5th Week Review
 
This is the end of week 5 for this 10 week quarter. And still construction, on the house I was hoping to help build, hasn’t begun. Though, if all goes well, we should begin to build the stone foundation this Tuesday. At the least I’ll get to learn the foundation and it’s joint to the walls, and the drainage system. I’m not sure yet if the house will include water piping and electrical wiring . We might also build the dry toilet, for which I’d be happy to put together an entire structure. Meanwhile I’ve gotten some practice with mixing, building, and adding-on with cob, stone-masonry, and concrete (which is not, of course, “natural” - nor did I like the tense energy working with it brings); and, I’ve learned first-hand the art and science of building a cob oven. I’ve also read the texts: The Natural House, by Daniel Chiras; The Art of Natural Building, by Josephy Kennedy; Blueprint Small, by Michele Kodis; and A Shelter Sketchbook, by John Taylor (I had time before leaving :); and kept a journal with notes, sketches, visions, and plans. I’m now working with The Hand-Sculpted House, by Ianto Evans et. al., which is great for feeding me those details I’m longing for. I might not always get what I want, but that doesn’t mean I don’t work for it. Natural Building: Abroad Friday, February 8, 2008 The Madonna and Patty Griffin singing “You never get what you want”