Erica's Boot Camp Experience BRK

Post 1

Hello Everyone! My name is Erica and I have been at Wheaton Labs for a few weeks now. I thought it was time to start a BRK thread because I want to share all the things I have been working on! I have a backlog of pictures so I will share those sporadically too.

This morning we worked on the garden patches. My patch gets lots of sun (wooo!) and I discovered lots of flower bulbs and garlic hiding in the mulch from last year. I spent time making the paths and chopping and dropping. I am excited to get to share the hugel with Lara!

This afternoon was improvements to the Red Cabin where I am staying. There were a few improvements I wanted to do after the first night I stayed there, so I am glad they are finally in. I finished the shelf on the wall side of the lower bunk which is perfect for reading lights, phone etc. I also made an under bend shelf for books and water bottle! Next up, round wood hooks.

Shout out to Nine for showing me a new way to use the draw knife (bevel side down) so that the warped 1x4 fit like a glove.

I LOVE the little bunk bed cubbie. Such a great idea!!!

Those are crocus!  Spring is on the way.  The shelves look great.

Post 2
Hopfully this uploads
Today was a bit of everything. This morning, a group of us took the trailer to load junk poles we collected a few weeks ago. This afternoon I got to use an excavator! We were breaking ground for a new cistern at the lab. It felt remarkably like the diggers I played on at the playground as a kid, just much more powerful. After that, I cut some boards to length for the floor at Cooper Cabin, then helped Jen put in part of the frame for the trap door at the green house. Overall it as a pretty good day, but I am looking forward to the weekend.

Matt made some awesome sourdough bread to accompany a lovely end of week dinner. I love when my plate is full of colorful veggies.

Post 3

Saturday! My partner and I went into town and had a lovely breakfast and various errands. We returned to a pizza party hosted by Dez! I ate outside in the sun and the cats really wanted some of the food.

When I was in town I keep seeing this tree I am not familar with. Anyone know what it is? It looks like a cross between a willow and an Aspen to me.

There was a mushroom grow kit that i grew a while ago, and some growth pictures here. Does anyone know if they can grow more than one set of mushrooms?

remember to go back when the tree’s leafed out! definitely looks aspen-family.

Post 4

Monday morning means garden time :) Today I spent some time making a path and some steps on the hugel, aswell as making a boarder on the bottom edge. I also got some seeds planted and Kyle helped chop some grass. This afternoon was clearing out some space to prep for the PDC this summer.

I love the rock-lined paths! And the daffodils! (Though, I found out the not-so-fun way that leeks/elephant garlic look a lot like non-flowering daffodils, especially to kids! I ended up transplanting all of mine to a flower garden so my kids didn't have to worry about accidentally eating a daffodil! I'm pretty sure the adults at Wheaton Labs won't have that problem, though!)

That tree looks like a weeping birch to me.

Post 5

Today I finished putting in the weather stripping around the door at Allerton Abbey, and figured out one of the three window screens. The screens will need to come out again anyways because we need to replace the opening mechanism for the window. This afternoon was looking for parts for the windows and other research.  

Taco Tuesday is always a bit chaotic, but those fresh corn tortillas make it worth it for me. I made some vegan cheese sauce, which was delicious and well received. It probably needs a new name, because it is delicious, but it is not cheese.

This evening I got an at home haircut, and I think it turned out well. We learned to cut our hair last year and I find it much less stressful (and cheaper) than getting it cut elsewhere.

Post 6

Worked in the shop today making some lids for various barrels at base camp today. I sharpened and used a hand planer to smooth out a rather old and splintery piece of wood. I have been eyeing the planer for some time now and today was the first time I was successful in using it.

I am always amazed at how much faster the second build of anything goes. The first lid took all morning, and when I finished the second, I had half the afternoon left.

It was so warm and beautiful today, I can feel summer coming, but it is forecast to snow tomorrow.

Erica Egge wrote:There was a mushroom grow kit that i grew a while ago, and some growth pictures here. Does anyone know if they can grow more than one set of mushrooms?

I honestly don't know! When we ate all of our mushrooms, I "planted" the whole thing next to a decomposing alder in hopes it would take over it. Still haven't seen any signs of that, though!

Enjoy the snow!

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Hmmm lets try that video again

Erica Egge wrote:    (in Post 3)  "When I was in town I keep seeing this tree I am not familar with. Anyone know what it is? It looks like a cross between a willow and an Aspen to me."

maybe white birch?  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betula_papyrifera)