Category Archives: Volunteers Stories

The Introduction to Permaculture Course run by Kirsty was fun, thought-provoking and inspiring. Permaculture combines three main aspects: an ethical framework; understanding of how nature works; and a design approach in order to create sustainable, productive and healthy systems. Aimed at both at those new to the philosophy and others wanting a re-cap, it was also a chance for those involved to experience life at Sunseed. Through a mix of lectures, documentaries, games and practical design work, we learnt the basics of permaculture, how it is applied through the principles and the application of the design steps in practice.

Martin gave an enlightening talk on the 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 communal 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.

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.

Solar cooker at Sunseed

So when I visited my friends in The Gambia, where I was a volunteer teacher some years ago, I discussed the idea with a number of people in the village, showing them the leaflet I picked up at Sunseed. After five weeks I found someone both willing and able to gather the materials and make a box with me: Mr. Modou Bah. By this time I had just one week left in The Gambia, during which I walked every day to the next village, Galoya, where Modou is the Al Callo ( Mayor ). We created a wooden frame, then constructed the box with corrugated metal inside, a glass lid, and black painted exterior. Many people dropped by during this time, and it became quite a talking point in the village. After 5 days we had completed our prototype, and I had to travel on to meet my friends in Senegal.

Over the next few weeks, Modou phoned occasionally to let me know how it was going. It turned out that the box was too big, and the corrugated metal wasn’t the most efficient reflective surface, so the cooker was good for heating water but not really for cooking.

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.

                                                                                        Rachel volunteering at Sunseed

If anyone knows of any funding opportunities to support this I would be really happy to hear from them. Meantime, I am glad to report that the project continues, and is one where the people are helping each other and developing it independently. Thanks, Sunseed.

Rachel Gardner – Volunteer at Sunseed October 2011

Sunseed has a new bridge! 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.

Imagine a place where everyone is aware of their impact on the environment, trying to minimize their ecological footprint. Imagine a place where people know a lot about different aspects of sustainability and love to share this knowledge with you. Imagine a place where people care a lot about the wellbeing of themselves and the people around them, where community life and knowledge sharing is written in capital letters. Imagine a place where people respect all this without being dogmatic. All this surrounded by stunning nature under the Andalucian sun.

Sounds like utopia? It isn’t! So stop imagining and get yourself down here!

I arrived at Sunseed early morning without really knowing what to expect. Fifteen smiling faces where sitting at the beautiful outside area, attending a workshop about impacts of non-organic cleaning and beauty products and invited me to join. Only one week has passed since that moment – a week full of weeding, planting and harvesting, knowledge sharing about renewable energies, irrigation systems and organic agriculture; a week full of incredibly delicious food, jam sessions around a campfire and at the neighbour’s house and extended walks in the beautiful mountains. A week that inspired me so much, that motivated me so much to keep on working to realize my dreams and to be the change I want to see on this planet.

Sunseed is an amazing demonstration that it is possible to minimize your economic footprint without losing your quality of life. It shows how enriching it is to live in a community, to share your knowledge, how delicious vegan food can be and how beautiful life can be if we break out of the circle that office work has to be the centre of our lives and fears for the future ruin the joy of the moment.

I can recommend everybody to stop spinning the hamster wheel, to come here to join Sunseed, get inspired and spread the idea in the world.

Franziska Kohler – Volunteer at Sunseed Feb-March 2011