Dates: 22 October - 31 October 2018
Place: Valencia, Spain
Activities
Ecotourism and cultivation of cherries, olives and almonds is the main practice in Laguar!
Sustainable practices are not famous in the local community. Key factors that hinder sustainability are local peoples´ actions on how they go about their agricultural practices; rural abandonment and developing urban and industrial actions which results to loss of biodiversity, desertification and soil loss, loss of cultural heritage, pollution and climate change; the Mediterranean factors that makes the ecosystems within the area so difficult to recover (such as climatology, soils and orography).
The group started their activities visiting Lamac Permacultura in Vall de Laguar which acts as a small scale model of socio-economic and ecological regenerative management of the Mediterranean rural environment. Starting with family sustainability, the best example of sustainability happening in the center is the innovation services such as multi-functional organic landscaping and waste management, bio-construction, agriculture and regenerative forest management taking place.
Place: Valencia, Spain
Activities
Ecotourism and cultivation of cherries, olives and almonds is the main practice in Laguar!
Sustainable practices are not famous in the local community. Key factors that hinder sustainability are local peoples´ actions on how they go about their agricultural practices; rural abandonment and developing urban and industrial actions which results to loss of biodiversity, desertification and soil loss, loss of cultural heritage, pollution and climate change; the Mediterranean factors that makes the ecosystems within the area so difficult to recover (such as climatology, soils and orography).
The group started their activities visiting Lamac Permacultura in Vall de Laguar which acts as a small scale model of socio-economic and ecological regenerative management of the Mediterranean rural environment. Starting with family sustainability, the best example of sustainability happening in the center is the innovation services such as multi-functional organic landscaping and waste management, bio-construction, agriculture and regenerative forest management taking place.
The participants had the opportunity to learn and practice permaculture. They had a session about permaculture, its definition, and principles. They talked about CES (Community Exchange system), Sociocracy and process of designing.
They also saw the outside compost toilet, microorganism reproduction from the life of the soil and the roots of clover, the canya dome bio-building, symbiotic gardening, waste water system, Mediterranean Forest structures, probiotic home made food etc.
Before leaving the place, participants collected soil from the forest so that they could use the microorganisms in it to produce a natural fertilizer. Then they moved to Gandia where they were provided with information about the Precious Plastic initiative and had the opportunity to check how a real machine works in practice. The natural fertilizer was finally produced in Gandia too.
It was about time to arrive at the Open Space of Sustainable Alternatives. A few months ago some members of Xeración Valencia bought a piece of land (2.100 m2) in the middle of nowhere (Poco Pan county). Their plan is to build a bio-construction center where people can come and find out more about different types of bio-construction (with straw, pallets, reed/cane, sacks, wiki-houses or any other), sustainability and self-sufficiency. They just started building their little dream, so it was a big pleasure to share their first steps with the whole group!
So after learning some basic principles about bio-construction, they went straight to work!
So after learning some basic principles about bio-construction, they went straight to work!
Co-creating together day and night ;)
Their goal was to build a house made by materials found in nature. The walls were being built with soil, sand and straw mixed together. The roof was being made with wooden sticks. Their next plan was to create an oven.
Their goal was to build a house made by materials found in nature. The walls were being built with soil, sand and straw mixed together. The roof was being made with wooden sticks. Their next plan was to create an oven.
And of course, they dedicated some time to develop an educational activity about permaculture and bio-construction!
They were also given the ingredients in order to create their own natural toothpaste, deodorant and soap.
They were also given the ingredients in order to create their own natural toothpaste, deodorant and soap.
The group deserved a visit at Viver's natural surroundings after the past days of work and creativity!
Participants' last visit was at the eco-village called Aldea de L'Olla situated in the wider region of Valencia. They met Silvia, Louis and Alberto who are the residents of the eco-village. They walked around the place in order to see how life feels like, they cooked together, played with the cats and dogs, enjoyed the rain, had some tea, contemplated.
Motto of the Job Shadowing was live more with less! :)