Lightwork Ecovillage received some more investment this Spring which allowed them to do some fundamental infrastructure. Putting in a solid gravel access road has been high on the list and now it is actually manifest. This is an awesome development. Now the Ecovillagers can access the land by a truck all year round. Very exciting.
The rock fill needed for the road came from our land. Pete is filling up the back of his truck with rock fill.
Pete is an excavator master.
Hello Pete!
It was a BIG truck!
Once the back of the truck is full Pete gets in the truck and drives down to where it is needed on the road.
Let's follow that truck!
Once Pete arrives at the site the rock is needed he dumps the load of rock and Mike, his Apprentice, quickly flattens the rock out so Pete can turn around the truck and drive back up the hill for more rock while Mike spends his time spreading the rock on along the road.
Pete turns the truck around to go back up the road to get more rock fill.
While Pete is getting more rock fill, Mike smooths out the rock and creates ditches.
Part of the road the Ecovillagers built by hand is on the right. The new road being built is on the left.
This compactor will compress the rock on the road.
Once he is done spreading and placing the rock Mike parks the excavator off to the side of the road waiting for another truck load of rock.
Here's Mike!
Another load of rock fill!
And the process continues.
It took Pete and Mike 4 days in total to complete the road. The Ecovillagers are very thankful for this year round access to the land.
The Ecovillagers were also able to do some other infrastructure projects that they have been excited about. This is Mike driving the excavator down Maple Valley Road to start work.
A new access road is built into our main community house building site.
Here is the new community house access road.
As the excavator reaches the community house building site.
There will be two other buildings adjacent to the current cob structure in the future. There were some major stumps that the Ecovillagers could not move by hand in the way. This requires the excavator.
We estimated it would take the Ecovillagers several months, with all hands on deck to dig out this major stump, the excavator did it in 20 seconds. Sometimes the carefully applied use of heavy machinery is very appropriate.
This sacred cedar tree will be used in it's entirety by the Ecovillagers. The excavator simply pushes it over.
Another major stump is coming out, yes to that.
The Ecovillagers are creating a burm to protect the buildings from winter storm winds, possible rock slides and fire. They will grow some lovely vegetation on it.
Looking down on the building pad from the burm. Actual flat land is rare at the Ecovillage.
Constructing a high elevation catchment pond.
The intent here is to hold winter water at an elevation for multiple uses.
The elevation catchment system project under construction.
The excavator heads down to the lower level of the land for the next project.
We are putting in an eco-swimming pond/a number 2 water reservoir. This is the site. It is right near the current well.
Clearing the land.
We take the top soil and subsoil off and make a south facing burm with it to get down to the clay layer.
Having hit the clay layer we choose the shape of our swimming pond/reservoir and start digging it.
The clay is excellent.
After digging a shallow end the construction of the deep end continues.
After the digging of the swimming pond/reservoir we add a second small tub area.
The excavator is now working on a clearing for a patio area.
If you look at the deep end of the pond you see water starting to show, this is amazing! This is after several months of drought conditions. This reservoir filling up at this time of the year was completely unexpected.
This area will be planted with lovely things.
The right hand area of the swimming pond/reservoir will be covered with grass for lounging.
The reservoir continues to fill, unbelievable, this land is so giving.
The north side of the burm was planted with existing ferns from the clearing and will be covered with vegetation eventually.
The next project is a 30 foot by 30 foot flat field for recreation and also emergency landing pad for a helicopter.
This will be covered with grass eventually.
Back down at the swimming pond the magic continues.
The water kept filling in over the next few days.
And in a short length of time the swimming pond/reservoir was almost full, awesome! It has already taken on the energy the Ecovillagers have been setting. It feels extremely healing and sacred even at this early stage of development.
