Hi All,

Hi All, for those who know or do not know, our home suffered a minor burn. Though the burn was minimal, the smoke damage was extensive. I started this blog to keep friends and family informed on work parties and supply lists; and updated on the progress of rebuilding our home.

You can reach me by Phone 918-704-1330, by e-mail jessicaberbaum72@gmail.com, message me on facebook or comment here. I have friends willing to go pick donations up for me, a drop off place, or feel free to drive it on out to the mesa.

In the first and second pictures of this slide show, you can see how it smoldered in between the bales where there was some loose straw. Straw bales are pretty hard to burn when they are compressed tightly because there just isn't any oxygen. Basically the stove was burned so hot it was scalded white and either the straw ignited or something else more flammable, like a mouse nest, caught fire.

The straw bale walls were covered with an earth plaster, so we are talking about a seriously hot fire. In the picture of the corner beam, you can see how very close I came to losing the whole house. That beam is attached to the bond beam and roof. Most of the bales were thrown outside so it was a bit worse than it looks but isolated to a small section.

Most of the damage was from the smoke. The house is not livable and I don't even know yet what will need to be replaced. The beds are toast and this entire room will need to be re plastered. Possibly the whole house will need new plaster and I do not yet know if the ceiling insulation in the rest of the house will need to be replaced as well.

Asking for help is not always easy, anything you can think of is greatly appreciated. I am the kinda gal that likes to re-use/recycle. So, anybody who has stuff collecting dust, feel free to donate. I am still in the process of supply list writing but more immediately, we need clean plastic containers with lids to store all of our clothes and belongings in after they are washed. We will definitely need lathe, chicken wire and concrete. We have already been given all the straw bales needed and a pallet of adobes for the interior wall.
So, here begins the Bale Raising!

Friday, November 1, 2013

 Friends! Friends! Friends!
If it wasn't for all of my amazing friends....................
Lyyke! that's not what goes into your new potty. Thanks to Colin, Lykke can now use a composting "indoor" potty.














  Rory, Swift, Brian, Aaron and Dawn all came and helped me do the thick coat of mud, that was next after months of patching.



Then wonderful Ben brought his crew in to Plaster the outside of the sun room. The sun room is the key to heating the house, Solar gain. Super important!


Somewhere in the mix, Lykke turned 4!


Ok. so winter came a little early....
That's alright, we moved into the sun room.































Then I finally got around to cleaning out the other loft. No this is not dust my friends. Everything upstairs had a fine coating of soot.










Then my wonderful brother came and plastered around the window and we moved upstairs.

On to the Rocket Stove. Blairs handy work.



It's on fire!














Rocket stove innards.



















Almost there! Cute little cove for kindling.
Lykke's Oma came for a visit....So we put her to work. she painted smoke primer on the ceiling and the floor of Lykke's loft. And herself a little bit.



Aaron came with a Bob Cat and made our road smooth....awesome!

















More importantly, he burmed dirt up around the foundation of the Sun room, to keep water from draining in under the foundation and to help insulate where it sticks up out of the ground
































And Here we are Halloween! A little more snow, plenty more work yet to do. But Thanks to all the help we are inside, warm and dry.


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