MUD BRICK WORKSHOP: January 2003

Click image to enlarge - 75 kb Photos from the mud brick workshop in January
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Click image to enlarge - 75 kb
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After the sweat and toil of our first mud brick workshop in January 02, this year's was a breeze.

Not only did we have more people on board, but it was also much better organized. This was mainly due to Tom Cousins who spent many days out at the mud brick site setting everything up for us; so all we had to do was turn up and start the mixer and tractor.

His smokoe site from found objects was a designer's dream, as well as highly practical. Tom and Frank moved the 4,000 bricks from last year's effort to the stupa site by themselves - a huge and laborious job.

It was evident from the first day - when we made 900 bricks - that our initial goal of 4000 would easily be achieved; so the bar was raised and we made 6,000 bricks in seven days. There are now enough bricks for a toilet block at the stupa site as well. Our next job is to make them into walls (see article The Construction Begins).

We all had an excellent time, despite our hard labour. The food was great, the company was even better, and the beach and the dam were divine!