2021
- Woodland fuel mitigation ~ CALDOR Fire took care of this project!
- Forest restoration
- Improving the 100′ state mandated fire ignition zone around the main house
- Re-landscaping backyard
2020
- Repaired dry rot and replaced old roof over library, office, garage and shrine room
- Build one well insulated kuti ~ finished by end of the year
- Installed 18 solar panels
- Installed new hybrid-electric water heater
- Installed waterlines with a spigot at each yurt, at the new kuti and two additional spigots close to the house
- Regraded driveway
2019
- Painted & upgraded the dorm
- Installed mini split in steward’s room & loft for efficient heating & cooling
- Installed 2 passive solar hot water heating tanks
- Installed insulating blinds & floor covering in steward’s room
- New Aloka Vihara sign at the entrance
- Constructed fire wall in the garage
- Finished hallway outside the office
- Replaced chimney for increased fuel efficiency
- Made road into our forest
- Woodland fuel mitigation ~ great progress made, ongoing project
2018
- Upgraded steward’s room
- Removed exterior concrete slab in back of the house
- Moved trailer to a more suitable location on the land
- Installed vents in roof of house to aid cooling in the summer
- Installed vents & attic fan in guest building to aid cooling
- Landscaped back of the house
- Researched converting the house to solar
- Built woodshed
- Built carport over trailer for weather protection
- Installed mini-split in dorm for energy efficient heating & cooling
2017
- Converted the master bedroom & sun-room into four private bedrooms to accommodate growing number of nuns
- Installed low flush toilet & two sinks in existing nuns’ bathroom
- Converted a storage closet to half-bath for women guests & residents
- Brought existing house up to code.
2016
- Provided AC in our guest dorm and upgraded heating/cooling in meditation room & office
- Repaired & improved drainage systems around the house
- Set up a second yurt for nuns’ meditation & seclusion
- Expanded the septic system to support the growing community and the addition of extra bedrooms and a half-bath.
2015
- Created meditation room that is soundproofed from the noisy kitchen
- Replaced window with new backdoor providing much easier access to house & bathroom for guests
- Set up one yurt and a tent platform for nuns’ meditation & seclusion
- Set up one large trailer as accommodation for male or transgender guests
- Remodeled our office from dark & dingy to light-filled & inviting.