On my final morning, I awoke before dawn — before the bittersweet goodbyes. Savoring the silent mist, I reminisced on moments embedded in earth and heart. Soon friends flooded the kitchen, our chatter quieter but no less warm. Stuffed backpacks awaited by the door; though expanded inner worlds we’ll carry indefinitely. My elongated embraces tried …
Farewell For Now: Reflections on an Impactful Journey Read More »
The bittersweet finale dawned — our 10th and final construction day. Despite weary bodies, spirits soared fueled by anticipation of seeing our dome whole. We swiftly stacked the last rows, closing the eye-like apex. Four meters wide, 34 layers high…our earthen haven is complete! In a last-minute thrill, we decided to add a skylight. Centers …
Having breakfast duty, my team awoke before dawn to serve our comrades. The energy on site was frenetic yet focused — we’re almost done! Six more rows should complete the dome. Minds raced imagining tomorrow’s concluding event while muscles moved as one toward the shared target. As Mariana says: “One more bag to go! One …
Today was day 11 and emotions ran high as our earthen dome neared completion. After breakfast, we eagerly got to work, motivated to finish strong. We accomplished 6 whole layers, seeing the structure really close in. I’m so proud of our progress! It’s bittersweet that only 2 days remain of this life-changing course. While I …
On Day 10, we fueled up with breakfast before tackling the door arches — an iconic focal point. With the dome towering overhead, scaling and passing bags turned treacherous. Still, spirits stayed upbeat as our natural wonder took shape. Mariana advised critical reinforcement techniques for openings. We compacted thick supportive layers below the arch to …
On Day 9 we fueled up with a scrumptious breakfast bounty thanks to Anirudh and Orion. Their caring efforts set us up for a demanding day ahead. I was already feeling weary, but Mama doctored my injured thumb so I could build without pain. We stacked four full layers, elevating the structure as the dome …
Day 8 was a soothing retreat into remote mountain landscapes after a week of intensive building. Since our team handled breakfast duty, we got to sleep in until the leisurely hour of 7 AM. At 9, we embarked on a scenic hike along steep trails into the verdant jungle. Our faithful pups Rakshya and Kabita …
Soul-Soothing Nature Escape: Recharging in the Langtang Range Read More »
Day 7 marked an exciting milestone — installing the window frames! After breakfast, we began outlining the arched openings using the specialty earthbag “pillow system” for curvature. This involves compacting smaller bags in front to angle back bags at an incline. Mariana taught us critical structural details. We filled and tamped custom-sized bags to contour …
I awoke on Day 6 feeling tired and achy, though powered through breakfast before the half day of work ahead. We made steady progress on site before most of the group headed to a nearby village wedding over the lunch hour. I was fascinated to witness the marriage rituals and feast with our gracious hosts. …
An Auspicious Day: Celebrating Community Connections Read More »
Day 5 began with fueling up on a hearty breakfast before heading to the construction site. We installed door frames, using lumber to outline the openings. After leveling up the base, we continued stacking layers of earthbags, tamping them into dense blocks. In our afternoon lesson, Mariana went over best practices for planning structural features …
Doors Taking Shape: Crafting Structural Openings Read More »
