We continue to work on Terrace number 1, our 18 m flat terrace. The wall has been finished though we still need to pack the remaining four meters of stone wall with grass sod to compact it.   The path is near completion, thanks to the hard work principally by Carolina, Valentina,  Juan David and Juan Guillermo.  More bottles are needed to complete the boundary and secure the path.

Carolina and Valentina working on the terrace path, whilst four of the lads move the heavy table from under the tree platform closer to the shed.

The second terrace was started in order to bulk up the soil volume for the first terrace. The soil being taken out is leaving the foundation for the second terrace.  This is hard work mainly due to the hardening of soil as we enter the dry season, but is in the capable hands of Luisa, Juana, Isabela and Juan Guillermo.

Reusing old plastic bottles: filling them with water and digging them into the ground provides a perfect limit between the terrace and the path. Here Juan David, Valentina and Carolina are digging a trench for the bottles, whilst Nick and Juan G work further up the path.

Nick B and Martin have been building walls (out of wood) to secure the second terrace. All the materials they have been using have been collected from the school. Nick and Martin had to re-set one of the wooden planks this week. Work will continue on these two terraces with a view to us having a terrace ready to plant in within the next month.

Before the second terrace could be started Juana, Luisa, Catalina, Nick and Carolina went about the task of checking the level and extent of the second terrace using A-Frame technology.

Juana and Luisa measuring the slope and level of the top edge of the second terrace with an A-Frame. Carolina and Valentina can be seen in the background working on extending the first terrace path.

With the small collection of 27,000 pesos, collected at the CB Farmer’s market a hammer, saw and pair of pliers was bought. The hammer has been used so regularly and with such enthusiasm to bang in stakes in the wall and stairs that unfortunately the handle broke today.

If anyone has any old tools (hammers big and small) lying around, not being used, we could definitely use them. For that matter, any old gardening tools, hoses, watering buckets, buckets, rope, string, could all be REUSED at the Bolivar Garden.  Send me an email if you have any old equipment that we could use wwaliszewski@colegiobolivar.edu.co