People working in a community garden at an ecovillage with wooden trellises and lush greenery.

Sunseed Desert Technology

Logo of the Global Ecovillage Network with interconnected leaf and flower design.
  • Communities

About the Communities

  • Established
  • English
  • Ecological
  • Rural

Founding year

  • 1986

What we do

Sunseed Desert Technology is an investigation and non-formal education project located in a small village called Los Molinos del Río Aguas in Almería, Andalucía, Spain. Our vision is to live a healthy and ecologically responsible life working in armony with nature and off-grid. For that purpose we put effor in to close the eco-cycles using solar energy, growing food, protecting the soil of erosion, having a vegetarian diet using low-tech dispositives and by applying reduce-reuse-recicle principles.
Electricity is provided by solar panels, a nearby water source provides water for daily use and natural water treatments are used for waste water. With around 50 inhabitants it is a place of different creative projects such as Sunseed, Pita-Escuela, Mirador and Casa de la Realidad.
Sunseed was first conceived in 1982 with the aim of finding and spreading new ways to help people living in poverty in desertified lands, under the name Green Deserts. In the 1990s, teams traveled to Tanzania to begin testing a very low-cost solar stove. The project was renamed Sunseed Desert Technology: Sunseed Desert Technology. Since 2002, Sunseed has changed its mission to: “To realize, demonstrate and communicate appropriate, low-tech solutions that support a low-impact lifestyle“.
We are located in an endangered Aguas river valley in the nature reserve of Karst en Yesos de Sorbas, famous for its gypsum crystal caves. Several hiking trails are located in the valley, including a route to the source of the river that passes by the natural pools.

  • Purpose
  • Ecological
  • Languages
  • English
  • Spanish
  • Community type
  • Youth-led
  • Intentional Neighborhoods
  • Activities
  • Ecological Restoration
  • Education

Commemorative dates

  • January 1, 1986
  • Started living together

Video

Gallery

  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
Total
25

How to join

Sunseed is a transient international community, there are no permanent residents. There are around 20-25 people living and working at Sunseed.
Volunteers stay on average one month and make a contribution of 14€/day, ESC volunteers and interns (Erasmus) stay on average between 3-6 months and department coordinators between 6 months and 1 year.
Would you like to join us?
Check out our website for more information on ways to apply, our educational opportunities or if you would like to visit: https://www.sunseed.org.uk
We all live and work together between four houses and several garden terraces. Staff and volunteers share responsibility for cooking and cleaning during the week. We spend one day a week working together in community, which is divided between the weekly meeting (using sociocracy) and community activity.
Sunseed is divided into 8 departments:
– Organic gardens
– Sustainable living
– Ecosystem restoration
– Appropriate technology
– Ecological maintenance
– Communication
– Education
– Operations (administration)
Each department has a coordinator to manage the work, assisted by assistants. Volunteers have the opportunity to experience and work in each department during their stay. In addition, we also accept interns and CES.

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Location

  • Spain

Sunseed Desert Technology

Promoted Needs and Offers

  • Events
5 years ago

Ecovillage Youth Exchange Project Launched

Ecovillage Youth Exchange Connecting youth and communities across continents This year five young people from Senegal and five young people from Germany will have the chance to share their knowledge about ecology and social justice while diving into each other’s cultures thanks to a collaborative project between GEN Africa and GEN Europe. The project envisions an exchange for young adults involved in the ecovillage movements in Africa and Europe, where we explore steps towards healing and reconciliation between and within the two continents. We will focus on youth empowerment through skill-building and exchange of knowledge around ecological living, education, and project development, working towards a regenerative and community-oriented future. In July-August 2022, a group of Senegalese youth will be welcomed into an ecovillage in Germany, then in November-December, the German participants will travel to either Guédé Chantier or Bambey Serere ecovillage in Senegal. During the exchange, the participants will explore the core question of how young adults in the ecovillage movement can empower and support each other in their activism for change while exploring steps towards healing and reconciliation between the African and European continents. The group will be accompanied by group leaders, and the process will be supported by trainers, facilitators, and a team of support volunteers. The outcome of the exchange will be guided by the participants’ skills, interests, and experiences – but it could result in new exchange projects, an exhibition, a film, or a theatre piece. If you, or a young person you know, is committed to the project’s core themes of ecology and community, racial and social justice, and youth empowerment, apply for this experience today! Applicants should be between the ages of 18 and 30 and resident of either Germany or Senegal. App
  • Events
12 years ago

Formación Profesores de Permacultura

Será facilitada por Skye, co-autor del libro “Manual para la enseñanza de la Permacultura de Manera Creativa” El objetivo de esta formación es capacitar profesionales de Permacultura, Educación, Medio Ambiente, Biologia, Ecologia y Psicologia para facilitar la entrada de esta herramienta de transición social y gestión de recursos permanentes dentro del entorno comunitario. Serán 5 días de curso participativo-interactivo en los Pirineus Catalanes con alimentación vegetariana completa y alojamiento en un entorno pintoresco: (http://www.colldeport.com/) Para ello, el curriculum está basado en el proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje de la Permacultura y abordará los siguientes temas: – Prácticas y Dinámicas del Proceso de Aprendizaje – Maneras y Técnicas de Aprendizaje – Creatividad y Participación – Exploración de Inteligencias Múltiples – Evaluación Participativa – Escuelas con Métodos Contemporáneos de éxito – Comunicación Moderna en la Educación Dirigido a: Permacultores, Educadores, Biolog@s, Forestales y Psicolog@s, aunque abierto a interesad@s en facilitar la Permacultura en su entorno comunitario. Inversión: 440 euros (incluye alimentación vegetariana completa, alojamiento en los Pirineus y 5 días de curso teórico-prático). Descuento para ex-alumnos y asociados, también hay becas para desempleados, consultar! Informaciones y Reservas: www.lanaranjaorganica.com / in*******************@***il.com *Importante: en este curso aprenderás las técnicas de enseñanza y co-aprendizaje en Permacultura.

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A residential project: people live here as their primary home.

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An institution, business, network, or project that isn’t a residence (e.g. a learning center, farm, or network with no one living there full-time).

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