Living Tee Pee

by Jodie Arellano
(Dixon, New Mexico)

Soon after our son was born the plastic started arriving. After accumulating a bunch of outdoor plastic toys we knew we wanted to do something different! The yard looked like a cartoon threw up all over it.

I was inspired by Sharon Lovejoy's book 'Roots, Shoots, Buckets, and Boots', and create a living tee pee. Totally beautiful to look at and a wonderful play space for kids.

I made a circle on the ground then got 8 15ft tall cedar poles and buried them a foot and a half at a angle into the ground (I peeled the bark off what was going into the ground). Even though resting them on each other at the top seemed very stable, I wrapped a chain around the top to make it more secure. Next we planted a wisteria and each year we train it a bit more. I layed cedar chips all around it and the inside of the tee pee is just dirt.

Happy creative sacred place. Our kids and friends kids love to lie down and look up at the sky through the top. While the bees buzz all around.

My blog is: Lana Encantada