Permaculture of Money: focusing on the current monetary system; its origins and workings; its damaging impacts; and finally ethical, localised and more sustainable initiatives and alternatives (for example LETs systems, Positive Money Campaign, Credit Unions, Time Banks, Ethical Banking and Peer-to-Peer lending) for economic reform.
A communa
l work morning was spent tackling the existing compost toilets, after an intriguing lecture from Jyoti on the numerous benefits of this closed-loop system and the history of our ‘fecal phobia’. As the warm weather draws increasing numbers of volunteers, the currently unused toilets need to be repaired and re-opened, and we commenced with rebuilding the caña walls of the river terrace toilet.
Dry Stone Walling is an old technique seen around the world using local materials to create long-lasting interlocked structures. There are some beautiful examples here at Sunseed, though some of them are in disrepair due to age or the pesky wild boars. Chas, a skilled stoner, has been patiently renovating many walls, in addition to training others in the puzzle-like art of walling.
The regular working excursion to Laura and Dave’s Earthship was an inspiring day, filled with tough yet rewarding work. An Earthship is a passive solar house, typically constructed from natural and recycled materials, usually off-grid and both economically and practically feasible for the average person to build. It was particularly great to see after having watched Mike Reynolds’ documentary ‘Garbage Warriors’. We helped break down a stone wall which will constitute the rear of their home, cut wooden planks for the construction of the geodome and spent a (mercifully short) time on the strenuous job of earth-rammed tyres.
During a tour of the wonderful Botanic Gardens this week, we learnt about indigenous plants and their stories and uses. The newest addition to the solar cooker family was recently completed for installation outside Gaye’s House. Kate gave a practical lecture on Seed Saving to a keen audience. And as always the seminars, yoga, laughter meditation, guitar lessons, tours and other activities are continuing.
Yoga classes 3 times weekly
tuesday, thursday, friday 6pm
with Mimi
The rhythm of the body,
the melody of the mind
and the harmony of the soul
create the symphony of life.
B. K. S. IYENGAR
During my time at Sunseed I was amazed to see how solar box cookers work. Situated on the roof, they are used daily to heat water and cook rice / pasta as well as sauces. Constructed from wood, glass, and metal, they are quite cheap to make and require no other fuel than the sun, thus they clearly have great potential to help people in Africa.
However, since then Modou has developed a smaller model with thin, flat metal lining which works much better. I wonder if he could also use recycled aluminium cans for this purpose? He is very happy with the results and has plans to spread the word. He has promised to teach my friends in Senegal how to make them, and has called a meeting of all the Al Callos in his district. They want to plan a way to get more solar box cookers made and distributed, and find ways to encourage popular uptake of the solar cooker in The Gambia. Concern about deforestation for fuel has become widespread and reached governmental level so hopefully there will be much support for this work.
During my time at Sunseed I was amazed to see how solar box cookers work. Situated on the roof, they are used daily to heat water and cook rice / pasta as well as sauces. Constructed from wood, glass, and metal, they are quite cheap to make and require no other fuel than the sun, thus they clearly have great potential to help people in Africa.
However, since then Modou has developed a smaller model with thin, flat metal lining which works much better. I wonder if he could also use recycled aluminium cans for this purpose? He is very happy with the results and has plans to spread the word. He has promised to teach my friends in Senegal how to make them, and has called a meeting of all the Al Callos in his district. They want to plan a way to get more solar box cookers made and distributed, and find ways to encourage popular uptake of the solar cooker in The Gambia. Concern about deforestation for fuel has become widespread and reached governmental level so hopefully there will be much support for this work.
Last Winter has been an unusual Winter. For the first time in 25 years Sunseed closed to volunteers to focus on improvement works. That was not only refereed to the houses and commodities, it was also about internal structure, management and organisation.
All the staff members have been involved in many different meetings and working groups to analyze current situation, identify needs, brainstorm ideas, plan future actions and ways to make them happen.
EPF department (Patricia and Martin) has been involved in some of these working groups: Appreciative inquiries, Volunteers experience, Networking, Income generation, Sunseed Policies,…;
It has been great! We have had satisfactory result with which we are working now, and some of these working groups are still going on…
Other big part of the work during this Winter has been revamping our website. Our friend Mick Fuzz has done a great job, setting up the new website into wordpress and showing all the staff how to use it. Dave Buchanan, other old friend of us and webmaster, made the transfer of the page. Then one by one each department is making its bit on creating the product you are reading now!! Muuuyy bieen 🙂
EPF have been preparing the way for new volunteers and interns to come to Sunseed in the next years. Updating and translating documentation and formalizing collaboration agreements with several Universities & students for students placements & internships; as for example Brandenburg University in Germany, CATT Innovation Management GmbH in Austria, Ca Foscari University in Venice – Italy..
During the Winter we have made the plan for the department for next year, that is the EPF Annual Plan 2012 that soon will be available in the web; including the aims and actions for the next months.
And of course, we have been preparing Sunseed 2012 Courses, Guided Tours and other activities. For this year will organise: two practical courses on Permaculture , two courses on Solar Power – design and installation courses, two courses on Thermal mass stove courses, a course on Natural plaster, a course on Solar oven course and a course on 1 Solar air heater with recycled bottles.
There was space for little jobs, such as checking Sunseed information boards for updating.
Althought Sunseed was officially closed, we had host a Documentary filming; Carlos, Jean luc Danneyrolles and Samuel, from the Frech project “Le potager d ́un curieux” came to film during a whole day, exchange seeds and tell about their experiences visiting sustainable project from France to Granada. It was great to meet them and share dreams and realities. Good luck with your project!
In between all of this, we find the time to read, study and learn from each other. To enjoy our life together, what we offer to each other and the nature that involve us, the nature that is inside of us, the nature that we are…
We had beautiful walk … as for example to contemplate the almond blossom in January…
And now……Now we are ready now for a new start!!! Blossoming with the spring full of projects, volunteers, activities and buzzing of enthusiasm!!
Would you like to join us?
Patricia Canas Rios – EPF Coordinator – March 2012
Last Winter has been an unusual Winter. For the first time in 25 years Sunseed closed to volunteers to focus on improvement works. That was not only refereed to the houses and commodities, it was also about internal structure, management and organisation.
All the staff members have been involved in many different meetings and working groups to analyze current situation, identify needs, brainstorm ideas, plan future actions and ways to make them happen.
EPF department (Patricia and Martin) has been involved in some of these working groups: Appreciative inquiries, Volunteers experience, Networking, Income generation, Sunseed Policies,…;
It has been great! We have had satisfactory result with which we are working now, and some of these working groups are still going on…
Other big part of the work during this Winter has been revamping our website. Our friend Mick Fuzz has done a great job, setting up the new website into wordpress and showing all the staff how to use it. Dave Buchanan, other old friend of us and webmaster, made the transfer of the page. Then one by one each department is making its bit on creating the product you are reading now!! Muuuyy bieen 🙂
EPF have been preparing the way for new volunteers and interns to come to Sunseed in the next years. Updating and translating documentation and formalizing collaboration agreements with several Universities & students for students placements & internships; as for example Brandenburg University in Germany, CATT Innovation Management GmbH in Austria, Ca Foscari University in Venice – Italy..
During the Winter we have made the plan for the department for next year, that is the EPF Annual Plan 2012 that soon will be available in the web; including the aims and actions for the next months.And of course, we have been preparing Sunseed 2012 Courses, Guided Tours and other activities. For this year will organise: two practical courses on Permaculture , two courses on Solar Power – design and installation courses, two courses on Thermal mass stove courses, a course on Natural plaster, a course on Solar oven course and a course on 1 Solar air heater with recycled bottles.
There was space for little jobs, such as checking Sunseed information boards for updating.
Althought Sunseed was officially closed, we had host a Documentary filming; Carlos, Jean luc Danneyrolles and Samuel, from the Frech project “Le potager d ́un curieux” came to film during a whole day, exchange seeds and tell about their experiences visiting sustainable project from France to Granada. It was great to meet them and share dreams and realities. Good luck with your project!
In between all of this, we find the time to read, study and learn from each other. To enjoy our life together, what we offer to each other and the nature that involve us, the nature that is inside of us, the nature that we are…
We had beautiful walk … as for example to contemplate the almond blossom in January…
And now……Now we are ready now for a new start!!! Blossoming with the spring full of projects, volunteers, activities and buzzing of enthusiasm!!
Would you like to join us?
Patricia Canas Rios – EPF Coordinator – March 2012
It replaces the slightly daunting stepping-stone river crossing to the River Terrace. Created from reclaimed wooden planks and pallets it uses a reciprocal structure. Two weeks ago Leo lead a seminar on Reciprocal Structures, demonstrating how to build strong roofs, bridges or houses without nails. The wood for the bridge was cut to size and trialled by the Eco Construction team on the far terrace before being dismantled and carried down to the site for reassembly. Wooden pallets were added to the structure as the walkway and stones used to stabilise the base.
The gardens, Diego I and II in particular, have been transformed in the past few weeks by hard labour from the garden team and volunteers. There have been a few group flash-weeding sessions, new beds dug and compost bays built. Both the raised and sunken beds have been well irrigated and mulched with layers of cardboard, goat manure, compost and seaweed. Planting has commenced, initially parsnips and carrots, in conjunction with the bio-dynamic lunar calender.
There have been exciting improvements and creations in many of the living areas over the past few weeks. A new washing area and shower room has recently been completed using recycled tiles and glass bottles to create a beautiful colourful space. The living room has had a make-over with the addition of a study and library area made from recycled wood and tiles, argarve and gypsum. And Gaye’s House now has a cosy sitting room complete with a wood-burning stove and electricity.