tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88237555172027925562024-03-16T11:52:38.364-07:00Straw Bales and SwalesWelcome to our blog. We are embarking on a lifelong dream adventure: building our own straw bale home with a modified post and beam structure, on a meadow in need of permacultural lovin'.gillian and jonathan and jamie toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14258023541495798410noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823755517202792556.post-15241649060382154062015-03-26T13:12:00.000-07:002015-03-26T13:12:52.559-07:00Looking for Land Mates!
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">And so now that we are moved in, we want someone(s) to join us here on this beautiful piece of paradise! Here is our 'INVITATION TO SHARE":</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">We are a family
of 3 (Jonathan, Gillian and 10-year-old son Jamie) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">living in the beautiful
Yalakom Valley north west of Lillooet, interested in sharing our land and
lifestyle with like-minded others in order to create a mutually beneficial,
inspiring and socially stimulating circumstance for ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To that end, we are looking for folks who
value organic agriculture, ecology, herbalism, alternative building, off grid
living, and (ideally) have a kid or kids of similar age to Jamie; if no kids,
compatibility and active, real interest in kids is a must. If this sounds
interesting to you, read on!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8as0dr0gyC_zxX4OoOhsC-ouhL1GTAmLZ2LNe8eeQdFzAb6RFIp5fdeFOyXnpDhNdrtr_c4ifdJeQjpZ5_Qv431z7G0xAIsiAzBCuDmG1mFCjYepkQjBeVJ39IHRQ5Sc5KVpvLV4MtE8/s1600/12_summer+405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8as0dr0gyC_zxX4OoOhsC-ouhL1GTAmLZ2LNe8eeQdFzAb6RFIp5fdeFOyXnpDhNdrtr_c4ifdJeQjpZ5_Qv431z7G0xAIsiAzBCuDmG1mFCjYepkQjBeVJ39IHRQ5Sc5KVpvLV4MtE8/s1600/12_summer+405.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The piece of paradise we steward is about 70
acres of a larger (198 acre) parcel that used to be a ranch, perched on a long
bench above the Yalakom River. Much of our place in steep and forested, but the
flatter 10 or so acres is open meadow, suitable for haying, grazing or growing.
In February of 2014, we moved into our newly built post-and-beam/straw-bale
house, designed and built by Jonathan, with the help of many hands. (see past posts for pictures and more of that story).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Yalakom Valley is located in Northern St'at'imc
Territory, 45 minutes from Lillooet on a winding, bumpy road. Climatically, we
are in the transition zone between the Coast Mountains to the west, and the dry
Interior Plateau to the east. Since the early 1970s, this valley has been home
to a small community of alternative-minded folks who have experimented with
varying degrees of intentionality and communal living over the years. In this
current phase we live mostly as individual families, though we still cooperate to
host community gatherings at the Solstices, occasional work-bees, pot-lucks,
games-, music- and sauna-nights, as well as participating deeply in regional
land use strategies and issues.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SSSO9S9FErJBV8Y2WA2hCVgsB3hzK1znrF79e_BIkCxpFH9qjYMklMI-HTofr7_zVodgUiLWByTc-ZeWYVmazGgddGVFcCeHZz3XBVpTHAiTFqpds4YvXKbIv2bPdmZtFd0fabX8o7s/s1600/IMG_5543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SSSO9S9FErJBV8Y2WA2hCVgsB3hzK1znrF79e_BIkCxpFH9qjYMklMI-HTofr7_zVodgUiLWByTc-ZeWYVmazGgddGVFcCeHZz3XBVpTHAiTFqpds4YvXKbIv2bPdmZtFd0fabX8o7s/s1600/IMG_5543.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gillian and Jonathan have lived in the valley
since the late '90s, with a two year hiatus on Galiano Island. Jonathan employs
himself doing carpentry and odd jobs, and, as well as working on an endless list
of projects around the place, loves writing poetry, riding his mountain bike,
occasionally going to the city for Contact Improv jams and classes, as well as
brewing his own beer. Gillian, an herbalist since 25+ years, owns and operates
"Gillian's Herbs", a small, home based herbal products company
(www.gilliansherbs.com), does home care for a local elder, and teaches Nia (www.nianow.com), a
whole body, fun, fitness and movement technique set to music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gillian also has a soft spot for animals,
currently caring for 4 horses (Jonathan does the hoof trimming, and lots of hay hauling).
Jamie is a bright, healthy and active 10-year-old boy, into Lego, Karate,
parkour, audio-books, playing drums, hanging out with chickens, and riding his bike. Jamie has chosen not
to attend regular school, so over the years we have experimented with different
home-schooling curricula and methodologies. We are currently following the
non-coercive, interest-directed philosophy of Life Learning. (http://www.lifelearningmagazine.com/definitions/index.htm).</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIzhkZ0GHtN5pz2BWkL1A8sTjDEaWDPJ-ZdE_scQ9l3R87q_E7A6qGk2ZvKhIAC27nbAyHFHYFGgN4nxBj8lLh57qMZQMQF3Q9QxCjcB8-dW4DanWlNU2w8pXVlqjnfm0k29IXt0hyphenhyphenyU/s1600/IMG_5560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIzhkZ0GHtN5pz2BWkL1A8sTjDEaWDPJ-ZdE_scQ9l3R87q_E7A6qGk2ZvKhIAC27nbAyHFHYFGgN4nxBj8lLh57qMZQMQF3Q9QxCjcB8-dW4DanWlNU2w8pXVlqjnfm0k29IXt0hyphenhyphenyU/s1600/IMG_5560.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Both Jonathan and
Gillian have contributed their efforts to local land use strategies, mainly negotiations
with forestry companies and promoting Ecosystem Based Planning. Gillian is a
member of the regional government (SLRD)'s Agricultural Advisory Committee;
past member of Lillooet Food Matters and Salmon Talks Lillooet; past community
representative on the Sekw'el'was (Cayoosh) Restoration Advisory Committee.</span></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Our
current projects on the land include:</span></span></i></b></div>
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</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">organically* growing and
processing a wide variety of medicinal herbs for "Gillian's Herbs"</span></span></li>
</ul>
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</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">an acre of organically grown*
hops for microbreweries, planted Fall of 2014, thanks to advice and help from
HOOH (http://www.lillooetnews.net/news/community/hooh-hops-a-harvest-hit-1.1479440)
and Crannog Ales (www.crannogales.com) and friends</span></span></li>
</ul>
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</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">organically* growing the vast
majority of our culinary herbs, veggies (especially potatoes, garlic, shallots
and onions), most of our spring to fall veggies; some fruit</span></span></li>
</ul>
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</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">processing food including
freezing, canning, and making sauerkraut, yogurt, salsa, applesauce, etc</span></span></li>
</ul>
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</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">nurturing a new orchard (apple,
apricot, cherry and plum trees so far; berry bushes including strawberry,
raspberry, elderberry, currant, justa, haskap honeysuckle, gooseberry; hazelnuts)</span></span></li>
</ul>
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</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">organically raising
"heritage" chickens for meat from summer to fall</span></span></li>
</ul>
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</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">composting horse and chicken
manure for the gardens, hops and orchard<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">installing deer fencing around
the perimeter </span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">* we are applying for organic certification in 2015</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">We
have hosted over 75 WWOOFers, workawayers, herbal apprentices, friends, and
family who have helped us tremendously over the years both on the house and in
the gardens and on the land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We happily
hosted a Mud Girls Earth Plaster workshop in 2011, which empowered us to host
our own earth plastering workshop the following summer, and we are proud to say
our walls have been touched by hundreds of hands. We love the input of new
ideas, fresh outlooks, and different cultures coming here to visit, help and
share in the beauty of this land, and have made many lasting relationships as a
result.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">POTENTIAL
PROJECTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE:</span></span></b></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">expand the herbal products
company</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">raise sheep for meat, possibly
wool, while they help us weed the hop yard</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">raise laying hens for egg
production </span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">grow more food to sell, trade
and to fulfill most or all of our food needs (minus the coffee, olive oil,
spices, etc!) = inching closer to food sustainability</span></span></li>
</ul>
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</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">build and ride mountain bike
trails here </span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">build smaller one storey straw
bale cabins while teaching alternative building skills to the public</span></span></li>
</ul>
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</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">re-train 2 of our 4 horse friends
to pull machinery to work the land (cut hay; till the soil; haul logs; spread
manure, etc.) and pull a buggy for local transportation and fun!</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">LARGER
DREAM PROJECTS IF WE ARE EVEN LUCKIER:</span></span></b></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">build a minimalist aka simple
and modest Dance and Movement Arts Retreat Centre</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">build an organic brewery</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">become a mountain bike
destination or hot spot (camp?)</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">build an alternative building
style sauna and bath house</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">GOAL
IN FINDING LAND MATES:</span></span></b></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">improve social life here for us
</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">share this beautiful piece of
paradise and provide land for like minded people</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-synthesis: weight style; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"></span></span><span lang="EN-GB">achieve a synergistic level of
person-power that allows us to accomplish our dreams and projects while also having fun!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #d9d2e9;"><br /></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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<b><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Our
hope is to connect with people who are willing to come and try sharing this
land to determine if we are compatible. After an initial trial period, we would
make a few successively longer-term agreements, hoping to find a balance of
security and flexibility. When the time and partnership are right, we would
sign a Memorandum of Understanding, so that whatever we have collectively
agreed upon is formalized, and able to be referred to. The details of such and
agreement would be worked out thoughtfully, together, one step at a time.</span></span></span></i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Please
contact us if these ideas appeal to and inspire you! And if not, please pass
this information on to whomever you think might find it interesting.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Websites
to check out to further give you more of a picture of who we are and where we live :</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">vastmountain.ca = scroll through this blog about our house building adventure</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">gilliansherbs.com = Gillian's herbal products website</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">http://www.thegreengazette.ca/sage-birchwater-arts-culture-lived-experience-literary-journal-a-legacy-to-culture/
= an interesting article published recently about a literary journal that
Jonathan (aka Swamp) plays an important role in, published in the Yalakom by a
long time resident and friend</span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">thanks for taking the time to read through this! </span></span><br />
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gillian and jonathan and jamie toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14258023541495798410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823755517202792556.post-21138612185767327282015-02-02T23:26:00.001-08:002015-02-03T00:22:10.943-08:00Did I mention that we moved in?<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>We're IN!</i> We moved in....um, a year ago this month! It's been so fabulous I couldn't stop to tell everyone (sorry!).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>WE LOVE OUR HOME!</i> What can I say, except: to really appreciate what that love means, you will have to experience it for yourself in person. One thing I will always be grateful for is the 100s (yes, hundreds) of hands from near and far that touched some part of the building process over the years = thank each and every one of you. That, and the recognition that we are living on and from St'at'imc unceded territory = kukwstum.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Take a journey back in time, by scrolling down through the photos, check out the older posts to see some of the faces (maybe yours) who helped out. They are only really a smattering of images representing 7 years of sweat, and yes some tears, and...you get the picture! Many smiles and laughs were mixed into the hair pulling for balance. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If I were to do it again (ha ha), I would strive to improve on the photo taking/documentation, and subsequent photo sharing. Probably not going to happen in this lifetime! oh well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, come and visit and take your own photos and hear the stories in person, see the house in full view, and feel the earth plaster with your own hands! We really do enjoy having visitors, so get in touch. We have a guest room, and a guest cabin, and a camper, and maybe a bus someday, and hopefully smaller straw bale cabins in the future, but always lots of room to stretch out and breathe in the delicious Vast Mountain air. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Enjoy ! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oCIZZYYDszcCac09ZYjg56ve3xlvkHVQSuIOhuy3JeTkhM7V9qo4qC-r6-Y9UlNaV-iJDc0wovLdTXYSitGZdSaVgEE07xtBrKlJ5YKqtFIneVGTtKZF1ryIW0xyEvbR4lX5WqZ4dKY/s1600/IMG_0232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oCIZZYYDszcCac09ZYjg56ve3xlvkHVQSuIOhuy3JeTkhM7V9qo4qC-r6-Y9UlNaV-iJDc0wovLdTXYSitGZdSaVgEE07xtBrKlJ5YKqtFIneVGTtKZF1ryIW0xyEvbR4lX5WqZ4dKY/s1600/IMG_0232.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">THE FIRST SPIKE! June 30, 2006. I had to start with my favourite photo of this great adventure, the first one.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Time warp to October, 2014 : the Dining Room</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Kitchen with post and beam detail, and unfinished cabinetry (a home is never really finished...)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Hand woven original hangings commissioned from a local friend. The door on the left is to the root cellar below the kitchen, and the door on the right is the pantry. (visit https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/mariannegagnon1)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_bUqYUnUd_IPdp6-tZKhUNVAPUyqaluLwfGNWXkGGAI8DFl1ttiqmmkL-v-aip-AY4Yhwzdzb_3cnGn_W0yUo0oGMExWJCIbivsUzQpcyJOX61bOoY-FMGO_jw67gZ3JobjpmdvCjgM/s1600/IMG_5602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_bUqYUnUd_IPdp6-tZKhUNVAPUyqaluLwfGNWXkGGAI8DFl1ttiqmmkL-v-aip-AY4Yhwzdzb_3cnGn_W0yUo0oGMExWJCIbivsUzQpcyJOX61bOoY-FMGO_jw67gZ3JobjpmdvCjgM/s1600/IMG_5602.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Koda, in his happy place.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWR_XYyaNJ7crY-pjnYPTU-ThBYoHeWFN8V_1zYXIu2bHKrDh_Ziu0OOxM3YGaPFvRgEoAZMZ5EX-bpXaq4pKBqW9U8FZtJkkAwPSqGGIirOrGyzibg32fg6PJDFu5BdtH39wZdIADIB4/s1600/IMG_5603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWR_XYyaNJ7crY-pjnYPTU-ThBYoHeWFN8V_1zYXIu2bHKrDh_Ziu0OOxM3YGaPFvRgEoAZMZ5EX-bpXaq4pKBqW9U8FZtJkkAwPSqGGIirOrGyzibg32fg6PJDFu5BdtH39wZdIADIB4/s1600/IMG_5603.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One side of the Apothecary</span>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Masonry heater, cob on the outside and hand formed shelves for the knick-knacks.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Bathroom sink</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Jonathan's first tiling project, the shower.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Bath...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One end of the living room</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Some beautiful art on earth plastered wall, natural colour.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Some more art, some squash...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Jamie and Dancer, on her first day here.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Tyler meeting Hawk, father of Dancer, new friends to us since the fall; Mandy is on the left, and Dancer is eating.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Hawk</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-qGBJihLRvUgTeE2Fz9DiPTLtOgL_W7w5fHzwNhA5GJY47CbjUS-LPq1X4PBpSUMVNApc01bg5dmG3QufgjBcMtwKurZhbwtjwDECC7v4SyUrVMGw9RNGw7eIExBvAtxckQ_x1rRhzE/s1600/IMG_5691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-qGBJihLRvUgTeE2Fz9DiPTLtOgL_W7w5fHzwNhA5GJY47CbjUS-LPq1X4PBpSUMVNApc01bg5dmG3QufgjBcMtwKurZhbwtjwDECC7v4SyUrVMGw9RNGw7eIExBvAtxckQ_x1rRhzE/s1600/IMG_5691.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">thanks everyone for helping make our dream come true (and that is not our home in the background)</span></span></b></i></td></tr>
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<br />gillian and jonathan and jamie toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14258023541495798410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823755517202792556.post-65219149837564377502014-01-02T00:11:00.002-08:002014-01-02T00:24:04.275-08:00Moving right along...2013<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Life goes on despite the lack of blogging, or posting, or even picture taking...2013 was busy, eventful and somewhat tumultuous perhaps, and no, we did not move in, and have not even still (though sooo close) but <i>THE HOUSE</i> which has taken on its own personality, continued to be nailed, plastered, painted, tiled, electrified, plumbed, and generally and constantly fussed over and fiddled with! Here are some random pics, the photographer only occasionally visiting <i>THE HOUSE</i> with camera in hand while also juggling 3 jobs, a household (trailer hold?) and a home schooled 9 year old boy. Never a dull moment.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here are some highlights:</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaubm_BEPqMz8wJxu0xzfYY0lmaZIyDcDvNsg0fCrmA1on1uqQQk9uFJ0RUFjCMEh21OyYxpQy1vo4UgJfJ1zTqS8nt7gqFMFCWrieMyMUeLUnZ3qEeuCrVPF1ukUzZ8KDuLYYD2CMrNo/s640/IMG_4814.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Behold! The magic and miracle of ELECTRICITY!</span></span></h3>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1nkEAO4m_SGsYapb-4cqlRq_EKrrg3761NCWw1dSNbnrN4AZp-qttVW6VjpZkqjQmFtwEDVPgc1T-lIBVyp3ToofYgyFNPsyqwix9yhEusITs4q42thl-4wjD916WfSvospFYuh0beM/s1600/IMG_4965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1nkEAO4m_SGsYapb-4cqlRq_EKrrg3761NCWw1dSNbnrN4AZp-qttVW6VjpZkqjQmFtwEDVPgc1T-lIBVyp3ToofYgyFNPsyqwix9yhEusITs4q42thl-4wjD916WfSvospFYuh0beM/s400/IMG_4965.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And here is the belly of that miracle, or one of the sources. The main source is Buck Creek coming down Vast Mountain, and a micro hydro power system that generates enough hydro to run 7 or 8 households more or less, and which provides us with a continuous trickle charge that keeps batteries amply supplied to power our home. Note the shiny new inverter!</span></h2>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQEzD7YcgB_dWszCsBb5buVbtSV0PlOv38SuWD6yXwSdDHKTeZW1A2i3krAoKwPW6WjsAJNp3F_JCISMnK43UGOfs5QJR0ogG6ogFB9F3GyU8w9UpAUa5B35bhotgsB8Zd1sc2WKzASg/s1600/IMG_4811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQEzD7YcgB_dWszCsBb5buVbtSV0PlOv38SuWD6yXwSdDHKTeZW1A2i3krAoKwPW6WjsAJNp3F_JCISMnK43UGOfs5QJR0ogG6ogFB9F3GyU8w9UpAUa5B35bhotgsB8Zd1sc2WKzASg/s640/IMG_4811.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Natural light still wins in the beauty contest. Jamie in his future chambers, I mean bedroom.</span></h2>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigA_OnkATOlBgIeiOFIs5XX-yCbsyGOK1OWA1A_y_eTKPRmwMazcfws91CWkdtquxdTNBVLJ-46NqEMvqsGmWL0qWGNFfvFH3WkPCUK0E154kjBT8X3e4TLXUIb3w1yBceDO-aR4FU1A0/s1600/IMG_4819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigA_OnkATOlBgIeiOFIs5XX-yCbsyGOK1OWA1A_y_eTKPRmwMazcfws91CWkdtquxdTNBVLJ-46NqEMvqsGmWL0qWGNFfvFH3WkPCUK0E154kjBT8X3e4TLXUIb3w1yBceDO-aR4FU1A0/s640/IMG_4819.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Lots of snow, lots of love<span style="font-size: large;"><i>.</i></span></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>and now for some COLOUR inside! </i></span></span></h2>
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<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvZfypkepdMm_fPkuVXxmvglLVHg8FIR1PG3pVWNADTvxiaBHW96aNQqyODEaTZmEpBKSZtU93BdM9s0LCJee0gsEzGKIQc02NIFn9LHOJH9GTgwuc6i_-Y8QnAeAERhrgVRUqNxR9tU/s1600/IMG_4824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvZfypkepdMm_fPkuVXxmvglLVHg8FIR1PG3pVWNADTvxiaBHW96aNQqyODEaTZmEpBKSZtU93BdM9s0LCJee0gsEzGKIQc02NIFn9LHOJH9GTgwuc6i_-Y8QnAeAERhrgVRUqNxR9tU/s400/IMG_4824.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Jamie and Swamp mixing clay paint, otherwise known as an <i>alis</i>.</span></h4>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLr9TjARER1p7za5-gRaXUTxZXikOMJaEHObc62_yRMYW1P0MzXvFOdgQqw9QJS2WZtrs5OSEj5-0lZRHOSiRdGeJHL6Or35FZesYvNw96ki7CrhLWhxioR6Sg3htivj77FptyuZdkcIc/s1600/IMG_4947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLr9TjARER1p7za5-gRaXUTxZXikOMJaEHObc62_yRMYW1P0MzXvFOdgQqw9QJS2WZtrs5OSEj5-0lZRHOSiRdGeJHL6Or35FZesYvNw96ki7CrhLWhxioR6Sg3htivj77FptyuZdkcIc/s640/IMG_4947.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Rich and warm master bedroom wall.</span></h3>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZlufhcTw1FC49PcbewoX8yTdVeCMC_1o5G4ZNREmpCIzXrE7-vwpY0qntJdsexY5k5XR9nWZkqI2hhyphenhyphenY-SbLoh2w_wNtQ88tZtZZvvlCNrYqUGPpSvJMhSd29tSH9Dn4RS6GTvLdObh0/s1600/IMG_4939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZlufhcTw1FC49PcbewoX8yTdVeCMC_1o5G4ZNREmpCIzXrE7-vwpY0qntJdsexY5k5XR9nWZkqI2hhyphenhyphenY-SbLoh2w_wNtQ88tZtZZvvlCNrYqUGPpSvJMhSd29tSH9Dn4RS6GTvLdObh0/s640/IMG_4939.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The apothecary.</span></h3>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhy6qLKyeXri_py5g64WobOGoOmNC9VNc_dufeZETCeEr_TunR1ttaLsfAhYq1grvuA3ME5YUajQTi7Isrqh1Bfl2bk61xflmqu9QhnbguLltHOeBIfuP4mfbXlGJCq-yc9T3OvWdg2_o/s1600/IMG_4938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhy6qLKyeXri_py5g64WobOGoOmNC9VNc_dufeZETCeEr_TunR1ttaLsfAhYq1grvuA3ME5YUajQTi7Isrqh1Bfl2bk61xflmqu9QhnbguLltHOeBIfuP4mfbXlGJCq-yc9T3OvWdg2_o/s640/IMG_4938.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Kitchen.</span></h3>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRseHVzmefR3pqAbapy54JGxrncI6RQC8eZL0i7QfKkLIfBtkTUhKMXjf423DgWY4qV35X7hqzFtONBiHQ06xSVmhGVhDOR4B3Hah8QZWbud4KcK8Zy__zvowoBCWeL7nbW6R_m9C7qs/s1600/IMG_4941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRseHVzmefR3pqAbapy54JGxrncI6RQC8eZL0i7QfKkLIfBtkTUhKMXjf423DgWY4qV35X7hqzFtONBiHQ06xSVmhGVhDOR4B3Hah8QZWbud4KcK8Zy__zvowoBCWeL7nbW6R_m9C7qs/s400/IMG_4941.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Beautiful organic colour (the entrance).</span></h3>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIuXaXVpw8040tmIUhcWIyhW0CQaHxV6SGJPk0Fp8BjqUaM4bA5KfjdkHGAiWmL0gMayDld43hw9KfXQ2rhCsR6ipC73Etg_zav3Y0DNuYfgsH6Xn6x3w6-61zxX-Xy_OerUXJr77RMQ/s1600/IMG_4942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIuXaXVpw8040tmIUhcWIyhW0CQaHxV6SGJPk0Fp8BjqUaM4bA5KfjdkHGAiWmL0gMayDld43hw9KfXQ2rhCsR6ipC73Etg_zav3Y0DNuYfgsH6Xn6x3w6-61zxX-Xy_OerUXJr77RMQ/s400/IMG_4942.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Having little idea of how to mix clay colours, this is what we ended up with for the upstairs hallway! Love it! Love natural clay painting...the texture, application and look are all appealing.</span></h2>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozkHOtCFyO8L9KTuRu8O0xaQssq3k6xS5HwcuDhN_4pQq_cMpPCIffkP6o8K-6N7lv83gmxhFxvBRA_odz_kopFGU5vJNCONZV1f_o7Fnc1ncwA4OhkhLmBE_iREn5JwN2giAaBHcs8A/s1600/IMG_4945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozkHOtCFyO8L9KTuRu8O0xaQssq3k6xS5HwcuDhN_4pQq_cMpPCIffkP6o8K-6N7lv83gmxhFxvBRA_odz_kopFGU5vJNCONZV1f_o7Fnc1ncwA4OhkhLmBE_iREn5JwN2giAaBHcs8A/s640/IMG_4945.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The master bedroom oiled.</span></h3>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX26F6KKXEXjPvy4tc9jUEdZ1c6B9aDuNoVCQKoIi1npMeOCV3zzrpA9SPvZfmMK8OXrJeiSpxel2DJM5JfYB2dsk88iVxOtRklPpDkKk9WucJvkOtP5uUedfTwe5ZvFv4wsjUhCrFdDE/s1600/IMG_5038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX26F6KKXEXjPvy4tc9jUEdZ1c6B9aDuNoVCQKoIi1npMeOCV3zzrpA9SPvZfmMK8OXrJeiSpxel2DJM5JfYB2dsk88iVxOtRklPpDkKk9WucJvkOtP5uUedfTwe5ZvFv4wsjUhCrFdDE/s640/IMG_5038.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sometime in the colour phase, we finished the masonry heater, decorations, tile and all.</span></h3>
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<h2>
<i><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> and THEN THERE WAS A PORCH!</span></b></i></h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGD4TiuNILDFDyJyhgNsAbdyDkaIibVsUlrkN-Ihe_t9Vt9Fp0qOlyWPKgP3a50EIaWmV-vaRFDhrM9cZz2Vmk0I3eRIDx-KCLNMkDurQ6kP2lD1V_7zOEv6PTrvmnsWVG6B2i8BtnsR8/s1600/IMG_5001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGD4TiuNILDFDyJyhgNsAbdyDkaIibVsUlrkN-Ihe_t9Vt9Fp0qOlyWPKgP3a50EIaWmV-vaRFDhrM9cZz2Vmk0I3eRIDx-KCLNMkDurQ6kP2lD1V_7zOEv6PTrvmnsWVG6B2i8BtnsR8/s640/IMG_5001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My cousin the builder (Charlie) and family came to visit and quickly and lovingly built us our front porch (Phase 1)! Thank you Applefords!</span></h3>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcufNIBk2KVK9yVWp48HLCG_6oNPRlZffR6esmyzMVT8glm-7jySdSZ5-yj3tsP_5Ld1s_-kp0GcpRoUaojA5n6wTd4DhKjNbl4_I04ZM1kweIuELf2ITHVea6NUBH0QmKtKnCTF3hRk/s1600/IMG_5037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcufNIBk2KVK9yVWp48HLCG_6oNPRlZffR6esmyzMVT8glm-7jySdSZ5-yj3tsP_5Ld1s_-kp0GcpRoUaojA5n6wTd4DhKjNbl4_I04ZM1kweIuELf2ITHVea6NUBH0QmKtKnCTF3hRk/s640/IMG_5037.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And here it is: Fall after the garlic harvest, covered in...stuff....sigh.</span></h3>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>AND HOW ABOUT THE TILING? </i></span></span></h2>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1AD91KT1AeUMf8BHkQGRC8mKN1YMIcA4GK-e7Kn3TFwhG4u7Il9y8r6V6G5pZtlDKSZeXaJiOqvP2sMWiS4ENs3fCWSwvc4OAcyp9Hv3EV10hBCBAZjtRlXEw0GwSB5rajeDbOMQJZ1g/s1600/IMG_5047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1AD91KT1AeUMf8BHkQGRC8mKN1YMIcA4GK-e7Kn3TFwhG4u7Il9y8r6V6G5pZtlDKSZeXaJiOqvP2sMWiS4ENs3fCWSwvc4OAcyp9Hv3EV10hBCBAZjtRlXEw0GwSB5rajeDbOMQJZ1g/s640/IMG_5047.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Masonry heater tiled floor.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The shower stall tiled - what a beautiful feat for a first time tiler!</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The bathroom floor and bathtub backsplash tiled!</span></h3>
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<h2>
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> and THE MOVE BEGINS...</span></i></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Jump to November: smelling snow on it's way, we shifted gears and moved the shed...amazing what a little bobcat can do!</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">and the cabin! after hours and hours of jacking up each corner inch by inch.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">More photos to come - much has changed since these were taken: the fir floor is almost done and about to be sanded, then oiled. Kitchen cabinets and drawers will soon be installed. The bathroom is 90% done, all that needs to happen is some plumbing to connect the sink, shower and tub to their drains. Closets are getting their doors hung, and shelves and hanging rods installed. Very exciting. Must start packing in earnest.</span>gillian and jonathan and jamie toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14258023541495798410noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823755517202792556.post-82271435443449839842012-09-13T12:58:00.001-07:002012-09-13T13:14:12.232-07:00She's got skirts!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We had yet another successful, FUN and fruitful workbee last weekend, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">and the house now has her skirts! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> We got far more done than we expected, since we had no idea how many people would show up. Over 2 days the volunteer crew applied 2 coats of earth plaster on the skirting wall (on wood lath) and if you scroll down, you will see some photos of interior walls (upstairs) being worked on during the afternoon of the second day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>WAY TO GO CREW! Thank you so much!</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> <i>We are yet again reminded of the power and beauty of community, and love that anyone, young or old, can help on a natural building project. </i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Now that the house has her skirts, we are that much closer to being able to move in (sometime this winter, fingers crossed). The skirting wall provides yet another layer or wall of insulation from the elements. The house no longer looks like it's standing on stilts - it's connected to the earth, and now we have a really nice crawl space under the house, which will protect the plumbing from freezing, keep the main floor warmer, the root cellar cooler....all even temperatures as it should be. And, I have a mushroom growing space within it too and time will tell if it will work or not (the glass blocks are for letting some light in). The mushrooms I want to grow </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Shiitake, Oyster, etc)</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> in bags filled with sawdust like temperatures between 1C and 10C and filtered light, so we shall see! It's a good thing I'm short, but I might have to enlist the help of a gnome or elf to help...</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The mushroom growing corner</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here are some photos to show off the work, the people and the fun we had!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">MIXERS EXTRAORDINAIRE! </span><i>The mix: 4 parts Sand (sifted), 1 part Clay (sifted), 1 part Horse Manure (fresh dried and sifted), 1/2 part Straw (chopped), water. Mix with bare feet until it rolls out like dough.</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Screening Horse Manure = Very Important Job!</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> The work went so well, with so many people, that we were able to finish some interior walls as well, left over from the last Earth Plaster workshop in June. This was a really nice surprise for us. The second coat was applied, which does not include straw. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">These guys really know how to have a good time, no matter what they're doing!</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">~ The list of thank
yous is not short, and we are so so grateful to all who could come this
time to lend a hand, to add food to the table to feed the workers, to
learn, and to get dirty with us yet again! Many repeats, so I think
some of you are hooked! Yippee, more people for the natural building
revolution! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Big and Life Long Thanks to: Jan Wilson, Angela, Odin & kids,
Mariko & kids, Andrew & Regan, Marty & Ashley, Toby &
Wren, Llew, Van & Eleanor, Zack, Roy, Ina & Phil, Travis, Stepha
& Lynda, Robin, Josh & Gabi, Tina, Oliver & Jenine, dogs
(Canyon, Shade, Morley and Blue), and Laurie for coming at the end for
moral and beer support! <i> </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>To all who have helped from the beginning:</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>Let us know how we can return the favour! </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i> love...gillian, swamp, jamie and koda</i></span></div>
<br />gillian and jonathan and jamie toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14258023541495798410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823755517202792556.post-91413089247940285292012-07-30T16:03:00.003-07:002012-07-30T16:08:33.964-07:00What Up...<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<i>I see from other blogs that posting regularly is the norm, though why i should start conforming to the norm now is another question! Anyhow, thought i could post a "short" one without pics to outline what we are up to these days with the house.</i></div>
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The most exciting (and expensive!) thing recently has been the burial of the <b>power cable and water line</b> to our house from the main infrastructure on the property. Thanks to John and Cole Barten and their awesome machines, with Jonathan, Roy and Travis on the ground, we have hundreds of feet of cable and pipe carefully buried in the meadow.</div>
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At the house itself, the <b>stairs to the root cellar</b> are done ~ yippee! For those of you who don't know, the root cellar is under the house, our basement really, with a door right off the kitchen..how convenient is that! <br />
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Jonathan and helpers are picking away when time allows at the <b>skirting wall</b>; the footing is almost complete, then onward to building the stem wall. This is a must before living in the house, to keep the floors warm in the winter, cool in the summer, to help insulate and protect exposed plumbing underneath the house, and as a bonus give us more covered storage (aka hiding places for Jamie and friends!). There will be at least 2 access doors, and i have finally convinced Jonathan to add glass blocks to one section so that i can grow edible mushrooms (namely Shitake and Oyster, hoping Reishi some day) under the house which like diffuse light and cooler temperatures. Permaculture requires that everything has at least 2 functions, so this skirting project covers that very well!</div>
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We have bought <b>tile</b> to lay out this week we hope, that will go under and around the Pioneer Maid cook stove, around the chimney and masonry heater. We bought beautiful and not too expensive slate tiles, and hope they don't chip themselves away to bareness...hmm. </div>
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In preparation for tiling, the footing pad for the chimney was leveled.</div>
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The <b>kitchen cabinets</b> get some attention when there's a break in the other projects.</div>
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Meanwhile outside, the WWOOFers and I are busy weeding, watering and mulching all the babies we have planted this year and in years past: apricots from the compost pile, yellow currants, Choke cherries and Nanking cherries, Poplar (Okanese), Lilacs, and Mock Orange, all planted pretty close together to act as a living fence and windbreak....with some luck, the deer won't eat them all, and yes they do eat everything at least once to try it out. The Lilacs are well ahead of the others - go for it! </div>
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We also planted a few cherry trees this year, mmm cherries! A spruce tree was given to us as a house / yard warming from friends who live in Horsefly, and i planted it fairly close to the house to act as grey water catchment, since they love water so much, being from further north or higher altitudes.</div>
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I also gave in at a market and bought a Linden tree, supposedly good luck or good Karma or some such...love them...so do the deer!</div>
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Oh, and a Blacklace Elderberry was planted too and is doing very well.<br />
In the garden, we have 20 tomato plants doing superbly well, peppers, and 3 large rows of garlic, ready to be harvested this week. </div>
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Next: mixing and painting the interior walls and masonry heater, first doing some decorative tiling on the heater with Mexican tiles...pretty. Tiling the bathroom shower and bath and sink areas, tiling the kitchen sink area and window sill above it. Finishing wiring, starting on interior plumbing. The ceiling will get insulated and covered hoping with nice birch plywood. Then the wood floor, using sustainably harvested, tongue and groove Fir from Vancouver Island. Doors for the pantry and root cellar too, cabinets and sink installation in the apothecary, front hall closet door and finishing, and the list goes on....sigh! The emphasis is on finishing the first floor so we can move in and finish the second floor during the winter, sleeping in our moveable cabin if need be. </div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The house looks more and more like a home every step of the way, and we are so excited, with a move in date of Winter Solstice in mind. We shall see! </span><br />
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<br />gillian and jonathan and jamie toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14258023541495798410noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823755517202792556.post-19130062816053417562012-06-27T02:27:00.000-07:002012-07-30T15:04:35.222-07:00Muddy Success<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our 2nd Earth Plaster workshop was a total success! This was actually our very first workshop on our own, meaning we took the plunge, and with the blessing of the Mud Girls, did this one on our own. Hats off to the Mud Girls for showing us how it's done ~ we are forever grateful to you! Their workshops are HIGHLY recommended by the way (visit www.mudgirls.ca).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We had the pleasure of hosting 10 wonderful people from as far away as Egypt (ok, via Montreal), and from as close as Lillooet, who took time out of their busy lives to come help us plaster the interior walls (on lath), plus our cob masonry heater and cement block chimney, as well as apply natural paint on the outside of our home. The crew learned from scratch and mastered the art of earth plastering within days. Karim, Hanaa, Coral, Joni, Jose, Glenda, Nelson, Lauriel, Mark and Diane...we thank you again for your help, enthusiasm, sense of adventure and love of all things mud! The weather tried to challenge us, but nonetheless, we carried on and got tons done on the house. The food was divine and plentiful, once again, huge thanks to Stepha and Anna. Thanks to Devora, also once again, the kids were so well cared for and they had a blast! Thanks also to Roy and Travis for being the behind the scenes people. And to Camilche and Osha for coming in towards the end to lend a hand. Thanks everybody... mi casa es su casa.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting down and dirty</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mastering the second coat</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natural painting with yellow ochre</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even kids can do it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time out to play a tune or two</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jonathan demonstrating the art of mixing natural paint to an attentive crew</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plastering the cob masonry heater</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our little village </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Crew ~ dogs, kids and Pumpy Pumpy Spray Thing included!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Though it was only 4 days together, </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">we all left the workshop feeling like family, or like it was the last day of camp ~ we lived and learned and ate and worked and sang and danced and talked and got down in the mud together, and got along extremely well to boot! The feedback during our closing circle was overwhelmingly positive. 'Twas a beautiful and fun time for sure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">These photos can only convey a hint of the experience - but, like chocolate, one has to try it to really know what it's like...there will be more workshops, keep your eyes peeled and let us know if you'd like to be on the list!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>gillian and jonathan and jamie toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14258023541495798410noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823755517202792556.post-84004188585363409992012-02-29T09:16:00.000-08:002012-02-29T09:16:42.688-08:00Second Earth Plaster workshop!<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> <b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Come Explore the Art of Earth Plaster!</span></b></span><b><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> June 7th - June 10th 2012</span></b><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> After our highly successful and inspiring experience last summer of hosting an Earth Plaster workshop facilitated by the Mud Girls Natural Building Collective, we are ready to dive in to doing our part to spread and promote the traditions of this ancient and noble building technology! Come experience the elegant simplicity of making and applying plaster from completely natural and easily available materials, in a four day workshop at our homestead near Lillooet, BC, where we are building a post-and-beam, straw bale house.</span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Over the course of the workshop you will learn, through instruction and hands-on practice, about the materials, proportions, mixing and application of earth plaster in a variety of building applications, from interior lath-and-plaster walls, to facing a cob stove, as well as applying decorative details and earth-based pigmented colours. </span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Camp out in a beautiful meadow at the foot of Vast Mountain, discover the satisfaction and power of focused, co-operative endeavors, get muddy, and learn! Free child-care provided, as well as three delicious, mostly organic vegetarian and/or vegan meals per day for a modest cost ($35 per person per day, to pay for food and cooking), and your labour in exchange for teaching and facilitation.</span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Herbalist, gardener, local activist Gillian Smith, and builder/poet Jonathan, with their young son, Jamie, are a small family living in a long-standing, close-knit community of alternatively minded folks in the mountains of BC's Southern Interior (St'at'imc Territory). We are committed to the preservation and propagation of skills, arts and life-ways that provide a respectful and harmonious means of relating to this Earth that is the source of everything we are.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Jonathan will be your fearless leader, and we will endeavor to all work as a team in a cooperative, supportive and fun filled way.</span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> For more information about the workshop, or to register, please contact Gillian by email : info@gilliansherbs.com, and check out our blog : www.vastmountain.ca for photos and more information about our place. Registration is limited - please register by May 15th. If you can't make it in June, we hope to have another workshop in August. </span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">To learn more about the Mud Girls' work, check out www.mudgirls.ca</span><br />
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</b></div><b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Make sure you check out our previous posts to see photos of our work in progress!</b>gillian and jonathan and jamie toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14258023541495798410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823755517202792556.post-65387728601689843202012-02-29T08:41:00.001-08:002012-02-29T09:17:45.479-08:00Hearth Centre<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Masonry Heater ~ our hearth centre, our main source of heat. The idea is that small, hot fires warm up the immense thermal mass, which then becomes the source of heat, as opposed to feeding a woodstove all...day...long, knowing that most of the heat is going out the chimney. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The first masonry heater we saw was in a large, 2 storey restaurant in Mt. Tremblant, Quebec, and at -20C, between the heater and the open kitchen, (and the bodies), the place was toasty!</span> <i>Masonry heaters can serve as the primary heater in a modern home of 1500 to 2000 sq. ft (140 to 185 m2), particularly when located in the middle of an open plan living space. On each firing of 50 lbs (22 kg) of wood, a Temp-Cast 2000 fireplace can deliver up to 250,000 BTUs (73.2 kw) of radiant heat. Total heat output is controlled by the <i>amount </i>of fuel burned, while the rate at which heat is delivered remains relatively constant. Some exceptions to these guidelines are noteworthy. Thermal mass construction, such as log homes, earth-sheltered homes, sod homes, and even straw-wall homes are perfectly suited to radiant masonry heaters. The structural mass retains a large portion of the heat from the fireplace and radiates it back to the occupants, allowing it to heat more area, or to be burned less often (www.tempcast.com)</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Not only one of the most efficient ways to burn wood to heat a building, masonry heaters are beautiful as well. Here are some of the stages in building ours:</span><br />
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</tbody></table><i> Masonry heaters work by radiating the energy stored in their masonry mass. Heaters like the Temp-Cast 2000 are simply heat storage banks. A short, hot fire heats the masonry mass, which stores and radiates it back to the space slowly and evenly for many hours. This creates a very gentle heater, with almost imperceptible warmth. Radiant heat from a masonry heater is very similar to the radiant heat from the sun. Just as the sun warms the earth, the masonry stove heats by warming solid objects in the home, such as walls, floors, furniture and people. And like a miniature sun in the centre of your home, this radiant energy from the heater does not directly heat the air that it travels through, which has some important health benefits, detailed in Section 2 (see website). From the first time the fireplace is fired, the heating cycle is very even, only slightly cooler in the morning than in the previous evening. This is quite unlike traditional wood heating systems, which create a very hot space around them, cool considerably during the night and then super-heat the area when re-loaded in the morning. In addition, radiant masonry heating produces an "all over" warmth, as the solid objects in the area are warmed and then re-radiate the warmth to you.(www.tempcast.com)</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Normally, people face their masonry heaters with brick or stone, but, having become enamoured of clay, sand and straw, we opted for cob, instead. (Plus, we had a big pile o clay sitting outside!). We made bricks and one by one, built it up, and around. Here, you can see them being laid over and on cardboard, which is used as an air "layer" between the bricks and the cob.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We even made shelves with cob, you know, for the nick nacks in our life! Important stuff!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> ... and there it stands, the heart of our home, complete with decorative shelves, sculpted from cob. Next step, build the chimney, and then apply a finishing layer of plaster, and whatever decorative touches we decide on. (Note: the chimney is done, and we are ready to plaster it and the masonry heater during our second Earth Plaster workshop, to be held in June 2012!)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>gillian and jonathan and jamie toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14258023541495798410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823755517202792556.post-81458289543485393522012-02-11T00:57:00.000-08:002012-02-11T01:01:59.124-08:00July 2011In July 2011, we had the rest of the plastering done, via workbee and Swamp and Travis mostly working on the gaps...see previous post "Mid Summer Workbee".<br />
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Then, the windows went in! What a transformation! Exciting stuff, and a little sad too, to see the separation of outside and inside become a reality...sigh. Would love to live in a place that didn't require windows, but then again, they sure are handy when the wind blows too hard, or the mosquitos want a piece of me, or yes, when the winter comes to visit....next life, Bali. anyway, they went in fast and relatively easy, so Swamp and Travis tell me. In an ideal world, we would have chosen wooden framed windows, but the cost was prohibitive. Such is life. These will last longer, or so that is what we console ourselves with...<br />
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And so it was for the rest of the plastering of the house. And, what a gift. Major thanks to Angela, Odin, Sage, Cedar and Yarrow, Daniel, Camilche and Robin, Marianne and Zack, Tony, Travis and Stepha, Llew, and I know I am missing a few names, since, alas, it was a wee bit of time ago (did i say i was a regular "blogger"? no), and i am also not the greatest note taker (next time?). Here are some visuals to enjoy:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBR0P-Y_pv_4SWksPXc64UVRWy_XXtDxpP5IHbozRY0bIEwbWDCC0nzyQY31Br26VDCNj2BfU-Oy6vANp6vrpLvNrddC66wsDwDujoq8f38b1aP9q-NdR4Rp-nPzmT6vlIaZ0Pu9q4wA/s1600/P1070242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBR0P-Y_pv_4SWksPXc64UVRWy_XXtDxpP5IHbozRY0bIEwbWDCC0nzyQY31Br26VDCNj2BfU-Oy6vANp6vrpLvNrddC66wsDwDujoq8f38b1aP9q-NdR4Rp-nPzmT6vlIaZ0Pu9q4wA/s400/P1070242.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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gillian and jonathan and jamie toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14258023541495798410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823755517202792556.post-90553841998170368662011-07-18T23:51:00.000-07:002011-07-19T00:05:57.832-07:00SUCCESS!Well, in one word, the Earth Plaster workshop led by the Mud Girls Collective, was: <b><i>awesome</i>.</b> In more words, it was truly inspiring, successful, fun, educational, and often times comedic (in a good way). Not only did we manage to sign up 17 participants, one who came from as far as Ontario, and some from as close as neighbouring communities, they all showed up, set up their tents, worked their butts off in the heat or in the rain, laughed, cried, sang, danced, ate together, made life long connections... and learned an earth friendly skill. Oh ya, and plastered our straw bale home and made it even more beautiful...the icing on the cake as it were!<br />
We ourselves learned tons about how to put a workshop on, and we would love to do it again! maybe a straw bale sauna? guest house, barn, who knows. It was just so much fun! <br />
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Thanks first, photos next!<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">in no particular order....<b>big thanks</b> go out to:</span><br />
<ul><li>Stepha, the workshop cook and our comrade, who cheerfully worked 14 hr days creating delicious, healthy meals, for 34 people no less, in unconventional conditions...plus help set up the outdoor kitchen and prepare for the workshop in general</li>
<li>the Go Boy for Stepha, us, everyone, set up/ take down dude, the all amazing Travis</li>
<li>Jen the awesome and hilarious and competent Mud Girls coordinator for this project, and founder of the Collective</li>
<li>her wonderfully skillful and energetic cohorts Molly and Sheera</li>
<li>Devora, the incredibly creative and energetic and cheerful child care provider! </li>
<li>the Participants: Jaylene, Erik, Brianna, Jai'leen, Theresa, Marla, Christine, Badger, Dawn, Dianne, Marianne, Zack, Lauren and 8 1/2 month belly!, Krista, Heidi, Meagan and JJ - we loved meeting you all, endless thanks</li>
<li>Wren our niece, and neighbour Ayla for helping to entertain the kids!</li>
<li>Ayla and Robin for contributing desserts and such, Chrissie for the greens</li>
<li>the beautiful kids Arthur, Willow, Isis, Aquinna, Coast, Rowan and our own Jamie who kept us laughing and smiling </li>
<li>Becca and Tony the ever pleasant and hard working WWOOFers who kept the gardens from being overthrown by weeds, helped in the kitchen, fed the horses, etc etc...</li>
<li>Leslie who came in towards the end of the workshop and got muddy, who has helped build our house almost from the beginning and continues to pop in and lend a hand</li>
<li>our community for having things available to use like giant tent canopies, stainless steel counters and sinks, tables, dishes, buckets for the plastering, and people to visit us and check out what this was all about, and go to town for us for supplies...mucho gracias </li>
<li>of course, everyone who has ever had anything to do with the creation of this house... </li>
<li>if i have forgotten anyone, you will let me know, yes?</li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DAY 1 - clay slip layer numero uno</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 2 and onward: smiling</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">oh they're so clean!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 6: creative time</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The colour I aimed for: straw colour = it worked!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Crew!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Fearless Leaders!</td></tr>
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and then we had a community workbee to finish off what we hadn't finished in the workshop...but that's another post!gillian and jonathan and jamie toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14258023541495798410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823755517202792556.post-51615187945464252942011-03-17T09:07:00.000-07:002011-03-26T18:57:09.497-07:00EARTH PLASTER WORKSHOP!!<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>here it is at last, a marriage between the Mud Girls and a house that needs to get plastered....</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 16pt;"><b> </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>Come Explore the Ancient Art of Earth Plaster!</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">Experience the elegant simplicity of this truly sustainable building technique in a six-day workshop facilitated by members of the Mudgirls Natural Building Collective, <b>June 6th-11th</b> (2011). Over the course of the workshop you will learn, through instruction and hands-on experience, about the materials, proportions, mixing and application of earth plaster to straw-bale walls, inside and out of a hand crafted post and beam home. Camp out in a beautiful meadow at the foot of Vast Mountain (30 km outside of Lillooet), make new friends, get muddy, and learn! Free child-care provided, as well as three delicious, mostly organic vegetarian and/or vegan meals per day for a minimal cost ($35/day per person going towards paying a cook and food), and your labour in exchange for teaching.THIS IS A COED WORKSHOP.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">For more information about the workshop and your hosts, please contact Gillian by email : smithygilly@gmail.com, and check out the rest of this blog! Registration is limited - please register by May 15th. TO REGISTER, and for more information about earth plaster, your instructors and their work, check out www.mudgirls.ca.</span></span></div>gillian and jonathan and jamie toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14258023541495798410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823755517202792556.post-24483427888958999712011-02-05T11:27:00.000-08:002011-02-05T13:29:59.292-08:00Planning for Spring<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The sun is returning, and between updating websites, making herbal medicine as always, and cleaning out closets, I am making an inventory of my seeds, thinking about what to order, with a view to grow even more food this year, and getting super excited about next week's Seedy Saturday! Lillooet's 3rd annual Seedy Saturday will be on Feb 12th at the Friendship Centre, followed by a seed saving workshop by local seed saver expert Sue Senger. This is hosted by a group I am happy to be part of, Lillooet Food Matters, which formed in 2008 to address our bioregion's food security.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On the home front, we are looking forward to the spring when we can turn the water back on at the house site and start plastering. The bales are surviving the winter well, due to the large overhangs of the roof, designed to reduce the intense solar gain during the summer and still allow the winter's sun rays in. The plastering, we hope, will be accomplished with the help of the infamous and wonderful Mud Girls, who we are currently communicating with and who will hopefully facilitate an earth plaster workshop, here, sometime in May. Stay tuned! If you are interested in attending such a skill sharing workshop, where you will learn the ins and outs of earth plastering in exchange for your labour (and a small daily fee for yummy organic food), let me know by email: info at gilliansherbs dot com. </div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You may also be interested in a volunteer, work exchange, apprenticeship arrangement (often known as WWOOFing) - read the older posts (esp. 2008) to find out more about us and what we offer, and/or sign up with WWOOF Canada (www.wwoof.ca) and search for Vast Mountain. You can also email me directly (see above). We are most interested in people who can commit to more than a couple of weeks, preferring a longer term stay, and who want to learn and help with growing food and all that entails, herbal medicine making, and who like kids!</span>gillian and jonathan and jamie toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14258023541495798410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823755517202792556.post-38256151855768046732010-10-29T01:19:00.000-07:002011-02-05T13:27:11.975-08:00Straw, thanks to so many!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Straw, THANKS to so many!</span></b></i></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near the end of the first straw bale raising workbee: Tony, Jonathan and me,<br />
with Joshua doing some stuffing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Holy huge thanks to (in no particular order): Nathalie and Tim, who win the award for coming the farthest distance to help: England no less; to Jim, Roy (for all the days), Toby, Daniel and Wren, M & P, Tony, Laurie, Robin and Camilche, Thekla, Seamus and Elimar, Roger and Sarah, John, Eleanor, Van, Llew, Joshua, Jude, Odin, Simon, Oliver, Jenine, Stepha and Travis, and i am sure i am missing one or 2 others - you know who you are, and of course to all the others who got us this far (James). Putting up the straw bales was easier than we thought, thanks to the huge turnout for the workbee(s). Though, there were glitches, of course. Ah, details details, for which, if you are interested, </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">you will need to come talk to us in person and ask us </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">what we would do differently, if we were to do it again (HA!). </div><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thanks to the <b>2010 WWOOFers</b> who made it possible to have</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>delicious organic food growing</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and happy animals cared for while the house grew, slowly but surely:</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Phil, Lisbeth, Stephanie and Paula. It was a blast and a total pleasure to have you here!</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Many thanks, merci beaucoup!</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And endless thanks to our loyal worker Earen, who worked</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">incessantly all summer it seemed on that blasted roof, among other stages! </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thanks also to Robin for sitting in for Swamp for the meat bird slaughtering so he could focus on the house, some more. And for cooking us dinner on another occasion: WOW!</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Last but not least, thanks to the hundreds of firefighters for saving our neck of the woods, yet again, and to the powers that be, for not evacuating us this time. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Also thanks to our very own finest fire protection workbees crews.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What a summer...</div><br />
Going back in time, to recap the summer's work:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9do2aaa8CNMOyWeQbJ2NZCcQq5f4Xch8Y3vm_kL6RVx5HiN-GiQqDlBDGuBwgNhrnF8DyYQfEx8Pdx4VPcqbLXo3Sq7E7OLvTjI_1GHJDhyRHLUasioiAmQ6X46j8JMUhaGe7nFBkoWg/s1600/IMG_2300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9do2aaa8CNMOyWeQbJ2NZCcQq5f4Xch8Y3vm_kL6RVx5HiN-GiQqDlBDGuBwgNhrnF8DyYQfEx8Pdx4VPcqbLXo3Sq7E7OLvTjI_1GHJDhyRHLUasioiAmQ6X46j8JMUhaGe7nFBkoWg/s400/IMG_2300.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After much, much milling...the framing - oh those dormers, how they are beautiful, and time consuming!<br />
This is one dormer in the big people's bedroom, looking east/southeast.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer Solstice time.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrwszA3rLyXSMDXGGhbQHc-T6IADvw73Og4hTkSavELw9FYMow8FJXq6ms1xlQHbj1P6r7Y5DUAp0HRO2VrKUf1XxHgojjRjwiuU_u4ZFPc6EMH5EM3LiY1Wp-avpiDSpQ6LP47hr1VU/s400/IMG_2310.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Through the alfalfa and crested wheatgrass.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrwszA3rLyXSMDXGGhbQHc-T6IADvw73Og4hTkSavELw9FYMow8FJXq6ms1xlQHbj1P6r7Y5DUAp0HRO2VrKUf1XxHgojjRjwiuU_u4ZFPc6EMH5EM3LiY1Wp-avpiDSpQ6LP47hr1VU/s1600/IMG_2310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Through, an apple tree!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh! Koda, our new dog!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgID_XZ8LW6qpKPqhdNUsR3fRg31U4t8p-EW746vQDOSlZ64J0ph9Fqobw3RGYhKQHJp-66dlCwcGtejx8z-FxsUUu3tz00hy4kqTPuxNQpJWMe4S_0oTLMVVsMq3vXZi2PGlPQUPyxz-g/s1600/IMG_2353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMn9dAdEyb9T9yYLihAfyqybconcHrVwV740SijPew1-VrHw15RM4y-OHuhQItmJtWytr4I0epWQ007XHwWorVUK3wWPooCYnGm_xS_O8KtkYuvZkhRTduV10fUQjo0Gk0W3JMl3F4dU/s400/IMG_2540.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That sure is a lot of strapping, a lot of wood, mostly logged and milled by Jonathan and co.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first Apples! YUM</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEeu_7VA7br2NfEi9tgrHjArnS67ZhfddXS0QjvqDvHEXzqLdRLGpSRDlBzwepzRJewRWg6wCv1BL_CVbXPJaxiRMzcqqih3hwVaOUjJJeHcQAwq05QIVu2V0M_jLHd0276lKKCQW4Qs/s400/IMG_2556.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holy amount of wood! Holy amount of angles!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbdfL45Af5iVjYFwszanw27b_Eu_mtrKhui_VTTu9FJs_ehA11hvk3T4TuMOUdsCY7V8X5EBaEf2u9mC8q-oF7cFTSoAFiFhKpiRXDfe-H9hyphenhyphenQYSQN80O3NirKRJh3jE0TQWFs7eLpyM/s400/IMG_2545.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Earen, an awesome, loyal worker, flashing...</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEeu_7VA7br2NfEi9tgrHjArnS67ZhfddXS0QjvqDvHEXzqLdRLGpSRDlBzwepzRJewRWg6wCv1BL_CVbXPJaxiRMzcqqih3hwVaOUjJJeHcQAwq05QIVu2V0M_jLHd0276lKKCQW4Qs/s1600/IMG_2556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KYj1n64xrnYfGQkyCKa1pjenqKZvvm4y2yeFGAeGrX7SwIs5eRclQwsltg4xnkrIUAInY_fJ85J8li49E_YRyy7-AQkz-gnFvDDcKLmQxnrpCdw5JN4SKJMrrL3xQyRXuJllwgiNU6I/s400/IMG_2559.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniel, strapped in - those poor knees!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiISvKsHA8ieFH6vvjmRV_D-7kJ1DWfqalm_cx6eGNWrH5FRryr_BUOlXmpHXpkdTZTnSHMXdvZTSeHgeG2V8o-lWqmI7mwekoBLek9B-u8jOC8v9PvryxeV4z7Ay9wAs5IZO887Arr94/s400/IMG_2566.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The roof, almost finished! (4 dormers: never again!?)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JUMP FORWARD: the FIRST bale! What a happy moment, happy day!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrh3CK3oRdOhj4tJgDV1LgAkHk1mpv-Wt9ye9a8eLkEagzDlZndf2zpXwBHR_oor403P3YkZuUIp-CJ6D7zDhjqvfdDHEw3F31cymwzKAc14yThG2aICGS8gECbT9_51K9hraTW2GBro/s400/IMG_2571.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nat, queen straw stuffer!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim, an experienced straw baler and cobber</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3mM4hYw7YxzshjzR8quOZRyfegKdMjU0nwvfrUn6Gl9nxgNcSYNOUMxb5QHYlXQI7sYNrFMDofjd2yS-Cz-WAWPMa0jjUjKUgQVvojVLv16StxB7VFPDUghC5sYrs7tVL7Sl7gHunPw/s400/IMG_2590.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roger</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7eIZXHlm4AFJUBvuX23MAZb9YdtzjLX-4aX6EEf2XdZPVoPHQRagtCVH8yllZF-G6D6ErLU9IOugslmegW3xrYMJtB97nNUNwinNX2QpvIKKJbuwbjcD5EKRyJa6r3_LBXQSzo1m-owQ/s400/IMG_2574.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roy, ever so present, helpful and cheerful throughout many of the stages! Here, threading the baling needle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mPmRhPmc9MZQIAV36A9HYcDkqLuu3HdhhR4OYYo1x2EQ5W2orM-EUaUByIy5zsJwvrZSaci__qvQt73ivP_oFlu9lqEijBAbcQiT9h5IgizffjZ0UY4cgsGbO8E2osVug00wiVPWnmg/s400/IMG_2604.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roy's truck, Jude's trailer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyltSk9rtQjybz7cD2aciNVDCAAbj_fbZKYdZuW1YIOLDLa62eXudX7lRYvYLmHK9gDof-5yBCvhsPFQYaQiMvVGupj9VH6BuasQFjJ5f__SyQk7VI3ErAQsRtH_v5dowCaSpWAduouVU/s400/IMG_2586.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thekla and Elimar, who (both) helped stuff, re-tie and take photos</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fWsRyK26oXDw9OjOVBG2GVML_qrmPl7OyP8lfGKz7FG53SOaeBoijHgF14fmRqYtCdshxbvCGADZtf3YAOmMau1zlfY5zRYTqSAG6Wab7TF9vrcC3IQ92yQwdwSL1LMxWYIu7ZReCns/s400/IMG_2608.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joshua</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fWsRyK26oXDw9OjOVBG2GVML_qrmPl7OyP8lfGKz7FG53SOaeBoijHgF14fmRqYtCdshxbvCGADZtf3YAOmMau1zlfY5zRYTqSAG6Wab7TF9vrcC3IQ92yQwdwSL1LMxWYIu7ZReCns/s1600/IMG_2608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nNT0JQ_WR29GjxovGhrco-gSz7awueEKv7wCN2LUzmKQW_PP3QGWRs3MVwxpBO8ytwspFzBuObLtKZNKBqXeV_w6ZquvcvV-2ETSgPSQ8-WHiNVlbBaMHqZNxI-uLKsrv8tUj6rxPZg/s400/IMG_2609.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The smiling boss man! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQildrR6m2TiBo67QGymE4VLTIpHZRJKb25cSxihwFoKRPh-SNEoiz8gC6mvfA4MdYt_mte5lHBfksaoE-_-Q6zPuMIem5K8Ys0DY-JCUEavFWaRgGWMxkFI3gLngutHGGkFh4t7WP_KQ/s400/IMG_2603.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seamus, King of the Last Row!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pDC7tF8IVPDAK2fZdS237zE_Xlvkmx9aekWGPq5z2tpl_jZuwELyhm2OpCD_dY_fgOIkWKYvv5EbCvQ4BphGPMZS7utfYqrndpdXHfqYM3eDoqZMi_Ivfd4qVIzHNpih-4mm_Ue3I0w/s400/IMG_2618.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toby, re-tying bales</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pDC7tF8IVPDAK2fZdS237zE_Xlvkmx9aekWGPq5z2tpl_jZuwELyhm2OpCD_dY_fgOIkWKYvv5EbCvQ4BphGPMZS7utfYqrndpdXHfqYM3eDoqZMi_Ivfd4qVIzHNpih-4mm_Ue3I0w/s1600/IMG_2618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymyk09P6CcUuPXRJT_PQPezawwSbCsqhP2n3pvX7Cy5np7dOJMQeJxiW_BlBpIFJc8o6n-bu5WYltehF_GOWzkBnt_xknCuStrnMNQqteGan8ZWPndX2ZGu-u7i2COlCFloLJI8jmA98/s400/IMG_2621.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymyk09P6CcUuPXRJT_PQPezawwSbCsqhP2n3pvX7Cy5np7dOJMQeJxiW_BlBpIFJc8o6n-bu5WYltehF_GOWzkBnt_xknCuStrnMNQqteGan8ZWPndX2ZGu-u7i2COlCFloLJI8jmA98/s1600/IMG_2621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFhI64_OzXBmSSDakcH2oUsi38gN22tvxUv_p5cL70-6H0v0FoeN5Bzk_wGdjN3LIPpUjhNckP6IVLQD4vYViQT7XPibGMCZ5wKoKKTmd1G5odBaQY4i9DgdJHoNDr4qZGMXViE-z-Sk/s400/IMG_2623.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tim</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFhI64_OzXBmSSDakcH2oUsi38gN22tvxUv_p5cL70-6H0v0FoeN5Bzk_wGdjN3LIPpUjhNckP6IVLQD4vYViQT7XPibGMCZ5wKoKKTmd1G5odBaQY4i9DgdJHoNDr4qZGMXViE-z-Sk/s1600/IMG_2623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoajCIlAYLQK8QOCgG3pN1O9LU17ERyzDQhgkT7wH9oh6c-_8zsphWGRGxueTMp8O8ooKAYcQLG0T0giw_D0ZFb-vytBo5fRhCZoEs9KofjvyjinVNF5YNN03fpLz7ZdLpxQhyphenhyphen97UhM3I/s400/IMG_2627.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laurie - get 'er in there!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoajCIlAYLQK8QOCgG3pN1O9LU17ERyzDQhgkT7wH9oh6c-_8zsphWGRGxueTMp8O8ooKAYcQLG0T0giw_D0ZFb-vytBo5fRhCZoEs9KofjvyjinVNF5YNN03fpLz7ZdLpxQhyphenhyphen97UhM3I/s1600/IMG_2627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinL4wbmSHZQSY-KHzhFjOOywRjiaVWMqhv3RPnvh8i1CkucpvwKcztSLLDljJiHo-rvC4eDroe-PrE9bYMtSlXeUX5AqFyatOLBkSi2AxKCxJ6mCBj4db7fcV9PtYmQ0uKmg_l21Nnpik/s400/IMG_2629.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Llew</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHSp-x023nq6rbeULDZ2MYOK7bASuRAhexh7-Gc_52u4qb2UhnshI1Ydba7O1Sh0ZPnRJ4RLtSStUatrZHBY8q2nl-6Ge2YRnlidnq9wfbhzlz-Cmd0yUbk6ks4tF36Y0uv0mvveEkGo/s400/IMG_2616.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamie and Logan, having fun!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHSp-x023nq6rbeULDZ2MYOK7bASuRAhexh7-Gc_52u4qb2UhnshI1Ydba7O1Sh0ZPnRJ4RLtSStUatrZHBY8q2nl-6Ge2YRnlidnq9wfbhzlz-Cmd0yUbk6ks4tF36Y0uv0mvveEkGo/s1600/IMG_2616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgG_dVDOOPIJEATXoEsfHnZ46RYjBW5rEdSFGx1kwALvtT5h9CxlwfeEbAvU6nZa9YVQ6aBvNnNQXdL4V98tQJiliQxsUwnYagfSv-3-kXmOwZMYHJocTDBnjG-0vZRuhsDTc0R6Veo5k/s400/IMG_2617.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camilche, wire guy</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgG_dVDOOPIJEATXoEsfHnZ46RYjBW5rEdSFGx1kwALvtT5h9CxlwfeEbAvU6nZa9YVQ6aBvNnNQXdL4V98tQJiliQxsUwnYagfSv-3-kXmOwZMYHJocTDBnjG-0vZRuhsDTc0R6Veo5k/s1600/IMG_2617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinL4wbmSHZQSY-KHzhFjOOywRjiaVWMqhv3RPnvh8i1CkucpvwKcztSLLDljJiHo-rvC4eDroe-PrE9bYMtSlXeUX5AqFyatOLBkSi2AxKCxJ6mCBj4db7fcV9PtYmQ0uKmg_l21Nnpik/s1600/IMG_2629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5BF88Kv9K9om1k7wUIWL943fNl9UYR9fpRjEd-YGxhh5WBZ0JW8hq7Jc8485DBXOHBLSYt3ANdgRAQ_feXopk-PfR6u35lhT1qS0eNlV5fqmc492HseUC0uBTStNjjBcppkoJr9XyaA/s400/IMG_2635.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwEceH9O08_5x955pMCHD-1Hxq7kr-sfPgvwxmlyzd9q31Yb5YPOuo-mZvSmpmGGXk58fHQHH5fjzPzJ8fiy7hMzYYmUIyqpLbfv-WX-y-bsy1s8A4-NTNS3p6X-3xFh6let7HkJGcTU/s400/IMG_2631.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tony, resting!<br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwEceH9O08_5x955pMCHD-1Hxq7kr-sfPgvwxmlyzd9q31Yb5YPOuo-mZvSmpmGGXk58fHQHH5fjzPzJ8fiy7hMzYYmUIyqpLbfv-WX-y-bsy1s8A4-NTNS3p6X-3xFh6let7HkJGcTU/s1600/IMG_2631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">THAT WAS A FUN DAY! Thank you everyone!!</span></span></i> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The plastering, well, is still in the experimental phase. We want to use an earth plaster, and so far, we have found it cracking and shrinking a lot. One more try with more sand, and therefore less clay in the mix, and then maybe we will give up on the completely natural way and go with lime cement? hmm. Luckily, we live in a dry climate, and Jonathan designed big overhangs on the roof to lessen the solar heat in the summer time (notice the lack of shade from trees!), so with the straw bales up, we can relax, a little...gillian and jonathan and jamie toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14258023541495798410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823755517202792556.post-54930459530272741152010-04-27T16:40:00.000-07:002011-02-05T11:52:37.782-08:00Up, up and up!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"></span>Check these out! We could practically move in!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Special thanks to Earron and Roy, and the wall raisers: Martin, Odin, Daniel..phew! (and Tyler the horse, keeping an eye on things...)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCT-Khv8D2h6rFzRcLsEi4Oo-dWVyGPzQuQRdFALyZF0ygNUkbpD5IwDCBXD82DrWqCXD9g3pOmtKFVpnHnF9TsdCawHpwIxGGqSSuuzDzSjzauiX9cOOMsZnnshZwVLB9mQA37XJLdk/s400/IMG_2098.JPG" width="400" /></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1plPEtl3IofZnCfGxPUqpUWxg9bKhsDP2r2y5xvKFnxK7s6doYzvgMCXAZ8NqHy6TOkTIPXoYWMufJ01AAS_KolznyDoWInLYjBDjh5GEAkWcX8R8HeH8N2gmjC2X4XIehYXgt_578o/s400/IMG_2099.JPG" width="400" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLH9kBtFBk54bfHUAvk82okyM5gS01hd3jGvkGkyXKztgopljfcbY2MaWaYoP59zXROBa5mIXPiStFS_9lrWdwHofU_t-LPIqcAx50SRE6lmhEBWVfDw9MjlOcM4HQpshPQ9QtJZvJ0sI/s1600/IMG_2127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLH9kBtFBk54bfHUAvk82okyM5gS01hd3jGvkGkyXKztgopljfcbY2MaWaYoP59zXROBa5mIXPiStFS_9lrWdwHofU_t-LPIqcAx50SRE6lmhEBWVfDw9MjlOcM4HQpshPQ9QtJZvJ0sI/s320/IMG_2127.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8yirWY3figOduyV1lfac5h34lZaw_-FSa-UssuyhYLxVynHPBfVHfZkd2E_zJaQ3pOTvUSBbbC4xGK31g-mwIbJrXWD0wVcyIemxtiZhX9-K-c-xQ0j2JDdJqhJC3EKVocDREhBGWOI/s320/IMG_2128.jpg" /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFgi-MLnXIo9IlBB-G5f0XXaWxl5s4HkOCQeTA_iyv1fBwv8v4NRL79G3VqzG8H_lakn3c0WYIvRwlRJScJvFysQzUCj3xoKGDAvlZKINPiO483DNoOIPc4BgWrgYacOf_oB3pUVSMt08/s320/IMG_2132.jpg" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVsfJ6J_5uNntfantwhAWvoR-SDAnflbOFpJSVHtmWmctrCUk4vsR-CECcdkchdrfEZxIIrcVciZDignFvyABrSWdJlWMhTptqsE3NHgdxMkCEexZD8BDelBJLES7NeCFEKJdI-beXS8/s1600/IMG_2129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVsfJ6J_5uNntfantwhAWvoR-SDAnflbOFpJSVHtmWmctrCUk4vsR-CECcdkchdrfEZxIIrcVciZDignFvyABrSWdJlWMhTptqsE3NHgdxMkCEexZD8BDelBJLES7NeCFEKJdI-beXS8/s320/IMG_2129.JPG" /></a></div><a name='more'></a>Photos taken March 3rd and March 31st.gillian and jonathan and jamie toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14258023541495798410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823755517202792556.post-73933906872696297052009-11-24T14:57:00.000-08:002009-11-24T21:11:57.833-08:00VERTICAL!!!<span style="font-family: arial;">HOLY COW! OK, when they say buildings take longer than expected, THEY'RE RIGHT! It's been a while since I've posted here (ya, a year), cause really, sawing trees, milling timbers and lumber just wasn't so exciting for me to share. I saw Jonathan coming </span><span style="font-family: arial;">and going on many days, exhausted and covered in sawdust, stinking of chainsaw fuel, grumbling about the mill, but a house I did not see! That's what we get for choosing to build a post and beam house, the slow way (one maybe 2 people working on it part time) while also maintaining gardens, chickens, horses, child, homeschooling, work, and whatnot. Oh ya, there were the FIRES in the summer that set us back a wee bit to say the least. Jamie and I were evacuated for 2 weeks while Jonathan stayed home working 12 hour days along with 40 other community members working on structural protection and building firebreaks. That is done with now, it is the wet season and the earth is thankful for it.<br />
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BUT NOW THIS IS EXCITING! In just 2 1/2 short days (short cause we are now battling day length and cold temperatures), we went from just a floor platform to this.<br />
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VtJT0izwadP2bU4V82bsV0jKI3jbgyNBJfBqXbssTAWZEw_hMkjDTJpi1EAgwzaHgvyc_0M-GSU-wts5XEKbZdkidNIwdvV_h-f1V6jYcunWbSQEHFdSQgTEMJivFo_iKySaq92VXG0/s1600/IMG_1509.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407784962715009362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VtJT0izwadP2bU4V82bsV0jKI3jbgyNBJfBqXbssTAWZEw_hMkjDTJpi1EAgwzaHgvyc_0M-GSU-wts5XEKbZdkidNIwdvV_h-f1V6jYcunWbSQEHFdSQgTEMJivFo_iKySaq92VXG0/s400/IMG_1509.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;">Pure beauty in our eyes. Yippee. We are all lighter for it too, even</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> Jamie: "Wow, Mama, look at our HOUSE!".<br />
It all went pretty smoothly despite the snow that had to be shoveled off the floor. Some adjustments had to be made, which is normal. The backhoe was a life saver, otherwise it was going to be some scaffolding and rope tricks and more back work than was worth it. Gotta love machines!</span><br />
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BIG thanks to Roy, Daniel, Tony, Martin, Earen, Camilche, John and Dale and their backhoe power, and especially James Heigh for his calm and cheerful expertise. These people made up the most recent crew, and we would also like to thank WWOOFers ExtraOrdinaire Laurence, Nicola, Marie, Benjamin, Tom, Brenda, and Laurent, as well as Larry and Barbara, and to all the others we have thanked in previous posts - every bit of help got us to this stage! <br />
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Here are some other photos to tell the tale:</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: arial;">brrr</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic;"> <br />
</span><span style="font-style: italic;">these are the details that took so long and were well worth the trouble. 18 posts and 20 beam sections later...</span><br />
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<i>is this safe, really?</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-Akd09CNY2XEIBXPKe5pwouU84kCRb7fGuKst8YaOI5T6OCZA7ThiXzbXAdjIqKFINl9vrxsv9o9_c3u15ZdkH1J7XuBvwQJlbyNdzAD4fCHxT_bPFPylCONg4Lsn-w1kh7qEpFJQhA/s1600/IMG_1502.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407794777384026034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-Akd09CNY2XEIBXPKe5pwouU84kCRb7fGuKst8YaOI5T6OCZA7ThiXzbXAdjIqKFINl9vrxsv9o9_c3u15ZdkH1J7XuBvwQJlbyNdzAD4fCHxT_bPFPylCONg4Lsn-w1kh7qEpFJQhA/s320/IMG_1502.JPG" style="height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJvAJ7xH9RY1eUYhTFqNuFM_Gma3qgmx5Cl5SFr9wZnRq8jaheepdojwi76_94h60Nwt4LJrbHeFfM0eVtiddguuANZHJ2OpLNcchiVM6-q0EfWfZAn4seg-TnzlRm_kmx_lQu_XC3SY/s1600/IMG_1507.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407794784093460514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJvAJ7xH9RY1eUYhTFqNuFM_Gma3qgmx5Cl5SFr9wZnRq8jaheepdojwi76_94h60Nwt4LJrbHeFfM0eVtiddguuANZHJ2OpLNcchiVM6-q0EfWfZAn4seg-TnzlRm_kmx_lQu_XC3SY/s320/IMG_1507.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUmRUYiSLN_W3znCWa8xuirz7xMrK_stkBZ3f1G0lJGjRrgz3ytxhmeDECVayAVvUUZfVRuZNz93C7GWrLGHkr3Fon5QK1uJ3xp5s6GQi91ic_VqILaxEn2lgc5Lws7s95Gfslh-wjTw/s1600/IMG_1497.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407794768671089202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUmRUYiSLN_W3znCWa8xuirz7xMrK_stkBZ3f1G0lJGjRrgz3ytxhmeDECVayAVvUUZfVRuZNz93C7GWrLGHkr3Fon5QK1uJ3xp5s6GQi91ic_VqILaxEn2lgc5Lws7s95Gfslh-wjTw/s320/IMG_1497.JPG" style="height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">Now it's on with building the second floor platform, milling more wood, constructing the trusses for the roof, and putting said roof on. 400 bales of straw await a drier season to be infilled into the walls, and they are nicely stored in the old hay barn. Much has to be done before that stage - framing all the doors and windows for example. Onward!<br />
</span>gillian and jonathan and jamie toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14258023541495798410noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823755517202792556.post-33438593122121637092008-10-07T21:56:00.000-07:002008-10-07T22:57:29.220-07:00The Fall Report<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinabC640RxLffzTi1Rq2jdeGu9aDRx8-DMTBsBXHnH_CIAgEJ7O5_5MkbbzTSk548Ztox8t6abwXyZVc-2T5RHBASPiXpd3rEHIDbJ4NsCpgvbnw2iKadzSsy3Qt7AECdfErM0NEDma-8/s1600-h/IMG_0622.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinabC640RxLffzTi1Rq2jdeGu9aDRx8-DMTBsBXHnH_CIAgEJ7O5_5MkbbzTSk548Ztox8t6abwXyZVc-2T5RHBASPiXpd3rEHIDbJ4NsCpgvbnw2iKadzSsy3Qt7AECdfErM0NEDma-8/s320/IMG_0622.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254650083447404066" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">A busy summer has blended nicely into a warm and forgiving fall, and we are bringing in the last of the garden's bounty (despite the deer!) : tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, winter squash, pumpkins, green beans, lettuce and kales, potatoes, garlic, onions, shallots, peppers, carrots, beets (mostly eaten by those pesky deer!), and herbs galore: thyme, oregano, basil, sage, fennel, tarragon, chickweed, calendula, echinacea, valerian, chamomile, coriander; the list goes on.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibj5fPIxyfb5VbxkqgP_9eAdN2ifdFHIUkZhp2U_8JMwi3uJ80kbHuC7L2uXVPTlNq-CjLoUV7tgi09ReAXXx_Gy4vMbG4C9cEZ6hr0_29c54n1MxCMoGYWp6c3061kXVzFmOtIrq81Fs/s1600-h/IMG_0612.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibj5fPIxyfb5VbxkqgP_9eAdN2ifdFHIUkZhp2U_8JMwi3uJ80kbHuC7L2uXVPTlNq-CjLoUV7tgi09ReAXXx_Gy4vMbG4C9cEZ6hr0_29c54n1MxCMoGYWp6c3061kXVzFmOtIrq81Fs/s320/IMG_0612.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254650081380063234" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Now we have time to reflect on all the help on the house and land, for which we will be eternally grateful : lets see if i can remember all of your names! In no particular order, you are Ryan, Kevin, Emma, Craig, Leslie, Roy, Oliver, Steve, Nathan, Odin, Sage and Cedar. Some of these fine folks hailed from the WWOOF program (yay WWOOF!), one from the Caretakers Gazette (check that out if you want to travel and stay in cool places for free!), and others are friends or friends of friends, but ALL of our helpers are now newly, and hopefully proudly, appointed <span style="font-style: italic;">Friends of the Buck Creek Ranch Straw Bale House on the Foot of Vast Mountain</span>. (My poet husband sleeps while i write this so please bare with me!). We may not have gotten as much done as we would have liked, but hey, what the heck, the process as much as the end result is what turns us on (well we'll see once there is an end to this...if ever?). It was sure a lot of fun hosting our helpers, and many thanks go out to Crannog Ales for keeping the fluids up.<br />Here are some recent pics that unfortunately do not fully display the amount of time and work and effort it took to get even to this point.<br /><br />One of the most time consuming parts was figuring out and constructing the footing for the masonry heater, which you can see is the concrete part in the floor platform. This is built as such to take the weight of the heater weighing up to and around 3000 lbs. yikes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnw7l-8EEGO4YTABS19CtdyAA8mEYuULzseV4CYDDH3p4ZrU7D3A5kwAtjzuPc3H9-zWifLv9Cf1zY6KReOYdXPKKxlYKaqzKLIZzw7gPq_QtVGy3B5dP-z0vXHZdo5BlmAUeqW8tB7k/s1600-h/IMG_0801.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnw7l-8EEGO4YTABS19CtdyAA8mEYuULzseV4CYDDH3p4ZrU7D3A5kwAtjzuPc3H9-zWifLv9Cf1zY6KReOYdXPKKxlYKaqzKLIZzw7gPq_QtVGy3B5dP-z0vXHZdo5BlmAUeqW8tB7k/s320/IMG_0801.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254650080557427842" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wN3HaPZdeklZoD9cfvNSjAsAfD1Zo0dsblkM7tkc_HuRGm8bBdEM6Noa0V3DgIgUwDtfT4-XUHBD8bTocE3EAtwOuYzG8-2ZkFZne9ql2omGcNoMzuwk11daeST42h99MLmVkv1X6yM/s1600-h/100_0757.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wN3HaPZdeklZoD9cfvNSjAsAfD1Zo0dsblkM7tkc_HuRGm8bBdEM6Noa0V3DgIgUwDtfT4-XUHBD8bTocE3EAtwOuYzG8-2ZkFZne9ql2omGcNoMzuwk11daeST42h99MLmVkv1X6yM/s320/100_0757.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254650078918401442" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbitPdL6gN1tyteOY1X_01QsWb9Ni5kHt9ZF2HWMS-unXn_hNQpThhWBOwfYK1YHbKsl9QUATkaeUdRZXpTxzJJxZl36MB2i2ZzDVZxsv2n3n_DGJuSLgbROGXnYQogb7odoD-vKF5Hhw/s1600-h/IMG_0797.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbitPdL6gN1tyteOY1X_01QsWb9Ni5kHt9ZF2HWMS-unXn_hNQpThhWBOwfYK1YHbKsl9QUATkaeUdRZXpTxzJJxZl36MB2i2ZzDVZxsv2n3n_DGJuSLgbROGXnYQogb7odoD-vKF5Hhw/s320/IMG_0797.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254650079538211490" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Jonathan and i and Jamie too will continue to putter away on the house as much as we can over the winter, and see how far we get.<br /><br />Help is always welcome and let us know if you would prefer the deluxe tipi with firepit, the separate cabin with its airy ceiling and woodstove, or if those are full, a tent, or a couch inside the cosy (translation: small) trailer. I know it sounds like a B&B ad, maybe its practice for the future.<br /><br />Time to get more firewood in, clean and organize indoors in order to maintain (or acquire?) sanity, and plan for next year.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div>gillian and jonathan and jamie toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14258023541495798410noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823755517202792556.post-58817132292521447262008-07-26T21:33:00.000-07:002008-07-27T16:55:34.241-07:00mid summer update, at last<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCGrijVS3UpGums2Tnu4rnBvbpS8s8Tahrj0PI3d5o0Q6LmejNlI225BgWQrBgVo3we5NVVStgHPoo7uNmV1OvfVKwBEgqAXQNkqkhavIOvJBuaQelli376fqZG9UZ9hejh7MsuHPCwQ/s1600-h/IMG_0355.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCGrijVS3UpGums2Tnu4rnBvbpS8s8Tahrj0PI3d5o0Q6LmejNlI225BgWQrBgVo3we5NVVStgHPoo7uNmV1OvfVKwBEgqAXQNkqkhavIOvJBuaQelli376fqZG9UZ9hejh7MsuHPCwQ/s320/IMG_0355.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227837008218843762" border="0" /></a><br />ok so its mid summer already! I guess we've been busy! Here is an update, with new photos, at last!<br /><br />On the house front, Jonathan and our WWOOFers Ryan and Kevin and friend Oliver have finished laying bricks on the basement root cellar walls, made and installed opening vents in the root cellar, moved dirt piles and finished backfilling the root cellar, surveyed and layed out string lines for the footings, dug more footing holes, cut and tied rebar, and poured cement footings.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6at09jYhZl_PlZ2rqoQIGoU4v6j1ugrKcKkipQXgl1a4EqV0qB_jFsOozmXXa033xd8nG7AgcQDv6oKe5Z4YNZWsaSoGGLgkLT8iZdXC-NvwTRt2Vi5oZnNLZxuvtvjoeGVoclw9Du3w/s1600-h/IMG_0472.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6at09jYhZl_PlZ2rqoQIGoU4v6j1ugrKcKkipQXgl1a4EqV0qB_jFsOozmXXa033xd8nG7AgcQDv6oKe5Z4YNZWsaSoGGLgkLT8iZdXC-NvwTRt2Vi5oZnNLZxuvtvjoeGVoclw9Du3w/s320/IMG_0472.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227826868878449874" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi900c-ZzWgQb6ijf3A5c-vETg9DJAgl0gxEaJz2wXhyY93YBughKF_tHWSKZvlPNGzEK9MHwz_sP84JpqQ0-Lvc0eZJ6qssRprraUzhM93bPLGchN2sP6KO95qijtc1KVHRwWTsvGFDzU/s1600-h/IMG_0471.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi900c-ZzWgQb6ijf3A5c-vETg9DJAgl0gxEaJz2wXhyY93YBughKF_tHWSKZvlPNGzEK9MHwz_sP84JpqQ0-Lvc0eZJ6qssRprraUzhM93bPLGchN2sP6KO95qijtc1KVHRwWTsvGFDzU/s320/IMG_0471.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227821219343933522" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnb9hYsHbYS-jB4bROMGvVfgkKXfb-Fq8avM-jJjWtfj-F4LbBn6rGgNMupoQDyX7loE_mnmPP3q__RxlP8VirbimbKPjrRU97odIVNP3foh0ejOEOMF0U4mK4GgjEXoSsMAOF5fwGdIY/s1600-h/IMG_0474.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnb9hYsHbYS-jB4bROMGvVfgkKXfb-Fq8avM-jJjWtfj-F4LbBn6rGgNMupoQDyX7loE_mnmPP3q__RxlP8VirbimbKPjrRU97odIVNP3foh0ejOEOMF0U4mK4GgjEXoSsMAOF5fwGdIY/s320/IMG_0474.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227826872437779314" border="0" /></a><br />We had wished to be much further ahead than this by now, but that's what we hear from all builders. Our wood order from a local sawmill is not coming after many months of waiting, so plans B and C are in the works (as well as saving up for our own portable saw mill - thanks to the pine beetle, there are a lot of dead pine in our forests around here, so we might as well take advantage of this beautiful and valuable resource at our doorstep). There have been other reasons for the slow pace: our Solstice community reunion, work on and off the farm, people falling off hay trucks, the usual!<br /><br />And oh yes, the latest addition to our family also took up some time away from the home site, Mandy the Horse. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTOzWX3ooeiYzM6sQHRhYYS06qIDCDQ-m6Qvdonw4OtGQAWjC-p26v4HGCPXPOboCjBAUskC9deAXJj_xv4yaE62hgQkfXB3g6cb2YS36rX6_R5BUOsOSTqyKowgSHqWCezzPTbU2r4k/s1600-h/IMG_0492.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTOzWX3ooeiYzM6sQHRhYYS06qIDCDQ-m6Qvdonw4OtGQAWjC-p26v4HGCPXPOboCjBAUskC9deAXJj_xv4yaE62hgQkfXB3g6cb2YS36rX6_R5BUOsOSTqyKowgSHqWCezzPTbU2r4k/s320/IMG_0492.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227824245565751074" border="0" /></a>She is just what we wanted, older, retired, a well trained ranch horse, gentle, wise and a little quirky, unflinching around excited kids, neighbouring dogs and passing ATVs or motorbikes, and respectful of a single strand electric fence. She is actually more like a dog in many ways, loves to be at the picnic table while we eat, and stays close to the house without fencing her in. One of the perks of owning a horse is that she is walking chipper shredder composting machine, hence the huge manure pile we have already...a thing of beauty for any gardener! I should have a photo of that but don't...yet.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTo_qtkS9AsJpa4ybzIyQolkXFnaZ01UpQ1OMjHU8T_OzK8BG_O0H3uEFz8L02P9rMV_WnG1ZWiW6OiBm5nrxu-vc4jO-7NSJYt2G3y7YfcUXt_z3HQDpzAu4z02EFveiN5idWeWic2Vw/s1600-h/IMG_0470.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTo_qtkS9AsJpa4ybzIyQolkXFnaZ01UpQ1OMjHU8T_OzK8BG_O0H3uEFz8L02P9rMV_WnG1ZWiW6OiBm5nrxu-vc4jO-7NSJYt2G3y7YfcUXt_z3HQDpzAu4z02EFveiN5idWeWic2Vw/s320/IMG_0470.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227824242993945586" border="0" /></a><br />We had a great crop of hay this year, and a wonderful workbee with many community members coming out to help pick it up and stack it in the barn before the rain got to it. Unfortunately, one of our helpers fell off the hay truck and hurt herself badly. That meant a few days in a larger centre with a bigger hospital, and time recovering. Now she is back and helping lots even with one arm in a cast! What commitment! Lessons learned: no one gets to ride on top of a hay truck no matter how fun it looks, and no one helps us without health insurance...!!<br /><br />WWOOFer Emma weeded and mulched the trees we have planted in the garden area at the house site. She and our son Jamie planted many many bulbs albeit not in the best season but what the hay...under and around the Gala apple, the Gravenstein apple, 2 apricot trees, and 1 purple flowering Locust, a nitrogen fixer and attractant to pollinators, fast growing, drought tolerant and pretty to boot. I also planted comfrey and horseradish under and near the Gala and an apricot to provide a living mulch, as well as medicine for the future. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cMLilgKwAsyzsupeAkS7a9Sn2kOGoGLdV5lHWwbQP6l61ZRVvosON470Ba8K1MlQmAutJkgcRujqQg4gYG-0CsDjxVHC4YG2uOcxRCUGtUF6Nu_jVKMRx-GM_L6BgdDONDvcUfu1bEQ/s1600-h/IMG_0486.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cMLilgKwAsyzsupeAkS7a9Sn2kOGoGLdV5lHWwbQP6l61ZRVvosON470Ba8K1MlQmAutJkgcRujqQg4gYG-0CsDjxVHC4YG2uOcxRCUGtUF6Nu_jVKMRx-GM_L6BgdDONDvcUfu1bEQ/s320/IMG_0486.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227826871587232802" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3nm0B9_bZk8DVzCHzMD6bcYHBNfjIYEF4PdH8Zyqrr0JrnISzvbv5F6xPcAvSEorThOGcv-uM01e-MsaVtcDq1sB7ayAM4am4M-bfAnKS2V50B5mQbta21XW0nk2YRXd5gQ4l1MIvbw/s1600-h/IMG_0478.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3nm0B9_bZk8DVzCHzMD6bcYHBNfjIYEF4PdH8Zyqrr0JrnISzvbv5F6xPcAvSEorThOGcv-uM01e-MsaVtcDq1sB7ayAM4am4M-bfAnKS2V50B5mQbta21XW0nk2YRXd5gQ4l1MIvbw/s320/IMG_0478.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227826876171446434" border="0" /></a><br />Unfortunately i can't landscape close to the house right now, Zone 1 in permacultural language, which is where i will garden the most...but patience is required as it is still a construction site and will be for a while. No worries, we dug a heavenly bed for the asparagus, planted it and they are growing well, and next on my list is a raspberry and strawberry patch, as well as more fruit trees, though deer fencing is always an issue. More t-stakes and chicken wire for now. We also have a large area rototilled and planted with buckwheat, to get more organic matter into the soil, in an area we will plant with potatoes, beans, peas and a trial area for tomatoes - the sun is hot and long there compared to where we currently live a 10 minute walk away so we have high hopes for a big tomato patch. I dug up some carragana seedlings and moved them out there into their own nursery - this is another drought tolerant, nitrogen fixing, bee and hummingbird loving bush, which could be used as a living fence we hope. The deer will let us know eventually.<br /><br />Meanwhile, we (that is us with the generous help of our WWOOFers) are growing some food right by our current dwelling, and growing root crops such as garlic, onions (sweet and storage), beets, with our neighbour who lives within laughing distance. This includes a 50 or so variety potato patch (that's reduced from 70 varieties!). My herb business flourishes and keeps me on my toes: here is a quick list of the herbs we have harvested so far this year, either from the wild or from our gardens here, in no particular order: arnica, raspberry leaf, yarrow, mint, anise hyssop, chamomile, calendula, plantain, oregon grape leaf and root, lemon catnip, monarda, johnny jump ups, roses, st. john's wort, vervain, horsetail, alfalfa, dandelion, chickweed. Oils and tinctures are infusing and being pressed on a regular basis. We've blended teas, made some new ones, made the Seven Herb Healing Salve, Hard Working Hands Salve, Baby Balm, Belly Balm, mixed batches of Mineral Mix, blended aromatherapy facial mists/room sprays, made bath bombs, bath salts and blended tincture formulas. Orders come in and the products go out...there is a constant buzz in the herb room with things in various degrees of dryness, boxes of products to be labelled on a rainy day, etc.<br /><br />Other harvesting so far this year includes picking wild saskatoons, black caps, hooshum or soap berries, and domestic Queen Anne, sour and black cherries. I have made a makeshift solar dryer using metal shelves from old fridges, and plan to build a wooden box with a glass cover so as to avoid the plastic trays commonly used in dehydrators.<br /><br />We have another WWOOFer coming soon who has an affinity for woodworking, as well as a friend of a friend and then that friend coming also to help us get more work done on the house. Phew!<br /><br />We cannot say enough how much we appreciate these helpers coming here - not only have they traveled from all directions, and help us with all (well, most) aspects of our lives including playing with our son when we're trying to cook supper, or grooming Mandy, taking the compost out, or helping with the bottomless pit of dishes, but they also offer us a fresh vision, a new perspective, with their eyes seeing our place for the first time, and its been wonderful to have them not only meet our expectations, but exceed them.<br />I can only thank them profusely and hope that their experience here will prove to be a gift in itself for them.gillian and jonathan and jamie toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14258023541495798410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823755517202792556.post-2473574872354513772008-02-08T22:11:00.000-08:002008-03-13T09:14:47.051-07:00Welcome and Help Wanted!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2yhsabAIAkSon3ElnSXS0I1X5k_HDLCD2T1u_mtwaHfo5fYlWxcX9AxSwR23oRWNxJZNlize0SVKl6dH713_ci7lXRlZlj8HspDmqss5c3xXH757gThtucX2I8pKrs1BdrWrpwBIoB4/s1600-h/IMG_0227.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2yhsabAIAkSon3ElnSXS0I1X5k_HDLCD2T1u_mtwaHfo5fYlWxcX9AxSwR23oRWNxJZNlize0SVKl6dH713_ci7lXRlZlj8HspDmqss5c3xXH757gThtucX2I8pKrs1BdrWrpwBIoB4/s320/IMG_0227.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165589565605831890" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:webdings;">,</span></span></span></span></span>Welcome to our blog. We are embarking on a lifelong dream adventure: building our own straw bale home with a modified post and beam structure, on a meadow in need of permacultural lovin'. There is also a masonry heater in the plans. We live off the grid, and get our power from a small, independent (privately owned and managed) hydro electric system on the creek that runs through our land. This glacier water is also used for our drinking water and for irrigation. We are accepting applications from people interested in helping us in any of the many stages of this journey. We can't pay in money, but offer our skills as carpenter and herbalist, as experienced organic gardeners, as well as a part of our off-the-grid-paradise we call home to stay in, organic food to eat, and the best air and water one can ingest as an exchange for help. Families are welcome to apply - we have a small child who loves to play with others. We have a strong desire to share a little bit of our little bit of paradise with others, and to teach what we know. We often hear of people's dreams to get out of the city, out of the rat race, find some wilderness and connect with not only the land, but with the people living on the land. We have enjoyed sharing our life with WWOOFERs (willing workers on organic farms), SOIL apprentices (stewards of irreplaceable lands) and herbal apprentices who all come because they want to see how others live, and to learn new skills without paying lots of money to do so. Their help is in exchange for room, board, and skills sharing. These people come from all walks of life and from all parts of the world, and they use these organizations not only as a way to learn or practice skills, but also as a way to travel, and share, and experience life "outside of the box".<br /><br />We are in the beginning stages of this project. We have dug and mostly finished a root cellar made out of concrete blocks that will be the basement of our house.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRUKp9sFy6XoNwWMkKV_DxHKk08L7yZGPCyJSZtjXlmTP-amsJUS8Q2GgftVFlBEXvH9Kz_5jEh8Q6WjavYK7mut84T5mVCn8SOyljQGGFAKdDtlqSDx7XQgSA71b9JKqeeNYswXGqG4/s1600-h/IMG_0038.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRUKp9sFy6XoNwWMkKV_DxHKk08L7yZGPCyJSZtjXlmTP-amsJUS8Q2GgftVFlBEXvH9Kz_5jEh8Q6WjavYK7mut84T5mVCn8SOyljQGGFAKdDtlqSDx7XQgSA71b9JKqeeNYswXGqG4/s200/IMG_0038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164871133541328050" border="0" /></a>Some of the holes for the footings have been dug. The house plan is almost complete. If you have any interest in participating in any of the stages of this project, including "landscaping" using permacultural methods, please let us know. For accommodations, we offer a tipi, a basic cabin, or acres of land to tent on or bring your camper to. There is a nice guest outhouse, and we can outfit you with a propane stove and a few dishes should you want to have some private meals or a quiet cup of tea. Otherwise, we will share our home (a trailer) with you, where there is a small, but complete kitchen, shower and bath, laundry, internet (hot water and internet are subject to limited use depending on how many people are around) and we have 2 cats as well (they ask that you leave your dogs at home!). An outdoor bathing situation is in the works. We get eggs from our neighbor's organic chickens, though our own chickens using "chicken tractors" are also in the plan. A horse or 2 may be here by the summer of 2008, if our wishes come true. We grow a lot of our own produce, including over 50 varieties of potatoes, many of them heritage varieties, along with our neighbor.<br />We are situated in the rain shadow of the South Chilcotin Mountains, in the transition zone between the Coastal Ra<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVZa9jSunFWHOoKGg5SRXGilLPiquJj09DBBPg6q34H6ZJhRLax3ewNjSI8gTsCHrtnwwSTyh8xlBsx_5-F2F8A4Xq_UeXc3bRd3MuxU77cVG3jdkyKGKuEFmz3icD8Q5rEwYy7nyqto/s1600-h/IMG_1159_1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVZa9jSunFWHOoKGg5SRXGilLPiquJj09DBBPg6q34H6ZJhRLax3ewNjSI8gTsCHrtnwwSTyh8xlBsx_5-F2F8A4Xq_UeXc3bRd3MuxU77cVG3jdkyKGKuEFmz3icD8Q5rEwYy7nyqto/s320/IMG_1159_1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165065699854804162" border="0" /></a>nge and the Dry Interior of British Columbia, near Lillooet.<br />We are a 4.5 hour drive from Vancouver, and public transit will get you as far as a couple of hours away; arrangements can be made with suitable folks to be picked up. The valley we live in is proud to have many musicians as residents, so if you play an instrument, be sure to bring it along for music nights. We are meat eaters, but can accommodate vegetarians or vegans. Mountain biking is a popular activity in these parts, so bring your bike and gear for time off. Schedule wise, it will have to be flexible depending on the season, weather, and what else is happening on the farm or with our life outside of house building. Work days will vary from 4 to 8 hours, and everything is by agreement!! We ask that people participate in helping out with regular home life, such as dishes, cooking, etc, as much as possible. Please post a comment here to let us know if you have any questions, or email us: info@gilliansherbs.com. More later~gillian and jonathan and jamie toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14258023541495798410noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823755517202792556.post-50921648531087056872008-01-24T22:21:00.000-08:002008-03-28T13:52:51.307-07:00Willing Workers and World Wide Opportunities on Organic FarmsThere is a most excellent organization that links people from all over the world in search of learning about organic farming, organic gardening, organic lifestyles, all that good stuff, with farmers, gardeners, homesteaders needing help and willing to teach and share a bit of their life with others. It is called WWOOF : Willing Workers or World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. We are members of WWOOF Canada, Farm #138! Check it out, it has helped so many people, those seeking adventure and inquiry, and those seeking helping hands, while often creating lifelong friendships and imparting essential, practical skills that will be much more needed as time goes on. Visit www.wwoof.ca for more information.gillian and jonathan and jamie toohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14258023541495798410noreply@blogger.com2