Ideas for Replacing the Hermitage Tools Trailer

[Tathaaloka Bhikkhuni]

Warm greetings dear friends,

I very much appreciated my personal secluded retreat time at the hermitage this past month.  It is so good to have such time, one of the most precious times in this life.

Ayya Sobhana has just come down from the hermitage to the Bodhi House yesterday evening, and i was speaking with her this morning getting an update about practical hermitage things.  There are two matters we spoke of especially: (1) the "Toxic Tools Trailer" and (2) the budget overrun on the Hermitage Solar Electric Project.

   Tools Trailer

She tells me that the tools trailer at the hermitage has gotten really bad.  It is terribly infested with toxic mold, and difficult to enter into regularly to get tools for everyday hermitage maintenance, not to mention the not yet completed work on the Solar Electric Project. 

Last year, when it started to become an issue, we'd talked about possibilities: a prefab barn, a lean-to shed, another sort of shed.  Now we should think about those possibilities more imminently.

With regular repeated exposure, our dear samaneri Sr Marajina has been having bad trouble with the ongoing mold exposure and the doc has recommended time away to clear her body and lungs.  I very much hope that we will be able to care for this problem and have it well cleared up and resolved so that she can return and be healthy -- and for all of our sakes!!  

Naturally, it will take a few years for us to learn all of the ins and outs of abiding off the grid in nature on the eastward facing slope of a coastal mountain in redwood forest :-).  Let's consider carefully about what is good to do now about replacing the the tools trailer and how to do it.

Good ideas welcome!!

With kindness and compassion,

Ayya Tathaaloka

[Julia]

Just visited the Hermitage and would like to help you out.
I have e-mailed my brother, Bob, about tool shed ideas. Also he owned
and operated his own solar company for several years andmay have some
ideas of how to help but I am not sure what you need with that. I
will follow up after I have heard from him. I hope you have amsafe,
peaceful and fortuitous trip...Marajina. Hope you are feeling
better...Julia

On Feb 10, 2:01 pm, Tathaaloka Bhikkhuni <tathaal...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Warm greetings dear friends,
>
> I very much appreciated my personal secluded retreat time at the hermitage
> this past month.  It is so good to have such time, one of the most precious
> times in this life.
>
> Ayya Sobhana has just come down from the hermitage to the Bodhi House
> yesterday evening, and i was speaking with her this morning getting an
> update about practical hermitage things.  There are two matters we spoke of
> especially: (1) the "Toxic Tools Trailer" and (2) the budget overrun on the
> Hermitage Solar Electric Project.
>

>    *Tools Trailer*

>
> She tells me that the tools trailer at the hermitage has gotten really bad.
>  It is terribly infested with toxic mold, and difficult to enter into
> regularly to get tools for everyday hermitage maintenance, not to mention
> the not yet completed work on the Solar Electric Project.
>
> Last year, when it started to become an issue, we'd talked about
> possibilities: a prefab barn, a lean-to shed, another sort of shed.  Now we
> should think about those possibilities more imminently.
>
> With regular repeated exposure, our dear samaneri Sr Marajina has been
> having bad trouble with the ongoing mold exposure and the doc has
> recommended time away to clear her body and lungs.  I very much hope that
> we will be able to care for this problem and have it well cleared up and
> resolved so that she can return and be healthy -- and for all of our
> sakes!!
>
> Naturally, it will take a few years for us to learn all of the ins and outs
> of abiding off the grid in nature on the eastward facing slope of a coastal
> mountain in redwood forest :-).  Let's consider carefully about what is
> good to do now about replacing the the tools trailer and how to do it.
>
> Good ideas welcome!!
>
> With kindness and compassion,

> *Ayya Tathaaloka*

[Tathaaloka Bhikkhuni]

Dear Friends,

Thanks to all of your kind replies to this mail, full of good ideas and offers of help -- this is heartening and encouraging.  Special thanks to Julia, Bob, David and Winfield for your proactivity.

We have some consultation to do now (1) with our Dhammadharini Board and Financial Committee (to see what we may have (if anything) in already donated available funds), and (2) with our monastic community to see what may best meet our needs together with our budget.  

I would ask Ayya Sobhana to please write back to our Friends of the Hermitage Group with an update for all us on these two things.

With whole-hearted Metta to all,

Ayya Tathaaloka

[Bhikkhuni Sobhana]

Dear David,  Thank you for the very kind referral to Winfield Klein.  A volunteer architect!  I am copying this letter to our Board and Hermitage Committee for their inspiration.  

Dear Winfield,  Thank you for the kind offer of help.  I have been hoping to renew our conversation with you, not only about our toolshed, but also how to develop our "big picture" architectural / land use plan for the Hermitage.

 A great time to visit and talk about it would be between March 5 and 20, or after March 29.  (due to my travel schedule)

About the toolshed, here is the information we have so far:  

* Someone has offered to cut up the old trailer and remove it for free.  

* Because the overall plan of the Hermitage may change in future, a movable structure could be re-purposed at a future date.  Either as a shed in a different location or as a kuti.

* At this time we are minimizing our financial investment into infrastructure.  The use of the land has been generously offered to the Bhikkhuni Sangha indefinitely and on a rent free basis, just as donors offered land for the Buddha's use in India. Aranya Bodhi may obtain legal rights to the land in the future, through a testamentary gift, but that is contingent on a number of uncertain conditions. Our directors feel the investments made to date, and donations accepted are reasonable for the rental value of the time spent on the land.  We are just completing a big investment into solar electricity.  This year we want to focus on the major land-use questions, while fixing up and perfecting the current spaces and systems.  

* We had been contemplating an off-the-shelf plastic shed, such as http://www.shedreviews.com/shedreview2.php for $1600 plus the platform.  Or, a steel container, which we hear is available at good price due to the economy.  Or a built shed.  

* If plastic or built from scratch, we have thought of keeping the under-carriage from our old trailer and putting the shed on top of that.

* Another idea that I have had is for a "loafing shed," something like the open lean-to used in the Southeast as a horse shelter.  Such a structure would be a space to work on projects, with a lot of accessible cabinets.  We happen to own a big awning in good condition that would serve this purpose.  It was rescued from another trailer, and could be incorporated into a built shed. 

* The space underneath our trailers has been good for storage of scrap lumber and building supplies.  It would be good to keep such a space whether or not the shed is on wheels.

* It will be easy to get donations of a lot of utility shelves or whatever needed to furnish the shed.

* Our builder, Rubisel Ventura, is a licensed handyman.  He has already put up six 10 x 12 kutis for us, generally coming to $6,000 to $7,000 including labor (but not including the stove or heater, which we do not need in a woodshed).  With a bit of design help, Rubisel's product can be even more fully functional. 

* If a built shed, we have the windows and a door on hand.

* We have solar electric on the landing, but on a power budget.  To avoid permitting, we would not wire the toolshed for electricity.  

* VERY IMPORTANT to make the shed rodent-proof, as allergies to rodent dander are an issue.

* VERY IMPORTANT to make the shed resistant to mold and mildew, again due to allergies.  These landings have constant high humidity; and the shed location does not get sun. 

Again Winfield, I appreciate your thoughts and help.

Bhikkhuni Sobhana