September 17

Today the team:

• Poured and finished the concrete foundation (grade beam)
• Finalized the design and organized materials for the wall panels
• Worked with Grade 7/8/9 students to prepare the raised beds (lots of digging!) and get materials ready for the Grade 5/6 students who will build a compost bin this weekend (using recycled pallets from the landfill). Grade 7/8/9 students will come back on the weekend to complete the raised beds using rough cut lumber for the edging.
• Put boards and sand over the foundation to insulate it overnight (the temperature has dropped below freezing so we need to ensure the concrete sets properly)

Ross from CEU came to visit and help out - he will be back on Saturday along with some other colleagues and Planning Network members to help build and install straw bale wall panels.

Anyone who's interested should come out this weekend - a lot of building will be happening and the team can use all the hands we can get! 

Securing the rebar in place before concrete is poured.

Here comes the concrete!

Smoothing out the concrete.

Students move the bug palace to its home next to the raised planter beds.

Students remove the grass to prepare the areas for the raised planter beds.

More digging!

On top of the pile of topsoil excavated from the foundation area. This will be used to fill the raised planter beds.

Students prepare old pallets that will be made into a compost bin for the garden.

Removing some of the boards from a pallet.