On Sunday August 4th, a high-spirited band of workers gathered at the crack of dawn (OK, 9am) for a work session dedicated to trail maintenance and improvement.  George, Lisa, Randy, Hope, Paul, Amy, Mir, and Anthony started in the most challenging place and cleared the Pond Loop trail, which took continuous lopping, weed-whacking, tripper- and fallen-tree removal, and more. 

Reconvening at the far side of the dam, we moseyed along the south side of the Village Loop Trail over to McGowan Creek Loop, clearing as needed as well as enjoying some lovely spiderwebs still decked in morning dew.  We took a break to admire a box turtle who turned up in the path. 

Then we treated ourselves to a quick romp around the Far Loop — it still needs work, but it is easily passable — and then finished off the McGowan Creek Loop before retreating to the Pavilion for a convivial potluck lunch. 

Many thanks to all who took part. At lunch we also got a look at the new trail map being prepared by Lauren Lintz for her NCSU MA project. A  few final edits and it will be ready. 

Now, for those of you who (we know) desperately wanted to join the trail work but for whatever reason couldn’t make it, a final note. Absolutely the best way to help maintain the trails is to USE THEM! So the upshot is that you can still help!  Come out and walk the trails — Lauren’s map will be available on the HM website (my earlier version is up now) with hard copies at the pavilion and Hart’s Nest as well, and you can always call me or Hope (or Paul or Jeffry or Margret).  Or just explore!  There are many loop options, from brief saunters around the pond to several-mile adventures if you do all the Loops. Most of the trails are run-able as well. Come out and really see the land!  Sights like this abound. 

Dig up red clay and mix with water to create clay gumbo

Pass gumbo through hardware cloth screen

Mix 1 part gumbo with 3 parts sand, adding water as needed as you would if making cement. 

When sand and clay gumbo are thoroughly mixed, add wheat straw chopped up with a weedwhacker.

Ta da.  A low carbon/high beauty plaster.

However, the plaster doesn’t jump on the wall, so next is the fun/frustrating/ meditative/….. part; finding the right trowel and technique to get the plaster to stick to the wall and not slop to the ground, slump, be uneven, or done in a way that risks future cracking or falling off.

The next level of craftsmanship involves composing the little details around windows, rafters, and foundation and smoothing out the bumps and undulations in the wall.

Next up this coming Saturday we’ll be doing the same for the inside walls.  After that, we’re looking at scheduling a weekend in October to put in a rocket stove and bench. Stay tuned, and by all means, come join in if such activities are calling you!

Meanwhile Bailey and Lisa worked under the hot sun to weed and groom the community garden. There was also a large crew (Greg, Matt, Geri, Chris, Randy, Anika, Amy (#2), and Joe), led by Randy, continuing to play in the mud – and the walls of Cob Haven near completion.

At noon most gathered at the Cedar Pavilion for a much needed rest and lunch. After lunch Paul, Anthony and Jeffry managed to free the seeder that was mired to its axles in the Far Field.

Thanks to everyone for another successful workday!

A lovely mid-Spring afternoon welcomed an even more lovely and energetic group of workers and tour-ers for our April workday. After a potluck lunch at the Cedar Pavilion, a crew led by Paul and Donna and anchored by six (!) Witchgers with partners, along with others, pulled out the piping to the garden, got it un-kinked and into place, as well as helping clear better tractor access to the shed.

With a few new fittings, stored rainwater will be available again at the garden as well as Jeffry’s and Margret’s new field. Meanwhile, with a strong head start from Jeffrey and then Anthony on Big Red, and with Margret, Debby, and others clearing at the edges, we got nearly the whole West Meadow mowed in anticipation of producing a good crop of hay as we bring the land into agricultural use.

Rita and Mir began marking trail hazards in preparation for clearing work and to make them safer for walkers and runners. Charles and Christina got a lovely swing mounted on our grand central tree. Some of us ended the day with a cooking fire and camp out, with Jupiter and even Saturn and Moon viewing at 3:00am!  (Sunset photo by Joe Cole)

As always, thanks to everyone. Community continues to grow around and with the land!

So many people showed up for our 1/28 workday and/or tours that I am worried I will forget someone if I try listing everyone! Suffice it to say that all along the route from Frazier Road down to nearly the central gathering area, Hart’s Mill members and friends were at work for much of a sunny but brisk Saturday afternoon, moving brush piles, sawing branches out of the route, sometimes from ladders, and taking down trees, hauling the cuttings back into the woods, and in general widening and clearing the road that is planned for the main community entrance.

The Land Stewardship Functional Circle is making a major push to prepare it for general use by later Spring (and it is already passable now if you hang to the north edge of the meadow and drive carefully). Soon we will enter the land down the wooded hill and then see the land spread out before us as we emerge from the trees! In the course of the afternoon there were also wildflower plantings, bark strippings, multiple tours by multiple people, reconnections with old friends and returning members, and a circle ceremony in the sun recognizing our purchase of the land and the outstanding contributions of two members.  Paul Voss was honored for his signal efforts in leading the initiative to buy the land, and Jeffry Goodrum received kudos (and a flagon of beer) for his mighty mowing achievements.  

By dusk a bonfire was blazing, beans were cooking for tacos, and some of us even stayed the night ¬– Venus super-bright and the sky in general the clearest it has seemed for a long time!

December 3rd’s workday began before lunch on a sunny and brisk day. Paul was cutting firewood early on; Anthony arrived before lunch to set up the new loo; Charles and Christina soon arrived with their two-year-old grandson Jaxon; then Vanessa and Lizel, Hope, Julie, Margret, Randy, Rita, and HM old-timer Christian along with his daughter Alison all showed up to general acclaim. Lots of good food!

After lunch we split into work groups, three people to mark off the western half of the village path on the new site plan, afterwards joining the rest in cutting and removing the overgrown saplings in the Far Field that were blocking or slowing down the mowing Jeffry has been doing. Jeffry soon brought over the tractor and he and Anthony shared mowing until about 4:30, while everyone else cut and pulled out small pine trees — some so nice that they took them home for Xmas trees, or to put out for others to take. 

Then, bonfire back at the Fire Circle as the cold grew sharp again, and a few of us remained for dinner and a stay-over. Much accomplished, many thanks to all!

Invalid Displayed Gallery