Fly Like An Eagle

This fall Daniel decided to get serious about doing an Eagle project. He had a pretty rough time finding one -- you'd think places would be excited for free labor, but place after place he contacted was already full up on projects for the year.

Finally he found a project possibility through Global Gardens and the Idaho Office for Refugees. They have about four acres in southeast Boise where refugees can learn to garden and raise livestock, learning skills and growing food for themselves. One of the refugees, Abdi, wanted to start raising chickens, so he needed a shed converted into a chicken coop, and an outdoor run built.

Here is the site as it was.

After thinking about it some, Daniel decided that doing both the coop and the run was too much, so he decided to just build the run. Here is his plan:

It's 24 x 24 feet, nearly six feet tall, with chicken wire walls and roof.

The biggest problem was getting donations. It turns out that most lumber yards etc. have a fairly long approval process, and he was nearly out of time. He finally managed to get over half of the needed materials donated.

We went out a few days before the main project to make the final measurements and prep the area.

Daniel used string and spray paint to mark the outline where the walls would be, then put in flags and started the holes to mark where each of the 16 posts would need to go.

The materials are loaded up ready to go.

Daniel gives directions to the volunteers.

Digging in.

Abdi came to see how things were going.

Posts are starting to go in.

More of the facility. You can see some of the gardens, and goats that are being raised by the refugees.

The walls are taking shape.

Daniel with Katie, the representative from the Idaho Office of Refugees.

The chicken wire walls are starting to go up.

Working on the roof.

The end of the first day -- things are mostly done.

On a follow-up visit, Daniel works on the part that connects the run with the shed.

The door is installed. Doing some touch-up work on the chicken wire.

The finished project!

Good work, Daniel!