| Last Tuesday Patricia opened the “PIGlet (Permaculture Implementation Group)” meeting by asking each of us what field or technique of permaculture, large or small, we would like to learn more about. When I replied that I was interested in the construction aspect and alternative building methods, it turned out to be the project of the day. Director of Acquisitions, Brent, had located a free and abundant source of broken concrete chunks with which we were to create a retaining wall around the intern cottage. 
Ugo went with Brent to pick up the second load. While they were gone, we dug a trench around the north and east walls and the southeast corner. It was explained that perforated pipe would be laid in the trench and buried in gravel. The pipe will wrap around at a decline from the north end of the east wall to the west end of the south wall, using gravity to facilitate drainage. When we finished digging, Alex and I pursued a personal vendetta against a well-rooted tree stump protruding into the trench, which the cottage seemed to have been built on top of. After much sawing and axing and jumping-on-top-of, we broke it free before Brent returned with a chainsaw. |  Alex went with Brent to retrieve the concrete while Patricia and I, under Patrick’s supervision arranged what concrete we already had around the base of the west wall. The first delivery was unloaded behind the cottage (the south wall) and from there most of the biggest pieces were selected and laid down first. We pieced them together as evenly as possible trying to create a somewhat flat, level surface on the top. 
Finally the second load arrived and was put in place with help from Brian. The next phase of the project is to use a pressure washer to bore a hole in the dirt beneath the concrete parking spot on the south side, allowing us to direct the drainage pipe down and out. |
While the retaining wall itself is pretty standard (not exactly a funky alternative permaculture design), it’s a basic necessity for the integrity of the cottage, and the fact that it used a surplus material made it relatively low-impact. Both the element of necessity and the focus on a space that would be inhabited by interns to come made it a gratifying project to work on. It was nice to work with a more diverse group of people outside of the daily garden crew, each bringing valuable experience and input. I’m looking forward to completing the project, and seeing it in its finished state.
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