Posts Tagged ‘tribal living’

As readers all know…I’m “into” VERY Low-Cost SALVAGED-TO-BUILD domes.   I’ve learned alot.  Also that most “couldn’t” live in things so small.  In days ahead MANY will LEARN tho!

Mine are 10 cents to $350.00…(last quite “fancy”…thus the higher cost).

Sky’s FAR bigger and I expect it to go about $200.00…”FANCY”!

For any contemplating similar…AND HAVE MONEY…there are FASTER and STRONGER, EASY Ones that can be built.  Still very cheap.

I hope to put out a book on these (in time).

One thing I’d do differently (given the $$) would be to FIRST “fit out” the FURNITURE placement….THEN the Size needed to contain these.

Still wont be a Square Box “mansion”, but EXTREMELY AFFORDABLE.   Say about $5,000.00.

If you go to “Search” and type in HOBBIT HUT IN WALES  you will find EXACTLY what I’m talking about.  4 months and under $10,000.00 MOVE IN READY.  Self-Built.  CHECK IT OUT!   Mine are on that “line”.  Our one on other property about This size…and quite similar (we hope).  34 ft inside diameter by 18 ft tall.  Adding an extension to it as well.  That area as Kitchen / Toilet / Storage.  Built for our family of 6.  Only expect 3 tho.

Anyway, adding this to this post…in case any would like to get into “housing” without an “arm and a leg”.  THAT’S EXACTLY WHY I’M BUILDING THESE.  An EXAMPLE to give HOPE to the Homeless and families “doubling up” at relatives’ homes.  I’d like to see a “movement” of Like-Minded.  HELPERS HELPING OTHERS!  Aho?   re

(WS)

My visiting friend saw the domes.  VERY IMPRESSED.  Adam’s dome’s SIMPLICITY the MOST!    “ALL anyone NEEDS. ALL!  And so SIMPLE!  I can see 2 – 3 together…tunneled one to another.  The old Eskimo Igloo way.  This is NICE!”  Blew him away to see #1…then Sky’s!  THIS is FANTASTIC!”  But Adam’s ease of making has his most attention.   ( :   re

(WS)

Went to Habitat Store.  In their “Free” (wood scrap) pile where about 40 old SPLIT CEDER FENCING Horizontal “boards”.  WOW!  Loaded all.  Then a gal came out and said “Those are NOT FREE…they’re $1.00 each”.  Me: “One of your guys said they WERE…and they ARE at your FREE Pile area”.  Her:  “We just haven’t put a sign on it”.

Ok, took all off and she got a sign on it Immediately.

WAS A REASON:  Another came out to help unload.  A kid in his mid 20s.

“What were you going to use these on?”   I explained about my Low Cost Dome-making for the homeless / etc.  HE WILL BE COMING OUT THIS AFTERNOON with 1 or more friends…TO LEARN TO BUILD ONE!

We got on the SPIRITUAL…HE’S a SEARCHER!  HUNGER for a LIVING God!   “I go to many different churches…none seems to fill my need.  All seem …. (hesitant)…well……..more “man”, than “GOD”.

LET’S SEE WHERE THIS LEADS!   Will keep you informed.  ( :    re

—————————–

The guy never showed or called.  After 6 now.   re

(WS)

Friends, there’s alot of Free Food about you….IF you know WHAT is Edible, What it Looks Like and HOW to Prepare it.  EVEN IN WINTER.
Tho my mother “fought” Indianhood…there was ONE thing she enjoyed so much, she used it and taught it:  FISH PATTIES.   From what is normally considered “trash” fish.  Carp / Suckers / Gar / Etc.  These ARE Delicious!  But don’t take my word for it….there’s plenty of recipes on the Internet.
Weeds, as well as some of your FLOWERS, are Great eating, TOO.
Honestly, there’s no good reason to go hungry in most of this country.
Or to buy MANY MEDICINES!  These plants also HEAL.
Again, INTERNET, folks.
Might as well start learning….you’ll be FAR AHEAD of “the game” AND be helpful to others!   I hope you pay attention to what I’m saying.  re
(WS)
Was JUST about to go get water (neighbors’) when the phone rang.  A Canadian Cree. VERY good friend.  He had a surprise….had set up a 3-way call to him / me / and a Texas gal.  RADIO INTERVIEW.   “Can you do it?”   When?   “Right NOW!”  gulp
Was a show with NA GodCreator people.  Call-Ins…Speakers, Etc..

I HAD NO IDEA THIS TYPE EXISTED!   FASCINATING! Fellowship with LIKE KIN!  People HELPING people….From the HEART!  “REDS” helping “Reds”…. AND WHITES!…ALIKE!!!  NO “your WHITE…you have no business HERE” stuff.  REAL LOVE..AGAPE LOVE!!!

I was privileged to be a part of it.
Do I know its name?  NO!    re
(WS)
Ive reuest WS  and H to post this WITHOUT CORRECTIONS…..(gonna b ruff, folks):
I quit school at age 15.  9th grade.  Faild it.  Not because I was dumb, but because I had more importent things to study….”Medicin”.
I knew enough to do the reading n math to make my way through life.  Had no intentions of being a Rockit Scintist…Engineer…Etc..  i KNEW my calling..  HS wouldnt help in this one bit.
I had faild because of this.  The MUCH FEARD Truint Officer never cought me….everyone ELES, but never myself.
Who would exspect a ‘truint’ to b in the city librays, STUDYING?  “Anchent Ways”….Hypnoses…History of others on our countinit, Ect.?
When not in tese (Detroit has some GREAT Librarys), Id b at the MUSIUMS.  Again, 1st hand SEEING.
Then, if not in any of thsese, Id b off behind the big auto plants, tracking the many ENORMIS deer / etc. in the strips of bush / trees n trash the city never took care of.  Not a Park (as ud call a park) but a PARIDICE to wildlife…n thus, to ME!
The small mendering creeks n streems, filled with floating oil, trash, old tires, etc. TEAMING with fish.  BIG ONES!  Never DID see a Carp, or a Sucker….EVER.  But saw RECORD BREAKING Bluegills and Trout!  Never saw another human, ether….OR the Truint Officer.  ( :
Id trap Phasents…Rats…Farrow Cats…Racoons (live traping)…and use a willow branch as a fishing pole. Made my own hooks…but store bought fishing line (untill I learned how to make my own from green long weed leafs).  Everything found “on the spot”. This “usless and “STUPID” kid, dressed as a “hood”…had a BALL!  Building hideing places as Id go.  Little sleeping “huts” that fit into the area.  Nights out in these.  Tiny LOW fires in cleared brush to break up the smoke…hidden fires so as not to b detected. This “hood” was HAVEING a BALL!
Then, emerge to Taxis, City Busses, Noises (that had been dulled by the factorys masses) and hundreds of cars n predestriens…and FULL sunlight…SHOCKING to the sences!  Then onto a bus, or hitch hikeing….back home again.  A few days WHERE I “BELONGED” now behind me….the “normol” (WHITEMAN) world.  ugh!
My mother had long ago stoped worrying about me.  She had her own “life” and one less “kid” was alright with her.  (She was a ‘party girl’).
Trying to ‘hide’ her Indianess…telling all she was “Egyption” (hi ck. bones / etc.)…she did all she could to fit into the “white” world.  Ashamed of being NA.  ! was ASHAMED of HER!
Anyway…did as I needed to do, schoolwise.
Always WANTING a COLLEGE Education….eventualy (after 3 attempts) I managed to “tough it out” n passeds my GED test….then to 2 colleges.  Last just for Fun (likes the campis).  Studying in these things I could choose.  Things needed to help round off my ‘calling’.
Yup, this miss-spelling twit has a COLLEGE Degree!  ( :   (Only one yr. at #2 college…and, for fun…AND to futher my “Med.” training).
As u can c, my spelling is, well, sorta “off”. BUT U CAN READ IT!  Thats all u need as far as Im concerned.
Its not “Whitman” rules “way”…but at least ur understanding anyway.  (U outta c my COLLGE CLASES NOTES….my form of PETROGLIFS!  That only I CAN read. Aho?)!
Eventualy I joined the Navy.  ‘Survived’ THAT.  Fun, but got out as fast as I could.  The wouldnt give me what I had signed up for.  Just wasnt worth it.
Then, to marryed life.  At 26 (n officil batchler, as was my goal) I found “The Warden”.  Been a prisoner every sence.  Cant recall how many yrs, but over 40.
When I clled my mother to tell her I was geting marryed….her words went “Congradulations”….no, it was “is she INDIAN!”  Like spit comeing out of her mouth. (She realy had a “problem”).  ( :
When we adopted r daughter…a COLLVILL NA Child…..oh oh!
Yup, mom sure had a ‘problem’.
When my mother finily passed away….I felt no more oblagation to “honor” her “WE R WHITE” issue, and went from HER Nameing us…to my REAL name.  Yes, I am legely Red Elk.  Aho? No first name.  No last name…just Red (ElkRedElk).  Aho?
I am NOT related to ANY Red Elks in NA land.  Mine given in a Sacred Cerimony.
Wasnt MY choice…was GIVEN it.  Aho?
So, here I am, a Meti (“Half Breed”).  “2 Shoes” sorta being.   One Mocc., One Street shoe.
Ok, uve got a bit more “about” me….AND what WS has to put up with to make my spelling more platabel to u.  Bless her Vollinteer Heart!  re
(Yay, a break! 😀 😀 😀 – WS)

Well, now have the BIG “Bad” Tarp over all the rest.  Had Sky and buddy help….tho under full protest.  “Tomorrow”.  Told um I’ve “heard that again and again….GET YOUR SHOES ON AND TURN THOSE DANG GAMES OFF.  Let’s GO!”  Saw I’d had enough of their excuses….they ‘go-ed’!  ( :

Told ‘em “it’s not hard work”  (did NOT tell ‘em of the HUGE STONES needed lugging to hold the edges down).  WORKED ‘EM NEAR TO DEATH!  ( :  ( :

Once done, we tried the Cone Fireplace.  THINKING the tall chimney was NOT close enough to the tarps on top….well : MELT!

So I let the tin cool and took off the one LONG one…inserting only the shorty that was on the longer.  Tried again.  JUST RIGHT!

The melt created a large hole through ALL the tarps.  PERFECT “CHIMNEY”!  I’ll leave it JUST LIKE IT IS.  Snow / Rain wont be a problem….with fire going it turns to STEAM and exits as that.  Not big enough to cause a problem with no fire…and when leaving for long periods, will be putting a wide Tarp completely over the hole.  Stopping all snow / rain that would come in (doing DITTO on Adams as well). Aho?

So, LOOKING GOOD and NEARLY OUTSIDE READY!   The GOOD Tarp will go on next.  Then will Secure with Crisscross ropes all along.  Ground to Ground.  Just to make SURE no winds cause trouble.  Aho?

The edges will all be in the trench and then bermed.  THAT (fully covered) will then be done.  Next to the inside doing.  Can “do” secure from the weather.  Can take my time.  Do it up RIGHT.  Aho?

The boys sat inside…actually WIDE-EYED at the ROOM inside.  This thing is HUGE (when compared to the other 2).  A REAL Cabin HOME!

We can fit BOTH the others in this AND HAVE EXTRA ROOM TO SPARE!  (I’m NOT KIDDING!) !!!

Price hasn’t risen a bit.  Still mostly SALVAGED Materials.  Purty sure $200.00 will do…outside AND IN, comfortably.  YARD LOOKING ALOT CLEANER now.  ( :

I’m happy. Wife’s happy. NEIGHBORS Happy TOO!  (Suspect the County “cops” will b as well.  SURE HOPE SO!).

So, that’s the report for today.  Melt and All.   PTL!    Re

(WS)

Pipe Heating

Winds lowered.  Sky and I were able to get a larger “scrap tarp” on.  About a 2 hour job.  Several holes in these but Bad COVERS Bad…and all helps pad the many willow “nobbies”.

The big GOOD tarp will hide those below….but INSIDE these will need WHITE SHEETS put on to hide all the various colors.  I’ll get those at the 2 Cheap Shops when I can.  I’ll use willows Crisscrossed to help hold ‘em tight.  Did this in my Tipis too…REALLY LOOKED GREAT! Did away with the Drape “Poofs” AND HELPED INSULATE as well!

Sky was goofing around with a long piece of white PVC pipe.  Had part stuck outside into the sun.  Put his ear to the inside (and RAISED) part, to listen.  Looked at me and said “THERE’S HOT AIR COMING THROUGH THIS, Grampa!”  Told him “Heat Rises.  The outside is in the sun.  You’re holding this inner part ABOVE the outside part.  The sun’s heating the outside and rising to you. If this pipe were BLACK, it would be ALOT HOTTER.”

Then it dawned on me…a BLACK pipe(s) run out like that….with a 45 or 90 Degree elbow WOULD HELP HEAT INSIDE OF ANY HOME!  Even in WINTER!  Snow wouldn’t stay on long using Black.  WOW!  A NATURAL Solar HEATER!  NON-ELECTRIC!    ???    re

(WS)

We Really Are All One

Today Red Elk received another generous donation for the work he has spent writing for you on his blog. I want to thank the readers for thinking of him because it is so important to support his work. He by no means is getting rich off of this. He has no advertisers and had received in the few months that is has been operational a total of $100.00. That may not seem like too much for all the work and effort, but every time someone sends a donation in he is able to buy food for his family or invest in something important to build a project or keep the lights on. So from the bottom of my heart – thank you for doing what you can – for this hard working Medicine Man.

I also want to thank the volunteers who keep this blog running. It would never be kept up to date if it wasn’t for Red Elk’s good friend Whale Sister who makes sure every time an e mail comes in that she corrects the spelling and posts it immediately to the blog. You are getting his messages hot off the press. As soon as Red Elk writes us an e mail she gets to work immediately and posts it fast. I can’t even believe it. If it wasn’t for her, I would be in a lot of trouble, because I simply don’t have the time left in the day.

I also want to thank Adam. Adam is capturing video and pictures and doing his own work with Red Elk which is so pure and genuine. Adam provided the notes for the pictures. So without further adue, here are some pictures that Adam sent me (a few days ago – see what I mean!) and I wanted to acknowledge every one from the reader to TKWeb for hosting the site, to Whale Sister (you may know her as WS), Red Elk’s family and friends. Really cool to be in this community together.

Heather

Sky Dome: The very beginning - I90 in the background

Sky Dome: In the process of being framed. More done since. Looks much better.

ZZ zip stove. An Awesome stove. I really love this stove. Note the battery case. One AA battery

Got a small donation today.  Not a lot BUT ENOUGH to get ANOTHER ROLL OF THE TAPE I PREFER!  10 ROLLS now!  (Had THOUGHT all I needed was THREE!).  Live and Learn.  ( :
Going to put “useless” (weather ripped / etc.) tarps on the dome today.  Will at least help SOME on covering “Pokey Through” Willow “nubbins”.
THEN MORE BLANKETS over them….THEN the heavy GOOD Hay Tarp.  Gotta wait on  the blankets (donations $$) before doing the big tarp though…so will be awhile.  Aho?
As of now, MANY DIFFERENT COLORS  are on.  Will get DECENT Cheap Shop (cheap) WHITE sheets and put these INSIDE…hiding all those various colors.  Aho?
Went “window shopping” and looked a various sized STACKABLE (and “lockable”) Plastic (see through) containers.  Ones that stack from Bottom BIG to progressively SMALL size.  These to be Sky’s Food Storage compartments “Kitchen” area.  RODENT PROOF.  Have a large Ice Cooler for perishables.  He’ll be all set when finished.
Looked at other things as well.  These are “add-ons” to the dome.  I don’t count them as Dome Building cost.  So, with tax…$60.00 will finish the “kitchen” area.
Got a number of free wood pieces yesterday.  All helpful in his dome And any others yet to be.  Always looking and always thinking ahead.  Just couldn’t over-look the FREE opportunity.  Aho?
Sure have a number of BUILD CHEAP li’l abodes in mind.  Show ALL the options THEY can do…on next to nothing.  Aho?
Saw a tall “bucket” too.  Not sure if it can accept the Porta Potty seat.  Would be wise to double up 2…stronger that way.  IF the seat fits right, I’ll get ’em.
So, THINKING ON THE INTERIOR now.  Might as well, need the blankets and sheets before the abode is ready to occupy on a consistent basis.  (CAN be used NOW, IF the boy(s) want to sleep on EARTH for a night).  Aho?
Ok, off to ‘DOING’.
GB      re
(WS)