Diamond Mtn
I drove down to Diamond Mountain (a Buddhist spiritual center) near Bowie AZ (SE corner) to help build with the flexible form rammed earth method (and gain experience). I didn't actually get to fill any bags, but I did mess around with looking at the soil, and made some mud-straw plaster and plastered the finished parts of a dome, and kicked around a lot of ideas. I also helped pour a concrete foundation, and set up the rebar for another foundation. (for a bathroom and a temple). I looked at a number of books and plans, talked to lots of interesting people, and went on some hikes... Anyway, the purpose of this page is for pictures, so here they are...
The dome when I got there
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The dome when I left - all plastered
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Expert mud squishing
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one day dried plaster and fresh plaster
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distant lightning at night
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obligatory insect close up shot
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smoke from a forest fire
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thunder head building at sunset with yucca stalk
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The Diamond Mountain web page