Just a quick post to say that OGM is still here and functioning. We are no longer a 501c3 so donations are not tax deductable but we will still gladly accept them. The best way to connect with us here at OGM is directly with the caretaker and manager Roger Fox     rafox2@gmail.com

another year gone.

Since the last post OGM has lost one of it's founders as he is following the path to enlightenment. He is now in training to take up the robes. I wish Brian well and give my thanks to him for all he has done for OGM.
Since the last posting OGM has also hosted 6 monks for a total of six months of retreat.

I am now preparing to have 4 monks here over the months of Dec and Jan. We also have some monastics tentatively scheduled for the spring of 2011.

OGM suffered a forest fire last august but we were able to save all of the structures but lost many trees. The views are still intact though as the fire was local.

OGM continues to move slowly forward.

Finished exteriors

We have finally gotten the siding installed on last years three kutis.

It is "board and bat" that I had cut at a local mill from local lodgepole pine.

The siding needs to dry thoroughly before we stain it a slightly darker color.

I am also having the "big house" ( where I live ) sided with the same material. I have

been wanting to cover up the salmon pink/peach paint ever since I moved in.

It's been a slow start.

The current economic down turn has taken its toll on OGM as well as the rest of the country.
We are slow getting started this year due mostly to funding. We have decided to finish some of the smaller projects we started last year as well as the VIP kuti.

Currently we have workmen putting up drywall, installing a shower, putting in kitchen counters and sinks. Within a week or ten days the cabin will be complete, finally.

Next we will put siding on the three small kutis and finish the interiors of the two that need it.
I plan on installing 15 amp electrical to the three small kutis along with running water.

Other projects that are scheduled for this year include a thousand feet of 6ft high fence to keep the deer out of the garden, orchard and general landscaped area. Painting or residing the "Big House" and replace old improper valves at the well head.

There are many other projects waiting that will just have to continue waiting. Another kuti, a new roof for the leaking barn/shop/central facility, road work to improve access and a number of rock walls for beauty and functionality.

I will post pictures in a few weeks when the VIP is complete.

We have lost one of our young yogis. Mischa is off in New Mexico checking out another retreat area. He may stay there or he may even return. We here at OGM wish him well and thank him for all of the work he put in here at the Hermitage helping us build and building his practice.

Also thanks to all of you who have helped us through the last several years. We are prospering slowly and look forward to many more yogis visiting us in the future.

OGM sponsored eight monks for two to three week visits this last winter season. Most recently was Ajaan Geep and Tan Isaac from Wat Metta Forest Monastery. They were here late May and early June. That will be it for the Monks until next winter as the Rains Retreat is beginning shortly and they will all have to stay at their Monastery.

I will travel south next September through November to visit Wat Metta and my meditation Ajaan, Thanissaro Bhikku, and then take some Monks to Mexico camping in the high mountains of Baha.

We've started working.

Well we have started the 2009 season.
Made a number of purchases for the VIP Kuti. Shower, hot water heater, vented propane heater and sinks. We have added to the wiring and will be installing cabinets and counters. This unit will be fully self-contained by mid summer.

I have been working on the garden for this year as well as putting in additional fruit trees and ornamentals. We are still getting frost at night and will continue to do so until early June but with care I will be able to get some things going early.

We had some excitement several days ago here at the Hermitage. The neighbor to the south of our forty acres was doing some burning and left the area unattended. The fire flared up and with a strong south wind was headed our way. It was several hours before the county fire people could respond as they were on another call. I used my tractor to cut fire lines between the fire and OGM property and several of my neighbors did the same. Special thanks to the three Yogis that are staying here as they came down to the scene with shovels and rakes and helped contain the fire until the fire people arrived. Special thanks to Mischa as he spotted several places where the fire had "jumped" onto OGM land and was actually starting to burn behind where we were focused. Mischa put those areas out himself and saved us a major problem. All in all about 4-5 acres was burnt, none on OGM, and about 50-60 trees.

Spring is very near.

The season is just beginning here at OGM.
It was a wonderful winter with nearly seven feet of snow, the average is four and one half feet, and we had temperatures down to minus twenty five degrees F.
We had six Monk visits this winter and still have our three resident Yogis from last year with us.
This year we plan on finishing all five cabins inside and out. I also hope to build one more towards the end of the season.
There will be many developments this year to include a completed website and a roof on the Central Facility which as been leaking since we arrived here nearly three years ago.
So.........watch the blog and then the new and improved website for updates.
OGM would like to say thank you to all of you who helped us financially this last year!

Monks visiting

OGM has had two Monks visiting since the 14th of January. Cold but no snow while they were here. Tan Peter and Tan Chris are from Wat Metta Forest Monastery in San Diego County California.

more winter pictures

a few more pictures

winter at OGM

Winter has descended on OGM. We got over 30 inches of snow in December when the average is 16 inches. It is snowing today and the forecast is for 5 inches today and more tonight.

Two of our resident yogis will be returning from a visit home and I will go pick them up in Spokane if I can get there tomorrow.

We have two more Monks scheduled to arrive on the 14th and stay through the 30th of this month.

Attached will be a few winter scene pictures from here at the Hermitage. All pictures are of OGM property or are looking off into the distance from the property.

Burrrrrrrrrrrrr

Last friday night the 19th of December the temp went to -24F and since we have had several nights as low as -10F. We have also received 24 inches of snow since the 4th of the month. The average for all of December is 16 inches. I have had to plow snow every day for 3-4 hours just to stay ahead of it. Everyone is staying warm and seem to enjoy the winter weather.
The Monks we had staying with us ended up getting to stay an additional five days as the weather closed down the Spokane airport on the day they were to leave.
More winter pics in a few days.

winter and monks are here.

We have started getting the winter weather.....Some snow and temps to -10 degrees.

Two Monks from Wat Metta arrived on the 4th of Dec. They will be returning on thursday the 18th.

The fifth building was semi-completed in time to house one of the Monks.

We have had five guests for the last two weeks and will continue hosting the three yogis after the monks leave.

The building in the pics is the fifth kuti/sauna.

Receipts will be going out in the next week or so for all of you who have been generous enough to contribute to our work here.

Thanks much.

almost ready for the Monks

Number five is getting near the "Dried in point". Monks are due next thursday and the sauna/kuti will be ready. Got the sheathing and felt on the roof today and moved the wood stove in. Tomorrow I will finish the walls and install the stove and give it a "smoke" test. Still need to install one window and build a door and install the insulation in the walls and ceiling. Then of course there is also the interior panelling as well as the shingles on the roof and the benches inside the sauna and the porch roof and the privacy screen and the....and the....and the.... and on and on and on.

There is 20 acres for sale right next door to use with some beautiful building sites and a spring as well. Wish we had the $49,000 they are asking........actually a pretty good price. This piece would make a great monastic area.

Pictures are of number five/sauna and from the front porch.

still working

Even though the season is winding down I am still working. Trying to get the fifth building up and ready for the Monks that are coming in early December. This building will also double as a dry heat sauna.

I am doing most of the work with help from the three yogis only when I can't lift something by myself.

Siding goes on tomorrow.

the view is from the porch of number five.

End of the Building Season, 501(c)3

The snow is flying at OGM and our meditators are buttoned up in their kutis. The building season is pretty much over, save for some bits and pieces here and there. Looking back it has been an amazing season - we went from one half-finished kuti to four kutis using all volunteer labor and a shoestring budget. We're broke and exhausted, but very happy.

Many thanks to all who contributed, especially the volunteers poured their personal time into the place. Without your help we would be still working on the 2nd unit! A special big thanks to Mischa and Brendon who stuck with it all season and became fine builders in their own right. I hope you guys build your own houses someday.

I also want to mention that very recently we received the official IRS paperwork affirming our 501(c)3 status. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent the tax laws permit. It was harder than we thought, but now it's done. If you've been holding back making a donation for this to happen, now is the time!

Hopefully we'll get some photos of snow and mountains up here now, and not so much shots of folks wielding tools.

May all beings be happy.

501C3

Well the IRS finally came through. Talked with the IRS representative on thursday, last, and she said we had been approved.

Winter is nearly here.

All three meditators are now in full retreat.
Brian was here for a few days and helped with some electrical work and with the well.
We still have great water and more of it than the neighbors do but the water table is down from the 5 year drought.
I am now working on building a Sauna which can also double as a residence if need be.
We have two Monks scheduled to arrive the first week of December.
All paper work has been corrected and returned to the IRS for the 501C3. We hope to hear from them shortly.
It has been a very busy season but we did manage to get done what we wanted to get done. MOSTLY!
In the next month or so I will be posting the preliminary figures on volunteer hours worked and yogi meditation days/weeks/months for this year to date.
Thanks to all of you who have helped by working, donating and sending metta.
Roger

number 1 is done for now

We have gone as far as we are going this season with number 1 shot gun shack. Number two and three will get a little more work but they will not be finished to the extent number is until next season. Pictures are of Mischa and Brendon inside number 1. Terran has now moved in and continues the retreat he started last month in the VIP Kuti.

We are now working on the central kitchen and bath facility. Pictures of it will follow in several days.

Brian is expected to arrive tomorrow for a weeks visit.

Well and interior of number 1

Had a new pump put into the well yesterday as the old one was failing. Pictures of the old and the new.

The crew is panelling number one and I will post the pics in a day or two.

Next week off to buy materials to winterize the Central Facility.

Still no word from the IRS on the 501c3

winding down for the season

Our three meditators, who will be with us for the winter, are moving into their respective cabins over the next few days. We have been doing cosmetic work and have a little more of that yet to do. There will be some things left undone for the winter. Such as: Siding and interior furnishings. We just haven't been able to fund everything this season for three additional buildings.
We are still waiting on the , ever so efficient, IRS for the ruling on our 501c3 status.
There will be a few more entries with construction updates but the end is near for this season.
Temps are dropping into the 30's and snow is not all that far away.

Just finishing up number three

Had nearly three days of thunderstorms,wind and rain so we got slowed down a bit but will still be done tomorrow with number three except for a few small cosmetic things.

We will now spend several days just cleaning up the three sites and doing some general beautification.

The three meditators; Mischa, Brendon and Terran should be in there respective Kutis by next tuesday. The work crew; Mischa and Brendon will probably continuing working for another week or two depending on what materials I can get purchased.

The IRS is now working on the 501c3 applications that were recieved in April of this year as was ours. We hope to hear from them very soon.

It was 39 degrees for a low temp two nights ago and I heard reports from the locals that there was some frost in the low lying valleys. We really haven't had much summer this year but yet I am looking forward to winter and all the snow.

I would like to say again how much I appreciate and how important to OGM the volunteers have been this summer. Without them we might have gotton one building done. As it is now we have four structures ready for the winter months. Also without Brians good help we would not be where we are today. He gets to spend far too little time here at OGM!

Porch railing and the roof

Porch railing went on yesterday and the roof got started but then the promised rain showed up and chased us off. Rain again today with temps in the 50's-60's. All in all a very pleasant change from the 100 degrees of the preceding few days. The thunder storms knocked out the Internet again yesterday so wasn't able to post until today. No work on the cabin today but did grade the road and the guys did some work in the Central Facility area getting ready to winterize it.

moving slow but moving forward

The heat and lack of funds has us moving slowly forward. The flying rafters went up today and tomorrow should see the sheathing on the main roof and the beginnings of the actual roofing. The weather forecast is for thunder storms and rain the next few days.....at least that will cool things down a bit.

STAIRS, ROOF AND GUSSETS.

STAIRS WENT ON TODAY AS WELL AS THE PORCH ROOF AND SOME NICE GUSSETS TO HELP SUPPORT IT.

WE ARE GOING TO BEAT THE 25TH FOR A DRY IN DATE BY AT LEAST 2 OR 3 DAYS.

lot's of work but little show.

Have done a lot of work but most does not show. Did get the rafters up and tomorrow will be a big day. Things are moving a bit slow as the temps have been going over 100 degrees y'day, today and tomorrow but then will drop into the 70's next week. Summer is almost over before it even got here.

Walls up

Walls are up and sheathing is almost complete. Roofing in a day or so.

Did some clean up below the cabin today as well. A few dead trees were pushed over by Mischa and Brendon.

Mischa is now living in number two.

Number three walls go up.

Today the work was WALLS. The crew is getting good at framing.

Brendon makes the sawdust fly. The cutter ( Brendon ) makes the framer ( Mischa )

look good by providing the cut boards accurately and on time.

Been away for a few but the work continued.

I was entertaining family for a few days but the crew kept working.

Number 2 is dried in except for hanging the door which I will do tomorrow and then Mischa moves in.

Went out today and bought enough lumber to do the porch and framing on number three. The crew ( Mischa and Brendon ) and I put the porch on in under two hours, they're gettin' good, and then tomorrow will be the beginning of framing. Time us!!!!! we will have number three dried in by the 25th of August and then it will be time to put the siding on all three units and do the interiors ( if we can afford it )?

We are seriously movin' ahead now!!

Pictures today are of Number two and then several shots of the floor and porch of number three and then of the path the guys cut through the aspen grove to give access to the Central Facilities from number three.