This post is more of an instructional public service. Many people dream of finding themselves their own plot of land and building the home of their dreams and I thought I would offer a simple, step-by-step process to help you achieve your dreams. You're welcome!
Step 1.
Find yourself a willing work force.
(Tip: I find that the less experienced workers tend to charge less. I opted for as inexperienced as I could find. Additional benefit: small hands for cleaning out the bottoms of the holes.)
Step 2.
Dig a bunch of holes, cut down small trees, place small trees into holes.
(Note: Straight, consistent poles are for sissy. The crookeder the better, I say
Tip: The only tool required for this job is a machete. You may be tempted to think something else may work better for digging, cutting, leveling, or back filling but you'd be wrong. The machete is the Swiss army knife of the construction industry.)
(You may also think the Swiss army knife is the Swiss army knife of the construction industry. Wrong again)
Step 3.
Build the roof framing. This is done by nailing more small trees onto the small trees from step 2. This is one of the more perils steps in the process.
(Tip: Make every effort not to fall and incur injury. Falling may result from stepping on a small tree which is actually too small or by moving too much and tipping over the entire, feeble structure. This is best avoided by keeping ones feet firmly planted on the ground and having someone else climb around on these little sticks.)
Step 4.
Put tin onto roof framing.
(Note: The best way to cut the tin is by hitting a machete with a log. No technology has every been created anywhere that would be better suited for this task. Also, roofing a house in the African sun is a good way to develop ones empathy towards anything that has ever been put on a skillet.)
(Tip: You should probably wear gloves if you're going to be within like 3 feet of this tin. Also, maybe a full-body kevlar suit if you have one handy.)
Step 5.
Fit the door and windows. You'll need to plan ahead a bit for the door placement, but the windows are just stuck in wherever the spacing of the small tree poles allow.
(Note: Pre-fabricated doors and windows will be required but by the time you smash them into the openings and try to nail them to the roundish poles, they won't work and you'll have to basically completely rebuild them, so don't worry to much about it.)
Step 6.
Add the branches of all of those small trees to the inside and outside of the walls to form an intricate latticework, sized and spaced to exact specifications.
(Note: The "just eye-ball it" method is the most accurate approach to measuring. Follow the old adage: "Don't measure at all, just cut and hope.")
Step 7.
Fill that latticework with mud mixed to an exact consistency, not to wet and not to dry.
(Tip: This mud can be easily sourced from the immediate surroundings of the house. Chances are it is already containing just the right amount of cow dung to add to the tensile strength of the mud.)
Step 8.
Prepare more mud for the final coat. This mud must be made primarily from the clay beneath the top soil surrounding the house. It is also crucial that this mud be mixed to a much creamier, stickier consistence in order for the next step to be successful.
(Note: It is essential, and oddly satisfying, to get as covered with mud as possible during this step.)
Step 9.
Throw this mud at the walls... over, and over, and over, and over...
Step 10.
Smooth out all the mud you just threw so the walls are nice and even.
(Tip: It may or may not have some bearing on this processes to have a sleeping baby tied to your back. The jury is still out on this one.)
One more note: Steps 7 through 10 require a lot of water. It will be important to have someone with a bike and four 20 liter jerrycans (and incredible physical fitness) to travel the 1/2 mile round trip to the water source all, day, long.
(Note: 20 liters = 5.28 gallons, 1 gallon of water = approx. 7 lbs, 7x5.28=36.96 lbs per jerrycans, 36.96 lbs x4 jerrycans=147.84 lbs on a single-speed bike, 2 trips to refill jerrycans= probably enough exertion to kill me. This guy did it from 9am until 4:30 pm. I'm just saying'- props bro.)
Okay, so I've made some fun of traditional mud house building methods and, coming from something of a construction background, my construction background was almost worthless, but, in truth, I am really glad I got to be a part of this project. I learned a lot and honestly, with the resources available, these houses are solid, cool, quiet and inexpensive. Sure there are some problems and more modern building practices are better in a lot of ways but you work with what you've got. Also, it was great to get to know this group of people and share the load of a task really worth doing.
This is Mama Maria. She is a member of the church in Lawmbogo. She is also a widow and that is a tough thing to be in this culture.
This is Mama Maria's former residence.
I don't know about you, but this seems unacceptable to me. The church, with the help of the leadership of Welcome Home, decided to do something.
We may not be able to provide a house for every person who needs one. Does that mean we shouldn't for anyone? I guess I feel like we should do what ever we can for however many we can. That's the church. That's when we, the church, are what Jesus intended us to be.
"By this everybody will know that you're my people, when you love each other"
-Jesus (John 13:35 paraphrased)
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