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.
Membership & Visitors
- Current members: 25
- Open to new members
- Open to visitors
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.
Images & Video
Dear Sir/madam,
I am Dennis living in Ghana, working as construction Engineer in a private firm. We are now in a process of setting up an organic farming in our new land being bought a couple days ago, and have decided to acquired favorable knowledge from your community/ farms for feather experiences, may you have any ideas for me?
I may be keen if you have any special retreat opportunities and also responsible to support any kind of work whiles I’m there.
Kind regards
Dennis
+233246788123
I found extreemly abusive that you ask for money AND a full day working.
I guess you are taking davantage of good will of people as well as of the job and housing crisis- to build YOUR project.
I encountered quite a lot like you – so called “eco village” founders and found it rather disgusting this “taker” mindset… My aim -as a journalist – is to inform about opportunists like you.