Help ex - John Golle

John arrived this week and in a few short days has already transformed the kitchen and working practices for the ecoconstruction.  His 'thing' is efficiency in the workplace.

 

John transforms working practices for straw and slip production:

 

Instead of using a pronged fork to mix and transfer the straw

clay mixture, John filled the container with slip and used his hands

 to push larger amounts of straw under the surface.  Working on his

 knees is easier on the back and placing the bales of straw on a tressle table

 means less bending down.



 

John produced a huge amount of straw and slip

mixture for the house insulation by creating a more efficient

way of working.  Being a ceramicist/potter he is not a stranger

 to immersing himself (literally) in the clay

 

 

 



Super strong John

 

 



The two Johns - one lives off grid nearby,
 the other a student of permaculture.  They are already
 full of ideas and plans/projects for La Mariais

 

 



 

The First help ex arrives - Fabrice

Il est arrivé de Paris avec son parapluie:

 

 

 

... and created little artistic installations in the garden:

 

 

 

 

 



 

...  participated in the collection of cow manure for the earth floor:



 

 

... helped to dismantle the wooden chimney:

 

 

 

 

...  levelled the sand on top of the 20/40 stones on the ground floor.

 







 

 

....  mowed straw to cut the fibres shorter for an earth render:

 

 

 

....and sieved clay soil to be used for earth rendering in the house:

 

 

 

 









help ex - the G & G Latvia team



Gita and Gunita (G&G) arrived this week - two charming and enthusiastic helpexers from Latvia.  Some images from their stay:

G&G turn their hand to straw and slip insulation



Concrete mixers and bikinis - an unusual combination

 

Gita mastered the drill in no time and set to

preparing the boards for the mixture



G&G putting the boards in place against the walls behind

which is packed the straw and slip mixture



Gita screws an OSB board to the wooden uprights

Gita prepares to pack the straw and slip behind

the boards

Gunita preparing to pack the mixture

 

 





The girls admiring the straw slip insulation wall

after the boards had been removed the next day

G&G prepare and apply 'torchis' to an interior wall  

 

 

G&G in the Kitchen and Garden

 

 



Preparing a meal with produce from the garden

 



Gunita made many delicious desserts using

wild berries and fruit from the land

 

 



Enjoying a meal outside

 

 

 

 



Gita picking fresh salad leaves and herbs from

 the garden





Gunita - la cueillette

 

 

 

The girls leave for Paris