The document summarizes the process of base mapping a property located at 54 Shore Street. The mapper traced an existing property map to create a basemap showing property lines, structure dimensions, and the location of the septic system. Google Earth was used to understand the tree canopy. Through the mapping process, the mapper discovered 10 feet of unused land behind the garage and that sunlight reaches the back of the property. However, the large elm tree obscured details in satellite images. The final map shows the property is only 1/8 acre and gardens are located over the septic system, which poses a challenge.

1. 
Base-mapping 54 Shore
Street

2. 
 The first step in this process for me was to try imagining the lot as
bare. I really liked the idea of “cleaning the slate” from Bane’s page 47,
because while I don’t currently live on this property, I did for many
years, so I tried to erase all my biases to make room for accurate
measurements!
 I then began making this basemap by tracing a property map that I
was able to find on site. Conveniently, it had measurements of
property lines and dimensions of the house and the garage, as well as
measurements of spatial relationships between those structures. It
even mapped out the location of the septic system.
 The existing garden boxes and storm drain are past DIY projects of
mine, so I knew their dimensions going into the mapping process.
 I then used Google Earth to get a better understanding of the canopy
layout on the lot, though most of the front third is smothered by one
massive elm tree!
The Process

4.  Frankly, I was shocked by how large the diameter of our big elm tree is. Needless to say,
that will come up on my “Challenges” slide.
 I was, however, pleasantly surprised to learn that we have 10 feet of property extending
behind the garage. That is currently an unused and somewhat forgotten space, and
pertains to one of my favorite Bane statements from this week’s reading; that the most
important uses of mapping are to preserve information that may otherwise be forgotten,
and to reveal relationships that may not be obvious (paraphrased from pg. 46). I had
written off this dark muddy strip as wasteland, when it’s actually plenty big enough to
host a nice compost pile, or maybe a chicken coop.
 After reading Bane’s bit about the solar sector on page 55, I made a point of paying more
attention to it’s relationship to my property and discovered that even as it sets, the sunlight
manages to shoot the narrow gap between the house and the garage and reach all the way
back to the eastern edge of the lot. This long sun-exposure could mean a good site for the
greenhouse.
 Lastly, despite spending my childhood in this home, I knew next to nothing about the
footprint of the septic system. As it turns out, it sits directly beneath my garden boxes and
my storm drain (not to mention a healthy chunk of driveway). This worries me, and
motivates me to make the switch to a composting toilet sooner rather than later. The
following is a map of the system.
New Findings

5. Here is the Septic layout. As long as it’s in use, it’s the sword of Damocles (from
below, ironically) for the micro-biological networks in my soil…

6. 
Challenges
 That tree! I knew it was big, but I didn’t think it would
completely hide the house! It pretty much rendered the satellite
map useless. I would have liked to trace that for the sake of
easily mapping the garden beds, deck, and patio, but that
wasn’t an option…
 This is also a small space, only about 1/8 acre including the
house and garage. Since I’ve crammed garden structures so
close together (and will have to continue to do so), It was a bit
tricky at times to clearly label all of them. I found that lighter
ink for measurements, with red lettering and a removed key for
main features worked best for me. And I did simplify the
footprints of both the big elm and the septic system in the
interest of avoiding clutter. The following is my result.

8. 
And just because I’m proud of it… the storm-drain/garden swale!
Made from recycled shipping pallets. Design detail included on the
left. It worked great this spring!