Hybrid natural building project off grid in BC, Canada

Details

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  Description

  Hi!
  
  We are located one hour outside of beautiful Lillooet BC, St'at'mic Territory.
  
  We are building a cob and cordwood (cobwood) building we are referring to as The Witch and Wizard Hut. It will have a reciprocal roof and a log timber frame. The back half of this structure will be set into the hillside and will be made of ramed earth Tire construction. The foundation where it is not tires will be made of stone and concrete on top of a Rubble Trench Foundation. The roof will be a living roof.... we are pretty excited!
  
  
  The root cellar is done and has been functioning for the last few years. The cellar will be under the house and access from the kitchen.
  
  We also have an organic garden that we eat from and build on ever year. We love adding logs around the beds and encouraging mycelium. We are into making Hügelkultur beds and growing in hay bales.
  
  We are into meditation and mindfulness practices. We aspire to meditate daily and if you are into that sort of thing you can feel free to join us and learn to meditate if that is a new thing for you.
  
  Our interests include:
  -philosophy and talking about weird things
  -wildcrafting
  - living in a self-sustainable and self-sufficient way
  -mycelium and Forest connections
  -survivalism
  -preserving food, home canning, food storage and root cellaring
  -science fiction, fantasy, mythology, folklore, classic literature
  -gardening in a permaculture way
  -canoeing
  -smashing the patriarchy for the benefit of all
  -dungeons and dragons 🤓
  -we are amateur birders
  -natural building
  -rockhounding
  - mycology
  - non violent/ compassionate communication
  - meditation

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Help with Eco Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  -Total off grid living
  -learn ways to be self sustainable
  -learn how to construct your own low cost home
  -learn how to build in an eco-friendly and low impact way
  -spend some time in the mountains and drink fresh creek water
  -learn how to improvise with what you have
  -Learn about our unique community culture and heritage
  -Located on unseeded St'at'imc territory.

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  Help

  We have a lovely little pallet bungalow with your name on it for you to take some personal space and do some writing or reading or whatever it is you would like to get up to in your leisure time. And there are lots of good forest walks from our place!
  
  We so look forward to meeting you!
  
  ,.............. What we are up to ............
  
  We are building a circular cob and cordwood building with a reciprocal roof!
  
  I have researched a lot so far but have little hands on experience of some of the techniques we will be incorporating . If you have experience with cob, cordwood or timber framing building you would be handy to have around. If you have experience with building foundations and drainage this would also be nice. That being said we are looking for people who are willing to learn along side us in this venture so if you want to come and stay and have no experience in these areas that is fine! As long as you bring a good work enthusiasm and a happy heart!
  
  
  
  Where we are at in the project:
  
  July 2020
  
  We finished constructing the root cellar that will be under the building! Stacked and mortered cinder blocks is the type of construction. With a log frame on top and locally home milled boards on top. Just needs the top to be insulated!
  
  Update: ceiling has been insulated! We used local sheep's wool and repurposed some feed bags to tuck it all up with.
  
  
  2000/2021 We compleated:
  
  -insulate the top of the root cellar with local sheep's wool. DONE 👌
  
  -level and bring in drainage rock and gravel for rubble trench foundation. DONE 👌
  
  -make Rubble Trench foundation. DONE 👌:)
  
  
  Spring and summer 2022:
  
  -Make rammed earth tire wall and drainage for earthbermed portion of building. DONE!
  
  💪🏽.
  
  
  WHERE WE ARE AT NOW:
  
  
  Spring and summer 2023:
  
  -make forms for our concrete footing
  
  -pour concrete footing
  
  -make stone and concrete stem wall
  
  -start on the log frame for roof
  
  
  
  Things you can learn from helping at this stage:
  
  
  .planning and preparation for rubble trench foundation. This type of foundation uses a fraction of the cement of a ordinary foundation thus lowering the carbon foot print of your home and utilizing local materials.
  
  . Stone masonry basics while constructing stem wall
  
  .planning drainage for earth sheltered buildings
  
  . Planning utilities in eco structure
  
  .sorting, peeling, organizing logs for the timber frame.
  
  . basic timber frame, farmer style
  
  .rammed earth tire wall construction
  
  .

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  Very interested in different languages and translation differences. Its fun to see differences and similarities.
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  Accommodation

  *Your very own private bungalow made from recycled pallets awaits you!
  *Shared outdoor hot water shower (rustic).
  *We eat a diet of yummy vegetarian meals, mostly vegan :)
  *We will eat lunch and dinners together and breakfasts separately most of the time, but we can flow with whatever works for us all.
  *Outhouse toilet
  *washing machine for laundry is you and your laundry in a big tub outside, scrub a dub dub
  *Usually we start work at the crack of 10am, but like to remain flexable incase the days are too hot and we want to start before the heat sets in.

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  What else ...

  We are looking for people who line up with what we are all about, seeing as we will be spending time together while we are working this would make for a better experience for everyone evolved.
  
  The things we are all about:
  
  -equality for all people/races/gender/sexual preference
  -fair and kind treatment for all animals and bugs (exceptions are made for mosquitoes.... I know I am a terrible person)
  -looking after our environment
  -treating each other with respect
  -keeping an open mind to new ideas
  -honest and open Non Violent Communication aka Compassionate Communication
  -we are strict vegetarians/mostly Vegan but you may have animals products at the bungalow
  -no alcohol at our place, but we are 4:20 friendly
  
  Time off things to do:
  
  -Great mountain walks and hikes
  -rivers and creeks to explore
  -weekly music night at our neighbors place
  -active community near by that hosts social events and opportunities to meet people.
  -rock hounding
  -lots of quiet reading, writing or contemplative time

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Space for parking camper vans

  We have some room for a small camper but we could figure something out for a bigger one ;)

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  Can possibly accept pets

  Our pets have some complications but with patience and guidance we can accomodate other animals in most situations. We have an elderly female white lab named Sally who is insecure around new dogs and will need some help getting used to them (unless its a boy dog who isn't fixed, then she is all flirty lol) We also have a medium sized, fixed female cat who will tolerate dogs if they dont chase her.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  Hours expected

  5 hours a day (flexible), 5 days a week

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