I'll poke around and see what I can find for some mortar options and you could always look in the local area for local rainbow family that is doing similar ideas in your area.

I used to be rainbow family before the wildness of last year's gathering melted down and shamed the entire group.

Next up biggest way to get rid of that tree is to snip it down a little bit and then start scraping the dirt away from the trunk with screwdrivers and brooms. Once you get a big pile of the main root ball uncovered using some of that wood and a little fan... Get a nice little fire going!

You really don't have to fight with it if you can uncover it and burn it out. Especially since you have a big area around that you are cleaning out for a fire break as well as putting a little bit of tin and screening for Sparks and just have a little fire. Metal bucket or burn barrel over the top to help contain everything.

Maybe one of these days you'll be able to help me and my puppy dog out when we finally do access some land for us to start building our own slice of heaven.

Best part is the ground will insulate you!!!! Phenomenal job absolutely love this entire idea. Maybe one day me and puppy dog might be able to come take some pictures of your amazing accomplishment and hang out with you guys!

Maybe you can also look into thermal electric generation since now you have the ability for a cool house. It actually uses temperature differentials to make electricity.

Some of the small ones that I have seen are just a metal stand that you put on top of your fireplace and the heat differential starts providing little electrical energy to a small electric motor that turns a fan increasing the overall heat.

Using this you could definitely provide a metal roof that heats up and then with your internal house temperature differential provide electricity to the house batteries.

The more knowledge that you find and put into this. The more amazing it's going to turn out and it's already pretty amazing as it is!!!!