Cob: RE:Update from gypsyfarm in Mauk GA

[Patrick Newberry]

Well I know I haven't been the most active member of this list and I don't
even have any new photos to show, 
that will have to wait till next year. But I did want to post a warm holiday
greetings to everyone and pass on the  latest 
status here in Mauk. 

THE HOUSE:
Well no it's not done yet. Yup I still work on it most every week or as
weather allows. I'm down to two cob walls to finish
and then it will be plastering time, then on to floors. I find I can cob
down to the low 40's but after that....burrrrr
it's a bit cold.  I traded a couple parts off an old school bus and in
return a fellow was suppose to bring me a load of
clay. Around here a load of clay usually means about 20 or 30 percent clay,
the rest sand... perfect for COB, unfortunately
the load ended up being closer to 10% clay and 90% sand. It's a bit too
sandy so I now bring in some clay from up the road 
and mix it in the wheel barrel as I make my cob and up the percentage to
around %20 percent. So in the end it still saved
be a lot of work as I only have to haul 10 percent of my mix in my old
beatup 71 ford pickemup. I had hope to be finished 
by this winter, but hey NEXT winter dog gone it!

The JOB:

Well as some of you  might remember, I got laid off from my job. Which was
sort of good and bad. I mean I wasn't really happy 
at the job, but at the same time I was able to work from home (as a
programmer) and mix cob in my breaks. Dang mud ain't 
good for key boards thought. anyway I tried to start my own web programming
business and well I guess I can honestly tell you
I'm not much of a business person. Well I went on this freedwalk to bring
attention to jail house conditions here in southwest GA.
We went on this 85 mile march. So here I find myself walking with a bunch of
do-gooders with lots of time to talk as it took 
a week to walk the 85 miles. During the walk one fellow tells me that Hey
you know Habitat for Humanity over in Americus 
has some jobs. So after the walk I figure what the heck, check it out...
well guess what! I'm now working at Habitat for 
Humanity here in Americus GA. Bad news is that, at least here in the US,
they don't seem real interested in building 
cob homes, but heck as long as I got mine! It was kind of funny too because
when I went thru the orientation process 
we watched some film about Habitat and after the film the guy up front
started talking about these poor people that 
had dirt floors. I kept my mouth shut as my floors are dirt with old
discarded carpet over it to keep the dust down. Yup
I just smiled. One man's poor house is another man's castle I say.


Love and Light
Pat and Carroll Newberry
and the rest of the maukites. 

pnewberry at hfhi.org