Cob house update

November 26

Update on Cob House

Save the Cerrado, a permaculture blog, started publishing three years ago, in August, 2012. If this is your first time visiting this blog please check back  from the beginning (check postings in right column) to understand our approach to permaculture and to see the photos that  document our progress so far.                           

We’re getting ready to receive our first long term guest, Grace, who responded to the invitation we put here on this blog in May. Her arrival in mid-December has been a great incentive to speed up the work on the cob house where she will be living. You can see in the photos below that we’ve made a lot of progress since we got back from the States in early October.

           October 20 – Expecting rain; the cob needs to be protected.

    November 8 – That’s better. Let’s hope the tarps can withstand the winds. 
                                          Walls are up several feet.

Second bedroom and bathroom.

Row of glass bottles to let some light into the bathroom.

Outside view of the bottles.

November 25 – Walls have reached full height. We had a fierce storm last night with lots of wind. and rain. The tarps held fast and the house remained dry. 

Guy has set the window frame in place. It still needs to be tied into the cob wall.

We tested a patch of plaster for the first coat: earth, sand and finely chopped grass straw.

The first bedroom begins to look inviting. By December 5 the second window frame as well as the door frame should be in place for the carpenter who will install the windows and door.

The second bedroom is coming along too. The floors still need to be finished and ceilings will be added soon, but the tarp covering should stay in place until we're ready to put in a permanent roof.

Meanwhile farm life goes on:

Lolita monitors all comings and goings.

An older Rhode Island Red joined our flock, and NoName hatched a healthy flock of chicks.

Nina and Polly and five-month-old Nellie are doing well. We're milking only Nina.

Here Nina and Daisy share their food with bees.  

November 29 - Today we're in Brasilia to participate in the Global Climate Change March, which had already seen large demonstrations in the Philippines, Japan, Paris and elsewhere. 

    Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Thanks.