September 23

A lot more happened on site today, including:

• Preparing to stucco the walls, including installing flashing, control joints and stucco stop
• Starting to stucco the straw bale walls (which will continue tomorrow to protect the walls before it rains!)
• Installing and securing additional rafters and posts
• Completing the compost bin and raised beds

The CEU team left at the end of the day to head home to Halifax after spending two weeks working alongside Standing Buffalo members. Work on the GreenShed will continue with the leadership of the housing department and continued involvement of community volunteers. For information on how to get involved, contact Plan Champion Cheryl Tawiyaka (306)332-4685.

Workers secure flashing around the windows to ensure that they are properly sealed. They also attach stucco stop and control joints (between the wall panels) before the stucco can be applied.

Installing the stucco stop to the top edge of the north wall.

Stitching the straw bale walls with tie wire to ensure the stucco wire is secure before applying the stucco.

The first window is installed. This wall will be part of the storage shed.

Applying stucco to the first wall panel (part of the market stall). The stucco will provide a seal against moisture, pests and fire.

A view of the GreenShed building with the first wall panel completely stuccoed.

Rafters seen from above; the rafters are spaced using 2x4 blocking along the top of the north wall.

The rafters that will support the roof for the storage shed and greenhouse are installed.

Panorama of the north wall showing how far the crew has made it so far applying the stucco.

The raised beds are completely filled with topsoil.

The final touches on the compost bin (sliding doors with handles) are complete.

The completed compost bin adjacent to the large garden.

September 22

The work continues! Today we:

• Augered holes for the four piles for the tractor port
• Poured concrete and set U brackets in place (to support the posts)
• Installed the four remaining straw bale wall panels
• Secured the wall panels with glue, hurricane strapping and cross-bracing
• Put up posts and rafters (from the market to the shed to the greenhouse)
• Worked until 11 pm with the help of many members of the housing crew and volunteers

Augering holes for the concrete piles (5 feet deep by 8 inches wide). 

Securing the stucco wire on the wall panels.

Installing the posts and rafters.

The first two wall panels with the rafters extending past the wall. The first section (market) reuses the concrete slab from the storage shack as its foundation, tying into the newly-poured grade beam that supports the rest of the north (straw bale) wall.

Working on the rafters into the evening.

September 21

Another busy day of construction for the work crew. It was an exciting day as the first straw bale wall panel was tilted into place. Other wall panels were filled with straw and completed as well. We also met with teachers to discuss how the garden connects to their curriculum; the school is interested in starting a composting program.The team will work with the school to develop ideas and lesson plans, and ensure that youth are involved year-round with the community garden.

Here are some photos from the day:

The crew works on tying half straw bales. Each wall panel will include 17.5 bales with two full bales and a half bale in each row.

Greg retying a bale to create half bales.

Unloading bales.

It can be hard to get the bales stuffed into the wall panels as tight as they need to be. Sometimes you have to jump on them!

Another technique is to push on the bales with your feet. This only works for the first few rows. At the top of the panels, we sometimes used plastic sheets to try and get the bales to fit more tightly. For others, we stuffed the top row with mini bales (smaller than the half bales).

Pieces of rebar were driven through each panel vertically after the balled were stuffed in to provide stability when the panels were tilted as well as to prevent settling.

Crushed rock between the pressure-treated base plates provides drainage below the wall panels.

Brad and Colton were pretty excited when the first wall panel went up successfully.

The vent that will be installed over the earth tubes to allow for air circulation (and prevent animals and dirt from getting in).

Leveling out the floor of the GreenShed with sand, and later gravel.

Ladies behind the first wall panel.

Building a box for the window that will be installed at the top of the wall in the storage shed and greenhouse. The window will be installed after the wall is raised and attached to the foundation.

The crew makes sure the operable windows, salvaged from housing renovations, will be snug and secure in the new window boxes. These windows can be opened to provide ventilation in the enclosed buildings (storage shed and greenhouse).

Late night angle grinding to sharpen the rebar so it can be driven through the panels.

Putting tarps over the straw bale wall panels in case of rain overnight.

September 20

A long overdue post - the last few days have been very busy working on the GreenShed. Here are a few highlights from Monday:

The CEU team decides to stay for a few more days... 

Grade 3, 4 and S4S students complete the compost bin.

The first load of compost is placed in the bin. Tatanka Najin School will be starting a classroom composting program this fall.

Compost bin adjacent to the large garden (and across from the raised planter beds).

Students fill the raised beds - and search for worms!

Digging soil for the raised beds.

Raised beds behind the youth centre. Each grade will plant and look after their own bed.

A worm!

Students added rocks, twigs and drilled pieces of wood to the bug palace.

Cheryl provides a delicious lunch of chili and bannock for all the youth and workers. Lunch was provided every day on site to keep the volunteers fed.

Youth enjoying lunch, sitting on a pile of lumber.

In the afternoon, it started to rain. Greg put up a tarp to create a sheltered work area and we continued to cut the rafters and posts in preparation for the next day.