We actually do things other than bicker

Below is a current thread in the Nomenus CoCo list about a Work Party that is scheduled immediately after the Summer Men's Gathering. Male only space has been requested for the period starting with the Men's Gathering through Great Circle, and since the Work Party is between them, only faeries living as men can participate. I personally plan to create Work Parties where gender is not an issue.

But for anyone who wishes to see real projects happening and contribute in a drama-free setting at the Sanctuary, here is what we have planned:

Most recent first:

Hello All -

Peacock / Shaggy here, thanking Mugwort and Rula for contributing to this great list of items and issues for the work party. I'm just getting back online here in Grants Pass after a lovely and intense Naraya (my first dance). I'll commit this week and next to putting together my thoughts on solar and materials needs. I'm hoping to get some time in either GP or Medford to look for recycle/scrap resources for tanks, greenhouse glass, etc. that will either improve or revamp the solar shower. I think the "system" on Flush is fine for our usual handwashing purposes, but the solar shower needs improvement. At any rate, that'll be my current project, followed by a broader energy audit aimed at both electricity and propane usage reduction.

It's not likely that I'll be at the work party, given my need to land in Portland and connect with community and resources there, but I may be around depending on how I feel at the end of the men's gathering. Same goes for Great Circle, given that I didn't have any time in the midst of my move and bringing closure in Oakland to put together a proposal for the Agendamatic. But mutable, and I may have a document prepared that the CoCo can look at despite not having the benefit of discussion at Great Circle. That may allow me more time to investigate resources and have something more concrete for the next Circle. Same goes for the permaculture application around the greywater system that Mugwort so aptly outlined. I'll be connecting with these resources in Portland (esp. City Repair Project) and may have more input here in the future, esp. design plans and/or people who can come down and help get a better solution in place for Garden House. Thanks to Mugwort for describing the issue so that I can have this in my database for conversations I'll be having in Portland.

With blessings,
Peacock

On 6/12/07, Chip Hair <chiphair@yahoo.com> wrote:

Hi-

I am really enthused about the Work Party. I agree with all the ideas put forward, and look forward to contributing grunt work. As a suggestion re: wood supplies that are not protected, as well as lots of equipment that has been donated and left outside, would be to use the Barn addition, which should now be watertight, for storage in the short term.

At the end of this WP, we should think about scheduling another one and plan the logistics. As an answer for our continued struggle with tool and equipment storage, I was thinking about inviting those in our community who know how to build using cob and designing and building a structure just for that storage. If we construct a peaked roof, there could be space for lumber and building material storage.

Regarding the supplies needed for the Work Party - do the people at the Land, especially Peacock and Talon, have a list or could get one together?

See you soon,
Rula

Dear Nomenites,

Has there been discussion about the Work Party on another email list, or is there a place other than here where that should happen?
Guessing that the answer is "no," I'd like to offer some suggested projects and priorities.

What do you think?
Should these be what we work on? Are there other projects we should do first?
Can we do them?
What'll be needed for us to be ready? (supplies, purchases, expertise, decisions...)
Please forward this note to those work-party feys who might not get it otherwise.

#1 Barn Envelope. Fix the gap between barn roof and addition; finish up the addition roof (if not done already). Install windows in the addition: replace plastic sheets upstairs, so that area is inhabitable; cut openings and put some basic windows downstairs, so we can use that area. Addition doors. Big Barn door on the creek side (it's a blanket now).

This requires that we decide enough about how to use the downstairs that we know where some windows go; they don't have to be the full set, just something to let in some light and air. (There isn't agreement yet on whether this will become the kitchen, right?) I think it's settled that the upstairs should be a dorm, with bunks and perhaps the Whore's Bed.
Once is this done, we're protected from weather; further work can be done at our leisure. Even if the downstairs isn't polished, it can at least be an annex for the Barn for the time being.

I've noticed a supply of windows. Do we have any doors? We'll need to decide about doors, so we can shop for them cheaply ( e.g., at a used-building-parts store in Portland or Berkeley).

#2 Barn Electric. Save the refrigerators! (We'll have a licensed electrician on hand. Also some helpers.) Wire up the new panel, connect it to power and ground; run new circuits and conduit to the refrigerators. (They've been getting too low a voltage, so they die often.) We don't need to replace the old panel yet -- we can just add circuits to the new panel for now. Create outlets and lighting for the addition, though this may have to be rudimentary until we've decided what the space will become. Perhaps create nicer lighting for the Barn's social area.

#3a. Solar Shower. (Peacock, currently visiting, is a solar expert.) With a glass-front collector panel and a storage tank, we can shower in the meadow much more of the year that we do now, saving propane (fossil fuel, money and labor). I've sent him my suggestions.

We'll need carpentry help to build a small structure for the tank and collector. At the same time, maybe we can create a 3-sided enclosure, so one shower is protected from the wind? We'll need to score a used collector panel and a tank of some sort; Peacock can advise us on those.

#3b. Garden House Greywater. Calling All Permaculturists! The Garden-house sinks make a pollution problem, dumping right on the ground not far from the creek; that area smells bad. With the office moving nearby, it'll become an issue. Permaculture has a technique where greywater is dumped into a lined, gravel-filled trough planted with water-loving plants; they remove the "stuff," so what flows out the end is clean. I'm guessing our outflow will then go to an unlined trough where it can soak into the ground.

A permaculture faerie is needed to design this. Once we have dimensions, we'll need to dig a few trenches (perhaps 6' x 30' x 1'?), line em, and fill with gravel. And trench some pipes from GH. There's talk of moving the washing machine to this area, so we should consider that in our design.

Shall we put out on the faerie email lists that we're looking for permaculture design help this month?

#4. Office foundation. The drag closet is being moved behind Garden House, where it will serve as the new office. This lets the old office become more special-needs housing, and separates the noisy office from sensitive sleeping faeries. Probably we won't move the office yet, but there's talk of starting the foundation. (Drag will live in the Barn addition, I hear.)

I look forward to seeing some of you wonderful feys later this month!

P.S. I notice an ongoing problem over the years: if we buy lumber ahead of time for a project, it tends to rot outside in the rain. But if we don't buy the lumber, that's an impediment to people who may want to put in a day's work. How many times have there been complaints about a pile of wood that returned to the Earth? Hearing these stories (including on Tribe) is bad for morale.

Maybe one of us can devise a quick project to make a safe place for long lumber, out of the rain and off the ground? Just a thought...