We call it the "Ditch" - Phase I

Peter, Celline and Marjo

The video is amazing. The four of them were able to remove this heavy rock.

Bryan showed up and just started helping Peter to dig the ditch.

Macky and Idong are on the payroll.

Antone is the boss and will lead in the cement work.

Macky is saving the Calamansi tree by making the ditch's wall come inside more from the regular side.

Someone is working on the terrace.

The cut-out is for the foundation of the post that will support the wall and the structure above that will be built in Phase III.

Excavation is complete. It is time to start building the walls, but the materials must be procured and transported to Hilltop.

At the bottom of the hill, the builder supply delivery dropped all of the materials since their delivery truck cannot make it up the hill.

The climb up the hill is 150 feet in elevation over a 600-foot span.

With building materials, this phase of the ditch building can be completed.

Even Franco is helping Marjo to put gravel between the wall and the dirt wall so that drainage will flow through the gravel to either end of the ditch and out without building pressure against the wall that otherwise could cause a structural failure.

Each post is connected to the other through a rebar that is tied between the posts and placed where the concrete footer will support the wall.

Posts are supported at their base with rebar and extra concrete.

Cement is poured into the hollow of each block. The cement has an additive that makes it waterproof.

Francois is helping Marjo with gravel too.

Phase I is complete. Phase two will complete the cement work and Phase III will build the shelter above.

Phase I is complete. The cost was self-funded. Two more phases remain and if each is self-funded the timeline for completion of the irrigation-chicken-rabbit shelter will be funded in two steps, one in August and the second in September. With outside funding, we can shorten the timeline to less than three weeks.