Earth Bag Building has Begun!!!

First, if the photos come up on the blog, there is a typical view of the 'interior' of Alentejo.  Rolling plains with one tree in the distance. A view from our trip to mertola.
Yes, at last we are ready to build.  We are making a garden wall to start with, to get to know the techniques.  The book that we are using is SO good.  It gives step by step details and instructions.  We keep it close to hand and it's beginning to look well thumbed and earthy. It's a very easy way to build a substantial dwelling with little money and little technology.  Just earth and feed sacks and a few other bits and bobs.  It's solid, like taipa (rammed earth) but done without the wooden forms.  So watch this space!

Our land is full of flowers, as is the whole of Alentejo at the moment.  The roses that tumble along the roadsides, and now the honeysuckle is clambouring over the bramble bushes in the hedgerows.  And the birds are going bonkers.  It's like living in the jungle, listening to them sing in the tree tops. It is also very hot, suddenly.  34 degrees at times.  I have built an extension to my bender, made from iron hoops and shade netting.  I have also taken up some art materials.  Huh, fat chance that I use them!  But you never know when the urge to grab a paint brush will take me.