The Willow, The Weave, and 2880

Another load of willow; this time focusing on larger pieces.  I am facing the very real prospect of not having enough lengths to cover the square footage of the hedge.  There are around 9-12 pieces per square foot and the unfolded dimension of the hedge is 6'x40'; 240 square' that is roughly  2880 pieces required to cover it. The image below shows 30.  Lets do it!  

I believe i have hit upon a technique for weaving the vertical elements of the hedge.  This is the fifth variation on the theme but is the best so far as it allows for the least amount of twists and wraps and can be added to indefinitely.

The above images is an attempt at showing the process of weaving and wrapping the connecting wires using a makeshift tool i learned about on you tube.  

The wire configuration above is the key to the weaving and connecting technique.  After first drilling a hole the diameter of the wire it is threaded through the hole and hammered into place making a secure connection.  The eye end becomes the receptacle for the next upright which is an identically configured section whose length end connects to the eye of the previous piece.  Confusing enough?  maybe you had to be there. 

  

Found and old farming implement out west near Loda; i think it might be a thatch rake.  The wire weave pattern is very interesting.  Don't you think? 

CNC router

Cut all the pieces for the wall on the CNC Router today. I'm going to have to do some sanding on the edges and slots of each piece to remove debris from the machine.

Living Bricks

http://inhabitat.com/jailmakes-reseeding-bricks-help-grow-living-buildings-in-london/

Mirror Cube Treehouse

http://thechive.com/2011/01/19/mirror-cube-treehouse-hotel-in-sweden-is-well-bats-crazy-13-photos/

The Extents of Height and Length

The armature has reached its full height and length.  I am somewhere near the limits of what is possible for one person to accomplish and as the structure looms above I have a sense of "Oh! What have I done!  perhaps Dr. Frankenstein felt similar.  

No, Not Moss; Teddy Bear Hair

 The moss growing experiment didn't go as planned, instead a strange looking form of mold has emerged.  So far, no adverse side effects except the "night-visions" that i have been having for the last two weeks.  Probably not related.  

This is three weeks to a month of new root growth from Salix cuttings which were simply placed in a container of water without rooting hormone.

Stockpiling Salix and Fabricating Armature

Faggots arrive in Bondville

 After harvesting a particular variety of Salix which readily roots from cuttings, I needed to create a holding area to keep it green and pliable.  The photos above are an experiment in which i dug a shallow trench and lined it with a tarp in hopes of keeping the cut ends of the Salix moist until the time of the installation.

This is a crude example of a method for using wire to bind the Salix into a kind of fabric; needs much refining  but i like where it is going.

The armature for the hedge is beginning to take shape although many details are yet to be resolved.