Water Tank Holding Strong

After weeks of sanding, cleaning, relining, and waiting for materials, the tank is finally filled again — and it appears to be holding.

Even though the tank was filled a little earlier than ideal after applying the epoxy liner, everything seems to be doing just fine so far. There are little to no leaks now, which is incredibly encouraging after all the work that went into the repair.

One interesting thing happening is that water pressure appears to be pushing a bit of the epoxy through the cracks where the previous leaks were. On the outside of the tank those spots are slightly tacky. From what I’ve read, that can actually be a good sign because it means the epoxy is sealing those weak points and helping stabilize the structure.

After weeks of frustration, it’s exciting to see the system finally doing what it’s supposed to do.

Reliable water is the backbone of any off-grid property.

The Next Phase for the Camper

Work on the donated camper is moving into the next stage.

The first step will be repositioning it slightly so that when the slide-out is extended it won’t sit directly in the road. Once it’s in the correct position, attention will turn to the electrical system.

Right now the wiring inside the camper has been cut and pulled out in a way that makes it difficult to trace what goes where. Rather than trying to patch things together, the plan is to pull the remaining wires out carefully and keep the longer sections intact.

Those pieces of wire can potentially be reused when rewiring the system, but only after inspecting them closely to make sure the insulation and conductors are still in good condition.

Starting fresh will make the electrical system much easier to understand and maintain later.

School Comes First

Outside of the farm work, school also needs more attention.

I had a midterm last night and passed it, but it was close. That was a reminder that I need to dedicate more focused time to my coursework.

The next phase of my program will be the 501 level, which is when students begin working with their own clients. That’s exciting, but it’s also a little intimidating. Before that stage begins, I need to be confident that I fully understand the material.

That means spending more time studying and preparing.

Preparing for Quiet Title Mediation

There is also preparation happening for the quiet title mediation on the Placitas property.

Today’s work will likely include organizing documents for the case. That means printing my opening statement, preparing an outline so I can stay organized during the session, and gathering supporting evidence.

Photos of the property will be especially useful, including both current images and older photos from before the work here began. Being able to show clear before-and-after comparisons can help illustrate the improvements and the investment that has gone into the land.

Video can also be useful evidence, but it’s more complicated to submit in court. It has to be saved to physical media like a USB drive and duplicated multiple times for the court and the opposing party. Because of that, printed photos are often easier to work with.

So today will likely include a lot of sorting through images and documentation.

Greenhouse and Rocket Mass Heater Progress

Work in the greenhouse continues as well.

More rocks were placed to help stabilize and level the venting grid for the rocket mass heater system. That structure supports the venting pathway and helps distribute heat properly.

With a bit more progress today, the venting grid should be fully shored up. Once that is complete, the next step will be starting construction of the manifold that the 55-gallon drum will sit on.

If everything goes well, that could begin either later today or tomorrow.

The Four-Wheelers Are Already Paying Off

The two four-wheelers we recently acquired have already proven to be incredibly useful around the property.

Before having them, getting tools or materials from one end of the land to the other meant a lot of walking back and forth. Now those trips take a fraction of the time and energy.

On a property this size, even small improvements in mobility make a big difference.

Cleaning and Creating Systems

Cleaning is still a major part of the daily routine right now.

One of the main reasons for pushing hard to finish cleaning the camper is that it will temporarily serve as storage space. Once it’s usable, we can begin organizing tools and materials into bins and creating better systems for managing equipment.

When everything is scattered across a property, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Creating organized storage systems helps reduce that stress and makes it easier to keep projects moving forward.

Rebuilding land is one thing. Building systems that keep everything manageable is just as important.

Small Steps Add Up

Days like this may not look dramatic from the outside.

A repaired water tank.

Cleaning and organizing.

Studying for school.

Preparing legal documents.

Moving rocks in a greenhouse.

But each one of those steps strengthens the foundation of Rebel Roots.

And over time, those small steps become real progress.