Wednesday we drove from Cap Haitian south and inland to a small town called Pignon in the middle of Haiti.
We are staying at a school here and building a garden and outdoor classroom on the campus. On Wednesday we measured out the site and started digging fence posts. We put in all the fence posts around the garden and strung barbe wire around it to keep out the cows, goats, and pigs that roam here.
I also helped lay out the classroom, and we dug the footings for the posts. Once we got everything level, square, and plum, we mixed concrete and poured them. The classroom I am helping build is going to be attached to an existing building that is under construction as well. The footings dried over night. Next we stated laying out where the rafter ledger is going to be attached to the existing building. Screwing that in was difficult because all the drill bits we had were weak and the concrete screws were not self tapping. I am still trying to figure out how we can make it more secure. The last thing I did before we stopped for lunch was start putting on the rafters. The pitch of the roof is 2/12, and I am elated that I brought a speed square with me because cutting the rafter tails was much easier. For the rest of the day, I will help finish rafters, then put bird blocking in them, then put 1x2s on top, and lay the tin roofing over that.
I also have to make a couple gates for the garden entrences as well.
Henry Miller
(I am posting for Henry as his access to WiFi is limited. Mike Schemmel)