The Friends of the School Forest will host an Open House at the Cordwood Education Center at the Nels P. Evjue Merrill School Forest on Saturday, Oct. 3, from noon to 4 p.m.
The Open House will be part of the Wisconsin Solar Tour which showcases solar installations throughout the state. The Cordwood Education Center has three solar thermal hot water/glycol panels that heat the floor at the building. There is also a 75 watt Photovoltaic panel which provides electrical current to run the DC pumps. The panel also provides electricity for lighting, a cell phone tower and various low wattage devices in the center.
The Cordwood Education Center is a model of Best Practices for natural building and features: sustainable materials harvested on site, post and beam framing, a Frank Lloyd Wright rubble trench foundation, 16” cordwood infill, bottle end Big Dipper design, energy heel trusses, super insulated roof and gable ends, high efficiency windows, passive solar design, and large overhangs. The cordwood center was built with volunteer labor and donations of materials. It serves as a classroom/nature center for the students of the Merrill Area Public Schools.
The School Forest is 7 miles north of Merrill on Hwy 107, directly across from New Wood County Park. Attendees should turn east on the School Forest entrance road (marked with a large green sign that says Welcome to the Nels P. Evjue Merrill School Forest.) The Cordwood Center is a mile off the road on a good gravel road. Follow the green signs to the Cordwood Center. Walk, drive your car slowly, or bike back to the Cordwood Education Center, which is a mile from the entrance Hwy 107.