Class03

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Class 3, 19 January 2006 (Homework: continue reading program description as found in the link from Class 1)

Today we'll begin to mix and pour reinforced concrete that will line two in-ground compost bins. Each bin will be 3' diameter by 3' deep.

But, as with all of our projects for the Retreat Center at Diamond Mountain, first we have to get the materials UP the steep, but short (this time) hill to the project site. Come on by if you're in the neighborhood around 4:30 and give us a hand pulling the dolly loaded with 80 pound bags of mortar mix, and 6 gallon jugs of water, weighing 8 pounds per gallon. Without mechanized vehicles and convenient driveway accesses, we learn quickly to appreciate every bit of material that's needed for a project. And we learn quickly to really evaluate our perceived needs, recognizing the individual strength needed to get any bit of stuff moved around this place. It's a provocative endeavor.

Oh darn. We measure the depth of the excavation and we're a foot short for the necessary height of the bins. But we were whacked from that machine the other day and couldn't have dug any deeper had we wanted to. So, at Andy's suggestion, we decide to add a one foot stone and concrete stem wall that will also serve as the form for the top foot of the bins.

The stone inventory up here is abundant and beautiful, and we collect the assortment of foundation stones with little effort. The wind continues to almost knock us over as we work. The temperature plummets and we discuss the ramifications of pouring wet concrete with freezing temperatures looming within the next six hours. So, we line the excavated hole with chicken wire and call it a day.

The sun has long ago set, and we wonder what's to stop us from calling this project a hot tub project instead of a toilet project. We laugh thinking about the leaf and mouse scenario from Bok Jinpa class (debated tonight by the way, SPECTACULARLY as the paper and squirrel scenario by Ben Kramer and Brian Pearson). Next class, we'll do the concrete work.

Class 4 . . . So Mix it Up, Baby