Volunteer Work for Island (the Kids') Coffeehouse in Langley

The "BEFORE" picture, above, with Luc's excavator parked and ready for work the next day . . .


Luc and his excavator (above) do the work of many people in just one day


Marina visits with dad at the work site


Above: this is how the landscaping looked after Luc removed some of the bushes on the west side of the coffeehouse

Above: paths are being put in and soil is being moved



Luc has been volunteering his time, excavator, and expertise to help the Island Coffeehouse and Book Store in downtown Langley renovate their landscaping.

Plans for the coffeehouse include expanding the building to include a second story, taking out the previous landscaping, and adding paths and plantings.

Island Coffeehouse's website describes the business as a "community-building showcase for collaborating with youth voices – in song, in art, and in poetry and prose. Through programs like Friday Night Live, Youth In Philanthropy and the sales of youth art, we give young people a space to contribute their artistic visions and their service to the South End of Whidbey Island."

The store is a non-profit business and is a program of the South Whidbey Community Engagement Center, and the South Whidbey Commons, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

For more information on the coffeehouse and book store visit their website at:
http://www.islandcoffeehouseandbooks.org/values.html

Rock Wall frames an entryway in the Woods in Langley

This newly constructed home in the woods called out for a beautiful rock wall to frame the entryway and bring the elegant elements of nature from the surrounding woods in toward the home. Luc created this short rock wall, which will be the foundation for landscaping around the home. Above: the rock wall is under construction. Luc's hand tools are in the foreground.

The rock wall will act as a retaining wall for what might become a planting bed or a beautiful lush lawn. This time of the year there is a lot more water to work with both in the soil and raining down during work days. Above you will see some water that has puddled due to digging and earth moving that has taken place.

Above: measuring the length and width of the wall: a line marks the angle at which to build the back section of rock wall.

Completed rock wall!

Luc with his Lively Landscape Mobile competes in Langley's Soup Box Derby

The prize! Luc with daughter Marina at the finish line

Marina watching the race from the curb, ready with umbrella for a possible down pour.

Above & Below: Luc and his friend Luke (yeah, same name different spelling) competed in the Soup Box Derby in Langley on Sept. 20th. Luc made the bicycle-inspired 3 wheeled vehicle and adorned it with fresh flowers and lawn chair. It was quite rainy, but lots of fun for all of us!

The Two Luc/Lukes in their costumes to match the flower mobile: bee and daisy. Aren't they brave?

Luc riding down the hill in his derby vehicle

Rock Walls with a View (Spring 2005)

Luc began this job in the spring of 2005 and finished it early that summer. It consisted of 2 rock walls one above the other, separated by a steep slope. The Lower Wall is situated at the base of a steep slope and served to increase the parking space and aesthetic appeal of the driveway. Before the wall, the homeowners had some trouble turning in their cramped driveway. The property is located on the east side of the island and their home is on a bluff that drops off into the water. The Upper Rock Wall is located at the top of the property and was made by dumping and compacting a large amount of soil to make the slope at the top level enough to increase the usability of the land. All in all the job consisted of:
-building of 2 large rock retaining walls with an excavator
-one rock stairway (upper rock wall)
-delivery of rocks and soil to property
-moving of soil from delivery zone through a 5 foot wide path to the Upper Rock Wall with a loader

(Above) A picture of the finished lower rock wall, with Luc in front of it. Luc worked very hard to make sure that the Kinnickinnic bush (with red berries above his head) was left undamaged. It is such a beautiful plant and at the time there were bees all over it!

Above: the Upper Rock wall. This wall serves as a retaining wall for a (now) flat grassy area. This location was originally a sloped grassy area that turns into a vertical drop (right after where the photographer is standing). At the bottom of the vertical drop is the Lower Rock Wall (pictured first on this post), then the homeowner's parking and after that their home. While Luc was working on this wall, he had to be especially careful with how he placed the rocks as to not let one go rolling down hill into their home! All went well and the Upper Rock Wall now raises the slope so that there is a flat, grassy outdoor space that the homeowners can use for entertaining and for enjoying the beautiful sea view.

ABOVE: working on the Lower Rock Wall. Placing the base level rocks and sifting through the rock pile to piece the puzzle together (BELOW).
BELOW: Luc with baby daughter Marina in the loader that he used to move dirt to make the Upper Rock Wall and flat grassy area.

BELOW: A lot of dirt to move!

Edgecliff Cottage Stone Patio and Paths

Here is the pre-patio and path picture. There is a rough outline of where the patio will go and the path will wind up toward the garage/mother-in-law. A Path will also wind over to the left in front of their house to their deck. A third path will go from their deck to their driveway.

Here is the third path being measured and drawn up.

Here is the 3rd path completed (above)

Step 1: Remove all sod. The entire job was done by hand and all sod was hauled away. The clients golden retriever enjoyed the company and helped oversee the project.

Step 2: lay down newspaper to kill weeds. Begin placing stones in measured area over newspaper (above). Newspaper is a great low-impact way to prevent weeds from coming up under the patio. As Luc put the stones in he used sand to fill any space between the stones. The sand makes the patio look seamless while giving it a subtle flexibility.

Here is a close-up of the cottage stones as they meet the grass. (above)

Here is the finished path (above). The patio is on the far left (not pictured). Now the rain will help work the rest of the sand into the cracks.

The finished patio and path. Luc also did work in their flower beds, transplanting plants and cleaning up.