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<FONT SIZE=7>AdobeCam </FONT><FONT SIZE=5>Showers forecast for much of this week. We will try to work between the raindrops.<BR><BR>
Enlarge live image by clicking on the "+" above.Winter is the rainy season in West Australia so working hours are controlled by the weather and the availability of WWOOFers / HELPXers. We start work about 8:30am our time and work until about 2:00pm.
Click this link to download excerpts from our WWOOFers / HELPXers Information Booklet.
We are building our "hacienda" in the Santa Fe style and we live in Western Australia, hence the name Santa Fe WA. We fell in love with the style when we lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico 23 years ago.
Floor Plan and Artist's Sketches
The house, not counting the garage, is 395 sq.meters (4251.75 sq. ft.). North is at the top of the floor plan and at the upper right in the sketches. Our friend, Simon, did a great job with the sketches particularly since he was unfamiliar with the Santa Fe style of architecture.
Training and Information
Our thanks to Joe Tibbets and his comprehensive "Southwest Solaradobe School" which we attended, his information packed "Earthbuilder" publication and "The Earthbuilder's Encyclopedia CD-ROM" which is my bible. He also offers "Adobe House Plans" and many other services.
Earthen Construction
Adobe, mudbrick, compressed earth block, pressed earth block, rammed earth and other clay based materials all take advantage of the thermal mass properties of earthen construction. We have chosen compressed earth blocks (CEBs) and we make our own using an Impact 2001A machine designed by David Lienau and built by Lawrence Jetter of Advanced Earthen Construction Technologies (AECT) in San Antonio, Texas. Both David and Lawrence have been most generous in their ongoing advice and support.
The Scat Trak
Moving the raw clay and the pallets full of compressed earth blocks would be impossible without the use of the Scat Trak made available to us almost every day thanks to our generous neighbors, Rod and Marian Mitchell of Mitchell's Exploration Services.
Designing, Building and Maintaining the Plant
We owe a great deal of gratitude to Ken O"Neill who made my plant design actually work. It would not exist without his welding, mechanical, block laying and numerous others skills.
Volunteers and Contributors
Thanks ,also, to the neighbors, workmates and other friends who have contributed time and/or materials to our project. They include our building consultant, David as well as John and Aileen, Byron and Wendy, Ivan, Red, Stacey, Josh, Donna and Steve, Eugene, Gaby and Helmut, Jamie, Leon, and Sandy.
WWOOFers & HELPXers
Much of the credit for the current progress is owed to WWOOFers and HELPXers. If you are not familiar with the concept, they are travellers from around the world who contribute labour in exchange for accommodation and meals. So far, we have had people from Australia, Holland, France, South Korea, Germany, Canada, Ireland, Finland, England, Wales and the United States. Each one of them has made valuable contributions and they have become good friends. Our 14 year old son and 10 year old daughter have gained much from the exposure to other cultures
WWOOFers & HELPXers Hall Of Fame
Giri and our son Joshua
Yasmine and our daughter Jesse
Aurelien from France
Marcus from Australia
Lynn from the USA
Tae Soon from South Korea
Eric from Canada
Marylise from Canada
Katarina from Germany
Kang and Umi from South Korea
Rita and Sean from Ireland
Jae from South Korea
Sauli from Finland
Ceri from Wales
Jen from England
Tony from Ireland
Greg from France
Doerte from Germany
Emma from Germany
Carrie from the USA
Kristin from the USA
Tomoki from Japan
Suyeon from South Korea
Hansel from South Korea
Martin from Scotland
Dajana from Germany
Roddy from Scotland
Clement from France
Melanie from France
Theresa from Sweden
Joshua from Canada
Tomoko from Japan
Matt from Australia
Louis from France
Richard from England
Steffen from Germany
Maja from Sweden
Zarah from Sweden
Pete from England
Posy from England
Jason from Canada
Barbara from Switzerland & Canada
Scott from England
Rachel from England
Garth from Australia
Heather from Australia
Sarah from the USA
John from the USA
Rex from Hong Kong
Won Sang from South Korea
Horace from Taiwan
Eiran from Israel
Danna from Israel
Lauren from Scotland
Sam from Taiwan
Ruby from Taiwan
Clare from the UK
Dean from the UK
Allan from Queensland
Kate from Queensland
Johann from France
Marie from France
Darren from Queensland
Rachel from Queensland
Ryan from Taiwan
Alex from Germany
Ashley from Scotland
Jackie from the USA
Marion from Wales
Jemma from the UK
Michael from France
Benoit from France
Hanna from Germany
Jerome from France
Annie from France
Sylvain from France
Helene from France
Sarah from the UK
Elena from Australia
Pauline & Arnaud from France
Damien from France
Mickael from France
Stephanie from France
Sam from England
Balazs from Hungary
Philippe from France
Mathieu from France
Alex from The UK
Jonas from the US
Amandine from France
Sandie from Hong Kong
Avi & Yael from Israel
Nir from Israel
Yannai from Israel
Yottam from Israel
Yael & Mieka from Israel
Francesco from Italy
Steve from Taiwan
Karine from France
Lake from Taiwan
Rachel from Taiwan (with Rocky)
Apel from Malaysia
Karen from Taiwan
Simon from France
Nigel from Taiwan
Virginie from France
Elena from Germany
Sylvain from France
Anne-Charlotte from France
Miu from Hong Kong
Julie from Taiwan
Alain from the U.S. & France
Peter from Australia & New Zealand
Igor from Spain
Rudi from Belgium
Makoto from Japan
The "Adoberos"
The four of us: Bill, Denise, Joshua and Jesse
Slide Show
If you would like to view a PowerPoint presentation of where we are and what we are doing, click this banner. It may take a little while to download (5.6 MB).
Our Other Webcam and Webcasts
If you like big band swing music, click this banner.
If you like "modern" jazz, click this banner.
If you like early rock 'n' roll, folk rock and early classic rock, click this banner.
Watch the kangaroos in our back yard
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