Michael Green

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Bathtub wormfarm benchseat

In Blog on July 11, 2011

ANDY and I ventured north on a sunny Saturday, to hold a UBC workshop at a Permablitz for the Reservoir Neighbourhood House.

We were asked to adapt our previous bathtub wormfarm design into something much lower to the ground, to fit a convenient spot near the kitchen and double as an outdoor bench. We scavenged timber from our own ramshackle stocks, including some gorgeous old hardwood floorboards that Tall English Stephen had earmarked for his own chook shed. He put on a brave face when he found them missing.

Not amused

Despite the trouble we were in with a miffed Stephen, this was my new all-time favourite Urban Bush-Carpenters workshop. A large group of enthusiastic volunteers did all the work while we watched, imparted wisdom and ate cake. Many of the participants hadn’t had any experience using a saw or a drill, but with a few small pointers and much gusto, we produced a beautiful object.

It is a constant source of wonder to me that we always seem to have just the right amount and right kind of timber on hand, not more or less – but I guess that’s about making do with whatever we’ve got. 

Andy work close-up

Andy's bench

I was so excited by the way it looked, that if it were me, I’d be inclined to keep it inside.

We’ve got our next workshop at CERES on this Saturday July 16, at 10 am. We’ll be building bench seats, like this:

Bench

If you want to take part, shoot us a message.

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Comments

  1. maya ward says

    September 26, 2011 at 10:39 am

    i really love it too! how can i convince the ubc to come up to Warburton and try out their skills on a half acre on the river? would pancakes work as bribe? No, but really, it’s just lovely up here. DInner tonight was wild onions (everywhere sprouting), the neighbour’s silverbeet, another neighbour’s lemon, fetta (not YET made from the raw ‘bathmilk’ from the local biodynamic dairy, but I dream) local eggs – a recipe from the 4 year old. If you ever feel like time out of town, we are just a bus (or bike) and train away

    And you could see the very nifty caravan cover – for it shelters our guest quarters!

    x maya

    Reply
    • michael says

      September 28, 2011 at 4:58 am

      Count me in Maya! I’ll put it to the others…

      Reply

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