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

Yesterday 2026/09/08

We started off the morning loading Roy up with all the tools we needed for the fencing work at the Abbey.

Once we got there, I continued working on one section of the fencing, sliding the junk poles through. Jesse was working on another section of the fencing, while Dan, Leo, and the new boot Sam worked around the Cooper Cabin gate. They were setting posts, felling trees to use as posts, and doing some framing.

After lunch, Sam tagged along with me for most of the shift. We restrung the barbed-wire strands along the fencing by the road, did some chop and drop, and cleared out woody bits around the area.

Yesterday 2026/09/09

We started off our morning heading over to the Abbey, where we continued working on the fencing. I nearly knocked out filling up another panel with junk poles. Jesse continued working on her panel of junk poles, while Leo, Dan, and Sam worked on cutting down another tree to buck to length for posts and continued working on the framing.

After lunch, Jesse and I irrigated Lightning Hill, Apricot Alley, and Raspberry Rock. Afterwards, we did some chop and drop and chainsaw maintenance.

B.E.L. Post # 255

This morning, Leo, Jesse, and Sam geared up and headed over to the Abbey for fencing-related tasks, while Stephen and I stayed behind at Base Camp to work on the classroom rocket mass heater chimney.

The chimney had been knocked aside during a heavy windstorm a couple of months ago when the steel wire running by the classroom hit it and dislodged it, leaving it lodged on the roof. Stephen and I were able to get it repaired and secured before lunch.

After lunch, Dan and I refilled the two water turtle tanks. We also tested a fire in the classroom to check the chimney connection at the roof. There was no smoke seeping out, but we continued wrapping the seam with some pipe material to help seal it up.

After that, we repaired an uncovered portion of the berm shed where erosion had exposed the lining. We dumped six black buckets of soil over the exposed area and then covered it with some woody bits.

Later on, Sam came over and we did some more chop and drop along with a few other little tasks to finish out the day.

Another productive day at Base Camp! 🌱🛠️

B.E.L. Post # 256

This morning I started by moving out of the Red Cabin and getting it tour-ready for the new Sepper.

Once that was completed, I started working on irrigation at Apricot Alley. I made it all the way to the berm extender in front of the Red Cabin.

After lunch, Sam and I started filling up the turtle water tanks.

Then we headed over to the Abbey, where we split and stacked firewood and worked on the fencing.

Another productive day at Wheaton Labs, with a good variety of work.

B.E.L. Post # 257

I started my morning by sleeping in a little bit. Apparently, Chapito decided I had gotten enough beauty sleep, because he eventually started smacking me in the head with his paw until I got the message. 😂 I guess when you have a dog, the alarm clock is optional—but the snooze button definitely isn’t.

After giving my little alarm clock his much-needed morning walk, I got started with some chainsaw maintenance and a little chop-and-drop. From there, I moved into some earthworks prep.

I brought out a few tractor buckets worth of soil to replenish a pile that I had used up for one of my own little side projects. It was a nice way to get some tractor time in while also putting the soil back to good use. One of these days I might actually stop finding excuses to get on that tractor... but today wasn't that day. 😂

For the rest of the day, I spent my time having fun with the other boots. There's something pretty great about being able to work hard, learn new things, joke around, and just enjoy the day with good people.

All in all, a pretty good day—and apparently Chapito agrees, since he got exactly what he wanted this morning. 😆

Another day in the books at Wheaton Labs. 🌱