workin' away!

well... there hasn't been a post for a while... mainly 'cuz I've been busy working near Guelph... in Hillsburgh at the Everdale Environmental Learning Centre... building their new office.
I'll try and post pics of the house... and the progress being made! And I thought my body would be better at handling the physical aspect of house building... but am still quite the city slicker!My fingers are still sore! But gettin' better... poco a poco! :)
well as soon as I get my photos uploaded... will have another update for ya (whoever is still checkin' the site!) :)
buenos noches all! :)

a toilet with a view

ok... so I was debating if I should take this down a level but I figure I've posted stuff about toilets before... so why should this be any different! :) But before I get to the toilet... this is the house that I'm helping construct. I'm (sofar) a part of the "straw" crew (i.e. crew to work on the insultating and prepping of the superbly insulated walls for the plastering crew... which is the next stage of straw bale insulated houses)


So... I think I mentioned that there are elements of this job that are hardier than what I (as spoilt city guy) am used to. Mainly, thinking and prepping a weeks' supply of food in a cooler, tent sleeping (albeit more recently tent inside the house we're building with a friendly nightly visit from a racoon who is convinced there is food near me and has easy access as there are no doors, so I have to growl loudly to scare him away before going back to sleep again), showering in a lake or now the campsite not far from the jobsite and the best for last... going to the loo in the woods.

This is the side-view from this airy "facility". I have to say it is awe-inspiring and the only draw back is looking to make sure there's no bears in the vicinity! :)
Here is the cool throne. Thanks S. for makin' it! :) Many a contemplative moment to be had here. :)

balin' away...

so... here's the latest update... I'm working now (yay!) in the Muskoka's (cottage country about two hours north of Toronto) on house constuction projects by Harvest Homes. Its definintely the most physical work I've done in a LONG time and sofar my body is quite angry with me! It's definitely "roughing it" by our Toronto city standards.
The crew I'm with is awesome... I'll post pix up soon. Building these Straw-bale insulated houses is definitely hard work but the area we are in is beautiful (except towards the evening when the BIG mosquitoes want to feed on us!).

Sofar, I've learnt a few things:
- a shower in a lake in the evening is great as the water is the warmest (don't try it first thing in the morning!)
- a "water-proof" tent isn't necessarily water-proof
- If you want it to rain, leave your shoes OUTSIDE the tent! It will DEFINITELY rain that night!
- Get a tent where you can zip up all the open-mesh "windows"! It WILL be colder than you think at night and that ventilation WILL NOT be appreciated!
- a TWO-person tent is for two midgets!I recommend a 3-person tent for a person and her/his gear!
- Don't drink tea/coffee before going to bed!

Well, I have to bale (bail)... as I'm late! But I should say that there will be more and more cheesey "bale" jokes...