November

Another blog on the house

http://chicaecocortijo.blogspot.co.uk/

a blog from a volunteer about the roofing

October

September

August

A Shed in 3 Weeks

We had about 50 bales left over so it seemed appropriate to create something interesting with them rather than just feed them to the llamas. 'A place to put things that I don't want in the house', had been on my mind. A space for tools and odds and ends.
Swiftly the shed was designed and wwoofers Charlie and Karie gleefully took on the task of constructing it. They had little building experience and had few questions considering. It didn't all go to plan and a little 'bale frenzy' took place, but a little modifying at the end got it all into shape.
Again, here's the 'car tyre free draining foundation' method, with first bales gleefully being placed.




This building was designed as a straw bale build and as a result was quick and easy to construct. It took about 4 days to complete the walls.







This is the roof plate, that distributes the weight of the roof evenly over the load bearing walls.
That's the main house in the background.








Here's Leigh making some finishing touches.










The bundled cana was a solution to 'no vigas' on site. Using materials I had bought, that needed using before they rotted on the ground, I found a way to create strength without spending any more money. Seems very strong but may be a temporary solution, but the roof is designed so it can easily be undone and replaced with wooden vigas when my ship comes in.






Total cost of shed, so far, is about 160 euros.

The house takes shape

Finally in the last days of June we buy straw. Wwoofer, Leigh, and I took about 3 weeks to get the walls up to full height.










It could have been much quicker if the house had been designed as a straw bale house, but it was long drawn before the straw was chosen as the ideal material for the moment. However, it's rather beautiful with all it's curves and really worth all the extra work.

June jaunts

Earthship style

We (wwoofer Vera and I) have recently created a link from the old ruin wall to the new part of the house out of car tyres rammed with gravel. This means that the whole structure is now well bonded together and more stable. When we eventually get straw (it is not on the market around here at present as last years staw is sold out and it hasn't yet been baled this year) we will be able to build the whole east wing of the house at once rather than in two phases. Waiting for materials has served us well.

Google 'earthship' to find out more about this amazing way on building.

Straw

Oh what joy to be seeing the doors in place and the walls rising, to be stopped swiftly by rain and high winds. But never mind, we need the rain and there's sure to be plenty of sun to follow, here down in southern Spain.

Plastering

Afterwards, the new wall was covered with sand and lime plaster. We went on to build the timber parts, the structural windows and doors, and part of the roof plate. We are so well prepared now for the arrival of the straw bales and roof timbers. The straw part is a fast construction stage and we should soon be enjoying the new rooms.

Sacks and Earth

Mathilde here, from France, has worked hard with other wwoofers and myself to collect and sieve the clay rich earth/launa from the farm, mix it with sand, then fill and compact in the sacks, whilst maintaining a perfect horizontal level along the wall (not easy!). This was a long and labour intensive part of the build and has been accomplished beautifully.

Tyres and Earth

Since early December 2007, we have been working on the East side of the house, creatively recyling materials and using the natural resources directly around us. The tyres I have picked up locally (from a tyre replacement garage) and (joyfully!) from the roadsides around the farm.

Our free draining tyre foundations are placed directly on the levelled site and filled with earth around the sides and gravel in the centre.

Two Rooms

In early 2006, along came Troy, Erin, Meagan and Drew in, wwoofers with plenty of enthusiasm and technical knowledge. We took off the collapsed roof, raised the walls, change the roof pitch and put on a new roof. All in the space of a few weeks. Later that year Erica, Clay and Melanie added their energy to the project and we completed the rendering of the first building.


The very same autumn/winter period, we added a new room beside this one, helped substantially by running a course for women eco-builders. I then wrote about this experience in 'The Olive Press, between March and May 2007, in articles called 'Women with Trowels'

First Steps

In September 2005 I finished clearing the inside of the little brick building which I guess was added about 30 years ago to the ruin. The roof had collapsed, the walls were single skin brick and cement and the floor was earth and yesso plaster. A friend helped me to put down a lime and sand floor which took a long time to harden as there was plenty of damp weather and no roof.