African Hut Part 2
please click the pictures to see full size
Now for the fun part. I finished setting the posts before leaving for Ireland on May 12. When I got back on May 24 the weather was bad, but as soon as I could I started collecting willow for weaving. A large willow had grown up out of some rustic fencing put in on the next allotment. This was shading my peas, it was all the excuse I needed to start chopping! I sorted the willow wands into two heaps as I went - large enough for the main structure, and the rest, which will do for the roof. Here is a picture taken May 30 (all pics on this page taken same date). You can click for full size.
another view. you are looking through the front opening which has deliberately been left wide.
close up of the woven wands.
this view is taken from the top of the centre post. I have lashed these sticks to the post to form a support for the central rope ring from which lengths of rope will run to a rope connecting the tops of all the posts. I figure there will be 36 rope 'spokes' and the shorter lengths of willow will be woven into this - it should be possible to do it from a stepladder inside the hut.
normal view of top of central post
as I was taking the photograph from the top of the stepladder, Fasal arrived for his daily inspection, Benji showing the way. In the background you can see my sadly dilapidated 20ft poly greenhouse - the roof blew off last year and I have not replaced it
these are the two posts that form the front opening. I have used the thick ends of the wands facing towards the opening. They are bound tightly with twine to help keep them rigid, and then sawn off close to the post, to avoid injuries. Coloured wools can be wound around these later, making a more attractive finish. I quite like the way they look now!
two closeups of the woven branches.
Updated May 30 2006