Remember Remember the 5th of November thru the 15th OccupyTheLand Workshop.


This is our first and limited to those that we know personally or have been following the build online or via our Telegram channels...
@OccupyTheLand
OccupyTheLand
&
Occupy The Land Community

www.OccupyTheLand.org provides access to the daily video clips via Telegram as we build and those raw clips are edited into a weekly Videos posted on our site and various video platforms.

ErnestHancock@OccupyTheLand.org is the project's email and will be used for the first time now for this workshop. Now that the weather has finally turned and working the land here in the Sonoran Desert is very comfortable, it is time to demonstrate what has been accomplished and the materials and methods being utilized to Occupy The Land with Attainable Housing and to participate in sharing/brainstorming other ideas with a few like minded individuals with skills and knowledge with the same desired outcome.

Those planning on attending understand that we are remote (12 mile of dirt road from pavement and 90 mins from West Phoenix) and that you will need to be fully self-contained during your visit. Our simple plan is for Donna and I to make ourselves fully available to be on the land working for 10 days with 4-6 hours of concentrated effort on several projects with supporters and subscribers that we approve attending, learning while doing.

Projects:
Fence - Tractor Augering of Fence Holes - Placing of Railroad Ties fence posts and stretching fence and building Gates/Openings (time to get some dogs)

Bond Beam of concrete to integrate the Prototype house's dome roof with the Hyperadobe stem wall and door/window frames, and start the application of coatings (experimenting with several mixes and materials)

Check Dams made from Hyperadobe Bags in selected areas for water retention and diversion (This is a very simple and rewarding process that provides immediate understanding of this building technique)

Coating of Root Cellar (inside and out) experimenting with Aircrete - Lavacrete - and the use of experimental panels made of foamboard and construction adhesive.

Tractor Experience - Nothing like learning by doing. There are many earth moving projects that the L3560 Kubota Tractor is essential for, and the various attachments make it very useful. Direct experience with the equipment and what can be done is very valuable.

Trommel Build: Soil separation is a very valuable process on our land since we have all of the primary ingredients available under our feet. Sand of various grades, Gravel and Clay are in almost perfect combinations for many projects as it sits but for many projects we need to separate the components. The raw material we have for the construction of an electric trommel (spinning drum with openings of various sizes). We will be designing, plasma cutting and welding steel and aluminum into a working Prototype #2.

Food Production: Tree planting (indigenous) and Fruit Tree Orchard prep is well under way and will be expanded. There are also Garden areas and a 30' Dome already assembled for placement in Garden Area as a Green House.

Chickens are already on auopilot but Donna may have things to do and share. 

Campfire conversations and sharing is often the most fun and useful knowledge exchange and we are often influenced by the suggestions and experience of others. The entire OccupyTheLand Project is a learning process for developing methods specific in most cases to Sonoran Desert Living with the clear goal of 'Attainable Housing' for those willing & wanting to do the labor themselves for reasons that include more than just the cost savings.

There is no cost to you but your labor for this first opportunity to see what an older couple can accomplish on 18 acres of raw desert. While we do have Electricity and Water it is not in unlimited supply. So the more self contained you are the better for overnight visits.

A few close friends and supporters will be focused on several of the projects and will lead the work teams. This event is not a family outing with animals and children in a construction zone. Newbies on Heavy Equipment is a risk I'm willing to take on the equipment but not with young children's safety (there are certainly responsible and mature children in the Liberty Community, but your definition may differ from mine :) Some primary helpers and supporters will be bringing their dogs but I know them and others might be a distraction I would rather avoid.

Dome Construction - We will also make our Stamp Press available to those wishing to produce the Geodesic Dome Struts. One individual will be doing just that and the experience of helping with that would be very informative and inspiring. If you are interested let me know and I'll share what materials you'll need and the finished project will fit into your car trunk.

Nov. 7th and 8th weekend and the following weekend, 14th and 15th will likely be the most popular days for participation. The days for the focused building is due to the weather being comfortable and before too many family obligations during the holidays. It is sometimes windy and OMGawd it might rain :) So plan on that. The route to the land is regularly traveled by a neighbor with a KIA Soul with a front wheel drive buuuut not ideal... Just Say'n.

At this stage I suspect the most committed to experiencing Above The Grid options will find the opportunity useful and enjoyable.

Please contact me directly via Telegram (is best) or at ErnestHancock@OccupyTheLand.org email with a short introduction to yourself and your reasons for attending and I'll provide detailed directions and other information.

Peace,
Ernest Hancock