list #1
Here are some of the things (and people) that would make this project go much more smoothly:
1) upright aluminum storage shed, lockable. This would allow us to come right to the work site without the additional walk to the office to pick up tools every day. I guess the people in charge are concerned that if the tools are left in the field, they might be stolen. Yesterday we lived dangerously and wrapped our new clippers and shears in a plastic bag and hid them under some debris. They were there this morning, shears starting to rust, and snails attached to the bag. Still, it was one less thing to have to carry.
2) tools, preferably produced after the Soviet era. We have two old rakes, two sad misshapen shovels, four new hoes (with ends that fall off), and four clippers and two pairs of shears that we bought at the Polish version of Home Depot, which I mentioned in an earlier entry. I already bent one pair of shears trying to use it for a job for which it was not made. Because the shovels are in such bad shape, we use the shears, closed, to loosen and dig out dirt.
3) a heavy duty lawn tractor/mower (with bagger!). Two guys spent most of today weed whacking the knee high grass in the immediate area in which we're working. They did a great job, but no one has cleared away any of the debris.
4) infra red or some kind of satellite mapping that will show us where the graves are. We spend a lot of time probing with our sophisticated tools, only to dig up rocks that aren't grave stones. Alternatively, an expert in the design and layout of late 19th century POlish Jewish cemeteries would be a great addition. And if not that person, how about a rock jock, who can tell me if I'm digging up rocks or grave stones. Oh, and if someone can tell us if we really found a bone today, and if so it was human or otherwise, that would be helpful.
5) a band to play music while we're working
6) someone else to make the lunch! Every day is pretty much the same, sandwiches made out of good bakery white bread, buttered, with a little cheese, some tomatos, cucumbers and bologna (which I get all of -not that I necessarily want it!- since the others are vegetarians).
7) speaking of tools, some stiff brushes would be nice, so that when we're cleaning off graves, we can be meticulous. Which reminds me, I bought some serious work gloves before I left but I fear that because I use them for double duty as trowel and broom, I don't know how long they'll last.
8) a central receptacle for all the lawn debris. I fear that when we dig, we pile dirt onto additional places that we should be working.
I'm really not asking any of you for donations! Just trying to give you an idea of what the work is like.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home