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

B.E.L. Post # 194

After the morning meeting, Melissa, Jesse, and I got started with irrigation, making sure trees and plants were getting the water they needed. Once that was wrapped up, we moved on to some chop-and-drop work and spent time improving trails around basecamp. Before lunch, we also did some chainsaw maintenance to keep the saws in good working order.

After lunch, Melissa, Jesse, Leo, and I focused on bucking, splitting, and stacking firewood. It felt good to see the woodpile continue to grow and get ready for future use.

Later in the afternoon, we headed out to the Abbey. Melissa and Leo worked on irrigation and chop-and-drop while Jesse and I tackled a section of junkpole fencing that had started leaning. We disassembled two fence panels to investigate the problem and discovered that one of the support posts had rotted off at the bottom. After removing the failed post, I set two new posts using a gravel sock method to give the fence a solid foundation for rebuilding the panels. It was satisfying to uncover the cause of the issue and start putting the fence back on solid footing.

B.E.L. Post # 195

After the morning meeting, Melissa and I started the day with irrigation, making sure the garlic patch and the trees along Far Arrakis were getting the water they needed. Once everything was watered, we harvested six buckets of gravel and spent some time doing chop-and-drop around the property while Jesse continued trail maintenance.

After lunch, all of us Boots headed out to the Abbey. With the replacement posts having been installed yesterday, I had Leo and Melissa begin framing the new junkpole fence panels while Jesse focused on watering the baby trees. The rest of the afternoon was spent rebuilding the leaning section of fence, horizontal supports into place, and making steady progress on restoring the structure. It was great to see the new panels starting to take shape and the project moving forward.

Overall, it was a productive day balancing irrigation, land care, and fence construction while continuing to improve the Abbey.

B.E.L. Post # 196

After the morning meeting, Leo, Melissa, Jesse, and I headed over to the Abbey to continue making progress on the front entrance project and surrounding landscape work.

Jesse got started with soil probing the berms, irrigating the baby trees, and doing some chop-and-drop. Meanwhile, Melissa was assisting Leo with framing up another section of the junkpole fence. While they worked on that, I focused on a section of leaning panels that needed to be rebuilt. I completely dismantled three panels and then felled two live trees that will provide new posts for the project. Before the morning shift ended, I was able to get both trees delimbed and ready for further processing.

After lunch back at Basecamp, I assigned everyone except Jesse to chop-and-drop work within the garden paddock to help build soil and manage vegetation. Jesse continued similar work over at the horseradish berm. After about an hour and a half, we switched gears. Leo helped me move a 16-inch diameter, 2-foot-long log up one of the berms where it will serve as a hugel step.

For the final couple of hours of the day, Melissa and Leo worked on chainsaw maintenance and some firewood processing while Jesse and I returned to the Abbey. There we started bucking the trees I had felled earlier into 10-foot lengths that will eventually become replacement posts for the fence rebuild.

It was a productive day with good progress made on both the Abbey entrance and several ongoing land stewardship projects around the lab.

B.E.L. Post # 197

After the morning meeting, Melissa, Jesse, and I headed out to the Abbey. While Melissa and Jesse focused on irrigation and chop-and-drop work, I continued making progress on the junkpole fencing project. A good portion of my morning was spent using the auger to bore holes for upcoming fence posts, helping prepare the next section for construction.

In the afternoon, we shifted gears and tackled a variety of projects around basecamp. We continued with chop-and-drop, spent some time on chainsaw maintenance to keep the saws running smoothly, and processed firewood. Before calling it a day, we headed back to the Lab and put in some more work on the panel framework for the Abbey fencing project.

It was one of those days where a lot of small tasks came together to move several projects forward.

B.E.L. Post # 198

Another solid day of progress at Wheaton Labs.

This morning I had the boots start out with some chop and drop. I sent Leo over to the garden paddock, Jesse to the horseradish berm, and Melissa to the turtle lot to work on building soil, cycling nutrients, and keeping the systems moving forward.

While they were working on that, I got sprinklers set up at the horseradish berm and Apricot Alley to make sure everything was getting the water it needed. Once that was handled, I joined in with the chop and drop on the streetside of the turtle berm.

After Leo wrapped up his section, I had him move on to bucking, splitting, and stacking firewood. Jesse continued working on trail maintenance, repairing and widening trails as we continue improving access around the land.

After lunch, Melissa, Leo, and I headed over to the Abbey. Leo and I continued rebuilding sections of the junkpole fencing, carefully working through each section and bringing the fence back stronger than before. Meanwhile, Melissa kept things watered and handled irrigation.

Another productive day of building, maintaining, and improving the systems here — one project at a time.

B.E.L.  Post # 199

The morning arrived quietly, wrapped in a cool breeze and the gentle beauty of another day at the land. As the sun began to wake the world, I was greeted by the familiar hungry cries of the barnyard cats — the little feline guardians announcing that it was time to begin the day.

After feeding the guardians of the homestead, I fueled up “Roy” and made my way toward the Abbey, where yesterday’s fallen tree was waiting for the next chapter of its journey. With chainsaw and hands at work, I spent the morning delimbing the live tree, slowly revealing the shape and potential hidden within its branches.

Afterward, I returned to basecamp and wandered along the streetside of the Turtle Berm, continuing the quiet work of chop-and-drop — returning life back to the soil, every piece added becomes part of the larger story of the land.

As the afternoon settled in, I traded the tools for a slower rhythm — spending time journaling, reading, and sitting with Chapito. A day of movement, reflection, and connection.

Another small chapter written here at Wheaton Labs — where the work is not just done with the hands, but with the heart as well.

B.E.L. Post # 200

I woke up to another cool, beautiful morning here at basecamp, with the kind of weather that makes you appreciate every moment spent working outside.

I started the day continuing the chop and drop along the street side of the Turtle Berm, putting in about an hour of time building organic matter back into the land. After that, I joined the rest of the crew for the 9 o’clock cleaning blitz, getting the spaces in the Fischer Price house cleaned up and organized.

Once that was wrapped up, I continued processing more of the light gauge scrap metal fencing, then stacked up the logs that were sitting near the shop door and headed over to the Abbey.

At the Abbey, I set another post in place and continued refining the junkpole fence line. I spent some time cutting down more of the remaining junkpole stumps closer to the ground, giving the area a cleaner, more finished appearance. Afterward, I hauled the stumps back to basecamp and added them to my growing stockpile inside the Solarium, knowing they’ll find a purpose in future lol.

The rest of the day has been spent slowing down a bit — reading, journaling, and reflecting on the work, the lessons, and the journey.

This evening I’ll be starting my Farm Safety and First Aid certification course through the Oregon State University as another step toward continued self-development and building the skills needed for the path ahead.

Another day of learning, building, and becoming a little more capable than I was yesterday. 🌱

B.E.L. Post # 201

This morning started with the crew spreading out across basecamp and putting in some solid time with chop and drop. Jesse and I continued working along the turtle berm, helping shape the landscape while turning back the overgrowth into future soil. Meanwhile, Melissa and Leo were working their way around the red cabin area, giving that space some attention as well.

I also spent some time cleaning up and processing the woody bits that had collected near the shop door — turning the leftovers into useful resources instead of letting them go to waste.

After lunch, we all made our way over to the Abbey and shifted gears back into junkpole fencing mode. Another day of processing materials, building with what the land provides, and slowly transforming the spaces around us one project at a time.

The rhythm of the land continues. 🌱