The Ecovillage Design Education course (EDE) is a wonderful way to promote eco-tourism. The social, cultural, economic and ecological potential that exists within coastal villages brings new and bigger visions for participants. Sandele Eco-Retreat hosted a second EDE for participants from 10 coastal villages. The participants decided to form PeCEN – “The People’s Coast Ecovillage Network”). It was emphasised that eco-tourism is just one of many possible local businesses and that it could bring … Read more
Decentralised renewable energy The multiple benefits of appropriate technology in the form of passive solar, solar electricity, small-scale hydro, ram pumps
To raise awareness about the potential for a human and ecological development path, based on a diversity of decentralised renewable energy technologies. We need to devote time, money and effort to counter the corporate energy path through educational campaigns. At the same time, we need to provide information about the multitude of renewable energy solutions. These range from those suited for high-rise, urban living, to those appropriate for rural villages in the global south: solar electricity, … Read more
Bush Care regenerating native flora and fauna
Detailed studies of vegetation followed by development of comprehensive management plans for properties that have been degraded or disturbed provide a framework for restoration of native flora that can in turn aid the recovery of native fauna. Education programmes and work experience for youth groups can provide labour and resources to help with regeneration as well as providing valuable learning opportunities for both residents and schools groups. Many programmes can qualify for government … Read more
School yards to fruit forests Productive multi-purpose school grounds/ greening school yards or compounds/ school food forest/ school orchard gardens
Integrated land use design (ILUD) is an inclusive and participatory process that is used by the SCOPE and ReSCOPE Programmes in east and southern Africa to green the schools and turn the bare school grounds into food forests. In the ILUD process parents, teachers and the students come together and redesign the school environment into a functional landscape that meets the needs of the stakeholders at the school. They plan, implement and monitor together the establishment of a multi-purpose and … Read more
Swales – harvesting rainwater to rep Rain water harvesting into the ground/ contour ridges/ swales
The ‘S’ Principles: Looking at the rain as the main source of water, we need to harvest it at the source by slowing it down and stopping it from flowing using swales and mulch or ground cover. Swales are ditches on the ground that are dug truly on contour. Swales cause flowing water to spread slowly and thus more of it will get a chance to sink into the ground thereby recharging the ground water store. Over time the springs that may have disappeared in the past will spring back to life. The … Read more
Permafacture Twin sister of permaculture that rarely any ecovillage knows about
As permaculture is to agriculture, "permanent agriculture", so Permafacture is to manufacturing, "Permanent manufacture": ways of producing goods which meet the criteria of permaculture - activities which could be done in the same space for 10,000 years. Permafacture: open source technology for sustainable living; digital fabrication; breakthrough economic systems; lifetime design; design-for-disassembly; absolute … Read more
Autoconstrucción de un aerogenerador
- Date: 22 – 30 August 2015
- Languages:
- EnglishSpanish
- Location: Valle de Pujarnol, Porqueres, Catalunya, Spain
Auto-construcción de un aerogenerador Taller vivencial de una semana en Som Comunitat, Catalunya. Del Sábado 22 a Domingo 30 de Agosto Sobre los aerogeneradores “Nea Guinea” ha estado organizando talleres de construcción de pequeños aerogenera-dores desde 2009 y ha instruido una gran cantidad de personas en el conocimiento de cosechar energía del viento. Los aerogeneradores construidos en los talleres están basados en los diseños de Hugh Piggott descritos en su libro “Wind Turbine … Read more
Biofuels Use of vegetable oil as an alternative fuel in villages.
Guneskoy Cooperative developed a project for using vegetable oil as an alternative fuel for tractors used in agriculture. The project was supported by UNDP. According to this project farmers allocate about 10% of their land for growing the oil crop and vegetable oil was extracted using an oil press. Vegetable oil has higher viscosity compared to diesel fuel and it does not flow easily at lower temperature. However, the viscosity of vegetable oil decreases significantly when heated and at about … Read more
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA Building bridges between villages - Setting up direct relationships between growers and consumers of agricultural products -
Guneskoy Cooperative has applied CSA to support sustainable living in traditional villages by ecological food production based on an economy with mutual support between people living in city and a village. Each week vegetables are picked up and distributed to the supporters in the city. The villages in traditional villages could not take any risk for an alternative production, no matter how environmentally friendly it is. When organic agriculture was started in Guneskoy they silently observed … Read more
Portable Gardens – urban food Tackling the Urban food security
Plastic bags can be used or recycled and help in the growing of food Container plants offer a simple way to maximize small spaces. Despite their convenience, planning them properly is essential to success. since it can save a lot of water will reduce the amount of water used and keep containers moist and healthy hence saving a lot of water … Read more
