!! In the quiet hours of the bootcamp grind, I found myself: Esteban's Bootcamp Experience

@ Mike

Hey Mike, I appreciate you taking the time to break this down. Your explanation of the notch and back cut geometry is especially helpful on a tree of that size—thank you for the reminder.

I’ll make sure this gets passed along to the crew who handled that felling so they can review and learn from it. I was on a different team at the time, so I wasn’t involved in selecting or starting the cuts on that tree, but I agree it’s important we all stay sharp and consistent with our technique.

Always grateful for you sharing your knowledge—it helps all of us get better.

B.E.L. Post # 140

Permies Daily Log — April 17–18, 2026

April 17

After the morning meeting, Seth and I headed to the shop. Right away I noticed a stack of logs staged by the bay door—looked like they were set up for making shakes with the froe later on.

I got the RMH going and stayed on it until it was roaring like a rocket 🚀 always satisfying when it’s burning clean and strong. After that, I jumped in with Seth on the cat box build. We worked steadily through the morning and made some solid progress before lunch.

After lunch, we headed to the lab. Stephen and I each harvested about a dozen junkpoles while the rest of the crew focused on filling in the junkpole panels. Once that was wrapped up, we shifted to improving the berms—removing grass and continuing to make them look more refined and intentional.

Back at basecamp, Seth and I tightened up the nuts and bolts on Roy’s roof rack, then finished out the day with a full shop cleanup.

Good, full day with a mix of building, harvesting, and maintenance.

April 18

Slept in a bit this morning, then fed the cats and had breakfast. Took a slower start, which felt right.

Afterwards, I worked on the shelving brackets—gave them some life with a coat of raw linseed oil. They’re looking good and I’ll be installing them tomorrow.

Spent the rest of the day taking it easy—chilling with my dog, journaling, and doing some reflection. A good balance after a productive previous day.

Ach, ye lads might be wishin to be aware that no self respectin bodger would be abusin their fro with no metal hammer! Ye be wantin a wooden club fer that I tells ya...

B.E.L. Post # 141

Today started off with one of those mornings that just feels right from the moment you wake up. The air was calm, the light was soft, and there was this quiet sense of gratitude in everything around me. I got up and fed the cats, easing into the day at a steady pace.

Not long after, we jumped into a cleaning blitz with Melissa—and I’ve got to say, her energy is something else. She brings this blazing, fun personality that somehow makes even a full-on clean feel light and enjoyable. It’s hard not to smile and get into it when you’re working alongside that kind of spirit.

One of the highlights of the day was opening a care package from Clay McGowan. I just want to say thank you—your kindness really landed. And especially the gifts for my dog Kujo… he absolutely loved them. The toys didn’t stand a chance, and that water bowl is already getting good use. It’s moments like that that remind me how strong and thoughtful this community can be.

After that, I made my way to the shop, gathered up some tools and materials for shelving, and headed back to the solarium. I installed three shelves, and I’m genuinely happy with how they turned out. They feel like a natural fit for the space—practical, simple, and a solid addition that’ll make the area even more functional.

I wrapped up the day in a slower rhythm—journaling for a while, doing some reading, and just relaxing with my fur baby by my side. A good balance of productivity and stillness. Days like this feel full in the best way.

Coydon Wallham wrote: Ach, ye lads might be wishin to be aware that no self respectin bodger would be abusin their fro with no metal hammer! Ye be wantin a wooden club fer that I tells ya...

Ach, aye, Coydon 😄

You’re right as rain there—that poor fro’s seen a bit more iron than it ought to. We knew better too, just got a bit carried away in the moment.

We’ll sort ourselves a proper wooden club and treat the tool with the respect it’s due. Much appreciated for keepin us honest and passin on the bodger wisdom 👍