Choco-Durian

I'm not sure what is more of a blasphemy, freeze drying durian or tainting the sacred chocolate with factory durian. It actually tasted great.

Pentagon Loft

Below this loft is around 9 feet of stretch space, I can comfortably do yoga under it and the room still feels spacious. A porthole will add some natural light to wake up to.

Ladder to 2nd floor

Pentagon siding & crickets up

4.5 sides down

Cricket 2

Cricket 1

Nate getting creative and adding some character to the pentagon.

Well Drilling by Rex

Rex and the drill that bored a hole 505 feet down to supply water at 4 gallons a minute.

Cedar Shower with a view

Matt putting up some found plastic we used as a liner for under the cedar.

Keepin' it Real

Lavish brunch with veggie burritos & Thai sauce, and an amazing chocolate pudding with an inner chia pudding layer. Yeah - Emily is down with shameless self-promotion: Salad for the road and the threads to spread the good word.

Thai Cuisine al Extraordinario

Emily went all out and prepared one of the most incredible meals my kitchen has seen. Some of the recipes were influenced by Renee's book, "Living Cuisine".

Energy Bar Making Extravaganza

Emilita went on a wild bar making kit shortly before her departure. She made 3 different bars (Original, Spirulina & Cacao Nib), all with the same base ingredients: sesame seeds, chia seeds, sprouted sunflower seeds, goji berries, ginger, dates, lava salt, vanilla, & a few other ingredients. Dehydrated 24 hours - great snacks for stashing in the glove box or your pack.

Luxury Breakfast

I promise this is not a daily habit. Bananas topped with freshly ground chocolate, filberts & alpine mint from my terrace.

Pentagon Progress

Matt & Ira up high on the pentagon tower. The eaves were installed on the south side of the roof as well as more siding.

LEAF: In Action - Oct 14-17

Despite some wind we had great weather, lots of interest in raw foods, chocolate & the good vibes. Emily, Keri & Ira all won gold stars for their outstanding performances. They wooed the crowd that keeps growing and supporting our efforts.

Loading up for LEAF

The truck was packed and ready for action. In between us were the pizza crusts & crackers. Every inch of the grease machine was filled.

Happy Berry Farm - Carolina del Sur

Down the road from Emily's parents house in South Carolina is this great little farm. Set on a rolling meadow and filled with muscadines, scupernogs, fig and berries. The red muscadines were my favorite of our harvest. The extra ripe ones have a nice fermented taste and go great in a glass of wine.

Kitchen Madness

Pre-LEAF prep = Many hours under high-powered florescent lights, fueled by green smoothies & chocolate, listening to archives of "This American Life" - good times.

Floor Boards down

Shower Space

John, Matt & Ira finishing up the floor joists

Visit from a Mantis

Cabin Addition

Campside Microgreens

Eating fresh microgreens next to your favorite swimming hole is a living luxury. Chloe & pea shoots in the Globe Tract.

Two trucks down & two feet that work

At one point last week BOTH were down, now one is sold and the hunt for used veggie oil is on.

Carolina Siding

John and Ira putting up the siding boards on the only windowless wall of the five.

North Asheville Tailgate Market

Always festive and social. Last weekend was packed with people, produce & furry friends.

The roof is on fire!

Matt & John grinding away to make the right cuts on the five-sided tower of wood & glass.