five days of natural building (wofati and cob) and rocket cooktop oct 8-12, 2018

October 8-12, 2018

Cost:  free for anybody that has ever been here before.  Otherwise $100 per person (click here to fork over $100 for this event).

Where:  Wheaton Labs near Missoula, Montana

Instructors:  

   - Chris "Uncle Mud" McClellan
   - Kirk "Donkey" Mobert
   - Ernie and Erica Wisner (60% chance)

Peter van den Berg built a rocket cooktop in allerton abbey using a new design that he calls "the double shoebox".   Kirk has some ideas on how he would like to upgrade that.  




Allerton Abbey is now sporting a brand new, extra beautiful uphill wall:




To get a good seal, a bit of the roof needs to be pulled back, some cob added, and then the roof replaced.   This will make allerton abbey ready for the annualized thermal inertia test this year.






So, we are bringing in some first class natural builders to make sure that allerton abbey is all done and ready for the annualized thermal inertia tests!  And this is a big benefit of natural building experience for the boots in the bootcamp program.


This is part 4 of 4 events all in a row:

part 1:  roundwood timber framing prep September 24-29
part 2:  roundwood timber framing build October 1-5
part 3:  rocket oven pizza party and rocket mass heater experiences October 5-7
part 4:  natural building and rocket cooktop October 8-12

Hi, I'm interested in the workshop. I'm traveling with my wife and 1 year old, who would not be attending. We haven't previously attended. Would we each have to pay 100 to stay there? would it be better to stay elsewhere in Missoula and I drive to the workshop each day?

Ryan Bahl wrote:Hi, I'm interested in the workshop. I'm traveling with my wife and 1 year old, who would not be attending. We haven't previously attended. Would we each have to pay 100 to stay there? would it be better to stay elsewhere in Missoula and I drive to the workshop each day?

Maybe rent a structure or a bunk here - and your fam can hang out while you play with the natural building stuff?

Ok great. Can we book something there for oct 8-12, or do we just show up and find something?

paul wheaton wrote:

Ryan Bahl wrote:Hi, I'm interested in the workshop. I'm traveling with my wife and 1 year old, who would not be attending. We haven't previously attended. Would we each have to pay 100 to stay there? would it be better to stay elsewhere in Missoula and I drive to the workshop each day?

Maybe rent a structure or a bunk here - and your fam can hang out while you play with the natural building stuff?

Ryan Bahl wrote:Ok great. Can we book something there for oct 8-12, or do we just show up and find something?

paul wheaton wrote:

Ryan Bahl wrote:Hi, I'm interested in the workshop. I'm traveling with my wife and 1 year old, who would not be attending. We haven't previously attended. Would we each have to pay 100 to stay there? would it be better to stay elsewhere in Missoula and I drive to the workshop each day?

Maybe rent a structure or a bunk here - and your fam can hang out while you play with the natural building stuff?

I just talked to jocelyn.   she says she will post something here in a bit.

Ryan Bahl wrote:Ok great. Can we book something there for oct 8-12, or do we just show up and find something?

paul wheaton wrote:

Ryan Bahl wrote:Hi, I'm interested in the workshop. I'm traveling with my wife and 1 year old, who would not be attending. We haven't previously attended. Would we each have to pay 100 to stay there? would it be better to stay elsewhere in Missoula and I drive to the workshop each day?

Maybe rent a structure or a bunk here - and your fam can hang out while you play with the natural building stuff?

You'd book something. First step is to register for the event, then I will send more info on what rentals are available.

As you may or may not know, wheaton labs is two pieces of property, base camp, and the lab, separated by two miles (down a paved, then gravel, then dirt some times mud adventure road where high clearance vehicles are recommended). base camp is on-grid, has full utilities and wifi. the lab is off-grid, has limited cell phone reception, has two willow feeders (dry toilets), and pretty much all water for drinking, washing, or bathing, needs to be brought in (from our good well water at base camp).

Allerton Abbey, the site of this workshop, is located on the lab, though meals and showers will be available at base camp. Your wife and child would be on their own for their food, though workshop attendees are invited to dine at Paul's table.

It looks like there will be some limited off-grid cabin availability on the lab. We would have carpooling in our van available between the two properties for event attendees.

Alternatively, at base camp, there will be space in the shared bunk bedroom in the Fisher Price House, and there might even be a private cabin available (bedroom only, no bathroom or kitchen - you could use the bathroom in the Fisher Price House, but the kitchen will be too busy to be available for separate cooking) - I'm still confirming that one.

I've given kind of a thorough reply because traveling with little ones often means knowing these kind of things in advance!

Thanks Jocelyn. Do you know approximately how much cabin rentals are? alternately, how far is the lab from Missoula, if the 3 of us should stay there? My wife is also considering attending, so we're trying to figure out the logistics.

Jocelyn Campbell wrote:

Ryan Bahl wrote:Ok great. Can we book something there for oct 8-12, or do we just show up and find something?

paul wheaton wrote:

Ryan Bahl wrote:Hi, I'm interested in the workshop. I'm traveling with my wife and 1 year old, who would not be attending. We haven't previously attended. Would we each have to pay 100 to stay there? would it be better to stay elsewhere in Missoula and I drive to the workshop each day?

Maybe rent a structure or a bunk here - and your fam can hang out while you play with the natural building stuff?

You'd book something. First step is to register for the event, then I will send more info on what rentals are available.

As you may or may not know, wheaton labs is two pieces of property, base camp, and the lab, separated by two miles (down a paved, then gravel, then dirt some times mud adventure road where high clearance vehicles are recommended). base camp is on-grid, has full utilities and wifi. the lab is off-grid, has limited cell phone reception, has two willow feeders (dry toilets), and pretty much all water for drinking, washing, or bathing, needs to be brought in (from our good well water at base camp).

Allerton Abbey, the site of this workshop, is located on the lab, though meals and showers will be available at base camp. Your wife and child would be on their own for their food, though workshop attendees are invited to dine at Paul's table.

It looks like there will be some limited off-grid cabin availability on the lab. We would have carpooling in our van available between the two properties for event attendees.

Alternatively, at base camp, there will be space in the shared bunk bedroom in the Fisher Price House, and there might even be a private cabin available (bedroom only, no bathroom or kitchen - you could use the bathroom in the Fisher Price House, but the kitchen will be too busy to be available for separate cooking) - I'm still confirming that one.

I've given kind of a thorough reply because traveling with little ones often means knowing these kind of things in advance!

Ryan Bahl wrote:Thanks Jocelyn. Do you know approximately how much cabin rentals are? alternately, how far is the lab from Missoula, if the 3 of us should stay there? My wife is also considering attending, so we're trying to figure out logistics.

wheaton labs is within an hour (one way) of Missoula.

$30-$60 per night, rustic, simple accommodations at wheaton labs.

Ok great. Are there any childcare options if we both do the workshop?

Jocelyn Campbell wrote:

Ryan Bahl wrote:Thanks Jocelyn. Do you know approximately how much cabin rentals are? alternately, how far is the lab from Missoula, if the 3 of us should stay there? My wife is also considering attending, so we're trying to figure out logistics.

wheaton labs is within an hour (one way) of Missoula.

$30-$60 per night, rustic, simple accommodations at wheaton labs.

Ryan Bahl wrote:Ok great. Are there any childcare options if we both do the workshop?

Jocelyn Campbell wrote:

Ryan Bahl wrote:Thanks Jocelyn. Do you know approximately how much cabin rentals are? alternately, how far is the lab from Missoula, if the 3 of us should stay there? My wife is also considering attending, so we're trying to figure out logistics.

wheaton labs is within an hour (one way) of Missoula.

$30-$60 per night, rustic, simple accommodations at wheaton labs.

Sorry no childcare options.

Ok thanks

Jocelyn Campbell wrote:

Ryan Bahl wrote:Thanks Jocelyn. Do you know approximately how much cabin rentals are? alternately, how far is the lab from Missoula, if the 3 of us should stay there? My wife is also considering attending, so we're trying to figure out logistics.

wheaton labs is within an hour (one way) of Missoula.

$30-$60 per night, rustic, simple accommodations at wheaton labs.

Ok, I've paid my registration fee. I'm not sure if my wife will also attend unless the baby can also come. Can you email me directly for logistics and to arrange cabins, etc.? ryanbahl5@gmail.com

Jocelyn Campbell wrote:

Ryan Bahl wrote:Ok great. Are there any childcare options if we both do the workshop?

Jocelyn Campbell wrote:

Ryan Bahl wrote:Thanks Jocelyn. Do you know approximately how much cabin rentals are? alternately, how far is the lab from Missoula, if the 3 of us should stay there? My wife is also considering attending, so we're trying to figure out logistics.

wheaton labs is within an hour (one way) of Missoula.

$30-$60 per night, rustic, simple accommodations at wheaton labs.

Sorry no childcare options.

You were sent a questionnaire thing yesterday (paypal email).  Once we get that back you will get more info.  

If you rent here, things are more like a step up from camping.   If you want a normal kitchen, then you will probably not be staying here.

Ok, thanks. If there are no options for my wife and child to cook and eat, I'll come to another workshop at a later date by myself.

The rough daily schedule will be the following (with meals coordinated by moi; breakfast and dinner at base camp, lunches probably up on the lab at Allerton Abbey):

7:00 a.m. breakfast

8:00 a.m. workshop start

12:00 p.m. (noon) lunch

1:00 p.m. workshop resumes

5:00 p.m. workshop wraps up

6:00 p.m. dinner

Donkey decided to take the bus here.   And then comedy happened.   It sounds like the guy that brought the comedy is now developing new relationships in jail and the bus might new a few weeks of repair.  

In the meantime, donkey is in spokane and there is a chance that somebody might be able to pick him up and bring him here today.   You just don't know until you ask.   If somebody comes, I could make it worth your while in decks of cards, or dvds or something.   And you can hang out for as much of build week or the pizza party as you like.  

Anybody in a position to drop what you are doing today, spend a few hours with donkey driving him here?

I can't give a ride but I have an extra car he can borrow, if he can bring it back to Spokane on his way home.  

nicholas thomas wrote:I can't give a ride but I have an extra car he can borrow, if he can bring it back to Spokane on his way home.  

important email sent!

It sounds like Allison will be picking donkey up and bringing him here!

paul wheaton wrote:It sounds like Allison will be picking donkey up and bringing him here!

Way to be an abundant community! We're awesome!