Better standards of life in rural areas by providing meaningful work that also improves local infrastructure … Read more
“SORBE” (Cementing locally) Drying harvest in a healthy environment
Food Quality Control … Read more
Rocket stove with chimney Using less firewood
Healthy Beings, Better life for women and reduced use of wood fuel … Read more
Compressed, Stabilised Earth Blocks An appropriate technology for building and construction in developing countries
Sandele Eco-Retreat and Learning Centre was constructed with low embodied energy and a small ecological footprint using an imported compressed, stabilised earth block (CSEB) machine. The machine is highly versatile (70 different shapes and sizes of blocks can be made); it is portable (transferable on the back of a pick up); it is manually operated (no electricity or generator needed); it generates employment (8 people employed per machine); it uses 2½ less cement than locally made blocks; it is … Read more
Responsible Tourism Community based tourism: how it benefits local people by creating revenue streams while protecting environments
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
