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

B.E.L. Post # 228

This morning we started our day by heading over to the Abbey. Jesse joined me in framing up another section of the junkpole panels, while Harry, Melissa, and Leo focused on the irrigation work.

After lunch, I had Leo, Melissa, and Jesse remain at Basecamp to continue working on the irrigation, the house paddock, transporting potatoes for replanting, and tackling some chainsaw maintenance.

Meanwhile, Harry and I headed over to the Lab to install a new water pump at the pump house. After a bit of troubleshooting and teamwork, we successfully got the water flowing again at the Lab. It was a satisfying way to wrap up the day, knowing we had restored an important part of the site's infrastructure.

B.E.L. Post # 229

Today we started off our morning at the Abbey.

Leo joined Steven’s team, and they focused on irrigating the back half of the Abbey, watering the baby trees, and taking care of several other tasks.

My team consisted of Jesse, Melissa, and me. Melissa focused on irrigating the front berms, chop-and-drop, and other projects, while Jesse and I worked on building the framing for the junk pole fence panels.

After lunch, I paired Leo and Melissa together to repair and rebuild junk pole panels at the house paddock. From there, they moved on to some hugel berm work, the firewood rack project, and other tasks.

Jesse and I started the afternoon by setting up irrigation lines. Jesse continued working on a junk pole panel along the drive, while I handled some chainsaw maintenance, trail building, and chop-and-drop work.

Before heading back to the Abbey, we also irrigated Raspberry Rock.

We wrapped up the day back at the Abbey, continuing work on the junk pole fencing.

B.E.L. Post # 230

Today was a full, hardworking day at the Abbey. Jesse and I got back to work on the junk pole fencing, framing more sections. Meanwhile, Melissa and Leo worked on irrigation and mulching with chop and drop.

After lunch, Melissa and Leo shifted to work on the house paddock before heading to the bay door of the classroom. There, two turtle tanks were staged, and they filled them with water and headed back to continue at the paddock.  Meanwhile Jesse and I begain irrigation, then maintained and sharpened chainsaws, chop and drop, worked on the junkpole panel along the drive ... then headed off to the Abbey to continue with work there ...

B.E.L. Post # 231

This morning started out with splitting and stacking firewood as a group. Once we finished up with that, we all headed out to Far Raccas and irrigated the entire area.

After lunch, we split up and continued working on different projects. Leo and Melissa continued with irrigation, while Jesse and I worked on the junk pole fencing at the Abbey, making more progress on the project and moving it forward.

To wrap up the day, I also made a post in the Boots Love thread.

B.E.L. Post # 232

We started the morning by gathering all the tools we needed from the library and the shop before heading out to the Abbey.

Jesse and I continued working on the section of junk pole fencing, making progress on the fence panels and continuing to develop the overall structure. Meanwhile, Melissa and Leo focused on chop-and-drop work and mulching, building organic matter and supporting the landscape.

Later in the morning, Stephen brought over the trailer with the two turtle water tanks, adding another piece to the ongoing water infrastructure work.

After lunch, Melissa and I headed back to the Abbey. I continued working on the junk pole fence panels while Melissa focused on irrigation alongside Stephen.

Back at base camp, I tasked Leo with continuing work on the house paddock, including irrigation of the berms and giving the berms some extra attention and care.

Jesse continued working on the junk pole fencing along the drive while also giving some much-needed attention to the chainsaws.

Another productive day of building, maintaining, and improving the systems that are taking shape across the property.