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Repurposed Parachutes Extend Construction Season
A monastery 20 miles west of Meeteetse, Wyo., has used old parachutes to extend its construction season.
“We’re monks working on constructing our own monastery,” says Brother Joseph, project representative. “We do as much of the work ourselves to make it possible. We’re inspired by Gothic architecture and are wo
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Repurposed Parachutes Extend Construction Season
A monastery 20 miles west of Meeteetse, Wyo., has used old parachutes to extend its construction season.
“We’re monks working on constructing our own monastery,” says Brother Joseph, project representative. “We do as much of the work ourselves to make it possible. We’re inspired by Gothic architecture and are working on the grand finale, the most beautiful part of the structure, our monastery chapel. When you do things for God, you pull out all the stops.”
Harsh winters in the Rockies shorten the annual building season.
“I’ve always dreamed of a way to extend our building time,” he says. “Over the past 10 years, I’ve tried several strategies, only to watch them blow away in our infamous Rockies windstorms.”
Brother Joseph pondered his dilemma until inspiration struck.
“I began to wonder about the tarps that truckers use going down the interstate. A couple of Google searches revealed the answer was vinyl and parachute.”
He connected with Damon Carson of repurposedMATERIALS and sourced approximately 40 13-ft. by 27-ft. parachutes for $90 each.
“I sewed a two-section with eight parachutes, a section for the inside drop, and a 13-parachute craziness for the roof,” Brother Joseph says. “The idea is to have a temporary roof so I can work, but still have access with the tower crane to get materials into the vaults. We’ll see.”
So far, the structure has survived a 60-mph windstorm, though Brother Joseph is quick to admit that’s only half the wind intensity the region can experience.
“At this point, it’s working smoothly,” he says. “But I did stop to set in lifting eyes with 1-in. web strapping, again from Damon, to make it easier to place with the tower crane. We’ll have to see how it actually stands the test of the wind to know if it’ll work long term. But I love the ‘rip-stop weave’ on the parachute. And so far, even if it starts getting a hold, it doesn’t shred like the plastic or tarps I have used in the past.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Brother Joseph (carmelite.cattle@gmail.com) or repurposedMATERIALS (ph 877-282-8733; www.repurposedmaterialsinc.com).
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