Thursday Work Party, April 17 [Photo Set]

Last Thursday, the rains started and as of this writing, the clouds are still producing misting rain. This weather always reminds of the porch on my grandmother’s home in mountains of Virginia, and the smell of Scotland.

Spring showers didn’t keep us from getting outside to work behind DeKist 2 house, where I reside at Green Acres. It is still lacking a name with some creative flourish. However, plans for this space are certainly going to be creative in coming months!

Ann asked me to get in some photos with my good camera. I snapped these in the short windows between rain showers. The first three will give you a scope of the work to be done here, with plans for a sauna and eventual space for outdoor music performances!

Below, Ann is adding sticks and limbs to the Hügelkultur raised garden beds — an old German horticultural technique that uses compostable biomass to help hold moisture. Justin happily stomps them down until we get some fill dirt on top of them. Rebecca and Alex are digging out limbs and raking up stray ivy in the background.

I got a few shots of what we believe to be Turkey Tail fungus on a rotting stump.

Solan looked underneath them but I think he was undecided about whether we should harvest and there was other work to be done.

I did a little research online and found this from Bay Nature Magazine: Turkey tail (Trametes versicolor) is a species of fungus that closely resembles — you guessed it — turkey’s tail. As a bracket fungus, named because of its shelf-like form, its job is to break down either the lignin or cellulose in rotting wood. As a polypore, turkey’s tail holds its spores in tubes, so its underside should display tiny holes visible to the naked eye.

We’ll have to take a second look and report back!

Solan cutting bamboo for kindling in the workshop.

Amos watching over the hen house — chilling like a Zen master.

Larger view of the back garden with gazebo. L to R: Rebecca, Justin and Ann.

Alex and Rebecca clearing the back fence line.

It was time to put the camera under the dry gazebo and move bamboo stalks for Solan to cut in the workshop, then stack them near the fire pit for kindling.

Until next time ~ love and rocket stoves!
Gabby