Rico Loma

I bought a similar heater in 1992 for my off grid house, made in Mexico, I think the manufacturer was Paloma.  I was happy with its performance and low cost, about 95 clams.  

Fine for a few years, but I later shifted to solar input to propane water heater, as I was working 60 hour weeks while wearing a coat and tie.  My timing became very tight especially leaving for school at 5 am.  
As the video points out, its success hinges upon your ability to plan ahead.  

Poetic chemistry, I first thought.  Fascinating  stuff, thank you,  I am wondering how this compares with the esteemed Roman building materials.......pozzolans like volcanic ash make a huge difference.   Chemical reaction fans, geologists, earth aficionados, please share your ideas.

Heather, for the sake of clarity,  I believe you are securing the free glass but not the entire bus.  Please correct me if I am misreading your post.  

Go Tony go
You are right about using copper and touting its many health benefits. Please give us all your ( prophet shouting in the wilderness? mad scientist running amok?) insights along the way.

One solution comes to mind, but it can't be reliably called sustainable.

Used fabric ..... I think vinyl?........from billboards could be used if no other option appeals to you.  It is free, in my one experience working with it.  Yes, it might introduce vinyl into your soil.  Yes, it could provide mosquito habitat if not carefully placed.  
Use these pegs to secure it perhaps

THAT is sensational news, congratulations ,  your work is fully bearing fruit.  
I am bold to say, but my wife agrees  it is justified: everyone is proud of y'all.
Grassroots effort getting municipal assistance, bravo!  With two kind , knowledgeable folks using plowshares instead of violent swords

" the Power
of the pen ( keyboard), "     indeed, we say well played Kimi.

Can't help you on the exact culprit, but you could try a simple spray. I soak garlic and hot pepper slices 24 hours, strain out the water and mix in several drops of Dr Bronners peppermint soap

This can be sprayed on seedlings and soil evening or early morning,  avoid using at peak temperatures.  This could be improve the survival rate.

Try to follow previous builds here on Permies, try building a rocket stove in your yard, do some reading.  It might be possible.  

Is Braga close by for you? A full service Leroy is there for materials,  as a last resort, but probably better prices near your house.  Good luck on your  efforts.  

Saws, mowers, scythes and axes are my friends, and have never hurt me seriously. Knock on wood.  
But my own feet are a other story altogether.  
After a sweaty afternoon of splitting wood , my loyal dog Snarls was ready for a trail run. We set out across a vast 1000 acre preserve on a faint trail, after a mile or so a frog-strangling thunderstorm started that made visibility challenging.  Heading back to our cabin in a hurry, I slipped on a rock slab and cut my left knee, with patellar tendon almost severed, while getting mud in the wound. Had to limp back home surrounded by lightning strikes.  
Reconstructive surgery, 10 days in hospital with staphylococcus infection, almost lost the entire lower leg.  About a year later I could play all my sports again.

In brief, i was reminded :    the smallest mistake can kill you, on the farm or in the wild.  

Hugo, I didn't know about a balm like that, root only involved, correct?  Which specific species of comfrey?