The Podcast!

Podcast Transcript:

The idea to build a geodesic dome for a final COVID project was introduced to us by Mr. Miller when we were still all online. The original idea was simple: create some kind of semi-permanent structure with the least environmental impact possible. Through the course of roughly a quarter of the year (From march to june) the Environmental Science class designed and gathered the materials for the dome, while the multi-grade Geometry class calculated the measurements. The two classes combined to construct the final product that has come to be known as "The Dome."

As mentioned before the idea was proposed while we were still mostly online and Mr. Miller set about receiving funding for, as well as brainstorming possible ways to get the dome together. The initial idea was to create some other more “traditional” building, however this quickly became obvious that it would be difficult to complete without either significant amounts of raw materials, or a significant environmental impact. Keep in mind that the most basic goal of the project is to minimize the environmental impact.

As it became obvious that this more traditional building would be difficult to create with the means we had, a geodesic dome became an obvious choice. It would require less materials than something like a hut, and it would be significantly easier to cover without having to resort to a metal like tin, which has a significant environmental impact from both extracting the raw ore, but additionally the process of smelting and shaping it. Several possible alternatives were offered, ranging from tarpaulins, to some kind of canvas covering.

It was at this point that Mr Miller offered a different approach. He told us about a Native American technique, of “teaching” fast growing vines to grow a particular way utilizing the skeleton of a pre-laid structure and then allowing these vines to grow and cover the structure as they naturally would. This new approach was both very cool, and very environmentally conscious.

The grant we received is from the Mary Lyon Foundation, a local nonprofit organization that helps local schools with funding and encourages educators to go above and beyond. A huge thank you to them as they really helped us out getting this project off the ground.

With funding in place, and school about to return in-person the Environmental Science class set about diligently chopping trees down, stripping them of their branches and bark, and setting them aside to use as poles. We decided on black cherry, as it is both very easy to cut, and bend, but also decently strong and rot resistant. An added bonus of the black cherry is that there are multiple black cherry groves on school property, so we would be able to harvest most of the raw materials we needed without even leaving school property.

This process of harvesting the trees took place over the span of probably a month. Some days where the cold was biting, others where the sun shone and the temperature caused those assigned to sawing to sweat! About halfway through the harvesting of the black cherry trees, a utility truck showed up cutting trees down that threatened to fall and take down power lines. We were able to salvage a large amount of wood from these cuttings, diversifying the wood we used to include numerous hardwoods like oak and musclewood that might have been harder to harvest from the forest.

Once we had a sizable amount of logs, the logs were transported to the trail leading from the upper field to the lower field. It was quite a bit of work, and seeing as we weren’t sure where the Dome itself would be constructed yet, we decided not to move them down to the lower field. The next phase of the project would be measuring out the lengths of the poles we would need. The geometry class calculated the length of the poles that we would need to build the dome. There would be three different standardized pole types. Small poles would be four feet long, Medium poles would be four foot eight and one eighths, and large poles would be 4 foot 9 and three eighths.

Once we had enough poles to assemble the first layer of the pentagon, we did so, using connector pieces 3-d printed by Mr Miller. Holes were drilled into either end of the pole lengths, and the connector was drilled into these holes. We assembled the lengths all together based on a diagram from Build with Hubs. Up until this point, we had been able to construct the dome only using hand tools. The decision was made to use a power drill, simply out of convenience and the fact that the end of the year was drawing near.

After the top two layers were completed we moved the dome to its final resting place, near the soccer fields. This place was chosen based on its position above the water table, and overall accessibility.

With the dome in its final position, we set about making the minute adjustments needed to ensure the weight of the dome was distributed evenly throughout the connector pieces. The biology class took several clippings from a weeping willow tree to use as the walls. The willow will use the poles of the dome to climb up and as it grows will create a natural wall.

We chose willow because while in some places it is considered an invasive species, around here it is easily controlled, as opposed to many of the other options, multiflora rose, for example.

Overall, the Dome project was an interesting way to finish a very unique year. It will hopefully stand for years to come as a place to hang out! It encouraged us to engage with the environment in a way that we wouldn’t have otherwise!

Special thanks to the Mary Lyon Foundation for giving us the grant that we needed to get this project started! It was a very special project for a very special year. Another thanks goes to Mr Miller for sticking with it and pushing through the biting cold and 90 degree weather to get this project done by the end of the year!