A-frame hut after several weeks of rain and no upkeep
The thatch at the back has been eaten by moth larvae and mold
Time to build a new hut
All the wood required
Marking a 3 m diameter building site in a more sunny location (sunlight preserves thatch)
Making in the first post hole
First post
Hole is 50 cm deep
Each post is 1.5 m above ground (2 m long)
12 post in place
Cutting loya cane
Splitting cane
Tying lintel on with cane
This is called square lashing, used to strongly tie wood together at 90 degrees to each other
"Wood henge"
Making a tripod ladder
Crossbar to stand on
Roof pole
Ends stick out about 30 cm over wall to form eaves
Using ladder to tie top of roof
Cane forms edge of eaves for first thatch to lay on
Frame completed
Collecting palm thatch with stone knife
100 fronds
Splitting fronds
Tying on thatch with cane strands
Typical wet season
Roof cap put in place last when it becomes to difficult to thatch from the inside
Dissasembling ladder
Smoke helps preserves thatch as it funnels up into the conical roof
A drainage trench is essential in this climate
Using the soil to build up the floor level
Compacting soil
Tree roots are a common problem
Cut them with a sharp stone, not with your good axe. It may hit a stone and break the blade.
Trench completed
Torrential rain
Roof works well
Trench runs like a stream
Cutting more cane
Weaving cane through wall posts
Keeping the wall low to let in light and air
Mud from trench to daub the wall
Digging a storage pond while getting more mud
Water will now collect in storage pond (not for drinking but for working with e.g. mixing clay)
Axe and pot in new hut
Round hut