Monday, June 23, 2008

wildlife report

  • racoons
  • seals
  • raven
  • squirrel
  • deer
  • mice
  • slugs
  • hummingbirds
  • woodpeckers
  • yellow finchy looking bird
  • robins
  • spiders
Slowly chipping away at our log pile. Tiring and hot work, more so for Kevin who actually has to do it. I'm just the log wrangler. The posts and beams themselves are so nice though...

Thursday, June 5, 2008

7L Big Build for Summer 2008

Our 7L project is being built with lots and lots of help from our friends. If you'd like to come and leave your mark, here's some info

The 2008 "Big Build" will be in the last two weeks of August. Our list of goals for this year's big build varies wildly depending on the day. But like, probably some floors. And some walls. And maybe a roof?

We've already started going up for day trips and should begin milling, working on the power tower and setting up camp any day now, weekend weather permitting.

The logistics
You can only get there by boat, it's a lovely 20 minute ride from Horseshoe Bay. We provide the boat (and the lifejackets!)

  • Starting in April and May we will be making day trips and as it gets warmer the whole weekend.



  • We will be there full-time for the last two weeks in August.



  • Promise to swing a hammer and we'll cover your transportation costs.


  • The amenities

    • Flush toilet in "toilet shack"
    • Large 2-6 person tent on platform in main camp area
    • Secluded 2-6 person tent on platform with water view
    • Roofed room (in power tower) with water view
    • Solar outdoor shower with spectacular view and variable temperatures
    • Kitchen cook tent with running (cold) water, BBQ and stove
    • Screened in eating area
    • Lots of tenting sites
    • Sunscreen aplenty
    The perks
    • The company of people who understand the importance of R & R
    • Yummy food for vegetarians and omnivores
    • Cocktail hour
    • Granola bars & other snacks
    • Hammock
    • Ocean swimming
    • Wildlife viewing
    • An excellent workout
    • A chance to use power tools

    The to-do list
    • Move smaller rocks off foundation area
    • Power wash rocks for foundation
    • Begin building power tower walls
    • Treat all lumber with oil-based natural wood protection
    • Lay-down platform
    • Begin building cabin!
    • Finish installing windows on power tower
    • Siding for power tower
    • Inside details of power tower
    • Cook / Clean-up
    • Build trails
    • Replant displaced trees
    • Reduce fire hazards by clearing brush
    • Build a swing
    • Be a gopher (go-fer tools, water, sunscreen etc)
    • General site maintenance (tents, tarps etc)
    • Set up a croquet set
    • Set up a Frisbee golf course?
    • Help mill wood (weekdays only)
    • Dream about future zipline
    • Glass-cutting/recycling project
    • Build things with wood

    Sustainable Design

    Sustainable Living

    a blog about 1 cabin and 7 ideas

    local / logical / lots of uses / long lasting / low impact / low cost /loveable

    Big thanks to everyone!

    Help Gambier Island

    Gambier Island is facing numerous environmental threats at the moment when we are seeing a rebirth of wildlife. Wolves, whales, owls and more, all around us we see evidence of an eco-system on the rebound. But that resurgence is threatened by plans to allow clear-cutting, develop LNG plants, sink warships.