Week Nine: Second Day of Building

On Sunday the group visited the farm with the goal of completing the roof portion of the shed. At the EPRA office some components for the roof were cut to the correct size. These were used to finish the triangle roof supports. After this was done Suku, Nicole, and the group moved the shed components on-site to the garden while we still had Suku's truck. While this happened, some of the group was at the farm to open the shed that was nailed shut.

We cleaned the shed and the surrounding area to make it easier and safer to work. We had a lot of difficulties figuring out how to move the roofing components nine feet above the ground. Last visit we coordinated with Suku to get two ladders to aid in construction. The ladders were eight feet and five feet tall which made it very difficult to reach the top of the shed. In addition, there were many wasps in and around the shed. There may have been a nest nearby, but fortunately no one was stung.

Re-planing how to attach the roof.

Eventually the group moved a picnic table that would give us a platform to stand on as we lifted the roof. The plan was to affix the triangle-supports to each other, and then move them to the top of the shed. This was so that they could sit on top of the shed without someone having to hold them in place. While this was going on, the corrugated roofing was being cut down to the proper size.

Cutting the corrugated roofing panels.

Unfortunately it started to drizzle and thunder. We did not want to take the forty minute walk back to Drexel in a thunderstorm. All of the shed components were placed in the shed, and the shed door was locked. The group arranged with Nicole for our non-international members, Amanda and Greg, to finish the project after the third term at Drexel University was over and exams were complete. The new work date is to be determined during the week of June 17th once everyone has their Summer schedules straight.

The remaining work includes:
1) Finish putting the roof components on the shed
2) Level the rain barrel area
3) Build the rain barrel support
4) Install gutters and hardware to the shed and rain barrel