This post is an overview of the work undertaken by God’s Way Ltd, during the work period October 21st – November 1st, 2019.

Visitors to God’s Way Ltd

God’s Way Ltd welcomed a number of visitors during this work period, from both overseas and different states within Australia.

Eloisa Lytton-Hitchins and Catherine Spence led these guests on a tour of God’s Way Ltd projects.

This included viewing many pilot environmental experiments Jesus initiated to repair his very degraded 40 acres of land. These successful experiments are now being applied to God’s Way Ltd owned properties.

The tour group also visited the God’s Way Ltd Environment Learning Centre, Function Centre & Caretaker’s Residence properties in Cushnie, where they saw completed and in-progress projects such as the Shed Site Rehabilitation Project, Terraces Project & Caretaker’s Residence Renovation.

Visitors were also shown through the Divine Truth Studio and Office.

Many questions were asked by the group at each of the locations visited.

Construction Projects

David Walsh (Cornelius/Corny) is a site manager for current construction projects and at certain times has different volunteers working with him. This week Wayne Shaw contributed some labour when he was not looking after the machinery used by God’s Way Ltd. Nicky Primetica and Tristan also contributed at times when they were not required to be working on environment projects.

Renovation of the Function Centre Caretaker’s Residence continues. Posts that hold up the front and back verandas have been sanded back and re-painted. Steps up to both verandas have been constructed.

As there are not going to be any skirting boards within the house, a method for connecting the walls to the floor was devised.

A water collection system is also being built for the house. This involves the addition of water tanks, plumbing and new guttering.

View posts on the Function Centre Caretaker’s Residence Renovation Project

Servicing of Heavy Machinery

Catherine Spence’s gifts the use of her new tractor to God’s Way Ltd. It was due for its 50-hour service and was serviced by the local dealer, with Wayne Shaw present. (God’s Way Ltd has an agreement with Catherine to service and maintain all of the equipment that she freely loans to the organisation.)

Wayne Shaw also checked the excavator and bulldozer were ready for work to recommence on the Terraces Project.

Terracing Earthworks

Terracing earthworks on the Cushine Function Centre recommenced after some problems with the bulldozer were resolved. A contractor has been driving the dozer under the direction of Eloisa Lytton-Hitchins.

View posts on the Function Centre Terraces Project

Sorting of Seeds

A large variety of seed species had been previously purchased, consisting of native Australian trees, grasses and green manure (plants that serve as mulch and add nutrients to the soil). The seeds needed to be mixed and divided into portions for use on different properties.

The portion of seed for use in the Cushnie Function Centre Terraces Project was then divided up for to allow seed for each of the terraces.

Seeding Terraces

Visitors and volunteers have been involved in preparing the ground and spreading seed onto the terraces.

Narrow, shallow trenches (furrows) running the length of each terrace and around terrace banks were ripped by the excavator during earthworks. The soil in these furrows needed to be loosened in preparation for seeding, and levelled in places to hold rain water evenly.

The seed mix and dried pellets containing microbes and worm casting were then spread into each furrow. A layer of wood chip was laid over the top. Wood chip coverage prevents rapid evaporation of rainfall and protects seed from being eaten by birds.

A detailed update on the Terraces Project will be posted soon, explaining the concept of terracing, and when and how seeding occurs.

View posts on the Function Centre Terraces Project

Moving Wood Chip

Wood chip purchased some time ago and stored on the Cushnie Function Learning Centre needed to be loaded into the tip truck by the tractor, and delivered to each of the terraces.

The speed that mulch was being spread by volunteers on the terraces meant that it was almost a full-time job for the tip truck to keep up with delivering more loads.

Garden Design Experiment

A test garden design, using fertility pits to capture and slowly release water and nutrients into the land, is being constructed by Rob Griffiths and supervised by Catherine Spence. This project was designed by Jesus.

Information Sharing

In the Divine Truth studio, Kate Eckersall worked on projects of the Information Sharing Branch. Presently, the focus is on designing foundational computer systems that lie behind-the-scenes, to digitally store the data (including photos, videos, audio and written information) created during each God’s Way Ltd Project in an organised way, that will enable volunteers to quickly and easily search for, locate and use this information later.

View posts on the Information Sharing Branch

Project Design, Planning and Supervision

All of the projects have been designed and supervised by AJ Miller (Jesus).