Sunday 24 August 2014

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
 
 

 

Tuesday 19 August 2014

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:
 
 
 
 





Sunday 17 August 2014

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