Richard Rucker has been a instrumental part of the Barn Raising Project team.  Richard is a jack of all trades when it comes to nature and property management.  Here is Richard’s Bio:

Richard Rucker is a Wildlife Biologist, Realtor, and Property Management and Design Consultant.  Richard was Vice President of Sparks Farming, Inc. (SFI) from 1986 through 2006.  With SFI, Richard was in charge of wildlife, timber, and general property management issues on 30,000 acres of farm and recreational property in the Mid-South owned by SFI.  His duties there included coordinating all aspects of farming and recreational property management, including designing various erosion control systems, working with various government agencies, coordinating farm-related government programs and permits, and real estate acquisition for the company.

Richard has coordinated site evaluation and landscape feature construction on a variety of personal estates and residential developments throughout the Memphis area with several professional firms, including Looney, Ricks, Kiss Architects of Memphis and Ben Page & Associates, a landscape architectural firm in Nashville, Tennessee.  He has overseen design and construction for numerous lake projects and various earth-moving and earth-sculpting projects.  He specializes in property acquisition, water management, water features, lakes, streams, road design, building site evaluation, aesthetic evaluation of properties, erosion control, forestry and wildlife management and any other property management and ownership issues.

 

Richard is helping Andy and I as we move forward with getting the property in the best possible shape.  He is teaching us a lot about managing a large piece of property.  For example: how to open up views into the forest, get rid of privet, locate new roads, make trails, and take care of trees.

The entire HFH staff has enjoyed working with Richard over the past year and we look forward to his future help.

One crazy fact about Richard is that he used to live at a Ranger’s Station in the Arkansas Mountains as he tracked Bobcats as part of his PHD work.  So this dude is the real deal!  Thanks Richard for blessing Habitat for Hope with your knowledge!!

This picture is showing a stumped Richard last April during our Master  Planning Design Workshop. He did not know what kind of tree he was  looking at.

Well 2 weeks ago he was out at the property and he told me he finally figured  out what kind of tree it was.  I forgot what the name is, but man…he couldnt  get that tree out of his head for a year!  This is the kind of passion we look for  in our consultants!!!

The location of the chapel and the reasoning behind its inclusion is no afterthought. In fact, we vision this to be a highlighted area drawing individual, family, and group experiences. Secluded by a natural tree line, the observer will find themselves overlooking a beautiful valley opening surrounded by natural splendor. An ideal place for quiet reflection, worshipping God in solitude, joining in family prayer, or to celebrate new beginnings.

Below is a rendering of the Chapel area.

Village Lane will be a peaceful area where families can retreat to the solitude and privacy of their cottage or sit on their porch and watch the kids play as they carry on conversations with other families passing by.  Village Lane is home to 8 cottages with three distinct lot types as seen below.  These cottages will be constructed to minimize clearing and to protect forest cover. Cottages will feature views of the forest, crescent green, fishing pond, and The Commons.  The Commons is a smaller private park for the families staying in the cottages.  This park consists of a playground and is anchored by a pavilion equipped with an outdoor kitchen where residents can gather for cookouts and other family oriented activities.

The Village Center will serve as the hub for the activities, amenities, and services for the families Habitat for Hope serves.  This area will be composed of a variety of structures loosely arranged around a centralized Village Green.  A few of the key structures include:

•The Community Building will serve as a large indoor gathering area and will include dining and meeting space, a library, craft room, and theater.

•The Village Inn will be run as a bed and breakfast for guests of the families on site.

•The Office/Conference Buildings will be used by Habitat for Hope staff and provide offices for parents staying on the site.

•The Barn will serve as a indoor recreation area and workshop.

•The Bunkhouse will provide on site housing for workgroups.

•The playground area and the Village Green will serve as outdoor recreation areas for both children and adults.

•The Gallery will educate visitors about Habitat for Hope and the process of the Barn Raising Project.

•The Community Garden will provide fresh food for families staying on site and will be a place family members can enjoy gardening together.

•The Health Pavilion will be a full fitness center and yoga studio.

This Master Plan will offer a truly distinctive and innovative environment for Habitat for Hope to serve our special population of families; those that are facing pediatric cancer or caring for a seriously ill child.

Habitat for Hope holds the notion that a community is a living part of its natural surroundings, not something to be built at nature’s expense. From the ground up, we’ve taken a new look at community development, and have based every facet of our campus design on traditional values and the principles of environmental sustainability. Just as our practices of sustainability and conservation aid our environment, they will also help us achieve our vision of healing for the families we serve.  The Habitat for Hope Master Plan has come together after months of design work by some of the most talented and respected planners, landscape architects, ecologist, architects, and engineers in the country.

Please click on the image above to enlarge.

In a few weeks we will be unveiling a new Barn Raising Project Website that will provide all the details of the project.  If you are interested in more information about the plan or if you would just like to view a higher resolution version of the plan please let us know.

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center mission is to:

“Increase the sustainable use and conservation of native wildflowers, plants, and landscapes”

All of us here at Habitat for Hope believe very strongly in sustainable practices related to our property.  We want to be good stewards of the beautiful land that God has given to us.  This is one reason we are participating in the Sustainable Sites Initiative.  The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is a great study in how to promote and educate people on the importance of sustainable landscapes.

This year Greenbuild was in one of my favorite cities in the world: Chicago. Greenbuild is the world’s largest conference and expo dedicated to green, sustainable, eco-friendly building. Close to 30,000 people from all over the world were in Chicago for three days of outstanding educational sessions, renowned speakers, green building tours, special seminars, and networking events. This year Mark and Andy joined me for the conference; our goal was to find more partners to join us in the Barn Raising Project. We talked to all sorts of companies that make healthly products ranging from countertops to HVAC systems.  Our team feels so strongly about including safe, healthy options in our design scheme – we are confident these additions will only increase the beauty and wellness families with critically or chronically ill children will achieve when utilizing our facilities.

According to Seamark Ranch, their organization is a, “non-denominational, Christ-centered children’s home and school committed to sharing the Gospel, hope, healing, and a brighter future with abused, neglected, abandoned, and homeless children.

Seamark Ranch, located on a beautiful 468-acre campus in Northeast Florida, seeks to provide a “traditional home” environment where each child can experience the security of boundaries and the acceptance of unconditional love. The Seamark approach is therapy-based and individualized. They strive to heal wounds and help children prosper in faith, in school, and in the community.

The loving care of live-in houseparent couples is supported and enhanced by professional, on-site counselors. A ranch manager teaches self-reliance and personal pride through farm work. Recreational experts manage aquatic, equestrian, and sports activities, while volunteers contribute in a variety of important ways. “

Seamark Ranch is building a community for these children. A place where they can safely interact with each other and the local community. Their Master Plan consists of 4 boys homes, 4 girls homes, chapel, administration center, equestrian center, staff homes, recreation areas, agriculture center, and nature trails.

Mark, Becky, and Ioved experiencing how God is blessing Seamark Ranch. It was truly one of those places where Jesus’ light is shining.

Check out Seamark Ranch at www.seamarkranch.com