DPW
Work Ranch Experience
The "80 Acres" Work Ranch is an interesting phenomenon on its own, alongside
Black Rock City itself. For two months surrounding the event, the Work
Ranch fosters its own culture among the workers who contribute their energies
to the chores and projects of the Department of Public Works (DPW). The
absence of common amenities like running water, communications, shopping,
and mass media force workers to deal with each other and themselves at
a basic level. People band together, create their own camps and temporary
structures, and share and trade precious supplies.
The environment constantly challenges expectations and preparations:
Winds, dust, high elevation, and oppressive heat combine to rankle and
unnerve even the most prepared and dedicated volunteer. At a certain point,
a grand exodus from the ranch marks the genesis of Black Rock City. The
move uproots the entire workforce and transplants them in the desert,
where the pace picks up and excitement builds. Meanwhile, "back on the
ranch,"fabrication continues at the shop, as the few remaining trailers,
materials, furniture, and equipment are whisked away to the event site.
Nevada Property
caretakers, Bill and Metric. Photo: Flynn |
For part of this time, an event happens. The crew has a saying that
Burning Man is like an 8-day distraction from DPW. Conditions at the
Work Ranch during this time support that conclusion. That thriving center
of activity becomes a ghost town. Surveying the scene feels much like
the open playa does to a Burning Man participant who sees it for the
first time without Black Rock City. The absence of a life force suddenly
becomes conspicuous.
That force has been funneled into the desert, where it drives production
of the event's annual miracle. Then the process reverses, and the ranch
is re-inhabited as a base to support cleanup. Making the city disappear
is arguably a less exciting effort than making it rise from nothing, and
everyone starts to reach the limits of tolerance. People need a week or
so to settle in and readjust to the shift. Some people are already in
what could be called emergency retreat mode, impatiently anticipating
escape from the desert. Others without plans seem to experience a growing
inertia.
As Work Ranch Manager, Matthew "Metric" Ebert had this prespective of
the ranch:
"After last year's event, I still had a lot of momentum
from my first DPW experience. I stayed on at the Work Ranch longer than
most, working on winterizing things. I began working on the ranch again
last spring-and here I remain. My responsibilities in DPW have never [been]
a cut and dried affair, but the Lord loves those who figure it out for
themselves, and that has certainly been the predominant guide for me"
Truck dumping decomposed granite for roads on the Work Ranch. Photo: Flynn |
The DPW "A-Team" crew began work in the spring, removing tons of debris
in and around the ranch house on the new Black Rock Station property.
The team worked on the house itself to make it a useful structure,
built roads, prepared space for concrete pads, and spread gravel.
Construction of the new shop building required new stem walls and
a concrete floor, along with repetitive re-tightening of 15,000 bolts
and nuts. As large as the project was, the new building has changed
the way DPW operates.
The team also built a new pump house and installed generators and an
inverter system. Other additions include satellite Internet access and
expansion of the phone system to decrease the separation of the Ranch
from the rest of the world. Other projects made simple quality-of-life
improvements on the Work Ranch, providing a learning process for everyone,
with so many varied tasks involved. As the first volunteer work weekends
approached, attention began to shift from construction on Black Rock Station
to construction of the city infrastructure.
Crews were living and working on the ranch much earlier than usual in
2001, and the need quickly became apparent to find a cook to feed the
construction workers. This daunting task required a new level of flexibility,
as other DPW staff often shifted to work in support of the commissary.
Throughout the summer and right up to Thanksgiving, resident staff labored
to maintain its infrastructure, including working with electricians on
installation and maintenance of generators and wiring. They also, set
up cooking equipment, provided propane and water, constructed shade, sorted
and stored donated food, and even washed dishes and cooked meals.
Photo: Flynn |
As infrastructure at the Work Ranch expanded, so did the lead resident
supervisory role. When DPW volunteers left in September, the position
of Ranch Manager was established to provide ongoing supervision of
the property, inventory management, and background support for volunteers,
department liaisons, senior staff, the commissary, and artists in
residence. Just as the support provided by the commissary allows crews
to focus on their work, the continuing support of DPW facilitates
everything from individual art installations to construction of the
Man itself.
These support responsibilities became more complicated with the establishment
of Black Rock Station and its anticipated year-round operation. Volunteers
sometimes need tents, flashlights, or phone and email access. Artists
sometimes request to borrow tools, and people involved in different projects
sometimes compete for scarce resources. This welter of conflicting needs
demands a careful balance between being a good host and facilitator and
challenging people to be responsible for their own survival and success.
Future plans call for improved definition of these boundaries and responsibilities.
Photo: Flynn |
Expanding the role of the Work Ranch will involve many changes in
DPW. The construction of more permanent structures is the first step
to making the Work Ranch a more useful resource. Construction there
has in the past resembled that of Black Rock City: Structure designs
assumed a need for temporary shelter from summer weather. These resources
then laid dormant during the winter, until DPW arrived the following
summer to pick up the pieces and put them together again. Black Rock
Station has a more permanent goal. Generators are housed in stout
buildings, and wiring runs underground.
As of this writing, Black Rock Station stands sturdily on it foundations,
while many temporary structures on the Work Ranch lie crushed under the
weight of winter weather. In the future, more durable construction will
be the norm. The availability of fresh water from the well on the Black
Rock Station property will also enable great changes. Plans include planting
of many trees and a commissary garden, and a septic system is in the works.
Photo: Flynn |
Management of materials on the Work Ranch also requires attention.
Early in the season, DPW staff began an ambitious attempt to prepare
a comprehensive inventory of the property. The expansion to Black
Rock Station and the onset of the department's core mission interrupted
that effort, but in the coming year it will be a key priority. The
inventory will categorize the types of materials stored at the Work
Ranch and organize "lots" for specific categories. This year Burning
Man began to address the liability and logistical issues of providing
storage for others outside the immediate organization.Having specific
places for things will do much to alleviate the confusion of the past
and simplify transportation to and from the event site.
Designating shipping containers for department storage will increase
security. Placing these containers farther apart and reconfiguring their
alignment will also improve ease of loading. The inventory database will
catalog valuable materials and equipment owned by the organization, documented
by photographs and other relevant information, such as serial numbers
or VINs. One function related to inventory is accumulation of data from
fuel logs, most notably the log for gasoline.
Water, gasoline, flashlights, or dry socks-the high country of the Black
Rock Desert is always a place of scarce resources. It's the Work Manager's
job to help husband them. 