Sunday morning we were surprised to get up to a temperature of 36 and heavy frost but today we loved that we were back to a low of 53. Love that southwest Florida has only a day or two of winter. So we have had our day and now we can get back to an early spring with pretty flowers and fresh strawberries.
Some of the flowers growing at ECHO
It was another beautiful day for us to head back to work. We had devotion with the staff at ECHO again today and then Max, Anne, Karen, Ken and Vi went back to the bamboo pressure treatment area. Now that the footings are in place and the concrete cured, we began working on reinstalling the French drain that we worked so hard to remove last week. We then covered the trench with stone. After that we began working on putting together the scaffolding (we are missing a few parts.) and preparing to install the ledger board. The board is ready and holes are drilled. Tomorrow morning with some help/strength from the rest of the team we will get it installed.
Replacing the drainage system. We used a sifting screen to separate the gravel from the sand.
Drainage system complete and ledger boards ready to be lifted
The bamboo pressure treatment equipment. Bamboo is connected to the black sleeves with hose clamps and the sugar laden sap is forced out with a sodium borate solution.
Gregg, Kevin, Suzan, Wanda and Janet spent their day working on the bridge in front of the gift shop. They removed the wooden deck boards, and assessed the structure. It is in need of a few repairs prior to the installation of the new Trex deck boards. (Thanks, Suzan for the photos.)
We needed to rest Friday after the physical week of work, so rest we did. We also did some laundry and bought groceries. The fresh local strawberries are in so we had angel food cake with fresh strawberries and whip cream for Max’s birthday. (We waited for the weekend to celebrate.) That night we enjoyed another Zoom meeting with Anne’s family.
Saturday we used All Trails app to find some local hiking. Number one on the list was the park we drive by on the way to work every day – Caloosahatchee Regional Park. The park is about 770 acres along the Caloosahatchee river and through mangrove areas and subtropical habitat with hiking trails as well as separate dirt bike trails and equestrian trails. There are primitive camping sites but unfortunately no RV parking. Beautiful, peaceful park and not crowded. We would definitely recommend it.
Hiking Caloosahatchee Regional Park
Much of the trail offered beautiful views of the river.
Some of the trail was a. little damp
Pretty, and tiny, wildflowers along the trail
Today, was another beautiful sunny day but started with a heavy frost and a temperature of 36. We failed to check the forecast last night were a little surprised when we had to turn the furnace on this morning. Guess that is what happens when you become accustomed to always having moderate temperatures and don’t think about it changing. We of course enjoyed worshiping online with our home church this morning and then had a quiet day at the RV park, resting and taking care of some mail and paperwork. It was a very nice weekend.
This week the entire team has worked very hard doing strenuous manual labor. Sorry, we were very tired in the evenings and basically took showers and collapsed. So, to catch you up: Tuesday was another beautiful day but it was 39 degrees as we drove to work. The cold front had arrived in south Florida. We were all bundled up to start the work day but the sun and the strenuous work had us shedding layers by morning break. We began the day with everyone back at the bamboo pressure treatment area, BPTA, (our highest priority task) taking down the remainder of the bamboo structure, cutting it up and hauling the pieces to the recycling area. We then tackled digging out the French drain that ran beside the building. It had to be removed in order to set the forms for the post footings for the new structure. After getting all the demolition completed and debris cleared out, we divided up the team. While some of us were working on the French drain at the bamboo treatment area, others built forms for the footings, and others began working in another area of the farm prepping and setting forms for a new slab for the seed dryer. The building materials for the new bamboo pressure treatment area were also hauled to the site.
Bringing down the bamboo rafters
Removing the last few pieces of the bamboo lean-to
Ken and Vi building the forms for the concrete post footings
Uncovering the drain pipe
The drain pipe uncovered
Wanda and Janet cutting the bamboo pieces from the old structure to be recycled.
While some were digging others were moving in the building supplies.
Site with bamboo shelter removed
Wednesday morning it was all hands on deck at the BPTA to dig 12 holes for the post footings for the new structure. We were all really surprised that we had all the holes dug by lunch. What a team! Then began the slow work of working with Elliott on the exact placement of the forms in the holes. While Max, Anne, Ken and Vi worked on that portion of the project, Suzan and Kevin completed the forms for the slab for the seed dryer, and began work on emptying the storage container with Wanda and Janet. As usual, team leaders Greg and Karen were helping out everywhere.
All hands on deck digging holes for the footings …
… even our wonderful leaders.
The holes seemed deeper for some diggers.
As we were digging one day, Elliott commented that he was surprised that we had not found any wires or pipes. Of course, shortly afterwards we had to find at least one hole that had a cable in it.
Preparing for a slab for the seed dryer
Kevin and Suzan installing the reinforcing wire for the seed dryer slab
Thursday was the big day. Thursday morning we completed setting the footing forms and cleaning out the storage container. We then got everything set up for the concrete. Beginning about 2:30, we dumped 80 pound bags of concrete mix into the concrete mixer, added water and then transferred the concrete to wheelbarrows and shoveled it into the holes. It was about 38 bags of concrete mix. We complete the pour and finishing about 5:15. What a week! We thank God for safety and health.
This beautiful sunrise Thursday morning foretold a great day at work.
Setting forms in holes
Greg and Ken bending rebar for the post footing
Forms ready for concrete
It took almost 3 hours to mix and pour the concrete for the 12 post footings.
The lean-to project at the end of the week. Our main priority was to get the concrete poured so it could dry over the weekend.
Sunday was a beautiful day. We of course began by watching the Lester Memorial worship service and were so glad Pastor Harvey was feeling better and was able to preach. Afterwards we did some more hiking around the camp and some cooking for the week. We had our team meeting in the afternoon. We have one new NOMAD on our team, Janet and it will be fun getting to know her. We have not worked with Ken and Vi so we will get to know them better over the three weeks too. We also have Kevin and Suzan who worked with us in Hattiesburg, Wanda, and Gregg and Karen our leaders, we have worked with previously. This will be a good team and a fun three weeks. After the meeting we all walked around the campground and did some more exploring. We keep finding additional areas.
Sunday afternoon team meeting
Today we went to ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) for the first time. ECHO is about 20 minutes from the campground and is a 55 acre global farm and research center. After devotion with the ECHO staff, we spent the remainder of the morning touring the farm. This is an amazing place and we would encourage you to visit their website and read and learn. They are working to relieve hunger by teaching people to grow their own food using sustainable resources. We look forward to working to help the ECHO team reach their ministry goals.
Morning worship with the ECHO staff
ECHO Vision and Mission
Jennifer, our tour guide, discussing the uses of bamboo
One of several ecosystems demonstration areas
They called the moringa “the miracle tree”.
One of many surprising information signs we saw on our tour
We also toured the appropriate technologies area where they demonstrate cooking and water purification methods used in their target countries
Staff member Elliott describing how this “aquaponic” garden is used to grow both vegetables and fish
We began that work this afternoon by moving a lot of bamboo out of a lean-to and then removing the machine to pressure treat bamboo. We will be rebuilding this area over the next several days. Hard work but very rewarding.
The bamboo lean-to we are to replace
Karen and Janet carrying out the first of the bamboo pieces
With the whole team working it didn’t take long to remove all the bamboo
RVing With a Purpose 