It has been a few weeks of severe weather on coastal BC. The third major storm ripped through Howe Sound on Nov. 15th (the Wednesday) and it is now the Sunday the 19th. As we head out to the Ecovillage to see how our sacred land has weathered the latest storm. From the cabin's deck one can see the intensity of the weather of late.
Hiking around the whole lower level of the Ecovillage surveying the effect of the extremely high winds accompanying the last storm. Beside Maple Valley Road this Hemlock was torn out by the roots.
Also beside Maple Valley Road another friend was not able to hold on through the storm.
Down near the well this old ambasidor Maple Tree literally is snapped off 8ft above the ground. This tree is about 2 1/2 ft thick.
Breaking healthy wood of this size requires a tremendous force. It is hard not to think of the future and how global warming will affect our sacred Ecovillage. One of the traits of the global warming climate change is much more severe and frequent storms. The massive hulk of this huge Maple Tree lies on the forest floor now. We are thinking of ways to use this beautiful wood.
Down in the wetland two 60ft Cedars lay on their side. The thought strikes the Ecovillagers how nature is choosing the trees to use for construction and other purposes which gives a nice feeling to an otherwise dramatic situation.
On top of Spa Bluff this beautifully straight future post for building waits to be utilized.
By the garden the top 40ft of this massive old Alder is cracked off and lands on the ground broken into a number of pieces.
At Highland Flats another beautiful tree is simply pushed over by the winds force with its roots system bringing up huge amounts of earth.
Most of our water drainage systems perform well in the storms a great deal of water is draining off the mountain side. Eventually we will catch this water in a reservoir for future Ecovillage uses in the dry season.
The well is completely maxed out with a foot of water spilling over to its surrounding area.
Some pretty aquatic plant life in the wetland, yet to be identified.
Scott spend a good part of the day continuing his mapping project and got to know parts of the Ecovillage that have not been visited yet. He was happy to discover bulrushes in the wetland.
Location scouting for the grey water recovery system. This hillside could be a possible location for installation of flow form technology, a beautiful way of adding oxygen into water for cleansing purposes.
Below the aforementioned flow form site is an area that could work well for the eco-settling ponds which are part of the eco- grey water recovery system.
Near the future community house is an area that is being considered for the creation of an open field for recreation, beauty and also helicopter landing site in case of an emergency. These trees would have to come down but would be well used in building construction. The area is already quiet open and relatively flat.
Just off the edge of the Lightwork Ecovillage land is the short but steep and treacherous hill that is always a challenge when the weather is not fine. Todays events highlighted the fact that we need to bring in an excavator and make a short connector road which is much more vehicle friendly. The hill was extremely wet and soft today and upon the third try to get up it Troopy slide off the road and got hung up on a little dirt knoll. It was effectively holding Troopy up so there was no traction going to the wheels.
It took an hour of digging in very precarious positions to free Troopy from his undignified position. In the end we were able to back Troopy out and back down to his regular parking spot.
The crew plus Scott, taking the picture, standing at the site of Troopy's experience feeling happy to have successfully freed Troopy! It was a pretty intense day but satisfying nevertheless. The drama of the West coast winter.
