Marcia Gibbons | sustainable arts

Winter solstice sunrise

Solar calendar

Well-drilling rig and Mule Mtns.Ransom & Marcia toasting the well.

Removing some mesquite with backhoe

Cutting dead & down posts w. B.J. in the Chiracahua Mtns.

Marcia building compost facility

Humanure composting "bathroom"

Grooviest bathroom in the county

Soaking prior to digging foundation for first dome. Soil is rock-hard due to lack of rain. After the monsoons come, no problem!

Ed digging the foundation (solo)

test bags and papercrete cylindersTest bags with various percentages of portland cement,lime, and just plain subsoil. Also, 2 papercrete test cylinders.

Ed and Cisco starting bag work on dome!

Michael and Sam watching

Above ground!

Cisco, Oscar, Tyler, Daniel, Billy, & Ed

Gettin it done w. B.J, Billy, Oscar, Ed, Squeak, & Bill S.

Growing walls

More

Marcia building temporary forms for windows and door

Don't sit on the barbed wire, Darren

Dome, apse, ramada,bus (for camping), and a great view of the Mule Mountains

B.J. doing demolition of three courses to correct the arc. (My bad.) Using the pieces to create a planter/buttress/bench .

Back to building

Marcia and Billy "nailing " down barbed wire between each course.

Marcia tamping

Propped-up log being used as form for entry into apse

Darren and Billy tamping over door form

climbing the wallsForm for door in place

Garrett removing a window form. Enoc relaxing on wall.

enjoying a windowIf it has a window, it must be a building!

south facing windowSouth -facing window. Note strip anchors and chases for adding small countertop/sink.

Apse with various forms for windows

Closing the apse!

Ryan's view of the apse.

Test samples for exterior plaster

Soaking prior to digging foundation for pumphouse. Pressure tank and top of well.

Marcia and Ed - first bag -work in gravel-lined trench. Very hot, 9-hour day for 2 teenagers and an old lady! But very cool results!

Ed and Bajjon perfecting their technique. Note Cal-Earth logo on bags! Thank you Cal Earth . I like to think Nader is watching.

Door jam held in place w. strip anchors. Recycled concrete "pavers" for floor.

Billy and Marcia put straw-bales in place.Rebar in corners.Looking pretty pleased with ourselves.

B.J. and Eliot mixing cob in kiddie pool. Way fun.

Cobbing done and a start on earth plaster

Billy & Ed working in the scratch coat of earth plaster.

Suny and Tyler sinking posts for roof of pumphouse.Scratch coat is drying.

Roof up and scratch coat plaster on JUST before monsoons come !!

traw-bale pumphouse protected from impending monsoon rains. Will finish plastering in the fall.