BENEFITING: Village Earth
DEADLINE TO GIVE: Sep 30, 2011
HOURS PLEDGED: 300
AMOUNT RAISED OFFLINE: $4,330.00
HERE'S THE STORY:

*anotheter UPDATE!

Thank you for all of the help and support these past two week! We raised $1500 in cash from private donations and a mini grant from Seventh Generation Fund. Village Earth matched your $1500 dollar for dollar making our proceeds for the month $3000! We still have a short ways to go and appreciate your support in getting there. 

 

*UPDATE!

Thank you to all who donated in July. The project is moving along splendidly. The pallet walls are up, the supports for the walls and loft are in and we are now moving to putting on the roof! The majority of funds so far have been spent transporting materials to the site and we have spent more on fuel than previously anticipated. We also anticipated receiving donations for electrical and plumbing supplies. We currently have enough money to finish the roof structure as well as install a pine shingle roof but we would really like to install a metal roof so that it will last through the harsh climate in South Dakota. We are looking to raise another $5000 this month to reach a total of $5000 so that we can cover all of the expenses. This will result in the total house price being just $10,000.

Thank you again for your support!

Shannon

Founder/Director Earth Tipi

Walter and Allison were homeless for about 8 years before finally securing a lease for their own homesite in the Wakpamni District on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. They were able to then purchase a camping trailer and after a year of requests and petitions were gifted 1/2 of a duplex by the tribe. They spent the past year and some dismantling and moving their half of the duplex piece by piece onto their new homesite and were making an attempt to use the pieces to build themselves a home. Over the winter, most of their efforts were blown over in a storm. Earth Tipi, a grassroots organization based in Wounded Knee (earthtipi.org) decided to partner with the family this past March when it became clear that they had the motivation and work ethic to help themselves but needed some support in building a solid home. They have invited 20 year building veteran David Reed of Texas Natural Builders (texasnaturalbuilders.info) to come lead a class that will both teach people to build a home out of pallets as well as actually construct a solid highly efficient home for Walter and Allison.

This is the second natural home building project for Earth Tipi who successfully completed construction of a cob/strawbale house in August of 2010 for another family living in the Manderson Community on the same Reservation. 

Though using pallets is a relatively new method of home building, it is extremely economical and sturdy. The home will be insulated with a light straw clay mixture which will provide thermal mass to help keep the home warm during the cold winter months. For more info on constructing homes out of pallets: http://www.sustainabledakota.com/?p=230

The construction process will be taught as a class that any local Lakota may attend free of charge. We hope not only to build a house for this family but to also educate and empower other families to build homes for themselves using materials that are relatively easy to acquire free or cheaply.

Of course the pallets are free. We have also secured donations of doors, windows and other house hold items. We are seeking funds to finance the materials for the roof, plumbing and electrical. We also need finances to transport and cover fuel costs of some of the natural materials that are also free.