PCS

OLLAs in our raised bed gardens “JOAN” & “STANLEY” up at the land. An olla (pronounced oya) is an unglazed ceramic pot buried in the soil and filled with water as a method of irrigation. We made lids for the ollas to slow evaporation. The plants are crimson clover used for soil nutrition and California native wildflowers  for seed collection for our land. (Lauri)

Traditional ollas are made of unglazed porous red clay. The clay used in these ollas is soldate and is only fired to bisque. Small holes have been carved into the coiled pots to allow water to seep out into the garden.  The ollas are filled with water from nearby cistern water collected by the metal rooftop of garden shade structure.

Our outdoor kitchen is made of pine from the land, pine from the local sawyers and wood found in the shipping container. It sits on metal augered supports on land just above the yurt.  Its location is such that it will collect sun for the solar panels that will power the refrigerating cooler, lighting and soon a convection stove top. The metal roof tilts to the west to collect rainwater run off into a rain barrel and to provide shade during the hot months. The collected rainwater will be used for cooking, cleaning and provide for a small herb garden.  From the hilltop you will be able to see a large patch of land that has been cleared of scotch broom, dead trees and shrubs, seeded with wildflowers and will overlook a seating and dining area. It will also be near a compost heap for kitchen waste to serve as fertilizer for the herb garden.  Beside the kitchen, an area will contain a solar oven and, for now, a gas powered stove. Counter tops and cabinets still are in the designing stages and will be built with pine from the land and a small sink found in one of the abandoned trailers. Steps and pathways will be built of pine, stones and mulch. (Lauri)