!!!! SEPP to Boot: Stephen's Experience (BEL)

BRK #335

A new work week begins, Paul's back home after a brief holiday away, there are cats all over the place. It ain't so bad.





I attempted to take some photographs of bees while gardening over at Allerton Abbey today.



Paul suggested we look into harvesting sunchokes. Shai and I had a first take at gathering from this hugel, though the plants seem to need a bit more time before harvesting can really happen. The sunchokes we found - and there were only a few of them - were maybe the diameter of a quarter coin.



Finally: I added a few more stripes to this zokin earlier this evening, after dinner. Maybe I'll add a few more before I consider this one done. Looking for some purple thread so I can have all three of my favourite colours.



Thanks for reading, and enjoy your day...!

BRK #336

All right, you worm. Just stay away from the trees and we'll get along just fine.



One of my projects was to add additional support to the chimney of the rocket water heater stationed at the rear of the Classroom. Here's the assembly I'd put together from scrap materials for a second support, about mid-way up the stovepipes.



Here's the result. The support I cobbled together today is the lower of the two.



Dez, Shai, and I then convened to pay a visit to the Lab's Pump House. Beau had done some excellent work in his installation of an insulated roof on the structure. He passed the baton to the Boots, and our next steps are to complete the walls, insulate them above ground-level, then some earthworks around the above-ground section. We hope to work on this at least two shifts a week so we can complete it prior to the cold.



Finally: sometimes, a day calls for a kale snack. Or two. This is my go-to. It's actually a variety called Dinosaur Kale from the Montana Survival Seed Company, based here in Missoula. It reminds me of the "lacinato" variety, which is hearty and has a bitter, pucker-y snap to it. Paul's also on a kale kick lately, but fortunately he's not fond of this variety... Which leaves plenty of it for me.



That's all for now. Thanks for reading, and enjoy your day...!

I am so interested in this. I’m ready to pack what I can and come on now. Is there a number I can call to speak to someone about what I can do to become a member

Misty Mount wrote:I am so interested in this. I’m ready to pack what I can and come on now. Is there a number I can call to speak to someone about what I can do to become a member

To join the bootcamp go to Wheaton Lab's Bootcamp Page
1. Pay the registration fee
2. Fill out a questionnaire
3. Email that you have completed questionnaire
4. When there are openings you will be email start dates for you to pick (arrival is 3-4PM MT on start date).

BRK #337

We're welcoming some special Boot guests this week: hello again, Katt & family! Katt was the chef for two of this past season's events. Thanks for joining us again and especially to take on some Boot tasks and provide us with excellent meals. We appreciate it!

Shai, Dez, and I worked on the Allerton Abbey wall project in the first half of the day. Three more posts were added to the mix. I think this is solid progress.

Here's Shai in the wall trench:



Here are Shai and Dez working the chainsaw, trimming the posts to use for wall support:





The three new posts are the three right-most posts in this photo. We've measured them now, and once we have all the posts measured and placed we'll add the gravel round the sides to keep them in place. I'll chat with Paul about additional fasteners and the most-effective tactic to move forward on ensuring the posts support the roof while not violating his build criteria.



In the afternoon, we worked at the Abbey garden. According to Shai, this is "a perfect Yukon Gold." I can't disagree with him. However, it's said that the proof of the pudding is in the taste.



Seriously, I think it's time we work on our skillet hash browns game...

That's all for now. Thanks for reading, and enjoy your day...!