Wattle and Daub: Surveying our hut

After a very long absence - Alister and I finally got out to the village to visit our Hut.

Winter was not kind to it and we found a bit more dilapidated than we left it - but still it was great to go out. The current owner has made all sorts of promises to help us fix it up, trim dead trees, and all that other stuff that needs to be done.

Actually - Alister and I have mixed versions of what he actually said and promised- The owner speaks a village mix of Ukrainian and Russian and we have problems understanding him - still the Ukrainians who came with us also had difficulties - so we don't feel too out of the loop.

What we discovered:

Wooden beams and wattle that has been left exposed due to deteriorating daub has rotted. Suggestion - Jack up house and replaces rotted portions while laying a concrete foundation.

Cracked and missing Daub - suggestion. Reapply daub using a dirt, straw and horse manure mixture. Must find horse manure - cow will apparently NOT do - not enough texture - the house will go splat.

The house needs to be whitewashed to protect the daub

We need to do some sort of temporary fix with the roof as next year we'll have even more repairs if we don't do something now.

We need to lay poison for the hundreds of ant colonies that have taken up residence on our property and might find our mud walls a cozy new home

we need to get rid of the (shudder) snakes that are slithering about in our house somewhere ( found evidence of two shed skins - quite bad manners I think to strip down is someones Else's house and leave your clothes hanging from a crack in the ceiling)

July 28 Is R-Day (R for REMONT!!) Alister's friend Pete is coming and so we are figuring out how and what to do with him. And how long we actually can stay in the village without water, and without electricity while up to our ears in mud and manure (not to mention the question as to whether we will be allowed on the bus back to Kiev)

Meanwhile - I've been e-mail every wattle and daub Specialist I can find in the UK and America to find out "What are we supposed to do and How do we start" I even called the ministry of culture here in Ukraine - I mean - In England they have an interest in the historical preservation of buildings - sure there should be something here - they have a whole outdoor archaeological museum of mud huts - so there ought to be some experts somewhere. I finally got through to someone who was very nice - but didn't understand what I wanted - but instead of getting upset and crabby he told me to come to his office next Tuesday - which is exciting and will hopefully produce some other people we can look to for help and advice.