Some days at Rebel Roots feel like major milestones. Other days feel like slow, steady layers of progress. Today was a little of both.

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The Water Tank: Finally Moving Forward Again

Yesterday we finished sanding and cleaning the inside of the underground water tank. It was a frustrating step to repeat, but necessary after the epoxy miscalculation earlier this week.

Outside the tank, we also made solid progress. The exterior has now been recovered with rock-free soil about three-quarters of the way. This is important because the tank sits roughly five feet underground, and if we ever need to access it again, clean soil will make excavation far easier than digging through rocks.

The plan today is simple but critical:

• Apply the new epoxy lining inside the tank

• Allow 24 hours for the epoxy to cure

• Finish covering the exterior with sifted soil while it cures

If everything goes smoothly, the tank should be ready to refill soon. After weeks of setbacks, the thought of having reliable water again feels like a major victory.

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Preparing the Rocket Mass Heater

While the epoxy cures, attention shifts back to the greenhouse project.

The next steps involve preparing the venting system for the rocket mass heater. First, stones will be laid to level and set the grade for the chimney and vent pipes. Once the base is stable, the vent pipes will be dry-fitted to make sure the alignment and draft path are correct.

After that comes building the manifold for the 55-gallon drum to sit on. The manifold will be constructed using cob and brick.

This part of the process is both practical and experimental.

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Learning About Cob, Heat, and Ceramic Transformation

One of the most fascinating discoveries recently has been learning how cob behaves under heat.

With the proper ratio of sand and clay, cob that is heated to the right temperature can actually transform into a ceramic-like material. In other words, the structure becomes stronger and more durable after repeated heating cycles.

There are similar ideas in adobe construction. When adobe bricks include a certain amount of straw, the straw burns out during heating. This creates tiny air channels that can help the material transition toward a ceramic structure under high heat.

These ideas open up a lot of possibilities.

I’ve been reading Making Your Own Ceramic Home, and it explores several techniques where earthen structures are intentionally fired or partially fired to create durable, ceramic-like building materials.

That kind of experimentation fits perfectly with the Rebel Roots approach: test ideas, observe what works, and keep improving.

Because of that, I’ve already designated a space on the property for making adobe bricks and eventually building a small kiln.

There’s a lot to learn there.

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Five Apple Trees Join the Property

Yesterday also included something completely different: planting the future.

A neighbor generously allowed us to dig up five apple tree starters from their property. These young trees will be transplanted onto the Rebel Roots land.

The plan is to plant them in the center of the Zia pits that have already been laid out on the property.

This placement serves several purposes.

The trees will help create partial sun protection for the soil and surrounding plants. Their leaves will eventually add organic matter back into the ground each season. Over time, their roots will help improve soil structure and moisture retention.

In a desert environment, every layer of living material helps rebuild the ecosystem.

These trees may be small now, but they represent something long-term.

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Legal Progress: A Step Forward in the Quiet Title Case

There was also encouraging news on the legal side of things.

Yesterday I was able to connect with the mediator assigned to the quiet title case for the Placitas property. The mediator is a retired judge, and we had a short conversation about the parties involved and scheduling.

It was brief, but the discussion felt constructive. The tone was professional and forward-moving, and I left the conversation feeling cautiously optimistic.

Mediation can often move things toward resolution faster than litigation. If it goes well, it could bring long-awaited clarity to the ownership of the property and allow Rebel Roots to move forward with greater stability.

For a project like this, secure land access is foundational. Every improvement we make—water systems, roads, greenhouse construction—depends on that long-term certainty.

So this step felt like real progress.

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Expanding Farm Equipment: A Dump Truck in the Works

Another potential step forward came through a familiar connection.

The same neighbor I traded my Mercedes to in exchange for two four-wheelers may also be selling an older Chevy dump truck that could be incredibly useful for the farm.

Right now the plan is still tentative, but it looks promising.

As part of the original trade agreement for the two four-wheelers, I owe an additional $800 beyond the Mercedes. That payment is being made in four installments of $200. Once that is completed, the titles for the four-wheelers will transfer fully.

If the dump truck purchase also works out, it would make projects like road grading, soil moving, and material hauling significantly easier. On a property where nearly everything involves moving dirt, gravel, or building materials, having a dump truck could save enormous amounts of time and labor.

For now, it’s another possibility on the horizon.

And around here, possibilities matter.

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Building Systems One Layer at a Time

Days like this show how regenerative work happens.

Water systems get repaired.

Soil gets moved and sifted.

Heating systems get built and tested.

Trees get planted for years that haven’t happened yet.

None of it is instant.

But layer by layer, stability grows.

At Rebel Roots, rebuilding isn’t about one big solution. It’s about many small systems working together—water, soil, heat, food, and knowledge.

Each piece strengthens the whole.

And little by little, the land responds.