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Post by spinifex on Feb 16, 2020 11:39:03 GMT 10
  Pictures to go with previous post. Really surprised with how well this worked out - especially considering this was driest year on record in these parts with only 50% of average annual rain. The eating quality was excellent. I'm going to start making patches of spuds in the scrub all over the place. In normal rainfall years they should produce bigger tubers. |
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Post by spinifex on Apr 26, 2020 13:42:45 GMT 10
The dome hut has survived a year. Only damage is minor, the whole structure remains perfectly dry inside. A good design; and I see why Advoko settled on it for his structure. I have thought of some simple improvements to its construction to make it even better.
After a spot of lunch with a nice fire we moved on to visit the box hut. That was an abject fail. It seems it is a poor shape for pallet wrap to adhere tightly to and retain its integrity. We removed the plastic cover but left the frame.
Looking to use my practical discoveries from these experimental units to build a nice big dome hut at an entirely new location - the eagles nest. As name would suggest, the new location has outstanding views. I'm going to spray the top of the new dome with a light dusting of matt black and drab green paint to make it less visible from the air and attach an exterior camo curtain which can be raised and lowered to let in light or conceal the structure.
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Post by Joey on Apr 26, 2020 19:27:33 GMT 10
Looking good. The camo of the eagles nest site would be best, you don't need it standing out like a crop farm or something in the bush lol
That box hut designs seems like it would be more suited to coreflute paneling
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kelabar
Senior Member
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Post by kelabar on May 3, 2020 22:27:44 GMT 10
Great stuff, spinifex. Thanks for posting this.
A couple of ideas.
The plastic on the box hut seems to be dragging down from where it was initially placed. Either from water (roof) or gravity (sides). The roof and sides could be pre-made as rigid frames then mounted/joined to each other. So 5 panels to build the hut.
For the roof, back and front I'm thinking of a rigid square frame which is covered with 2 thinner layers of pallet wrap at 90 degrees to each other. Similar for the sides but the tops would be angled down to give the roof angle. The perpendicular plastic might hold it all in place better. A steeper roof angle would probably help too.
Possibly the ends of the frame wood could be shaped or notched so they lock into each other to a degree for additional strength.
This would also allow putting leaves/branches between the two layers as in survivy's great idea previously.
Additionally this would allow a staggered build. Build the roof on day one and use it as a lean-to. Build the back and one side the next day and have shelter on two sides and the roof. Finish it on the third day.
The dome design looks like a winner but I have always found round or curved to be annoying. Everything gets in the way.
I suspect you already know this but if you try legumes again grab a couple of handfuls of soil from the nearest crop paddock and sprinkle that over where you are planting the seeds. That will supply enough bacteria for them to fix their own nitrogen.
Also give them as much sun as possible. None of the crops are bred to grow in shady conditions.
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Post by spinifex on May 13, 2020 17:11:34 GMT 10
  - (click to enlarge)
The scrub spuds are doing great! Started themselves off from tubers the size of marbles left from last year.
The first structural component of the new bush shelter project. The arch is made from two live trees and measures 5m wide and about 2m high. More construction scheduled.
I gave up on the Eagle Nest location ... too far from good building materials and too exposed. I'm back down in a hollow for this build. The trees are Sugar Gums in natural scrub which came up after bushfire in 2005. I think I'm making something shaped a bit like Sydney Opera House - or a dome (like a Spinifex grass clump). Haven't decided yet. The exterior will be clad with wattle sapling stems to help it blend in. Might spend some time digging around on YouTube to see what others have done.
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Post by spinifex on Oct 22, 2020 17:58:28 GMT 10
    The construction of the big dome. It's been an entertaining learning experience! I learned how far a sugar gum sapling can be bent before it shatters under the strain. I also learned how to almost pull a shoulder out of its socket. There is about 10 hours work of work in this set of pictures. |
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Post by spinifex on Oct 22, 2020 18:10:34 GMT 10
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Post by Joey on Oct 23, 2020 20:43:16 GMT 10
Looking good, better not tell Greta how much plastic wrap you'll use to cover it lol
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Post by spinifex on Oct 24, 2020 17:43:30 GMT 10
Less than a roll! This thing has a smaller eco-footprint than a solar panel!
This thing is so 'eco' it'll become mandatory to live in one of these by 2030.
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Post by spinifex on Oct 24, 2020 17:50:42 GMT 10
    From left to right: Front view with a camo tarp over the apex of the roof. View from 15 metres away through the scrub which surrounds the site. Rear oblique view. Side view. |
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Post by SA Hunter on Oct 25, 2020 21:10:02 GMT 10
Seen this???
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Post by spinifex on Oct 26, 2020 7:31:31 GMT 10
That's the original inspiration!
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