Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Globetrotter

So I guess I'll be going to Argentina then. At 2:04 this morning, my ticket was officially purchased. Before then, I was re-crunching the budged I made a few months ago. Due to a highly unfortunate math error on my part, I actually have much less than I thought, so it's poorsville for me this summer. But it will be worth it. Here's what I'll be doing for three months:

An in-depth internship program to individuals interested in getting hands-on experience in the different aspects of Sustainable Living: organic gardening, natural food production, earthen and natural building, seed saving, and community living. Participants will have the opportunity for personal growth through shared learning and responsibility for providing for ones basic needs. The internship consists of full days of learning, problem-solving, discussing, and exploring in a positive working environment of like-minding people. The program also provides opportunity to have ample breaks, swim in the waterfall and rivers, practice yoga and meditation, and eat delicious foods.

Topics of Focus:

Natural Building: We will be constructing an Earthen building with our hands and feet! We will explore and play with various natural building techniques: bamboo, wood, earth, including adobe bricks, cob, and wattle-and-daub. We will cover foundation, design principles, wall construction, plaster and natural painting, roofing, and creative use of site-found and salvaged materials.
Organic Gardening: We will be making garden beds, composting, amending the soil, planting and transplanting. Other topics we will explore: seed saving, companion planting, natural pesticides, and more.
Extended Sustainable Ideas: Jarring and preserving, milk-product making (cheeses, yogurts, etc), fermentation, cultivation of micro-organisms for health and garden, alternative refrigeration, alternative energies, “appropriate technologies,” reforestation, chicken care, and herbal medicine making. There will also be plenty of space to explore projects of personal interest and intrigue, and for practicing yoga, meditation, massage, medicinal plant searches, nature hikes, waterfall and river swimming.

So there you have it. In a nutshell. My most hare-brained scheme to-date. I started online spanish classes to prepare myself for Argentinian spanish. Oh, and for those of you who have seen Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull...those waterfalls aren't too far away from where I'll be. Come visit.

3 comments:

Erin Hope said...

huh. sounds just like asheville, maybe you should just move here. :) not that I'm biased at all toward that....

no, seriously though, this sounds really good, I hope you have a great time.
I was thinking about you the other day, sorry it's been so long since we've caught up. I'd love to hear all about your adventures...and the ones coming too.

Kate said...

Erin, I've had a letter in my purse for you for about 3 months. I should probably mail it, eh? :)

Erin Hope said...

yeah. I think you should. I mean, all my house mates will enjoy getting a letter addressed to 'pipper the ripper' or something even more um, interesting. :)

sides, then it'll be my turn.