Iona Land Shelter

After 2 days of 'awesomeness' we carried the lessons learnt and progressed

We evaluate, and evaluate, anyway and where we can...

 

Because things weren't as easy as they seemed... 

But through fantastic team work and discussion we solved it and progressed with erecting the structure! 

By the end of the day 7 out of 8 trunks were in place, another successful day was finished thanks to fantastic help and team work! 

Best sounding construction process of the day: bark stripping:

Iona Land Shelter: Bark Stripping from Buzdjow on Vimeo.

End of day progress shots:

 

After a superb day on Day 5, the progress continues 

After a very swift preparation we were ready to further the previous days progress

With tremendous results......

And all of a sudden, from pen to paper, it starts to become reality......

An amazingly good day of building at Iona School, featuring 2 major landmarks:

1. We moved 8 logs (around 300 kg each) to the site.

Iona Land Shelter: Log carry team from Buzdjow on Vimeo.

By the way, this is how to carry a log easily using some lengths of 2x2 timber and some webbing straps:

2. We successfully raised the first pole into its foundation pit using an A-frame and a winch.

Iona Land Shelter- Pole Raising from Buzdjow on Vimeo.

A triumph of teamwork! Still lots of work to do and many more hands needed on deck to help out- all are welcome, we even have a site kettle now...

End of day progress shots:

Day 4 saw the pit foundations finally bottomed out. We think we've got the technique down pat now and would like to share it with other unfortunate folk who have to dig very deep holes by hand. We had to do this give our miniscule budget and the inaccessibility of the site to heavy machines.

Firstly, make the hole as wide as it needs to be at the end of the day. If this is too narrow to work in, make it wider. A deep narrow hole is very difficult to get earth out of.

Secondly, dig a step halfway across the trench. This gives you somewhere to stand while breaking up the foot of the hole, and somewhere to step up to which really helps ergonomically. When the step gets too high, it is very easy to break down the step into a bucket placed in the lower part of the hole.

Thirdly, use square buckets- you can lay them down and scoop earth sideways into them, which is a lot easier than trying to scoop the earth upwards in a confined space.

Finally, if you can afford it and you can get access to the site, hire a machine to do the job.

In other news, Nick continued to craft the logs to shape. Nick is a sculptor who works a lot with timber, it is great to have him around to do this work. You can see some of Nick's more delicate and nuanced pieces on his website.

Iona Land Shelter- pole preparation from Buzdjow on Vimeo.

Day 4 progress shots:

Day 3 and we started to deal with the tree trunks. Nick got stuck in to sorting the logs out into workable positions- achieved through cunning use of levers and carefully applied violence. We are able to take quite a bit of the length off the logs which makes them look far more manageable, but shifting them to site will still be a big task and we will be putting out a massive shout for help on Tuesday...

There is plenty of advice out there on raising poles into post holes, including some kind of military document relating to telegraph poles. Most of the methods look pretty hair raising, we'll probably use some kind of A-frame if the tractor with massive hydraulic grab option doesn't materialise.

Elsewhere it was more heroic foundation digging. If we had medals they would be used up already thanks to the efforts of Day 3 stalwarts:

 Jaspreet, Rhys, Simon, Jack, Ameet, Aiden, Stuart, Matthew, Hannah, Tom & Alina

WE NEED MORE HELP though- all hands can be put to good use even if you can only come for an hour or so, please do. We face a massive task ahead and any input is incredibly valuable.

End of day progress shots: