Almost Spring...

Several weeks ago the weather totally teased us with thoughts of Spring. Today we're back in the depths of winter. The snow continues to fall as does the added chores of wood chopping, snow removal and water collection. Honestly the reality of how cruel this white season can be makes for many challenges especially when one chooses  to live a modest lifestyle. When I say modest I mean living in a smallish home without the usual luxuries such as running water and constant heat. Both of which, until moving here, I really took for granted.

So until the earthship home is completed these on going realities are a part of this journey. The chores will always be a part of life here but will be somewhat minimize once the move is made into the new home.

Future home.

The first winter here the road out was snowed in with no way of getting out until the tractor tires were set up with chains. Needless to say after one week of being snowed in the groceries and water were dwindling. Thanks to the generosity of a neighbour I was able to catch a ride into town and replenish the groceries etc. Four years later being snowed in does not present a panic situation. Interesting how one adapts.

Best investment ever.

As this winter heads closer to spring I have continued to make my rag rugs and create willow baskets. Other new creative projects I have tackled include teaching myself how to make dream catchers as well as some air dried clay beads etc. What better time then now to be learning new and interesting things.

Finished a rag rug for a client.

Custom hand made egg basket.

Custom hand made gathering basket.

Hand made clay beads keeping some small lady bugs company.

So in closing I continue to work on my crafts, work on some new ideas for the garden and occasionally check out how many days till Spring, 51 more days to go.

So until I write a new blog entry stay safe, happy and warm. From one adventurer to another, stay true to your dreams even though the road can have some obstacles.

PEACE OUT!!!  PattyJ.

Season Three Closing

Wow I cannot believe that another summer has come and gone.  Even though during the many dry, hot smoke filled days it felt like summer was never going to end it somehow now feels like the days pasted by quickly. The passing of time is a curious phenomenon for sure.

So with the passing of Summer 2017 comes along the end of the Work Away Volunteers, leaving a slight trickling of some of our Pavo Tribe Family. During the Pavo experience this year there have been countless steps forward towards our dream coming closer. The selfless help from so many warms our hearts, and we continue to learn and enjoy the volunteers and guests and family that visit us.  Citizens other then our Canadian friends that arrived here at Earthship Pavo Natura haled from Austria, Munich, New Zealand, the U.K. and France quite the smorgasbord of folks I'd say.

There is simply a sense of fulfillment and yes relief when another season draws to end. Fulfillment this year is linked with the leaps forward in the timber framing post and beams, roof installation of ship lap, cement pours, bond beams and footings, yes more tire work, final finish of one inner wall via cement and lime application, positioning of the water cistern and last but not least construction clean up and wrap up of existing roof, walls and windows. The relief surfaces when the quiet of just us, two dogs and two cats remain behind on our 12 acres of land. There is an obvious feeling of quiet and peace surrounding us as we prepare for our last Winter in the trailer.

South facing.

View from our trailer.

Wildfire Season.

It's Tuesday, September 26th. 2017 signing off for now.

PEACE OUT Patty J!!!

Season Three Part Two

Welcome back to Earthship Pavo Natura.

I am taking a break today while partner Kurt is away picking up our glass and framing wood for the house.

Season Three is upon us and the progress has been amazing. Before I go into to many details about how all is going this year I want to take a moment to thank all of our amazing guest volunteers that have traveled to the West Kottenays to help us with our amazing project.

Names I recall so far from Season Three are as follows. David Moor from Austria. Sean and Fanny, Taylor, Marly, Sam and Rona from the UK. Eli from  Montreal Quebec, Anne Martin from Munich. also last but not least is the unforgettable Lawrence from everywhere. You are simply amazing and have been so generous with your gifts of giving within the work on our place as well as all your amazing contributions to the menus, laughs and wisdom. You will be and will continue to be a huge part of the Pavo Tribe, world wide Earthship Warriors.

In conclusion I just have to mention what has been accomplished this year. Our timber framed posts and beams are 75% done with the addition of rafters throughout and a dormer which completes the look of the loft bedroom. Also the cement footings are shy of only two remaining to be poured, with three bond beams poured as well. Oh and yes two more huge accomplishments on record. The back laundry/bathroom room tire wall is almost finished as well as the start of packing in and smoothing out our first wall, which is what we fondly named our Marly wall. There will be more pictures to follow as I very much wanted this years Pavo Tribe to be highlighted amongst the pictures attached with this blog entry.

Well this day is almost complete and I find myself feeling very rested and I feel very grateful as my mind, body and soul feel calm. Wow what a feeling.


PEACE OUT Patty!!!

Sam and Rona preparing bottles for their window.

The Sam and Rona window completed.

Cement foreman Sean with David.

Anne and Eli.

Off to work we go high hoe, high hoe.

Season Three Part One

I am so grateful for all my creative diversions that take me into the longer warmer and sunnier days of Spring. As well as the continued pre-planning necessary to prepare us for the arrival of our third and hopefully final season of construction on our off grid home. We are encouraged by the number of volunteer guests that have contacted us so far interested in our off grid project. Many of these free spirited individuals have made contact through this wonderful site called Work Away. This particular site has given us some exceptional, mostly younger folks that are keen on learning the steps involved within the Earthship experience. Our home is a custom Earthship where one will find some very unique ideas. Kurt has conceived within his beyond intelligent mind this custom design that will one day be a new shelter.

Welcome to the hibernating Earthship Pavo Natura

Awesome sunny day

Our wee Layla awaiting Spring

Once we rise above the end of Winter we can begin again on our journey towards another very exciting construction season. Our focus will be concentrated upon the completion of all the bond beams which are found on the very top of each tire wall section. Once this is completed we will then forge ahead with the raising of the rest of the timber post and beam design, as well as the completion of the roof. Also on the agenda is the start of the electrical and plumbing as well as the floor and wall surfaces and the installation of all of our south facing windows. Oh  and I can't forget the introduction of the bottle brick walls all made from donated wine and beer bottles. The example I shared is an image of our first bottle wall we did with the help of Marilynn a young woman from Quebec who stayed here and helped us for a month last year. Hey Marilyn miss you.

So yes we still have a lot of work to complete but I can't imagine spending my summers doing anything else then working towards the completion of this vision. So any like minded individuals that happen to read this blog entry and want to spend a day a week or more volunteering their time while gaining some unique knowledge entwined within the construction of a super interesting building concept you can contact us here under the comment section below or check out our community on Facebook called Earthship Pavo Natura.

Until then smile your way through the rest of Winter.

PEACE OUT Patty J.

UNIQUE WORKS DESIGN STUDIO

UNIQUE WORKS DESIGN STUDIO...

I have been on the verge of spreading the news of my design studio since our move to The Kootenay's in 2012. There have been postings here and there on a page I created on Facebook several years ago simply called UNIQUE WORKS with a small following of folks from several corners of the globe.

I have kept this studio pretty much to myself during our period of adjustment to a new place. That time has arrived to spread my wings a wee bit and share some of what I love to do.

Rustic Bench

Twig Light Tree

Rustic Maplewood Basket

Rag Rug

Rag Rug

Antique Window Caulk Board

Rustic Bench.

Willow Egg Basket

Antique Window Flower Planter

Large Gathering Basket.

These creations represent both past and present works.

After many years of working upon my own self discovery as an artisan I have often wondered, why do I move from one medium to another. Finally I have discovered that I sometimes lose interest when doing the same thing for too long. So I have learned to go with how my mood hits me and create what moves me at any given time. Just going with the flow.

Parting words of wisdom that I often refer to are shown in my last image. Often a personal mantra I repeat whenever I feel discouraged.

PEACE OUT Patty J.

Off Grid Reality

This morning I have decided to write about some of the realities we have faced here at Mini Camp Pavo. 

The image below was taken at the start of winter  2015. The view has changed somewhat as has our off grid experiences. I have personally learned that this current way of life is truly not for the faint of heart or spirit. It has been, and I am sure will continue to be, a test of endurance and learning.

Mini Camp Pavo

It is Jan.12th. 2017 four years since our new journey began and I am happy to report that we are continuing upon an endless learning curb even though we have faced and endured some interesting off grid realities.

Our first year here in the West Kootenays found us renting a mobile home which was only the beginning of the many changes. After living most of my life in suburbia I see now that I took for granted the many conveniences that were a part of my everyday life. Running water a real flush toilet as well as a warm and cozy environment within my home provided by the furnace.

We continue to live without running water a real flush toilet as well as a speedy way to tap into heating our space. The slow but steady source of heat is provided to us by the wood stove with of course the trailer furnace as backup. I have to say I now prefer the heat from the stove.

During these past seasons we have been also focusing upon  the completion of our new home Earthship Pavo Natura. After two years of construction Pavo has gone from the filling and pounding of the first tire to the start of the in home skeleton known as Timber Framed posts and beams. When the very first tire was completed we were still submerged within the romance of this new adventure especially when we were surrounded by the many wonderful volunteer guests some of which had traveled many miles in search of an earthship hands on experience.

View of one tire wall 

Before the winter of 2016 arrived we slowly but surely worked upon our to do chore list before the cold set in. Wood was gathered mostly with the wonderful help of family, friends and neighbours. The wrapping up of our earthship structure was covered up with tarps to secure the integrity of the tires which gave us peace of mind. We also added on an extension to our outer deck to keep the cold of winter and snow away from our storage area. The only chore we did not complete was the completion of new greenhouse plastic which has presented a new reality by way of a collapsed roof. Definitely a live and learn situation here folks tromping through knee high snow while covering PVC pipes with a new 40ft. by 40ft. tarp.

Sad sight

Winter has a way of presenting us with never taking anything for granted. It is truly a humbling experience. I just recently shared my feelings surrounding waking up during the night not seeing anything but complete and utter darkness within our current home, once again humbled.

"We must accept finite disappointment,"said Martin Luther King,Jr.,"but never lose infinite hope."

We have a along way to go until we start moving into our new home but it obvious that we have come too far to give up now. Stay tuned to the announcement of the long anticipated Earthship Pavo Natura House Warming Party!

PEACE OUT Patty J.

We are all creative!

After many months of silence due to writers block and another busy construction season on our Earthship (off grid home) I finally have a topic to go on about.

It's all about being creative within your own home. I'm not just talking about how to organize and decorate your nest. I'm referring to my own very personal journey towards being self sufficient enough to continue on with what and who I am. This, for me, encompasses earning a living teaching and creating practical indoor as well outdoor items using a combination of nostalgic memorabilia, some refer to as junk, natural gifts from Mother Nature and last but not least some additions of replicated items of the past newly created in order to move ones heart strings linked with fond memories of growing up.

Wow I know quite a serendipitous gathering of words to describe my passion, simply put ... the joy of being creative ...

Mother Natures Shadow Box.

Homemade rag rug.

Dream market venue.

The first image Mother Natures Shadow Box was discovered while on line for inspiration. I have seen this type of shadow box before. But this example really inspires me to make my own. For a special spot in our home or for a unique gift for a friend.

The second image I shared above is an example of rag rug weaving. I created this rag rug from weaving yards of bed sheets. One can also replicate this beauty with old clothing, table cloths any fabric really. Bed sheets are my favourite as i have not used flat sheets for years so for practicality sake it was time to recycle my collection of flat sheets into these rugs.

Third image as described is an example of a crowd pleasing way to transport and display all my creations at local framers markets. Dream market venue. I totally see this within my future.

During our off season away from our house project I dive into scanning the web for inspirational ideas. I then store them away for those many grey winter days, that are the norm here in the Kootenays. My goal for this coming winter is to work diligently towards building my inventory for 2017 and the many markets that are offered within my area. 

In the meantime I visualize meeting more and more like minded creative folks. The best blessings arrive within our lives during those times when we least expect meeting new people and their ideas. 

So attention all artisans out there pursue your dreams within the huge world of creativity and when you are inspired by an idea take some time to do some homework, surround yourself with positive people, believe in yourself and your dreams, and the blessings will certainly visit you.

 Time to believe, create and teach!!!

PEACE OUT !!! Patty J.