I'll poke around and see what I can find for some mortar options and you could always look in the local area for local rainbow family that is doing similar ideas in your area.
I used to be rainbow family before the wildness of last year's gathering melted down and shamed the entire group.
Next up biggest way to get rid of that tree is to snip it down a little bit and then start scraping the dirt away from the trunk with screwdrivers and brooms. Once you get a big pile of the main root ball uncovered using some of that wood and a little fan... Get a nice little fire going!
You really don't have to fight with it if you can uncover it and burn it out. Especially since you have a big area around that you are cleaning out for a fire break as well as putting a little bit of tin and screening for Sparks and just have a little fire. Metal bucket or burn barrel over the top to help contain everything.
Maybe one of these days you'll be able to help me and my puppy dog out when we finally do access some land for us to start building our own slice of heaven.
Best part is the ground will insulate you!!!! Phenomenal job absolutely love this entire idea. Maybe one day me and puppy dog might be able to come take some pictures of your amazing accomplishment and hang out with you guys!
Maybe you can also look into thermal electric generation since now you have the ability for a cool house. It actually uses temperature differentials to make electricity.
Some of the small ones that I have seen are just a metal stand that you put on top of your fireplace and the heat differential starts providing little electrical energy to a small electric motor that turns a fan increasing the overall heat.
Using this you could definitely provide a metal roof that heats up and then with your internal house temperature differential provide electricity to the house batteries.
The more knowledge that you find and put into this. The more amazing it's going to turn out and it's already pretty amazing as it is!!!!
I did start tackling the tree yesterday, I cut off the limbs and got all the cacti cleared out from underneath. I started digging around the base. The fire is a GREAT idea, didn't even think of that! Got to be careful, as it is so dry here, but it can be containable.
What is a local rainbow family? And where are you located?
And who is this spaminator account? That is starting to tick me off!
I see. I tend to be a lone wolf when it comes to associating with others, although it can be a disadvantage, I also find organizations get . . . tricky. So you are not too far from me then! Maybe a 20 hour drive. So far, I have been working on dislodging the tree by cutting the big roots with a sawsall, and then we tried yanking it out with our big truck, didn't budge. So I will keep dislodging roots, moving material, and then I may try the fire thing. Work in progress!
Interesting. I will take some time and look up diy mortar, although I will probably just buy it.