Spring 2023 Updates

Preparing the roof

Splitting trees to use for the edge of the roof.

Split trees.

The first edge for the roof

Leon and Hari clearing the brambles on the terrace above the house, so we can access the roof to add the side pieces from above.

Plastering

Making plaster mix for the first layer - with clay, soil and straw

Plastering the corner where the kitchen will go first. The areas around the windows have frames ready to fill with straw.

Making garden beds

Starting to build a simple shower and privacy enclosure in the garden to catch the water from the shower in the garden beds

A tree falls on Hari's yurt

The tree that was kindly providing shade for my yurt fell in a strong wind. I knew it was growing at an angle from the wall, but it seemed healthy. Little did I know that the tree was being eaten by insects inside and getting rotten...

I was inside when it fell, just about to walk out the door, but thankfully it didn't hurt me, despite half of the ceiling poles falling down around me.

The tree landed on the edge on the top of the yurt wall structure where it is most strong, so thankfully none of the ceiling poles of wall slats were broken!

However, it did damage the central crown.

Taking the yurt down to fix it.

The damage to the crown.

Quite easily fixed with some wood glue, screws and wood filler.

I decided to move the yurt to the river side where there is shade all day. I had two visitors help me move it, thanks Fabian and Anouk!

Cooling down and doing handstands at the stream on the upper part of the land.

We found a river turtle!

Building kitchen tops

A simple structure with mimosa wood from the land, on a temporary pallet floor, and ply.

A simple seating area with straw bales and wooden pallet table

Mini work desk with the solar power and a new battery.

Simple outdoor washing up station and pan storage on the wall.

Wood work at the Unifant Craft festival

Our friends at the Unifant association 20 minutes from us held a three day craft festival. I mostly got involved with the wood work area where we were making a bench using traditional woodworking methods and tools.

Here is a pole lathe which had a string attached to a bent mimosa tree to provide tension. The pole spins by pushing the pushing a paddle down with a foot in a repetitive rhythm to pull the bendy tree down and let it spring back and pull the string up again.

The pole holds the piece we are working on and spins back and forth, allowing us to use a chisel with two hands to shape the piece, ideal for making the rounded poles to go in the backrest of our bench.