Top news this week is that the duplexes have passed the final inspections, and are now certified for occupancy. As a result, our residents can officially move in, and we have flexibility to arrange these spaces for our use. This comes out of a lot of hard work on the part of many volunteers, and the leadership and shepherding from Kakumyo keeping it all together. Per the direction of the Board, we will continue working on fine-tuning and finishing the projects we have and paying down existing debt before starting anything new. Yesterday’s work party included Gary working hard on finishing the Unit 2 bathroom, among several other volunteers doing other tasks. Greatly-appreciated improvements are visible every week.

The gardens are beginning to produce on several fronts. These beautiful Lakota squash are Hanshin’s special project, and the residents already enjoyed the first one for dinner Wednesday night. Tenzo Shin’yu proudly shows other things coming from the gardens: beans, tomatoes, basil, red pepper, cucumbers. Oddly enough, we have almost no zucchini this year.

Wednesday Work Parties

We have regular Wednesday work parties from around 9am to 3:30pm. There is plenty of work for people to do, inside and outside, light and heavy. Come for as much or as little of the time as you wish. We have tools and gloves, but if you have your own, feel free to bring them. If you are around at 12:30pm, we feed you lunch.