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

B.E.L. Post # 179

Today unfolded beneath a curtain of rain, a slower rhythm than usual, though no less meaningful.

This morning carried a bittersweet note as I said my goodbyes to JR. It was an extreme pleasure working alongside him these past days. From welding and torch work to solving little construction puzzles around the Abbey, I learned a great deal and appreciated both his patience and skill. Some folks leave behind more than completed projects — they leave behind lessons and good memories too.

Afterward, I took things a bit slower and allowed the rainy morning to settle in.

Later in the day I loaded up a chainsaw and a few batteries and headed toward the Lab. The woods were damp and quiet, carrying that earthy smell that only rain can summon. There I harvested another 20 junkpoles, adding to the growing supply for future builds and projects.

While working, I noticed something unexpected — a live tree nearly 6 feet in diameter had been uprooted. Nature had already begun the work of reshaping the landscape. I bucked about 10 feet from the top and placed it alongside the other junkpoles, giving part of the fallen giant a second chapter.

From the thickest end, I cut a 1.5-foot section that I plan to keep for a personal project: crafting some drink coasters. I enjoy moments like that — when a piece of storm-fallen wood finds new purpose rather than simply fading back into the soil.

B.E.L. Post # 180

After the morning blitz ... I spent a little time journaling and gathering my thoughts before heading back to the Abbey ...

Once there ... I continued harvesting junkpoles and managed to bring in another 25 today ... slowly but surely building up the supply ...

While working around the site ... I also tackled a little 30' uprooted tree ... bucking it up and preparing the logs to eventually be stacked in the solarium for future use ...

Before wrapping up the day ... I processed some scrap metal fencing pieces into metal ties ... setting them aside for future builds and repairs ... always satisfying turning overlooked materials into something useful again.

A slower paced day perhaps ... but one filled with steady progress ... salvaging, harvesting, and preparing for the work still to come.

B.E.L. Post # 181

After the morning meeting, Melissa, Jesse, and I raided the shop for tools and made our way to the Abbey for another round of progress.

Once there, I set Melissa up with some irrigation duties while Jesse and I tackled the junkpole fencing at the Abbey entrance. There is something satisfying about watching a pile of poles slowly transform into a proper fence panel. Before long, Melissa wrapped up and joined the fencing crew, and together we made good headway — filling in two more junkpole panels and leaving just one full panel standing between us and completion of that section.

After lunch, the crew split up once again. Jesse continued blazing ahead with trail building over at the horseradish berm, steadily carving shape and purpose into the landscape.

Meanwhile, Melissa and I shifted gears into what I like to call the “many small victories” portion of the day. We sharpened chainsaws and gave them some much-needed love, then moved into chop-and-drop mode, building mulch rings around the baby trees and helping tuck them in with a little extra organic blanket. From there we headed to Apricot Alley to get the sprinklers situated and flowing.

I also kept working through the growing pile of old wire fencing, processing pieces into useful ties for future projects. It is always satisfying when yesterday’s scrap starts looking suspiciously like tomorrow’s solution.

A delightful mixed day overall — fencing, irrigation, trail building, tree care, tool maintenance, and a little metal salvaging sprinkled in for good measure.

B.E.L .  Post # 182

After the morning meeting, Melissa, Jesse, and I headed over to the Abbey to continue working on the junkpole fencing. We've been making steady progress on it, and it's always satisfying to see the fence line slowly fill in as more poles find their permanent home.

After lunch, Jesse headed off to continue trail work around the horseradish berm while Melissa and I switched gears and tackled a variety of projects. We spent some time doing chop-and-drop around the landscape, helping build soil and return organic matter back to the system.

We also added two hugel steps, which should help make the area a bit easier to navigate while putting some woody material to good use. Afterward, we stopped by the shop to sharpen a few tools. A sharp tool makes all the difference, and taking time for maintenance now saves effort later.

To wrap up the day, we processed a pile of aluminum cans for recycling. Not the most glamorous task, but it's always nice to clean up materials and make sure resources are being put to good use rather than going to waste.

It was one of those days with a little bit of everything—fencing, trail work, chop-and-drop, hugelkultur improvements, tool maintenance, and recycling. Lots of small projects moving forward and another productive day at the Abbey.

B.E.L. Post # 183

After the morning meeting, Melissa, Jesse, Stephen, and I headed to the shop to gather tools for the morning's projects before making our way to the Abbey.

Once there, Stephen helped me with the junkpole fence panels before joining the others to work in the gardens. With his assistance, I was able to make good progress and finished framing all of the panels today. Tomorrow, I'll begin slipping the junkpoles into the frames and start bringing the panels to life.

After lunch, Melissa and I spent some time doing chop-and-drop around the property and added a few more hugel steps to improve access and stability on the slope. We wrapped up the day by heading back to the Lab, where we split and gathered firewood to help keep the wood supply stocked.

Overall, it was a productive day with visible progress on several projects, and I'm looking forward to seeing the junkpole panels come together tomorrow.