Life Extension Villages - "Koura Rocks" in Cowra

Scaffolding has been Removed!

2017-09-12T12:00:00+00:00

There have been more delays because of worker health problems but the pace is picking up again now.

Most of the outside work has been completed - only the Western Deck and Staircase need to be craned into place now - so all the scaffolding surrounding the house could finally be removed. This allowed a nice photo to be taken and I also did a fast and rough video of the inside:

No Scaffolding!

First video inside

Although things are running late, I should still be able to have this concert at the end of this month:

Inaugural Beethoven in Cowra concerts

unfortunately I probably won’t have the Occupancy Certificate by then that would allow people to stay in the house on the Sat night.

Scaffolding has been Removed! was originally published by Philip Rhoades at Life Extension Villages - "Koura Rocks" in Cowra on September 12, 2017.

Tai Chi Class 8 and Laughter Yoga

2017-09-11T12:00:00+00:00

We had our eighth Tai Chi class last today in the River Park again next to the Caravan Park on the Lachlan River. The number of participants is usually more than a dozen now. I continue to send out email list reminders on the weekend for the Monday morning classes and also updating the calendar as appropriate:

LEV Calendar

One of Tai Chi participants, Marilyn, who has had previous Tai Chi experience, actually led the class once when John was not available. After a bit of chatting it turns out that she also runs a “Laughter Yoga” class! I had of this idea before but had never actually been involved - I asked her to describe it for this post:

“Laughter Yoga is A unique fun filled wellness class which combines unconditional laughter, triggered by playful exercises, with yogic breathing. There are no yoga poses.”

She said it is suitable for almost everyone regardless of age, gender or fitness level.

The comment that interested me the most was:

“It will lift your mood, reduce your stress levels and leave you feeling happy, calm and energised.”

Since I am constantly battling anxiety and depression, this sounded particularly interesting for me. Once the first house is finished in the LEV, I would like Marilyn to run classes there but at the moment she can be found at:

Saturday mornings 9am Brougham Park

Contact Marilyn for details 6342 6447

Tai Chi Class 8 and Laughter Yoga was originally published by Philip Rhoades at Life Extension Villages - "Koura Rocks" in Cowra on September 11, 2017.

The First and Second Tai Chi Classes

2017-07-24T03:15:30+00:00

We had our first Tai Chi class last Monday in the cul-de-sac in front of the new house - today we had it in the park near the Japanese Gardens. Last week there were just three of us - today there were eight! We will miss next Monday but continue for the third class the Monday after. In general, I will be sending out email list reminders on the weekend for the Monday morning classes and also updating the calendar as appropriate:

LEV Calendar

The Cowra Guardian came to this morning’s class and took photos of John and posted another article!

LEV Media Tab

The First and Second Tai Chi Classes was originally published by Philip Rhoades at Life Extension Villages - "Koura Rocks" in Cowra on July 24, 2017.

Added Media Tab to the Web Site

2017-07-03T14:15:00+00:00

The word about the LEV is getting around and we have done a few newspaper and TV interviews recently so I have put up another tab on this web site so it is easier to keep track of the coverage.

LEV Media Tab

Added Media Tab to the Web Site was originally published by Philip Rhoades at Life Extension Villages - "Koura Rocks" in Cowra on July 03, 2017.

Craning Long Roof Beams and Roof Cassettes

2017-06-21T14:15:00+00:00

Continuing great weather for craning - the long side wall beams and all the roof cassettes were craned into place. We lost a day and a half because of the small crane non-availability but we are still making good progress.

Craning Long Side Beams and Roof Cassettes

Craning the Rest of the Roof Cassettes

Craning Long Roof Beams and Roof Cassettes was originally published by Philip Rhoades at Life Extension Villages - "Koura Rocks" in Cowra on June 21, 2017.

First House Craning Success!

2017-06-18T14:20:00+00:00

Success! We couldn’t have asked for better weather for craning and it went off without any major dramas! The sides of the house “container” were folded down with no problems then the whole steel floor structure was welded into place so that the floor could then be used as a platform for installing the steel wall members.

Craning House Success

More still photos

First House Craning Success! was originally published by Philip Rhoades at Life Extension Villages - "Koura Rocks" in Cowra on June 18, 2017.

First House Being Craned Into Place This Monday!

2017-06-16T14:15:00+00:00

Well, the weather forecast is looking good for next week and it looks like there won’t be any more delays - on Monday, the first house, weighing 9 tonnes, will be moved from its position in a freight yard outside town and lifted into position on its gantry in the village by a 130 tonne crane with an arm reach of 22 metres!

It is getting very exciting - but also nerve wracking . . in any case I will post a time-lapse video of the whole process on the Monday night in the usual place:

YouTube - LEV Progress

assuming there were no last minute dramas.

First House Being Craned Into Place This Monday! was originally published by Philip Rhoades at Life Extension Villages - "Koura Rocks" in Cowra on June 16, 2017.

Gardening and Growing Rare Plant Species

2017-06-15T13:40:00+00:00

One aspect of “Living Better and Living Longer” is diet and another is feeling in touch with Nature. I have been getting more and more interested in gardens over the years - both for growing things that make the environment more pleasant to be in and for growing things to eat. There is much evidence to show that quality and nutrition of commercial fruit and vegetables has been going down for some time and there is much evidence to show that growing your own food is much nicer and better for you - for a number of reasons.

Of course, most people don’t have the time or circumstances to do this. I am investigating growing various sorts of food plants in the village but, being an ex-biologist, I am also interested in preserving rare species while making good use of them in terms of landscaping in the village. To this end, today I visited the nice, friendly and supportive people here:

Weddin Community Native Nursery

and bought my first batch of native species to be planted as soon the building on the first house is completed - this time I got about 40 Acacia truncata or “Sawtooth Wattle” for bordering the land between the house and the street. I have started growing these wattles in my little house next to the LEV and I will move them from their pots as soon as I can after the building is finished.

See here:

WCNN’s plants

for plants I am looking at for other parts of the village. I think making and being in gardens is good for dealing with depression and anxiety and just very pleasant generally.

Gardening and Growing Rare Plant Species was originally published by Philip Rhoades at Life Extension Villages - "Koura Rocks" in Cowra on June 15, 2017.

Scaffolding Erected for Post Craning Work

2017-06-06T10:00:00+00:00

This first prototype of what is hoped will be many houses in the village was mostly completed in the factory but needs scaffolding to allow the roof and wall panels, windows etc to be installed after the house has been craned into place.

The final date for craning the house onto the gantry is now 19 June! (unless there is some serious rain on the day).

Drone video (use YouTube controls for resolution and to fast forward over repetitive and camera glitch debugging):

Second Drone View of the Site as the Scaffolding is Erected

I love TimeLapses!:

Time Lapse Video of the Scaffolding being Erected

Scaffolding Erected for Post Craning Work was originally published by Philip Rhoades at Life Extension Villages - "Koura Rocks" in Cowra on June 06, 2017.

More Earth Moving to Create a "Launch Pad"

2017-05-31T10:00:00+00:00

To enable direct, level access to the building from the containers for four-wheel drive fork lifts, we have had to do some more earth moving. Actually, this flat area will be convenient for Tai Chi classes once the grass grow back.

We have a tentative date for craning the house onto the gantry - 14 June!

Earth Moving to Create a “Launch Pad”

(The playing speed and the resolution can be adjusted with the YouTube controls)

Google Photos - LEV Progress

More Earth Moving to Create a "Launch Pad" was originally published by Philip Rhoades at Life Extension Villages - "Koura Rocks" in Cowra on May 31, 2017.

LEV Tai Chi Classes to Start in June!

2017-05-17T18:35:00+00:00

I talked to a local guy about a year ago about teaching Tai Chi in the LEV once it gets going. Of course then there were a number of delays with getting the first house finished but now that it is close - I am getting an article published by the Cowra Guardian this friday and am putting the ad below in as well to start getting a list of interested participants. Things are getting exciting now!

LEV Tai Chi Classes to Start in June! was originally published by Philip Rhoades at Life Extension Villages - "Koura Rocks" in Cowra on May 17, 2017.

A Modular House Factory for Cowra!

2017-05-10T18:25:00+00:00

There was yet another delay with getting the house craned on to the new gantry - but in this case, it is not such a bad thing! My builder, Andrew, is moving to Cowra to set up a factory to build more modular houses! The company that supplied the steel members for the gantry did such a good job that discussions followed about building more of the modular houses in his factory in Cowra. Things look really promising at the moment and interest in the LEV is increasing, so of course it would really suit me have a local manufacture to deal with for anyone who wants to get involved with the LEV.

A Modular House Factory for Cowra! was originally published by Philip Rhoades at Life Extension Villages - "Koura Rocks" in Cowra on May 10, 2017.

The Gantry is Finished!

2017-04-24T07:40:00+00:00

After lots of planning down to the millimetre level, all the cross and diagonal members were bolted and welded into place very quickly. We just had to wait for the crane to be available for the heavy-lifting and then it all went like clockwork!

We estimate that there should now be about two weeks preparatory work and then the rest of the house will also, hopefully, be erected like clockwork.

Google Photos - LEV Progress

The Gantry is Finished! was originally published by Philip Rhoades at Life Extension Villages - "Koura Rocks" in Cowra on April 24, 2017.

We have Power on the Site!

2017-04-19T04:25:00+00:00

After a lot of back and forth, the electricity has finally been connected - now the welding of the steel piers to finish the gantry (which supports the house) can be done. See the proof on the Google Photos page:

Google Photos - LEV Progress

We have Power on the Site! was originally published by Philip Rhoades at Life Extension Villages - "Koura Rocks" in Cowra on April 19, 2017.

Event Calendar Added to Website

2017-04-14T12:35:00+00:00

Now we are getting close to an actual house being finished, I want to start adding local events to a calendar that will be of interest to people who want to come and visit! There are lots of these events - all having something to do with the raison d’êtr for the LEV in the firt place.

Event Calendar

Event Calendar Added to Website was originally published by Philip Rhoades at Life Extension Villages - "Koura Rocks" in Cowra on April 14, 2017.

Steel Piers Erected - Gantry Nearly Finished

2017-04-08T10:00:00+00:00

Most of the piers have now been installed for the gantry that will hold up the house. Once we have power on the site, the horizontal and diagonal steel bracing steel members will be welded into to place. Once that is done, the factory completed house can be erected quite quickly.

See the time-lapse video of the piers going up:

LEV House1 Gantry Erection TimeLapse

(The playing speed and the resolution can be adjusted with the YouTube controls)

Steel Piers Erected - Gantry Nearly Finished was originally published by Philip Rhoades at Life Extension Villages - "Koura Rocks" in Cowra on April 08, 2017.

Drone Flyover of the Whole Site

2017-01-18T04:35:00+00:00

A drone view of the whole site and in particular the concrete piers gives a nice overview of the development. I will do more of these at appropriate stages.

LEV Drone View

(The playing speed and the resolution can be adjusted with the YouTube controls)

Drone Flyover of the Whole Site was originally published by Philip Rhoades at Life Extension Villages - "Koura Rocks" in Cowra on January 18, 2017.

Concrete Piers are Poured

2016-12-15T10:20:00+00:00

The concrete piers are poured.

Google Photos - LEV Progress

Concrete Piers are Poured was originally published by Philip Rhoades at Life Extension Villages - "Koura Rocks" in Cowra on December 15, 2016.

The Serious In-Ground Works Start

2016-12-13T10:15:00+00:00

Yet more earthworks were needed on the house site itself so the slope was more regular and then it was a major exercise to get the drill in place from the excavator. The holes are for the concrete piers - more rebar for the holes tomorrow and then pouring the concrete into the holes on Wed - but there is rain due then . .

Google Photos - LEV Progress

The Serious In-Ground Works Start was originally published by Philip Rhoades at Life Extension Villages - "Koura Rocks" in Cowra on December 13, 2016.

The Factory Manufacture and Assemblage Finally Finished

2016-11-15T10:00:00+00:00

After the factory was relocated from Sydney to Wollogong and then other delays occurred, finally all the factory work was done and the “containerised” house and other parts could be transported to Cowra!

Google Photos - LEV Progress

The Factory Manufacture and Assemblage Finally Finished was originally published by Philip Rhoades at Life Extension Villages - "Koura Rocks" in Cowra on November 15, 2016.