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

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 👍

B.E.L. Post # 142

I started my morning by feeding the cats as usual, then headed into the morning meeting. Once that wrapped up, we all moved over to the shop/classroom.

While Melissa, Stephen, and Rodger were making shakes, Seth and I continued working on the cat house project. We managed to install the partition walls at the entrance and exit points of the structure. At this stage, the only major remaining piece is the roof, which will bring it closer to completion.

After lunch, Seth, Rodger, and I were tasked with watering the fruit trees and other essential plant areas—starting around the garlic patch and working our way forward. Meanwhile, Stephen and Melissa started from Raspberry Rock, covering the opposite side.

Once that was finished, we loaded up Roy with several jugs of water and some tools for the Abbey fencing and headed out to the lab. Our first stop was the lemon tree site, where we set up the large water containers.

After that, we continued on to the Abbey, where Rodger, Melissa, and I worked on the junkpole fencing until the end of the boot day.

A steady, productive day with a lot of ground covered and good progress across multiple projects.

B.E.L. Post # 143

Woke up this morning feeling genuinely rested, the kind of sleep that seems to reset everything. I eased into the day with my usual rhythm—feeding the cats, taking a quiet moment before heading into the morning meeting.

Afterwards, I joined up with Rodger and Seth to continue work on the tipi gate. Some of the material had already been set aside from trees Stephen and I felled before he left for Baltimore, but like most natural building projects, it became clear we needed to work with what the land could still provide.

Rodger and I grabbed the chainsaw and hatchet and headed out to Sherwood Forest. Walking out there reminded me of something I’m starting to understand more deeply—how much permaculture is about relationship. Not just using resources, but observing, selecting, and taking only what fits the need. We chose a couple of trees that made sense for the project and brought them down with intention, knowing they would directly become part of something useful.

Back at the classroom, we began processing the logs—debarking, shaping, and slowly turning raw material into functional pieces. Seth worked on cutting the tenons, and it was one of those moments where you can see the transformation happen in real time. There’s a certain patience in working with natural materials—they don’t rush, and they don’t always conform perfectly—but that’s part of the lesson. You adapt to them as much as they adapt to the design.

After lunch, Jesse, Rodger, and I shifted over to Dogstar to shore up the dog park. It was straightforward work, but still carried its own lesson. I spent time nailing in supports and felling around 15 junkpoles to fill in gaps along the panels. Using what might otherwise be overlooked or considered “low value” material felt like a small but clear example of permaculture thinking—finding purpose in what’s available instead of reaching for something new.

By the end of the day, everything felt a bit more solid—physically and mentally. We wrapped things up with Taco Tuesday, sharing a meal and winding down together.

Days like this continue to reinforce that permaculture isn’t just about systems or techniques—it’s about mindset. Paying attention, working with what’s there, and being part of the process rather than trying to control it.

B.E.L. Post # 144

I started the day with my usual rhythm—feeding the cats and heading into the morning meeting. There’s something grounding about beginning the day that way, taking care of small responsibilities before stepping into the bigger picture of the day’s work.

After the meeting, we were tasked with heading down to Dances with the Pigs meadow to gather mulch and stage it at the Abbey. Before linking up with the rest of the crew, we split into two work rigs. Riding with Seth and Melissa, I had a few buckets of gravel loaded up that needed to be dropped off at the Abbey first. It felt good knocking out that small task early—one less thing hanging over the day.

Once we met up with Stephen, Rodger, and Jessie at the meadow, we all got to work. The weather matched the mood of a good, honest workday—a light sprinkling rain under a gray sky. We spread out, cutting and dropping grass while also collecting what we like to call “deer candy.” There’s something satisfying about gathering materials straight from the land, knowing it’ll be put to use building soil and supporting future growth.

When Roy’s bed was filled, we headed back to the Abbey and staged the mulch. It’s always rewarding to see a pile of raw material transformed into something purposeful, ready to feed the system.

Back at the shop, the group split again. Stephen took Jessie and Melissa aside to teach proper chainsaw sharpening—an essential skill that really speaks to the permaculture mindset of maintaining your tools so they serve you well over time. Meanwhile, Rodger, Seth, and I continued working on the Tipi gate build.

After lunch, we got right back into it, picking up where we left off. By the end of the boot day, I’m happy to report that we completed the frame for the Tipi gate. There’s a real sense of progress when you can step back and see a structure taking shape from your efforts.

Days like this remind me how much permaculture is about stacking functions—not just in the land, but in the work itself. We moved materials, built soil, learned skills, and made tangible progress on infrastructure—all in one steady, rain-soaked day.

B.E.L. Post # 145

Today started, as always, with the morning meeting setting the tone for the day. After that, we headed to the shop to gather tools for our tasks up at the Abbey. The work ahead of us was a mix of practical land stewardship and ongoing infrastructure—junkpole fence repair, a tipi gate replacement, and building mulch rings around young trees to support their establishment.

Once we arrived, everyone naturally fell into rhythm. Stephen took Melissa and Jesse aside to rebuild a fence panel, walking them through the proper techniques and protocols. It’s always good to see that knowledge being passed down in real time—hands-on, intentional, and rooted in experience.

Nearby, Rodger and Seth focused on straightening junkpoles, correcting V-formations, and adding mulch rings around the young trees. That work might seem simple at first glance, but it’s the kind of detail that really matters over time—small corrections now prevent bigger issues later, and those mulch rings will go a long way in conserving moisture and nurturing soil life.

I spent most of my morning on the tipi gate installation. I picked up where the work had left off, continuing to dig out the footing. After finding a solid log, I cut it down to 54 inches to fit the need. I drilled a hole all the way through—not just for the tenon that will act as the hinge for the gate, but also to allow for drainage in case water ever finds its way in. It felt like one of those small but important design choices that can extend the life of the structure.

Once the footing was ready, I laid about 3 inches of gravel at the base for drainage, set the log in place, and backfilled with more gravel to create a sort of “gravel sock.” It’s a simple technique, but one that reflects a bigger principle—working with water rather than against it, even in something as straightforward as setting a post.

That’s as far as I got with the gate for now, since we didn’t have a ladder on hand for installing the lintel piece. Sometimes progress comes in stages, and that’s just part of the process.

After that, I joined in on building mulch rings until lunch back at basecamp. In the afternoon, I shifted gears—seeding the berms and then making a run to collect water jugs from Raspberry Rock down to Lightning Hill, which wrapped up my boot day.

Overall, it was a day that really highlighted the balance between building, maintaining, and nurturing the land. From fence lines to tree care to water-conscious construction, every task tied back into the bigger picture of long-term resilience and thoughtful design.

B.E.L. #146

After the morning meeting, we split up into teams for the day’s tasks. Melissa, Jesse, and I headed over to the lab to switch out the batteries and memory cards on the trail cams. Once that was wrapped up, we made our way back to basecamp to review the footage. Nothing unusual showed up this time around, but it’s always good to stay consistent with checking them.

After that, we were assigned to build a fire rack at the berm shed. We took our measurements, gathered the materials, and cut everything down to size. We made solid progress on it and got to a good stopping point just in time for lunch.

Following lunch, the whole crew headed up to the Abbey. Seth and I focused on installing the tipi gate, and I’m happy to report that we were able to finish it. It’s always satisfying to see a project through to completion and leave it better than we found it.  Also while Seth and I were focusing on the gate install, Stephen and the rest of the crew were working on the junkpoles ....

All in all, a productive day with a good mix of maintenance, building, and teamwork.