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

B.E.L. Post # 202

This morning after our crew meeting, we got the day rolling with a solid mix of tending the land and building momentum on ongoing projects.

I tasked Leo and Melissa with irrigating the garlic patch and the trees along the berm at Far Arrakis, followed up with some good old chop and drop to continue building fertility and supporting the landscape. While they were carrying out those tasks, Jesse and I continued the chop and drop along the streetside of the Turtle Berm, turning overgrown biomass into future soil.

During that time, I also set up sprinklers at Lightning Hill to keep things moving with the watering rotation. At 11 AM, we switched gears and I continued working on the final hugel step for the grape plant project, bringing that piece closer to completion.

After lunch, we all headed over to the Abbey. Jesse and Melissa took on irrigation and chop and drop duties while Leo and I continued framing up our junkpole panel sections. Slowly but surely, the pieces are coming together — transforming raw materials into functional structures while continuing to nurture the land around us.

Another day of building, growing, and learning with the landscape. 🌱

B.E.L. Post # 203

Today was another full day of building, growing, and moving projects forward here at Wheaton Labs.

The morning started with Leo heading over to the Abbey with Stephen to continue working on the wing walls. Meanwhile, Melissa, Jesse, and I stayed behind at Basecamp. I tasked Jesse and Melissa with laying mulch rings around the baby trees, giving them some much-needed support as they continue getting established.

While they were tending to the trees, I continued the chop and drop work along the streetside of the Turtle Berm — and today I finally completed that section! 🌱 After wrapping that up, I hopped over to setting a sprinkler at the Optimus Prime Berm and made a recycling run to keep things flowing.

After lunch, we all headed over to the Abbey to continue the usual mix of projects: junkpole fencing, irrigation, and more chop and drop.

A big milestone for me today was with the six-panel section of junkpole fencing I've been working on solo. After a lot of harvesting and preparation, I finally gathered the 18 ten-foot horizontal supports I needed to move forward. Tomorrow the next phase begins — notching them and fastening them into place.

Slowly but surely, these little pieces of work are becoming part of something much bigger. One post, one tree, one fence panel, and one handful of mulch at a time. 🌲

B.E.L. Post # 204

This morning the Boot Crew and I headed over to the shop and loaded up the Maverick with all the necessary tools and equipment for the first half of the day. Once everything was packed up and ready to go, we made our way over to the Abbey to continue making progress on our projects.

Once we arrived, I split everyone up with their tasks for the morning. Jesse continued mulching the trees with a nice thick layer to help build soil, retain moisture, and support their growth. Melissa focused on soil probing and irrigating where needed, making sure the trees and plants were getting the attention they needed. Leo continued framing the three panels of junkpole fencing in his section, while I worked on framing the six panels in my section.

Luckily, I already had a nice pile of freshly harvested horizontal poles stacked and ready to go, so I was able to stay focused on measuring, notching, and fastening. By lunchtime, I had all the lower horizontal pieces of my fencing section installed and secured.

After lunch, we switched gears and headed over to Lightning Hill. I tasked Jesse with continuing the mulching around the trees, while Leo and Melissa worked together laying down another thick layer of mulch between the two powerline signs that Harry and I built.

While they were working on that, I went over to Optimus Prime and finished setting in the last hugel step by the grape plant. After that, I started doing some chop and drop along the junkpole fencing by the drive, continuing to build organic matter and improve the area.

Before switching tasks again, I gave Leo and Melissa directions for their next project: building a pure roundwood firewood rack at the bermshed. Leo is running point on that build, so it will be a great opportunity for him to take ownership and lead the project.

Once they had everything they needed, Jesse and I headed back to the Abbey. Jesse continued her mulching work while I returned to my section of fencing. I was able to fasten four out of the six top horizontal pieces, bringing the junkpole fencing another step closer to completion.

Another solid day of teamwork, building with natural materials, improving the land, and continuing to turn ideas into reality. 🌱

B.E.L. Post # 205

Today after the morning meeting, the Boot Crew and I headed over to the shop to gather our tools and get everything loaded up before making our way out to the lab. Our first task of the day was a trail cam run — swapping out memory cards and batteries so we could keep an eye on what’s moving through the land.

After checking the cameras, we headed over to the Abbey. Melissa and Jesse continued working on soil probing, chop and drop, and mulching around the trees, while Leo and I kept making progress on our junkpole fencing panels — continuing to shape and build with materials harvested right here from the land.

After lunch, we shifted gears and took care of some maintenance — wiping down the interior panels and vacuuming out the work rigs. We also took some time to review the trail cam footage from earlier and see what stories the cameras had captured while we were away.

From there, we split up again. I tasked Leo and Melissa with continuing the firewood project, while Jesse and I headed back out to the Abbey. Jesse focused on mulching the baby trees, giving them a little extra care and protection, while I continued harvesting more 10-foot pieces for my junkpole fencing project.

Another solid day of building, tending, observing, and working with the land — one piece at a time. 🌱

And a very intimidating Mafia boss at that. Looks like the next picture is Melissa?

How old are they

B.E.L. Post # 206

Today was a slower paced but productive day here at Wheaton Labs.

I continued doing some chop and drop along the junkpole panels by the Abbey driveway, adding more organic material back into the system and helping maintain the area around the project. It’s always interesting seeing how much life and potential can come from working with what’s already growing around you.

After that, I made a quick trip to put some gas in the RAV4, then came back and spent some time processing more scrap metal fencing — turning old materials into something useful instead of letting them go to waste.

The rest of the day was spent slowing down and investing in myself — reading, journaling, studying, and taking time to continue building my knowledge for the path ahead.

And of course, I made sure to spend some quality time with my little adventure buddy, Chapito. 🐾

Not every day has to be about big builds or major projects. Some days are about maintenance, learning, reflection, and taking care of the small things that keep the bigger vision moving forward.

Coydon Wallham wrote:And a very intimidating Mafia boss at that. Looks like the next picture is Melissa?

Yes he is lol ... and yeah one would think it's her but no it's not, but another boot having some fun ...