Rico Loma

Effective and simple to build, thanks Benjamin for the nudge.  Your iteration is certainly giving maximum air exposure.  But many designs I've seen in Seattle and other places were more like wooden coffins bearing smaller wire openings ; I champion this one

Chaz, I can only say "keep it going"
It's a real pleasure to read your thoughts and see your ideas in action. A neophyte like me is able to learn so much here.  

Keeping your projects on track, stimulating the mind active too, will surely improve your health issues.  Thanks for all your contributions, I appreciate this thread wholeheartedly

As my grandpa would say:  you are doing the Lord's work, Leslie. Your kindness and fortitude are on full display, and despite the dangers I want to cheer you on, and pitch in to help.  We must all keep our Ukrainian brothers and sisters in mind as this senseless war goes on.....please update us on your progress and your needs.  At the mo I can only send a small donation, so please shoot me a Mooseage to connect about that.  May the Great Spirit protect and strengthen all the good people you work with,
Slava Ukraine!!

Rico

Might be a moot point, but here is a good screw at a decent price.  I buy the monster box for a better price of course

They can't be used with PT wood , just interior use

....we call the daytime......

My upbringing in the South mirrored many of these responses.  You get accustomed to the humid flame we call the.   time. Keeping your bedsheets in a freezer until the last second? Works like a charm.   Frozen water bottle balanced on your chest at night? Heavenly.  

My first car was a ramshackle affair. This 1969 Volvo had a predilection to overheating in summer months which led to using the heater on 100F plus days driving coast to coast......which drew heat away from the engine..... after 150 to 200 miles I would reward myself with a pitstop.  Fill up with gas and treat myself to a 10 pound  bag of ice, which remained on my lap as I drove across the unrelenting desert. Then another 200 miles.

I should demure to your choice of how to use the method.  In my experience,  this method was used to
A.  Cover a tire full of earth with a permanent cap and
B.   Cover an empty tire not in use for a foundation

If making a permanent cap over top tire, I can help.  But as for the rest of your project
I won't weigh in.   Many here will assist I think.
Top tire with no gravel or earth inside? Use hardware cloth, you decide which type, then attach to tire. I used small screws into the sidewall. Then coat the hardware cloth circle....or oval or square....with earth, add a second coat with 3 part sand,  0.2 wood ash , 1 part Portland, wet it and  mix.  Strong as an ox.  
My 2 grains of sand.  

I too want to know how you're getting on, very cool old house.  Certainly y'all will have some up and down days restoring, but the spirit of generations past is alive in those walls....respect!

Last year I was merely lurking, now I am demanding.  Please keep us in your loop.
Rico

Your project is coming along, looks great.  Bogdan the Creator!  Your work always gives me inspiration.  
All the best my friend,
Rico