. This is my vision!!!! I have spent countless nights measuring my rooms on the sand, sketching the rooms out and searching and searching for inspiration online. I would then sit in the office for hours, translating my sketches to the architect Hilde. After hours in the office measuring, discussing and copying my scribbly sketches, I would then go home, and look at the architects digital drawing and come back with changes and new measurements.
I am sure Hilde wanted to kill me, but he patiently sat there and made my changes. Might I mention that I do not speak Spanish and Hilde does not speak English so this process was lengthy and frustrating. It also reminded me that language isn’t everything when it comes to communication. Luckily I have hired a husband and wife team to help do my translations, leg work and be my eyes and ears when I will be building and not physically there. I rely heavily on Jessica and Fernando and together we have become quite a good team..and almost like family.
Since I need to be in Toronto making money during the summer season, I will have the two-some manage the build in Nicaragua. We have gone to a lawyer to ensure that they have the paperwork to make legal decisions on my behalf and we are in the process of working through some contracts. If all goes as planned, we will have the design ready in a few weeks, and the process of attaining permits underway. My aim is to have the work started by the end of August.
In the photo above, you can see the water tank temporarily sitting under the big tree. The house will be built just to the right of the big tree, facing west 🙂
I won’t have all the money to build the house entirely, so my guess is that I will build what they call the “greybuild” first. It basically consists of the skeleton of the house; the concrete walls, roof, structural beams and connections to electrical, plumbing etc. The house will be without finishes like woodwork, paint, windows, toilets etc. I think the finishing can be left to me hiring teams as I have money and of course bringing my father and brother down to Nicaragua to help!!! (yay handymen)
All in all, I am super excited to see my house come to life! Stay tuned for the ups and downs of this adventure of building a dream! hahaha. Do you think I’m crazy yet???
xx – april
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Olive Studio is a documentary based photography studio, specializing in unique, intimate and off-the-beaten track weddings. Our candid shooting style allows for couples to...
As I suspected, its been a while. Blogging certainly isn’t my fortay. There are always so many things to say that I become overwhelmed with writing my stories. I suppose that is why I am a photographer and choose to document them instead!
As you know I have been building my dream in Nicaragua during the winter months of Canada. This is because mostly I do not work these months. Although this sounds super alluring, it can be pretty stressful. Life of the entrepreneur, where money ebbs and flows and dries up for an entire season! It often feels like you will never work again! haha. I am used to this feeling now, but certainly having a new focus in my life during these months helps tremendously!
Over the past few months living in Nicaragua, I have managed to work on my house designs and invest in some items for the land. Firstly, I have chosen a submergeable water-pump that goes directly into my well. It automatically pumps to the sinks and toilets and turns off when nothing is running. This is the newest technology in Nicaragua and I hope it isn’t too advanced to repair! The pump works in a system where it pumps water from the well to a pressure tank, where it then is directed under ground to where-ever it needs to be. Because I still do not have electricity, it is powered by my shiny new generator and for the time being, is being pumped into a 10,000 litre water tank. When I get electricity, the generator will be used as back-up and the water will come out of the taps etc as needed without having to turn anything on. I am very lucky because my well has plenty of water which is a huge goldmine in Nicaragua (especially in the dry season). The water tank will eventually be hoisted onto a tower, whereby its sole purpose will be to use this water as a back-up in the case the electricity goes out. I know I keep mentioning this factor…and this is because the electricity goes out A LOT! The water tank will then feed the house through gravity. Water is the probably the biggest problem in Nicaragua. You are not always certain that you will have it, that it is clean or that it will be enough to service your needs. Many properties do not come with a well, and so it is a gamble when choosing your dream property. Will it have water? Will you get water on the first drill or dig? How deep will you need to go? All of these elements need to be questioned and can cost you anywhere from $5,000 to $30,000US!
After the water project was up and ready to go, I decided to start planting some fruit trees. A lot of my land is bare farmland and I don’t want to be waiting a lifetime for shade or fruit! I bought 150 coconut trees for $150 and also added some plantains, bananas, avocado, papaya and pineapple to the mix. Trees are very inexpensive to buy but don’t forget you need water to keep them alive! I am now paying about $100 in gasoline to power the generator to power the pump so that my guard can water these trees everyday!!!! Luckily it is almost rainy season so until about December, I can save some cash and know that Mother Nature will take care of it.
My vision for the property is firstly to get a house built, furnished and running. Before ever turning it into a wedding venue, it will be rented out on airbnb, and utilized to house workshops for yoga retreats, phototours etc. This unfortunately is the only way I can build my dream, little by little because lets face it…I am working on a wedding photographers salary here! lol.
With that being said, I have been working on getting my drawings translated into something technically sound and I am now waiting for the final structural plan from my architectural team. This team is from the city nearby to my property which consists of engineers, architects and the entire building team. They are a bit more expensive that other teams, but have a great reputation for building projects on time, following the plans and not going over budget.
It is notoriously known that in Central America, people can cut corners when it comes to service. I have done my research and read many horror stories of people investing in teams that half way through the build, have spent all of the money, or gone back to the client claiming that they forgot to add the windows or beams into the quote. These types of stories are a dime a dozen, and you have to be super careful about the reputation of the people you choose. I have a good feeling about the team I have chosen and am awaiting the final drawings which will also have the final quotes. I am crossing my fingers that the quote is within my reach…..(I have impeccable taste so I am scared…no lie)
The design of my house I will not release yet as I am super possessive of my creation! It is the first time I have ever designed a house (other than architecture class in highschool which I loved btw) and am soooo excited to see it come to life! Of course I also fear that I have no clue what I am doing so hope that I love the house once its done too! hahaha. Imagine???
Anyway, envision this: white concrete, flat roofs, palm leaf roofs, raw wood with a Moroccan meets Tulum or Ibiza flare. This is my vision!!!! I have spent countless nights measuring my rooms on the sand, sketching the rooms out and searching and searching for inspiration online. I would then sit in the office for hours, translating my sketches to the architect Hilde. After hours in the office measuring, discussing and copying my scribbly sketches, I would then go home, and look at the architects digital drawing and come back with changes and new measurements.
I am sure Hilde wanted to kill me, but he patiently sat there and made my changes. Might I mention that I do not speak Spanish and Hilde does not speak English so this process was lengthy and frustrating. It also reminded me that language isn’t everything when it comes to communication. Luckily I have hired a husband and wife team to help do my translations, leg work and be my eyes and ears when I will be building and not physically there. I rely heavily on Jessica and Fernando and together we have become quite a good team..and almost like family. Since I need to be in Toronto making money during the summer season, I will have the two-some manage the build in Nicaragua. We have gone to a lawyer to ensure that they have the paperwork to make legal decisions on my behalf and we are in the process of working through some contracts. If all goes as planned, we will have the design ready in a few weeks, and the process of attaining permits underway. My aim is to have the work started by the end of August.
I won’t have all the money to build the house entirely, so my guess is that I will build what they call the “greybuild” first. It basically consists of the skeleton of the house; the concrete walls, roof, structural beams and connections to electrical, plumbing etc. The house will be without finishes like woodwork, paint, windows, toilets etc. I think the finishing can be left to me hiring teams as I have money and of course bringing my father and brother down to Nicaragua to help!!! (yay handymen)
All in all, I am super excited to see my house come to life! Stay tuned for the ups and downs of this adventure of building a dream! hahaha. Do you think I’m crazy yet???
