Construction Projects and Work Weekends

by Orren Whiddon
reprinted from the 2010 Wheel of The Year Calendar

    Editor's Note: This article was published in 2010 as an update to the Membership on our work weekends for that coming year, and gives a good feel our project list and the volunteer hands that make it all happen.
    We work together as a crew, with meals provided by and shared at the Farmhouse. Often a bit of a party after the sun goes down. If you would like to help, we would appreciate it. Check the schedule for latest info on the current years Work Weekends, and feel free to call the office with your questions.

The last of our hand milled trim
goes up in the Loft

If you look back to last year's Calendar you will see the long list of projects that we planned for the 2009 season, and we are tickled that so much has been achieved. With the Loft close to completion, and the shell of the new in-camp Dormitory up, we are now well on our way towards providing covered roof and heated space accommodation at Four Quarters. In fact so much has happened that a full length article with pictures seems in order. So...

We are very pleased that The Starvin’ Artist Kitchen has received its permanent “Eating and Drinking” licence from the PA Dept of Health! We are now fully approved with the kitchen, just as we became fully approved by the DEP for our central water system in 2008. It has been a long road since we began feeding people out of an old Army tent back in 1996! Much thanks to the volunteer kitchen staff who have maintained the high standards that this permit requires, and the support of Eric Stevens, our Bedford County Sanitarian.

And we have completed the two hot shower stalls in the Upper Shower House just in time for the SpiralHeart Reclaiming Summer Camp. The Oohh’s and Ahh’s from the shower house are most gratifying! We hope within a few years to add two more shower stalls and washer and dryer to the Upper Shower House. A little bit more each year and we get where we are goin’.

Read more...

Construction Projects and Work Weekends!

lt’s hard to believe that just four years ago we were still hauling drinking water into camp with tanker-trailers and real electricity was limited to the Kitchen. But then came our central sewage system, the deep well and the Lower Shower House. Followed by the Upper Shower House and the first half of our water supply system. Then more buried cables for our self-generated power and an expansion of the water system to serve the entire camp. Last year saw a “fabulous” fund raiser that made expanding the Upper Fire Circle possible. We received our final permits from the PA DEP for our central water system and our preliminary Commercial Kitchen Licence from the Health Department.

All of this work has been preparing the way for the BIG improvement to the camp, the one we have been thinking about for years. Accommodations. A place to sleep, to meet together in foul weather, under a roof. And 2009 will be the year that it all comes together at Four Quarters. Eliza began the process two years ago when she took out a bank loan to finance the shop building at the Farmhouse, earning her nickname “Miss Mortgage.” The upstairs “Loft” of that building has been in use for meetings and overnights since summer. Right now the drywall is going up in the Loft and soon... Paint!

This spring we will break ground for our first in-camp sleeping dorm, located between the Main Stage and the Camp Kitchen. This will be a solid wood building to sleep 24, designed in “Craftsman Style” and we will be milling the lumber for its construction ourselves, on site. Some of the work is rather skilled, for instance the setup and operation of the mill. But owing to the design of the building, most of the actual construction will be simple, requiring many willing hands. So there will be a need for everyone, of any skill level.

Our due date for first use is late July, in time for SpiralHeart Reclaiming. (see pg. 35) To that end we have scheduled a number of work weekends this season, and they are not limited to work on the dorm, but include caring for the grounds too. These weekends are:

April 10-12, 2009; which is also a Full Moon Service
April 24-26, 2009; a New Moon Service hosted by Spiral Heart and The Lodge Quest Weekend
June 19-21, 2009; the Summer Solstice Weekend and a Full Moon Service
July 17-19, 2009; a New Moon Service Weekend

 We will be planning these work weekends on the discussion Forum, so please do stay tuned. The Summer Solstice weekend just may turn into a little mini open house festival in its’ own right. We will figure it out as the time draws nigh. Call with your questions and look for the folks covered in wood chips!