A blog from Konbit Shelter. konbitshleter.orgTumblr (3.0; @konbitshelter)http://blog.konbitshelter.org/<p>Although the US Konbit team has returned home, the hard work on site continued over the past two weeks. While we were heartbroken to leave before seeing the completion of Adelia&#8217;s house, we also felt great pride in having cultivated such a strong team of earthbag builders, lime plasterers and roofing experts that were able to complete the final phase of construction on their own.<br/> The metal roof panels were each cut to size and secured in place, completing the roof of the house and the extended wrap-around porch, protecting against extreme weather, both rain and sun. Gravel and cement was poured and leveled, forming the floor of the house. The final layer of lime plaster was applied as the finishing touch to the earthen walls. Over the next week, water will be added throughout each day to the walls to ensure the lime cures slowly, but besides this relatively small task, we are proud to announce that:<br/> ADELIA&#8217;S HOUSE IS COMPLETE!!!!!!!<br/> It was an incredible month, full of hard work from morning until night, jam-packed learning new skills and saturated with memories, building new friendships, and deepening old ones. We witnessed our team of earthbag builders grow towards becoming experts, strengthening their skills each day. We are filled with hope and inspiration. Cormier is becoming a beacon for small-scale ecological practices, working with the earth and with each other, growing fruit and building strong, safe, sustainable structures.<br/> We will continue to post pictures of the finished structure as we receive them from our friends and Konbit team in Haiti. Until then, this is simply a message of great success and endless thanks to all of you who make this project possible. Whether you are our friends who simply believe in the possibility of a small group of people making big ideas come to life, or you were one of the angels who donated to our Kickstarter fundraiser, or you lent a helping hand or your voice to spread the word of the project &#8212; we hope you know that your fingerprints are built into these walls too!<br/> This is not just a beautiful, earthquake-safe house &#8212; It is also the site where we built relationships, shared ideas and knowledge, and forged connections that will last throughout our lives. Working together, hands in the dirt, nurtured the sprouting connection between our communities that will grow into future projects. With this house, we made a hands-on learning experience for our team to continue to master the skill of building with earth. Adelia is so thankful for her new home &#8212; and we are endlessly grateful for all of you who make this entire project possible.</p>http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/46637257192http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/46637257192Fri, 29 Mar 2013 21:40:32 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/1234f1e9f54521d21d3e2c076b33cfda/tumblr_mk7443EZIN1qcal7no3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/09251dffe18dc30e94125bf6ed3520fd/tumblr_mk7443EZIN1qcal7no1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/2822f5f2068055ee6d5be984d6920f2f/tumblr_mk7443EZIN1qcal7no2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/>http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/46221537371http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/46221537371Sun, 24 Mar 2013 21:55:15 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/5f93e42379f4272de9af0b28ebbb9ace/tumblr_mk73xtIica1qcal7no3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/01e3be2fd8744a9488b19351132fc404/tumblr_mk73xtIica1qcal7no1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/a9d3c2780d8fe3a70bc7b48ed808f3e8/tumblr_mk73xtIica1qcal7no2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>The work continues! Finishing the roof, making the doors, painting the details…</p>http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/46221230454http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/46221230454Sun, 24 Mar 2013 21:51:29 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/a8715d8702ecb637d440a9fc77cc416e/tumblr_mjmwm9e5cm1qcal7no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>the house = kayla</p>http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45326566139http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45326566139Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:01:21 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/8126c3923192d671363b742441ac1462/tumblr_mjmwj8oiZh1qcal7no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>sacred geometry of roofs</p>http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45326463726http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45326463726Wed, 13 Mar 2013 23:59:32 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/5deb4040540efc0b962f5eaf3b7c509e/tumblr_mjmwdjEXWh1qcal7no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Wesner raising the roof</p>http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45326275060http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45326275060Wed, 13 Mar 2013 23:56:07 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/2c190fab201a09fbbfa48951c7f226ca/tumblr_mjmvy5DrfR1qcal7no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Shamil and Robinson — MVPs!</p>http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45325759007http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45325759007Wed, 13 Mar 2013 23:46:53 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/ad3c10ac8f760c0168db66d861e8ecc0/tumblr_mjmv351BK71qcal7no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Guypson and Lara</p>http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45324648280http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45324648280Wed, 13 Mar 2013 23:28:17 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/c61796693d88273218815d245245dd20/tumblr_mjmv0x3DXZ1qcal7no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/>http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45324569088http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45324569088Wed, 13 Mar 2013 23:26:57 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/ccdcd13577a81f8a8f458f768c7f2eb6/tumblr_mjkw1cki3C1qcal7no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/>http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45240962578http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45240962578Tue, 12 Mar 2013 21:53:36 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/af5abfb7e19b9b51a083f07b06add1f1/tumblr_mjkvw94MKC1qcal7no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/>http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45240714683http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45240714683Tue, 12 Mar 2013 21:50:33 -0500<p>In these last days here we are working nonstop to get everything done. The frame of the roof was completed today, and the roof cap was put on in the late afternoon. Gravel was set and tamped down to lay the base of the floor of the house. We built a form for the patio of the floor to be filled in with cement, and built out the shelf that is anchored into the walls of the house. All of our lime is ready to be applied as the final coat on the walls, as we are letting the earthen plaster cure.<br/> At the community center we held a colorful painting session with the kids. They filled endless pages with their bright imaginations. At Monique&#8217;s house, which was the previous home we built here in Cormiers, Callie is painting decorative shapes to make it ever more beautiful. Tod is busy around town documenting all of the activity and also telling the amazing story of the local stone carving tradition. We were also joined by Monica, an artist and activist from New York, who jumped right in on site to lend her helping hands.<br/> Until our solar powered batteries were drained, we listened to the beautiful sounds of haitian music that our friends played, and had abundant conversations about all that we have done together and all of our hopes for the future&#8230;!</p>http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45240552337http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45240552337Tue, 12 Mar 2013 21:48:34 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/60f645da106b4b807901e9eb142fde70/tumblr_mjj3t1mbhP1qcal7no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>stone carving</p>http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45166299701http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45166299701Mon, 11 Mar 2013 22:46:13 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/0ba5175ce92b543cff7b4123a6f3c6da/tumblr_mjj2toM1Qi1qcal7no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Timouns</p>http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45164726844http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45164726844Mon, 11 Mar 2013 22:25:00 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/199fe844cacdfb2b1aa066886d024a5d/tumblr_mjj2g7MZIx1qcal7no1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/82b5be3de3c91c183d8f7b0833efb5b0/tumblr_mjj2g7MZIx1qcal7no2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Windows in place & fresh picked mangos!</p>http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45164109915http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45164109915Mon, 11 Mar 2013 22:16:55 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/16b51d6e26e0065b3c09640dbb524afd/tumblr_mjj0u5QCxA1qcal7no1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/7195132dc829eb94bd33b19e907645ae/tumblr_mjj0u5QCxA1qcal7no2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/>http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45161293763http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45161293763Mon, 11 Mar 2013 21:42:05 -0500<p>Today we finally finished the last touches of earthen plaster! After the first two coats were applied and we covered the structure in wire mesh, these last touches helped even out the walls by applying extra plaster to fill in any depressions. We picked up and installed the custom steel windows of the house, bringing it another step closer to becoming the uniquely beautiful home it is made to be. The sacred geometry of the roof is meticulously being constructed one piece at a time. The roof has 5 concentric octaganol rings that reinforce the strength of the structure itself and will also brace the metal roof panels that go on next. Every single cut is made by hand with a pull saw. Including mitered edges and compound angles that KT has mastered, cutting all 22.5 degree angles freehand&#8230;.<br/> But the MOST exciting part of the day was when the rest of our amazing Konbit team joined us for our last week here – Callie and Tod both arrived on site with a parade of children screaming their names, pulling at their clothes and hair, ecstatic to see their old friends. We had a massive afternoon drawing session with tons of kids and the bright new supplies Callie brought, and are continuously transforming the walls of the community center into a colorful art gallery.</p> <p>&#8220;Twop prese pa fe jou louvri&#8221; – too much rushing does not open up your day</p>http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45160518615http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/45160518615Mon, 11 Mar 2013 21:33:02 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/a79b922e450422c7558f15bab5b76439/tumblr_mjdecdIGbw1qcal7no1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Allude in the framed out and sculpted doorway</p>http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/44903060583http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/44903060583Fri, 08 Mar 2013 19:48:13 -0600<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/ada345940af81c3d66248d0b4d7fc357/tumblr_mjddp3zIL71qcal7no1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/1b3033cf155c8c3faa359df9b41c7d73/tumblr_mjddp3zIL71qcal7no2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Other things happening around the site….. Robinson and a crew of munchkins, and a neighbor pruning a large tree to make the trunk grow wider.</p>http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/44902033820http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/44902033820Fri, 08 Mar 2013 19:34:15 -0600<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/a72fb97907ce859617b26ff84bda4cc9/tumblr_mjddjcJLlc1qcal7no2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/eaf523b7c0289cab3afa43aa9ee53700/tumblr_mjddjcJLlc1qcal7no1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Fine carpentry! After Iris sliced his finger open unloading the corrugated steel roof panels last night, he decided to smash his other finger with a hammer…He’s doing great work with the other 8 though!</p>http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/44901779003http://blog.konbitshelter.org/post/44901779003Fri, 08 Mar 2013 19:30:48 -0600