In this episode of Occupy the Land, we welcome 15 new chicks (Rhode Island Reds and others) to the desert homestead! Donna and Ernie set up the predator-proof chicken coop with hardware cloth trenching, a pony wall, swinging door, roosts, and shade/ventilation features while managing heat for the week-old birds. The chicks settle into a […]
In this episode of Occupy the Land, we dive into the fabrication phase for the 20ft geodesic sphere root cellar! Ernie sets up the stamp press and welder, demonstrates cutting 10ft EMT conduit to length, flattening, rounding ends, and punching holes for the struts. He explains the dome calculator math in metric, hole-to-hole measurements, trim […]
In this episode of Occupy the Land, we focus on workshop organization and preparation for mass-producing the EMT conduit struts needed for the 20ft geodesic sphere root cellar. Ernie welds custom racks from salvaged metro wire shelving poles onto the shipping container wall for efficient strut storage, repairs the road hone with welding, and discusses […]
In this wide-ranging update from Occupy the Land, Ernie shares where the Arizona desert homestead stands after a busy stretch. The concrete work pad is complete and ready for strut fabrication with the stamp press for the 20ft geodesic sphere root cellar. We cover water retention in the sand pond (Khaleesi soil, auger holes, future […]
In this reflective episode of Occupy the Land, Ernie gives a comprehensive update on current projects while sharing the deeper “why” behind everything they do. With the concrete work pad complete, the stamp press and welder are fired up for mass-producing EMT struts for the 20ft geodesic sphere root cellar. He discusses ongoing food production […]
In this episode of Occupy the Land, we build a functional concrete work pad outside the shipping container workshop using local Khaleesi (caliche) soil mixed with Portland cement — a structured Adobe technique called Cow Creek. Ernie levels and compacts the area, experiments with different ratios and reinforcement (including fiberglass mesh), and tests how the […]
In this episode of Occupy the Land, we focus on practical infrastructure by building a concrete work pad outside the shipping container workshop. Ernie levels and compacts the area using excavated Khaleesi (caliche) soil, then experiments with a structured Adobe mix (Cow Creek) — combining the high-calcium local dirt with Portland cement and testing linseed […]
In this episode of Occupy the Land, we finally fire up the heavy equipment needed for the root cellar project! Ernie tests and sets up the welder on 220V, then brings the massive vintage stamp press (a WWII-era machine) online after maintenance, greasing, and motor/belt upgrades. He demonstrates how the press flattens, rounds, and punches […]
In this episode of Occupy the Land, we make major progress on the root cellar by shaping the bottom of the 20ft geodesic sphere trench. Ernie carves the reverse-dome floor for the sphere, explains the ramped access and second-level floor plan, and experiments with wetting the ultra-hard Clichy (caliche) soil to create a moldable Adobe-like […]
In this episode of Occupy the Land, we dive into the engineering behind our new root cellar project on the Arizona desert homestead. With the trench already underway, Ernie walks through the dome calculator on DesertDomes.com to plan a 16ft geodesic sphere (4-phase) that will be buried mostly underground for natural cooling. He breaks down […]
