Winter's projects

Summer is almost over, even though it's still so hot...
you can read some of the last events here on my blog ...
I have to apologize for being so rubbish writing on this blog, but this season is really not the most encouraging time to sit with a computer, specially when I don't have electricity (yes, 3 years on without electricity...very doable)

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know of some ideas I have for winter projects, in case you'd like to come and put your hands on the work or contribute to its expenses...

I'm trying to get some donors for the Land's projects, so, if you have some extra money in the end of the month, or if you want to consider separating some to help this project, get in touch with me (Barbara)...If don't have that spare money, but know some people who might want to contribute for projects like this one, feel free to share about it...

This land is already saved from private property as I chose to give it to "White Stone Association", and the ideal in the future is for this land to be as sustainable as possible, to provide for those who will live in it and work for its regeneration...

I´m aware this is a big project and it will require a lot of investment in the beginning,but I´m also willing to save a lot of money on labor by doing things myself or with those who come to help...

So, if you have craft skills, this is another way to support the land...

It is step by step , I know, and that's why I took the time to think about what could be the next ...

As you can see from this picture, the roof of the kitchen (our central common space) needs an improvement (actually we don't have a single permanent roof so far, which makes it a bit hard when strong winds and rain comes)...

I'd love to make a whole new design for the kitchen, but we will see what is possible in reality... Designing is like dreaming, and then I see what´s possible... 

I'd like to build a room attached where we can have a bread oven, wood storage and a place for the dairies...It would also be nice to have a storage for food (whatever we harvest or transform)...

I came up with this design sketch...

Can you get the picture?!! The attached room will also be a terrace to dry things like potatoes, onions, etc...

The front roof of the patio as well...  I'd like to make a cement/stone floor for the patio too...
The terrace will have external stairs, and inside the kitchen there will be stairs to the 2nd floor, which will be connected to the terrace with a door... Anyway... the "now" and the "not yet" dance of life...

On this drawing I also put on top of the terrace a solar water heater to serve the kitchen and washing dishes area...

This will lead us to another project, which is a water tank on the above layer, so we can have pressure for the kitchen, garden and bath-house...

Speaking of the Bath-house, another one that could need improvements...

It would be amazing to have more shower places, but I don´t think I will have the time...

I'd also like to replace the shit-pit for a proper dry compost toilet...or at least make a better roof on this one...

These are all nice dreams and ideas, which would improve this place and the hospitality part for those who want to visit and require some better conditions...

As I mentioned before, it would be nice to have some money to invest in materials to build all these... 

Just a proper water tank would cost around 1.500e... the kitchen  maybe 3000e with my own labor... I will probably need to buy some boards and a new roof will not be cheap... I'm just guessing as I´m not used to doing this kind of shopping... My budget is mainly for daily expenses which are not much...

Let me know if you want to contribute for any of this either by coming to help with labor or consider a monthly donation... 

I'll not be able to say when we're going to work on a certain project as it will all depend on the materials we will have available...

I've been here for almost 3 years now, and I feel it's time to start building more permanent structures now that I know the place and the natural elements a bit better... and so we don't need to replace and fix things every year which is taking a lot of my time at the moment...

I'll let you know more about it as I plan it...

be peaceful...joyful...Loving and grateful...
Share your Light

Barbara