My Mom told us that we were going to the desert to make a house out of mud. I thought she was joking. But, apparently not. Before we knew it we were in the middle of nowhere looking at a fence in the dark and wondering how we were going to get in.
Rinat, the person in charge, came down and opened the gate for us and looked exhausted. We didn’t know why because it was only 8:00PM but on the last day we would be more tired than she was at 8pm. She made us a delicious dinner (every night, actually) and we learned about where we were and what we were going to do. Tzukim, aka desert, is an eco community that was founded about three years ago. 95 percent of the visitors are Israeli’s and don’t build huts. They come to stay for vacation. It normally takes two people three months to build a hut. Rinat came up with the idea of having us make a big playhouse so that we could do all the steps and see a finished hut. It tooks us three days to do three layers and the decoration layer.
First we started with a few stacks of hay and we stacked them up so they were equal and formed the shape of the hut. We put frames for the door and windows in the hay. We also stacked the hay in a way so there could be a mini window. And then we started making the mixture for the hay. The mixture is water, hay and earth. (A bucket of the mixture would cost $100 if we wanted to buy it.) My Mom and I were the ones who mainly put the mud on the house. It is a bit challenging at the beginning because it was our first time and you had to slather it on the hay. If you didn’t put it on right it would fall on the ground and if you put too much on it would be too heavy and fall. My father and Gavin were working hard to make the mixture and Brock was very busy burying his cars in the dug up pile of earth.
Here you can see a video my mom took of me showing the play house and how we made it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKnvNq4VrdA
Stage 1: Stack hay, put in door frames and create the shape you want.
Stage 2 Create the first layer of mud and fill gaps in hay with bottles.
Stage 3: Put on another layer and even out the sides and add the roof.
Stage 4: Put final (smoother and thinner) layer on, decorate and play!
I am really proud that four people (plus Brock for moral support and entertainment!) made a mud hut in only three days. If anyone ever goes to Tzukim, find a gate in the middle of the dessert. You will see two pathways – take the left one. Follow the path and you will find an area where it looks like people will eat. Walk around it and you will see a little hut with two people on it and a sun. It says “Kids Only” in Hebrew and English. If you are with kids, hopefully they can play there and enjoy it.
Now a few pictures of Tzukim:
Wow, that hut rocks! We want one for our backyard. Would they survive heavy rains?
Posted by: rob | 01/23/2011 at 02:48 PM
Nate, you are a pretty awesome blogger. I love the story, your style, and the way you explain everything. :) We miss you, but now you can come back and fix all of our house troubles. Well, we don't have many, but my brother, who bought the fixer-upper next door has a lot! You could really make some $$ working for him.
Posted by: Stacey, Robert, Talia, and Ari | 01/25/2011 at 11:24 PM
Nate, you probably dont remember me, but I am a friend of your Fathers (and Mothers). Your write up and video are fantastic. And i totally love the hut!! Maybe i can build one here in Martinez? All the best to the Pola family. Cheers- Chris Dundon
Posted by: Chris Dundon | 01/26/2011 at 08:21 PM
Tzukim, aka desert, is an eco community that was founded about three years ago. 95 percent of the visitors are Israeli’s and don’t build huts. They come to stay for vacation. It normally takes two people three months to build a hut. Rinat came up with the idea of having us make a big playhouse so that we could do all the steps and see a finished hut. It tooks us three days to do three layers and the decoration layer.
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It normally takes two people three months to build a hut. Rinat came up with the idea of having us make a big playhouse so that we could do all the steps and see a finished hut. It tooks us three days to do three layers and the decoration layer.
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