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Cob: RE:Update from gypsyfarm in Mauk GAPatrick Newberry PNewberry at HFHI.orgTue Dec 12 08:30:36 CST 2000
Well I know I haven't been the most active member of this list and I don't even have any new photos to show, that will have to wait till next year. But I did want to post a warm holiday greetings to everyone and pass on the latest status here in Mauk. THE HOUSE: Well no it's not done yet. Yup I still work on it most every week or as weather allows. I'm down to two cob walls to finish and then it will be plastering time, then on to floors. I find I can cob down to the low 40's but after that....burrrrr it's a bit cold. I traded a couple parts off an old school bus and in return a fellow was suppose to bring me a load of clay. Around here a load of clay usually means about 20 or 30 percent clay, the rest sand... perfect for COB, unfortunately the load ended up being closer to 10% clay and 90% sand. It's a bit too sandy so I now bring in some clay from up the road and mix it in the wheel barrel as I make my cob and up the percentage to around %20 percent. So in the end it still saved be a lot of work as I only have to haul 10 percent of my mix in my old beatup 71 ford pickemup. I had hope to be finished by this winter, but hey NEXT winter dog gone it! The JOB: Well as some of you might remember, I got laid off from my job. Which was sort of good and bad. I mean I wasn't really happy at the job, but at the same time I was able to work from home (as a programmer) and mix cob in my breaks. Dang mud ain't good for key boards thought. anyway I tried to start my own web programming business and well I guess I can honestly tell you I'm not much of a business person. Well I went on this freedwalk to bring attention to jail house conditions here in southwest GA. We went on this 85 mile march. So here I find myself walking with a bunch of do-gooders with lots of time to talk as it took a week to walk the 85 miles. During the walk one fellow tells me that Hey you know Habitat for Humanity over in Americus has some jobs. So after the walk I figure what the heck, check it out... well guess what! I'm now working at Habitat for Humanity here in Americus GA. Bad news is that, at least here in the US, they don't seem real interested in building cob homes, but heck as long as I got mine! It was kind of funny too because when I went thru the orientation process we watched some film about Habitat and after the film the guy up front started talking about these poor people that had dirt floors. I kept my mouth shut as my floors are dirt with old discarded carpet over it to keep the dust down. Yup I just smiled. One man's poor house is another man's castle I say. Love and Light Pat and Carroll Newberry and the rest of the maukites. pnewberry at hfhi.org
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