Tuesday September 4th:
They set out on their adventure to Crawford late in the afternoon. Everyone was excited to see what Daniels ranch had to offer. On the way they stopped at Mineral Point for a short bathroom break and to see the San Juan Mountains.
Finally, they arrived at Daniels place around 5:00pm only to understand how much they loved fitting 15 people into a 15 passenger van (4 of those people being at least 6'2"). They started dinner and set up camp for the first night.
Wednesday September 5th:
The team woke up ready to help build a straw bale house, but first Daniel gave them a tour of his mostly finished straw bale
Wednesday September 5th:
The team woke up ready to help build a straw bale house, but first Daniel gave them a tour of his mostly finished straw bale
house. He explained to us some of the basics about building with straw bales and how everything he purchased for his house came locally... The straw bales came from Delta, the lumber came from a local lumber yard, and all the plasters for the house came from their property. They learned a lot of really interesting things about sustainable ways to build homes.
After their tour they walked down to road to Tony's house, a friend of Daniels who also lives on and owns the property. Our mission was to help build his house. He told us that he had been working on it for about 4 years now it is just about finished. The really cool thing was that there was still straw bales exposed so they could really get a good look at the dynamics of the house. Their job was to put slip directly on the straw bales, it was made from sifted dirt and water and created this really tin light gray mud. Imagine.... mud.... 15 college students..... imagine..... They put a light coat of the slip over all of the straw.
After they were finished with that they took a lunch break and listened to Tony talk about his days working for Outward Bound and what he thought about it.
After lunch the group put a thicker mud mixture over the slip. This mud was concocted of dirt and sand and water and it went on a lot thicker. This would be the "plaster" of the house. And after about 3 or so coats it would be finished.
The group learned about about sustainable housing and helping to build a straw bale house was something that they will never forget.
And after a long day of playing in the mud the group decided to go for a dip in a pond on the property.... which could have been even more muddy than the mud they used on the house....
A few people also got the chance to go on a trail ride later that evening; Jen, L.B., and Esther. They got to go on a dusk ride through some mountains on Daniels property.
After their tour they walked down to road to Tony's house, a friend of Daniels who also lives on and owns the property. Our mission was to help build his house. He told us that he had been working on it for about 4 years now it is just about finished. The really cool thing was that there was still straw bales exposed so they could really get a good look at the dynamics of the house. Their job was to put slip directly on the straw bales, it was made from sifted dirt and water and created this really tin light gray mud. Imagine.... mud.... 15 college students..... imagine..... They put a light coat of the slip over all of the straw.
After they were finished with that they took a lunch break and listened to Tony talk about his days working for Outward Bound and what he thought about it.
After lunch the group put a thicker mud mixture over the slip. This mud was concocted of dirt and sand and water and it went on a lot thicker. This would be the "plaster" of the house. And after about 3 or so coats it would be finished.
The group learned about about sustainable housing and helping to build a straw bale house was something that they will never forget.
And after a long day of playing in the mud the group decided to go for a dip in a pond on the property.... which could have been even more muddy than the mud they used on the house....
A few people also got the chance to go on a trail ride later that evening; Jen, L.B., and Esther. They got to go on a dusk ride through some mountains on Daniels property.
Thursday September 6th:
Field Trip day! They woke up that morning ready to go tour the town of Paonia CO. Their schedule was; Chaco Factory, Solar Energy International, and the High Country Times office.
Chaco Factory:
They went to the factory not really knowing what to expect.... They received a tour of the whole factory. They learned that there are only 2 factories that exist; the main one in Paonia and one in China. At the end of their tour they where delighted to find out that they would be able to purchase 2nd hand Chacos (they had pretty much nothing wrong with them) for only $10!
Solar Energy International:
They drove just down the road to a little place called Solar Energy International. This company was situated upon educating people about solar and wind energy, as well as sustainable ways to build homes. They have a hands on learning environment where you can take classes on how to use and manage solar and wind energy and how to build using sustainable resources.
High Country Times:
Here the group got a tour of the High Country Times office. This is a magazine that focuses on issues in the western states. The group was able to listen about what the company is really about and what they strive for.
After a full day of touring the group returned to Daniels ranch and enjoyed a nice evening of dinner and drums, a classic pass time.
Field Trip day! They woke up that morning ready to go tour the town of Paonia CO. Their schedule was; Chaco Factory, Solar Energy International, and the High Country Times office.
Chaco Factory:
They went to the factory not really knowing what to expect.... They received a tour of the whole factory. They learned that there are only 2 factories that exist; the main one in Paonia and one in China. At the end of their tour they where delighted to find out that they would be able to purchase 2nd hand Chacos (they had pretty much nothing wrong with them) for only $10!
Solar Energy International:
They drove just down the road to a little place called Solar Energy International. This company was situated upon educating people about solar and wind energy, as well as sustainable ways to build homes. They have a hands on learning environment where you can take classes on how to use and manage solar and wind energy and how to build using sustainable resources.
High Country Times:
Here the group got a tour of the High Country Times office. This is a magazine that focuses on issues in the western states. The group was able to listen about what the company is really about and what they strive for.
After a full day of touring the group returned to Daniels ranch and enjoyed a nice evening of dinner and drums, a classic pass time.
