Some tire pounding and then more rain

Stephan (left), Tom (right), Scottie (taking picture)

It stopped raining long enough for things to dry out a bit, so the guys pounded 11 more tires along the second row. New volunteer Stephan has come to help out with the build and learn from our resident Earthship Academy friend Scottie. And now it's raining. Again. Should be dry by the weekend (cross your fingers!)

Rain days

It's been raining for the past few days and expected to rain some more this week off and on, so not too much is getting done. On the plus side, the cistern for the rabbitry is filling up fast!

Setting up the second course!

We've finished the three walls of the first course and are getting things set up for the second course. Still need to extend the first course out along the "wings" on either side. So far, the first course is only 41 tires (those big 265's are very common here; they take forever to pound but you need a lot fewer of them to do a row). The wings will probably add another 10 tires on each side.

Culverts have been placed and buried!

Annoying gaps on the second course need to be dealt with.

Finished camp shower

What's behind this corner?

 Not exactly "roughing it" anymore! The camp shower is complete.

Our electric water pump isn't strong enough to pump water out from our pond, so we need to use the gas pump to pump it into a big plastic barrel near the shower, and then we can use the electric one to run the shower itself. One bucket lasts for a half dozen showers give or take.

 Waterproof on/off switch. Turn water on, get wet, turn water off, soap up, turn water back on, rinse soap off.

Shower head hose attachment gives really good water pressure!

Making progress on the first course

We are using clay to pack the tires so the wall should be super solid. Used string line to mark the three tire turns on the back corners. These tires are the 265's so each one takes a good amount of clay (not to mention time and effort!) to pound. About ready to get started on the wings, and then we'll position the culverts and start the second course.

Building a shower

Tom and volunteer Scottie are working on a shower system so we can have showers out here (so much for roughing it!) So far, they've built a shower stall out of pallets and scrap wood. Next up is to hook up the hosing, shower head, and switch to turn the shower on and off. It will be operated by an electric pump pumping water out of our slough. Should be finished soon.

Brace yourself

We put up some permanent braces along the back wall of the rabbitry yesterday just to be extra sure that the back wall will remain upright, and we took down the temporary bracing that was there for the backburrying. We should be able to hang the cages back up within the next few days. Also got chickens from a friend to help with table scraps and give us some fresh eggs.

They survived the first night! Four altogether.

Maghda guarding the chickens from atop her mound of straw.

Lots of updates!!

I hadn't realized how long it's been since an update. We've gotten a lot done in the spring. We just got a cistern behind the rabbitry, which is all backburried now, so that will mean (1) no longer hauling water out every other day for the rabbits, and (2) some temperature regulation for hot summers as well as the cold winters.We had to move the rabbits outside while this was all being done. The finishing touches are happening today, and then we will move the rabbits back inside likely tomorrow. Tom also built a doghouse for the pups. Internet is hooked up, and Tom wired the mobile home so we've got power in all the outlets!