Its been a while since the last post, mostly because so much has been going on. At this point we are hoping to take occupancy in about a month. Workers are busy panelling and painting, installing light fixtures, and beginning to prepare furnishings and cabinetry.

In the past month we have completed the roof, installed the wood boiler and heating system, roughed in the sprinkler system, insulated, and done a lot of wood panelling. The main stairs have been framed and are being finished, the elevator is installed, and we are preparing for slate and wood floor installation next week.

We have been wrestling with some budget overruns, and have pulled together to try and provide the most critical components and finish up well, while holding off on elements which we can wait for or can be more easily upgraded in the future, or provided by volunteers. One neat partnership that has developed is an offering by the Yestermorrow School (www.Yestermorrow.org) of Waitsfield to help out with the kitchen and other cabinets, and provide concrete countertops for the kitchen.  Yestermorrow is a design/build school which runs a variety of studio and shop classes, with a misssion of empowerment including teaching advanced green design and quality craft and construction. This is an ongoing offer and may develop to assist with cabins and shelters as well as ongoing improvements to the campus.