The crew was filled with anticipation as they headed out to the Ecovillage to see what damage, if any, the winter storms may have caused since the last visit.
Roof construction is now one of the top priorities as the temporary roof continues to be battered by the increased strength of the Fall and Winter storms. Several inches of snow gathered on our tarp roof and then melted creating large pools of water the continued to get bigger as it rained. Eventually weighing enough to break our temporary roof poles. The cob and straw walls were soaked by holding up surprisingly well. The temporary roof, designed to protect the cob and straw over the winter has required a lot of attention this Fall and Winter as each storm that passes through the area mocks our attempts at keeping the structure dry.
This was the state the Ecovillage crew found the cob site upon arrival. The installed glass window was blown out of it's foundation within the east cob wall and found shattered beside the house. A clean up crew went to work. One of the Lightwork principles is, nothing ever goes wrong, this was just another valuable learning experience!
After several attempts to keep the cob structure dry with temporary roofs the crew decided to wrap the walls up in tarps and plastic weighing them down with heavy rocks. Doing alternative natural building in the sometimes hostile BC coast climate is a challenge but the Ecovillagers are committed to a sustainable future no matter how steep the learning curve!!! We've got new boots with traction on our souls!
The cob structure all tucked in for the winter. So far this system has worked with only minimal moisture leaking in the north straw wall. It may not be pretty but it is doin' the job.
Keith, Cloe and Krista peeling logs that will become the post and beams that will support the cob structure's roof.
Digging holes that will take the footings for the inside posts.
Julia W. headed the 'Fix the Wheelbarrow Tire Crew'! It took time, diligence and determination, all had fun and the tire got fixed - yeah! This is a small example of our process of always tackling new jobs. Things that we have never done before. Sometimes it takes a few attempts but in the end we always attain a new skill that we can apply to our vision.
Stately mushroom in the prime of it's life. Fall and winter prove to be a bountiful time for mushroom growth at the Ecovillage.
Cloe and Scott happy on the powerful sacred land. This is Cloe's last visit for awhile so there is lots to soak in.
Scott and Cloe harvested a Douglas fir tree from a thicket of Ecovillage trees that needed to be thinned out. This tree was hand picked to be this year's Christmas tree at the Lightwork Centre in Vancouver, much enjoyed by all. It felt great to have a sacred Ecovillage Christmas tree.
December at the Ecovillage is as vibrant and giving as the other 11 months. The Ecovillage keeps revealing it's bountiful life-force, encouraging Ecovillagers and visitors to tune into this energy within themselves. To tap more fully into this potential power, alive and available in every moment.
