sailing the farm collective - wanna join??

Discussion in 'Communal Living' started by zeyang, Jun 26, 2010.

  1. zeyang

    zeyang Member

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    Newsletter May 2012.

    Dear Sea gypsies

    Spring has come to the farm! And then came summer, and then a few
    blustery days of fall, and finally last Friday and Saturday it snowed
    again. But that will be the last snow of the year, we hope - the mild
    weather seems to have returned, the trees are leafing out, the
    wildflowers are springing up around the river, the bees and the
    neighbors have come out of hibernation (again), and we are hard at
    work.

    This week we mixed a few tons of lovely manure compost into the soil
    of the north field, and planted eleven rows of potatoes - by hand -
    which should give us about 300 kilos of potatoes in the fall to feed
    hungry sea-gypsies all next winter. Next week we'll plant carrots and
    onions, and move some tender warm-weather starts to our new greenhouse
    - radishes, bok choi, spinach, parsley, beets, and sugar peas so tall,
    they might start climbing us if we don't get them out of the kitchen
    soon.

    Work on the boat has really picked up recently. We've been distracted
    with planting, and replumbing the bathroom, and building coldframes
    and the new greenhouse - but now that the potatoes are in the ground
    and the sea-gypsies are in the bath (phew), we are back in the
    boatshed all the time. Our resident woodworker is about to start work
    on a wooden dinghy from a traditional Norwegian design, just as soon
    as he gets the greenhouse finished. And we cast two tons of lead
    ballast, a very medieval process involving a wood-fired furnace in the
    yard. The boat will eventually carry five tons, so there is more
    casting to do as soon as the scrap yard has more lead for us.

    Inside the boat we're sealing off the keel with aluminum plates - the
    bow is nearly done, and then we can put in the last of the bow ribs.
    In the stern, we're wrestling with engine placement - it needs to be
    high enough to fit the cooling system and the primary diesel tank
    underneath, but low enough that the propeller clears the stern.
    Hmmmmm. Fortunately there's plenty to do while we're thinking about
    it - like put on the deck! The boat will start looking dramatically
    different very soon and we're all pretty excited.

    As always, there's room for more in our big sea-gypsy tribe - so if
    you like planting, weeding, shoveling, soldering, sawing, nailing,
    welding, grinding, sewing, cooking, drilling, knitting, routering,
    getting headbutted by chickens, watching 2-hour sunsets, measuring,
    cutting, re-measuring, thinking, re-re-measuring, making bread,
    reading sea books, eating waffles or knot-tying, drop us a line!


    Picture from last weeks.

    a: Sea gypsy girl making psykedelic chair-protection for the chairs.

    b: Shaping wood with router

    c: Potato-planting.

    d: lead melting girl finished melting 2 tonns in one week.


    http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=161891&stc=1&d=1337015044
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    http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=161921&stc=1&d=1337015064
     
  2. FritzDaKatx2

    FritzDaKatx2 Vinegar Taster

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    Tell her to think about Pewter maybe? Safer if it's anywhere near potable water just a bit?

    Have you folks seen the rep rap systems yet?
    If you learn to process bioplastics from seaweed (Biochar retort can give you most of the components b.t.w.) you can print out more flotillas at sea even.

    I'm looking to get to Oregon to start one myself, but may jump to Australia if Romney wins the election. Well wat no... I WILL be going if Romney wins. period.

    http://www.************/biocharmovie
     
  3. zeyang

    zeyang Member

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    Newsletter June 2012.



    Dear Sea gypsies

    We're back to a full farm - the current crew of sea-gypsies hail from
    Norway, Germany (times two), Finland, France/Belgium, the UK and the
    US - it makes for lively, er, discussions in the evenings while we're
    watching Euro Cup matches.

    It also makes for rapid progress - in the last few weeks we've picked
    the entire farm clean of rocks, planted two fields in a mixture of
    cover crops (including phacelia, whose blue flowers are a favorite bee
    snack), built and painted a fence around the yard, re-plumbed the
    basement, fixed our fleet of bicycles, put in almost a kilometer of
    fence around the biggest field, dug up half the far field looking for
    a pipe leak, refinished a beautiful old door... and then, in our spare
    time, built a model for the boat's dinghy, biked all over the area,
    hiked down the river, spent a weekend in Oslo, foraged local plants
    for dinner, built a campfire spot overlooking the valley, installed a
    swing under the barn ramp, given each other mohawks, and baked about
    forty loaves of bread.

    And we're going to be parents! Kind of! One of our chickens has very
    motherly instincts, and she's been incubating thirteen eggs - some
    hers, some laid by the rest of our flock. We're expecting chicks in a
    week or so.

    All the farming hasn't left us much time for boatbuilding, but we
    still managed to make some progress this month: the keelbox has been
    welded shut in bow and stern, the last ribs are being bent to shape
    and welded in, and the calculations for the curve of the deck have
    begun. This week we'll finish the ribs and begin the wood patterns
    for the deck frames.

    We've been eating like royalty - everybody has learned to bake, and
    the spring plants are out in force, so we feast on nettles, milkweed,
    chaga mushrooms, dandelions, wood sorrel, and our own bread. After a
    long winter of turnips, potatoes and carrots, it's wonderful to have
    the green leaves that come with warm days, and the new dishes that
    come with new comrades.


    So, enjoy summer folks, and if you want to join us, just send us an
    email.

    Pictures from last weeks.

    a: Sea-gypsy girl busy planning the route with help of the world-map
    in background.

    b: Fence-banging guys!

    c: The Fencing-crew on the way to the field.

    d: Enjoy a short rest after hours of rockpicking in the field.

    e: Welding up the keelbox inside the boat.


    http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=182061&stc=1&d=1339612761
    http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=182071&stc=1&d=1339612773
    http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=182081&stc=1&d=1339612784
    http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=182091&stc=1&d=1339612791
    http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=182101&stc=1&d=1339612800
     
  4. zeyang

    zeyang Member

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    Newsletter July 2012.


    Dear Sea gypsies

    The summer has been good and productive to us. Mostly nice and warm
    weather for whole june which is more than you can expect up here.. The
    potatoefield and carrot field grow nicely. The sugar peas in the
    small greenhouse is now blooming and soon we will be self-sufficient
    on sugar-pies (that is, if we dont eat more than one pea a day each)
    :)

    Mid summerday arrived with nice weather and as normal we had a the
    traditional midsummer party sitting around the camp fire eating burned
    marshmallows and dreaming about life out on the deep blue sea...

    Talking about dreaming.. We have been discussing the deck curve for so
    long that we started to get nightmares about this.. but in the end it
    looks pretty good. The deck ribs are bent in, and we are in the stage
    of plating the deck. Sofar the curve looks really nice! The deck area
    will be around 40m2 totally, means we will have space for a hammock or
    two between the masts!

    Ok, that was all for this month,, if you fancy join our constantly
    bigger sea gypsy tribe, please drop us a line. Whish you all a warm
    summer and hope you enjoy our pictures below.

    a: Mid summer party with camp fire and burned marshmallows.

    b: British metalworker. Carpentry is for kids! Big boys only work with
    metal!

    c: Our french plating crew.

    d: Two pretty mermaids (US/Germany) working on deck ribs. Hard hat is
    mandatory when you work under the boat.

    e: Fishing from the pier behind the boatshed. One of these days he
    will hopefully get a fish!

    http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=195081&stc=1&d=1341733638
    http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=195091&stc=1&d=1341733644
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    http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=195121&stc=1&d=1341733663
     
  5. Pink-Zeppelin

    Pink-Zeppelin Member

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    Badass. love the whole scene there, wish i could be out there in the future.
     
  6. Neweradam

    Neweradam Guest

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    Hello, I am an American looking to experience life to the fullest. I have always lived on water and the ocean is my favorite thing in life. I am also Norwegian and would love to be able to speak to you more about your plans with your boat and life. I am 29, healthy, straight, and first and foremost a wide eyed wanderer. I want my mind to be filled with expeiences on my deathbed and your paragraph pretty much summed up what I find beautiful about life. Please let me know how you are doing and if you do want someone who can cook, build, create, and learn quickly please do get in touch with me! Also, I am a massage therapist and believe and practice balance of mind and body. I do hope to hear from you soon! Thanks , Adam.
     
  7. zeyang

    zeyang Member

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    Newsletter Late August 2012.


    Howdy Sea gypsies


    August has been a good one.... The weather was much nicer than july i
    must admit. even some of those wwoofers start to complain about too
    much sun!

    We have had quite an invasion from volunteers lately, and majority has
    been from US, so now we have a distinct texas-slang around here.

    Boatbuilding is going forward with the speed of light kind of... The
    deck is on. The deckhouse is fixed. Even with the possibility to
    remove to store big stuff inside. We are now working on
    interior. Space for six bunk beds, kitchen and toilet/shower needs
    some thinking...

    We got some cool news lately. two volunteers (french/american) who met
    less than one year ago here on farm, got married... even after
    struggeling so hard to keep those girls and boys in separate barracks!
    ... some stuff must have been happening after dark... hmm. :)


    That was big and small news from our coolest sea gypsy tribe this
    month. If you fancy joining us, please drop us a line...


    Some pictures from last month.

    a: happy volunteers eating lunch
    b: Deckhouse is soon on.
    c: two pretty mermaids taking care of the raspberry field.
    d: forehatch girl cleaning up inside boat.
    e: wedding picture...


    http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=223081&stc=1&d=1346596178
    http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=223091&stc=1&d=1346596185
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    http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=223111&stc=1&d=1346596196
    http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=223121&stc=1&d=1346596203

    Love from
    Sailing the farm - a sea gypsy tribe of tomorrow.
     
  8. zeyang

    zeyang Member

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    Newsletter December 2012.

    Dear All,

    First of all, Mucho Gracias for all contribution this year - This
    doesent goes just for those of you who have been flying, driving,
    peddaling, walking and swimming up here to lend a hand on the farm and
    the shipbuilding - but it goes also to you who have send support
    mails, commented on forums, asked to help sponsoring the project and
    mailed us. Without your support, we would never have come this far.

    We are now going into the last year of building the Seagypsy Boat #1
    and hopefully start sailing. Yes, i know some of you think she will
    sail only backwards, or even upside down, but sail she will.. .. :)

    Together we have come a long way taking into consideration that most
    of volunteers coming up here have never done any metalwork or even
    farmwork before, but they all share the same dream...

    To sum up for 2012. We have used more than 2 metric tonns of aluminium
    this year, welded hundreds and hundreds of meters of welding, consumed
    a few hundred kg of Argon gas, melted 5 tonns lead. Not to mention
    breathing way too much welding fumes and aluminium dust...

    On the farm, we have had lots and lots of volunteers who has been in
    charge of growing potatoes, sugar pees, carrots, berries and lots of
    other stuff. They have got new friends and met old ones from prior
    years.

    They have shared and learned, maybe eating too much porridge and
    waffles, laughed, cried, made love (tough I really worked hard here to
    keep those sneaky wwoffers in separate girls/guys barracks!!) :) Some
    have even taken step to marry! So in sum I think 2012 has been quite a
    good year.

    As we are nearing the end of this year (and not end of the world i
    hope!) I wish you all a peaceful 2013 with much joy and happiness for
    the coming year and we up on the farm really look forward to meet new
    and old volunteers both here and out on the seven seas.

    Fair winds and smooth sailing from

    Sailing the farm - A Sea gypsy tribe of tomorrow.
    Ze


    picture: Boatshed in winter night.

    http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=289481&stc=1&d=1356891300
     
  9. Olympic-Bullshitter

    Olympic-Bullshitter Banned

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    It was a cold winter morning at the marina here but the Dickinson keeps us warm and cozy below. Been enjoying a cup of coffee, jellyroll and cleaning out a blocked strum box. Hope you'll soon be tinkering with a nautical mystery of your own while listening to the cries of seabirds.
     
  10. Olympic-Bullshitter

    Olympic-Bullshitter Banned

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  11. zeyang

    zeyang Member

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    Newsletter March 2013. .

    Dear Sea Gypsies,

    Spring is slowly coming our way, Its been maybe the coldest winter for
    as long as people can remember up here. Minus -30 for weeks out and
    weeks for january and february and even in march we have -20 degrees
    for many days. But we dont complain (at least loudly!) the shed was
    filled to the brink with firewood and during evening and weekends time
    have been spent reading about small pacific islands where the sun
    always shine... Guess where to boat is sailing!

    Last two months have been spent doing foundry work (melting
    aluminium). We are now making our own portholes and all small bits and
    pieces out of the all the scrap alloy we have floating around. Next
    would be to make a few dolphins for decoration :)

    Anyway, enjoy the early spring folks! .. and if you want to join our
    tribe please contact us!

    Pictures.

    a. making a sand-cast for a small porthole.
    b. Out enjoy the skiing in cold winter weather.
    c. a cake? Nope. Its called cores and used for foundry work! Its a
    miks of sand and linseed oil. Taste awful, but works good.
    d. welding small boxes and stuff together.
    e. Porthole production.

    http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=348001&stc=1&d=1363531570
    http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=348011&stc=1&d=1363531577
    http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=348021&stc=1&d=1363531582
    http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=348031&stc=1&d=1363531588
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_y-Gh6_YI"]YouTube
     
  12. BlissRainbow

    BlissRainbow Member

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    Hello,

    It's my dream to get a boat 100% wood like those pirate boats in the sea movies and modify it to work on sea and land by putting wheels on the bottom, no motor only wind and paddle power clean energy yeah!~ ^_^

    Maybe some solar-powered crystals for light.~

    Simple life, home on the move best of both worlds.~

    Live life by wild foraging, if I don't get it myself I don't want it unless it's a gift but I will not accept gifts if they promote waste.~

    This is my dream one day, I am eager to learn anything and everything about sailing and building a boat.~

    I would be honored to maybe join your effort and team.~

    The only thing I'm concerned about is that WWOOF requires you to pay to just be a member, and I'm pretty much almost broke with only $80 to my name and would a non-WWOOFer be welcome or is this project for WOOFers only?~
     
  13. zeyang

    zeyang Member

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    send your email to zeyang@laowai.no for more info .-)

    ze
     
  14. BlissRainbow

    BlissRainbow Member

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    zeyang I sent an e-mail to you asking about what kind of collective this is and you haven't gotten back to me yet.~

    I am really curious on the whole 'separating the sexes' thing, what kind of place is this?~
     
  15. BlissRainbow

    BlissRainbow Member

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    Just got a reply from zeyang@laowai.no, apparently quoteing, "its an uptight military tribe."

    ze

    seriously?, are you serious?~ Or are you just joking?~
     
  16. Dancing til Dawn

    Dancing til Dawn Senior Member

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    Sounds a bit fishy to me! mwhaaa...sorry
     
  17. BlissRainbow

    BlissRainbow Member

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    Wow, I just figured out that this place is in NORWAY!~ XD I have no idea how I would even get to Norway with $80 to my name, no job, no valid driver's license, no car insurance, no sense of direction, and no expierence or knowledge of how to live on my own in modern society let alone in the wild!~ ^_^

    Maybe I'll find a way, maybe I won't, thanks for the opportunity anyways!~ ^_^

    Good travels!~

    Love,

    ~Bliss
     
  18. zeyang

    zeyang Member

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    Newsletter April 2013.

    Dear Sea Gypsies,

    The potatoes are planted just a few days ago. Thats even earlier than
    last year. It a little risky since its still frostnights up here but
    they are protected under a bed of soil so hopefully they wont freeze.

    Summer is coming very slowly. Still no leafs on the trees, but the
    small yellow flowers - coltsfoot (tussilago farfara) are starting to
    show up along the roads. They are important pollen plants for the bees
    this early in season (together with salix)

    Sailing the farm have 3 nice girls now (irish,zchech,french). 2 guys
    (swedish/english) who have been here the first part of april.

    We have mostly been working on casting portholes for the boat which is
    pretty timeconsuming. It means making molds, melting aluminium and
    then shape the half-finished product in the lathe. The result looks
    really good i must say.

    Even if not even close to being foundrymen/girls or machinists we
    manage to get quite a professional result after some weeks of trial
    and error.

    Thats enough for now, If you fancy joining the seagypsy tribe - just
    drop us a line.

    Love from
    Sailing the farm


    Pictures.

    a. irish girl making sand-castles (sort of)
    b. inspecting the casting results.
    c. swedish sand-crab.
    d. unfinished and finished result. (with the help of a lathe)
    e. turning soil.


    a: http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=380071&stc=1&d=1367131663
    b: http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=380081&stc=1&d=1367131670
    c: http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=380091&stc=1&d=1367131675
    d: http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=380101&stc=1&d=1367131679
    e: http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=380111&stc=1&d=1367131684
     
  19. bradspringate

    bradspringate Guest

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    are you still looking for people im a quick learner when it comes to hands on work and am willing to travel where ever needed
     
  20. zeyang

    zeyang Member

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    Dear Sea Gypsies

    Summer is here, its more or less rain every day but the wwofers order
    sun in the weekends so weather is always nice when we go hiking during
    weekends, (not sure who they order it from though)

    We are now up to full speed on boat and the farm. Last week we
    planted another field of rasperries, which will be give us lots and
    lots of rasperries in 2 years time. Then another field with potatoes
    and even more herbs of all different kind. Its getting interesting
    when the weed is coming up. It will be plenty of weeding soon.

    The bees are busy collecting honey, and flying all over. they seems
    pretty happy now after a quite cold may.

    The portholes are more or less finished - that was a long journey. Its
    quite a few steps. The good thing: which casting and machining skills
    there is limit to what we can make in alloy. Plenty of blocks for the
    boat is already on the list..

    We are in the stage of insulating all over inside. Then make ready for
    the wood deck and railings. The wood deck is not just to make the boat
    look like a boat, but avoid burned feet on hot alloy deck in the
    tropics - besides since we are faking everything to look lke wood, so
    why not a proper wood-deck.

    Lots of sea gypsies are coming next months, both returning ones and
    new ones, but we still have some space, so if you have any skills you
    think could be useful - drop us a line!

    Pictures:

    a: sorting out weed in the rasperry field. Then we planted out some
    hundreds sq-meter more.

    b: metal girls at work moving heavy alloy-plates.

    c: casting stuff for the boat. We use sand to mould them.

    d: welding guy busy welding up ears on the portholes.

    e: dumpsterdiving. one night catch from the bin at the foodstore. Now
    we go every weekend to stack up on free fancy food.


    http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=402921&stc=1&d=1370093474
    http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=402931&stc=1&d=1370093482
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    http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=402961&stc=1&d=1370093504
     

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