Kinstone Chapel
Another group of talented, interesting and wonderful folks attended the Cordwood Workshop at the Kinstone Chapel near Fountain City, Wisconsin on July 13-14, 2013 to continue the building of the chapel’s cordwood walls. As you may know, this Chapel is being built using the symbols/motifs from the Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon.
Here are a slew of pictures of mixing mud, screening sawdust, building walls, tuck pointing, covering walls, conversing, concentrating, eating and generally having a grand ol’ time.
- Mixing a good cordwood mud…chop, chop, chop went the hoe.
Some people are all smiles and giggles when they are cordwooding!
Even certified organic farmer’s get a kick out of tuck pointing.
Folks got serious about building a best practices cordwood wall.
A time for learning…
Screening the sawdust to weed out the big pieces. This will be for insulation and the mortar mix.
A time for demonstrating…
A good perspective of a cordwood wall under construction.
Some folks take to mortar mixing like ducks to water!
“It’s getting to the point…”
A thousand designs are rolling around in that pretty, curly little head:0)
Discussions over excellent meals lead to plan improvements.
John brought his solar telescope so we could see sun spots and his evening telescope so we could view Saturn and the craters on the moon. Amazing! Thank you John.
Mixing mortar, adding the right amount of water is critical.
Every one has a choice of a dust mask or a bandana when mixing lime insulation and mortaring, most choose the bandana. I feel like the Lone Ranger when I wear mine:0)
We even had snacks on site! Here Cook ‘Par Excellence’ Dorothy receives a hug from ‘instructoress’ Becky for a delicious piece of Mona’s fresh baked bread with Joeg’s home harvested honey! Ummm Good!
This is the bottle and log end wall that will surround the entrance way door to the Chapel. Our two cordwood wood mason’s are very pleased with their work (and so are we!)
A dragonfly…takes a bit of forethought.
Brother Fire is one of the design motifs.
Covering the walls at day’s end is a very important practice to ensure a slow set and cure of the mortar.
For information on natural building workshop and permaculture design courses go to www.https://kinstonecircle.com/
For information on Cordwood Construction books, workshops, consultations and literature go to https://cordwoodconstruction.org/
Or contact Richard Flatau, author of Cordwood Construction Best Practices at richardflatau@gmail.com or Flato@aol.com
