"Self-sustainability projects"

 

Through these projects, we aim at educating our participants about self-sustainability but more importantly, at building-up practical skills. Our “hands-on” activities are specifically designed to strengthen the students’ expertise on environmental issues. These activities will cover the four main aspects necessary to create an edible garden (composting, raised beds, food forest, natural building). Each day will focus on one specific aspect; starting with some theory then switching to practical activities.

 

By the end of the project, the students will be able to reproduce those simple techniques back home, assist friends or family in making/maintaining an organic garden, and/or simply spread the “green” word around them.

 

4 days per year (1 day/term)

 

Day 1: “Composting”

 

The first day starts with an introduction class on self-sustainability and some scientific explanations about water and carbon cycle, nitrogen fixation, reforestation, environmental pollution... Eventually, we will present the different permaculture concepts that we will apply throughout the project.

 

After the class, we will focus on practical activities centered on increasing soil fertility.

Together we will make compost piles, naturel insect repellent and organic fertilizer (E.M.).

 

Day 2: “ Raised beds”

 

Using the compost we produced on day 1, we will make raised beds (no-dig method) then plant them with various vegetables/herbs/flowers/leguminous.

 

Day 3: “ Food forest”

 

The third day is dedicated to establishing a food forest. We will plant a selection of local species of edible/medicinal/timber trees in order to fill in the different layers of a productive food forest: canopy, lower fruit trees, bushes, herbaceous, roots, climbers and, ground cover.

 

Day 4: “Earth & Arts”

 

Aiming at boosting creativity, our “Earth & Arts” program is designed to introduce the students to natural building techniques (mud and straw) without having to experience the hard labour and technical skills required to build an actual house.

 

In the morning, we will assist the students in crafting mud and straw sculptures of animals, trees, landscapes... or anything else they might want to create.

 

In the afternoon, we will reflect on the project through a feedback/brainstorming that will eventually turn into a collective mural painting. The mural will be created with a mixture of living moss, yoghurt, sugar and yeast; which will provide our artwork with an ever-growing quality.