Grey's Bootcamp Journal

Friday Mags and I assembled stools that Dez ordered for the shop. They're a little high for me, but just the perfect height for him; go figure :P (I do like them). We resumed Solarium work in the afternoon, and Mags commandeered the silky.


Saturday I had a leisurely late breakfast by myself, then went to work on my side project: building a hügel for privacy outside the love shack (I got the OK from Paul). I moved dirt from uphill just outside the door, making the ground almost flat. The rocks I pulled from the earth went in a pile that followed the curve of the berm-to-be. Any fallen logs I could find went into the main pile.

I got cleaned up and dressed up just in time to ride with Paul, Jen and Josiah to meet up with Lara, Dez and Magdalene at a fantastic restaurant. New worlds of flavor opened up to me, as I enjoyed not just Brussels sprouts with goat cheese, but even ventured to have a burger with Bleu cheese. Those cheeses do not normally appeal to my taste; however, I took the opportunity to expand my palate, and I was quite pleased with the experience.

Sunday cleaning was spent running the vacuum and the carpet cleaner. Then I collected my clean and dry clothes and hung the load of rags up. Afterwards I worked on the side project some more, also taking some time to fill a muddy pothole at the edge of the driveway by the road. The new boots arrived! I met and talked with them a while. Good guys, they are. I was kind of amazed by how much their respective backgrounds and skill sets are exactly what we need here right now. Boot camp's about to be ballin'.

Day 22. Monday August 23, 2021

Today I had the privilege of being videographer for the Great Wofati Greenhouse Movie!

I rode with Josiah up to The Lab, where he briefed me on how to operate the DSLR on the gimbal. After 20 minutes of practicing on trees and flowers, I felt ready to film the genuine article. We began getting footage of him being Mr. Tour Guide. Fred wanted to be a tour spectator, so he's likely to make a cameo in the movie. At last, the Duke arrived, the gravy began to flow, and I captured it all on HD video.

We rode back to Basecamp for lunch. Us boots chose our daily chores and nest projects. Then I picked up where I left off on the Solarium. With a brand new micrometer I found, getting the tenon on the middle post to fit the mortice in the silll was a cinch. The last vertical post was not much more difficult. So stoked to see the frame go up. Let's keep this momentum

Can you show the drill press in detail? What other cool tools you got up there?

Edward Lye wrote:Can you show the drill press in detail? What other cool tools you got up there?

I'd love to get a good video of it being used. Lots of cool stuff here, plenty that I haven't seen yet too. We're about to do some testing of the sawmill, so stay tuned for that!

Day 23. Tuesday August 24

Woke up pre-6am feeling well rested and ready to start the day, which is unusual. Outdoor yoga at sunrise was worth the numbness in my toes. Hopefully it doesn't get too cold for a little while longer. When it does, I figure I could do yoga in the library with a bit of rearranging.

This morning, while Mags and Dez watered hugels, my task was simple: set up the Starlink satellite dish. Nate lent a hand, and together we mounted it up on the roof of the library, ran the cable through the exterior wall, into the attic and to the corner near the door. Now it's hooked up, and internet at Basecamp is faster than ever! Down at the shop, Bee worked his mechanic magic on the sawmill. Paul came by and we talked about plans for the trusty little machine.

Tuesday's two hour tidying and tool maintenance: We reclaimed more space in the back of the shop and took care of our chainsaws. Bee actually spent the whole afternoon on them, taking apart a corded one and fixing it with parts from another broken one! Nate was definitely instrumental in coordinating our transportation of our last log for the Solarium. A pulley system I rigged up in a tree allowed Judi to lift the beast up Apricot Alley. Then Dez towed the cargo down to the Turtle Lot and up the driveway. Big Success Day.



Unfortunately, Zeke got badly injured again. Nothing too deep, just a bit out of that bare spot that's been healing. I dressed his re-wounded arm in the morning, while he moaned quite pathetically. It looked better when I took the bandage off in the evening, after which he lay purring in my lap. I'll probably disinfect and wrap it up again tomorrow after feeding him.

Day 24. Wednesday, August 25

Slow to get up this morning, which I see now set a completely different tone for the day. I quickly ate my failsafe breakfast: soft boiled egg and overnight museli. Mr. Tough Cat's arm got a quick wrap in the AM and a more careful one after lunch.

Paul joined us for the morning boot meeting to dish out pertinent info. Our morning was spent prepping the Solarium's single largest piece of timber and the three posts that'll be bearing its weight. I helped add temporary bracing to the vertical logs and cut the tenon ends to make them on the same level plane.

Before lunch, Fred joined us to explain the remaining 2% to be done in order to complete the repair of a berm shed post.

After lunch, we joined Fred at his plot to do a bunch of stuff. I seeded the inner side of the perimeter hügels with apricots and pomegranates. Still intrigued by what is to be his future habitat.

Decided to end my no-shower streak. 4 days, I think. That record will likely be surpassed as the days get colder. I'm sleeping out in the hammock since it's mild tonight, and my bed sheets are in dire need of washing. Sleeping bag and blankets will keep me warm. We'll see how well my back does.

Day 25 Thursday August 26

Hammock sleeping was a little tricky, but felt great; planning to do the same tonight.

Zeke's doing well with repeated applications of comfrey salve.

I chose my garden plot today: the Southern-Western face of the North most hügel (former boot Erica's).

Straight forward day. Gardening in the morning and an afternoon trip to The Lab. Bee and I did a few minor things there and picked up everything for the sawmill, including a big ol' log. Back at Basecamp we set it up with plenty of time to tinker. Dez explained proper milling technique to Nate, Bee and me. With just enough time to make a handful of test cuts, we had the whole system set up. I strategically positioned myself to make the first pass with it. What a treat that was–the action was smooth!



Dez made a tasty harvest soup for supper. Coconut-based ice cream was dessert.

Day 26. Friday August 27

Woke up to a beautiful sunrise and a gentle rain dampening my face at precisely 7am. The air was warm and humid as I collected my bedding and hammock, carried them down to the love shack and got dressed for the day. I crossed  paths with Nate, who informed me of his imminent departure. He wished me well, and I gave him my best wishes in kind. We all shared our goodbyes after breakfast and he left without a trace, save a box of tea.

Now four of us, the boots made excellent headway in the morning on our list of tasks. Bee and I fashioned a couple of solar reflectors for the stratification pipe in the wofati greenhouse. Dez and Mags found out what needs to be ordered for the upcoming RMHJ.

After lunch we hopped in the ranger and rode to The Lab. We installed the two reflectors and loaded up the truck bed with leftover dimensional lumber from the greenhouse build. After getting shit done, it was back to base camp. I drove our water hauler to town to fill up her gas tank. Dinner was courtesy of Dez again. What a lovely human being 💛

Day 27. Caturday August 28

Not much today other than laundry and a bike ride with Bee. He made nice and hearty potato veggie soup for dinner.

My time here is drawing near to a month, which means I'll get to choose my plot at The Lab. Think I'll pick somewhere in ant village, maybe a plot with a timber structure already on it. Have to think some more.

Nice! excellent use of micrometer to build timber perfection!