A brief introduction of Sunseed

History

As the website states, ‘Sunseed was first conceived in 1982 during a talk at a green festival by Harry Hart, co-founder of the charity ‘Green Deserts.’ Green Deserts was particularly well known for its tree planting projects in Sudan.’ The foundation of Sunseed was established in 1986, and within a year, the name ‘Sunseed Desert Technology’ was adopted.

The choice of Los Molinos, Almeria as a research center was influenced by its climatic similarities to Northern Africa. They aimed to experiment with different methodologies of appropriate technologies (AT) and share this knowledge with the so-called ‘less developed countries in Northern Africa.’ Dryland and ecosystem restoration were key focuses of Sunseed at that time.

By 1988, Sunseed had already established three departments: ‘Garden,’ ‘Bio,’ and ‘AT’. The community was always open to volunteers who could contribute to the daily work while making donations for their stay.

Based on the archived articles, it is evident that some of these projects did not perform well in African countries. One interviewee shared their perspective on the Solar Oven project, which was being marketed to Africans, sarcastically stating, ‘They were telling me about the Solar Oven, a brilliant idea to sell to Africans (sarcasm). Have any of them ever lived in Africa? Do they know how Africans cook? Africans don’t cook in ovens; this is a concept more prevalent in Northern Europe. They don’t have half an hour to move the oven around.’ This could be one of the reasons why the project re- mained more focused on the local context and evolved into an educational center.

Personal Reflection

While attempting to understand the history of Sunseed, I found myself becoming increasingly lost. There are numerous documents, articles, papers, and website presentations about the project, but I felt the absence of an oral storyteller’s voice. One could argue that Sunseed’s memory exists solely on paper, as there are no individuals who have actively preserved the project’s history throughout its existence. As one interviewee remarked, ‘The absence of a living memory can be considered both dangerous and liberating, as it allows for improvisation and reflection on the past.’

During conversations with the residents of Los Molinos, I had the opportunity to hear their reflections and oral recollections of the project. There is certainly a nostalgic and idealized memory of the past Sunseed, when it operated smoothly with the active involvement of long-term, experienced individuals contributing to the project’s development. This brings us to an important point: commitment and responsibility.

Transition

“‘Commitment’ is the word that Sunseed needs right now. This idea was mentioned repeatedly during these conversations. In recent history, individuals came to us as coordinators for a couple of months, which may have been an interesting experience for them personally, but it posed challenges for the project’s stability and the residents of Los Molinos.”

IDENTITY OF SUNSEED

“It’s challenging to find two people describing Sunseed in the same way. Sunseed does not claim to be an ecovillage but rather an eco-project or off-grid community. Many individuals expressed that they came to Sunseed with different expectations and discovered something entirely different, primarily related to social skills, group dynamics, personal boundaries, and so on. The diagram presented here showcases the project’s definitions as voiced by individuals who lived in Sunseed or Los Molinos. In the following explanations, I provide some insights into these terms.

“I resonate with the analogy of Sunseed being a nursery for pioneer species. You sow the seeds, they grow, and then you transplant them. However, I don’t think anyone is genuinely taking care of the nursery.”

“I agree with the notion of Sunseed being like a kindergarten. Sunseeders live here without conscious awareness of how they are impacting the life of this place. They want to play and give their all, non-stop, until they become exhausted and need a break. Typically, newcomers arrive, work incredibly hard, burn out, and eventually leave. They are uncertain if all the work that has been done for the place is worthwhile, hoping that it has been beneficial for them. However, people simply want to come here and play without fully facing the consequences and challenges that life presents.”

“Sunseed serves as a non-formal environmental educational center and functions as a social-ecological experiment, providing individuals with a laboratory for the development of eco projects. However, its mean-

Research center bunch of hippoes Ecovillage It’saninternshipof communitylife.

Community

UK association nonformal environmental educational center bunch of eco enthusiasts is a very good nursery for pioneer species. community

What is Sunseed?

Mickey Mouse

Kindergarten (Guarderia)

A project to do very practical research, applying the creation of a sustainable and low tech technologies for sustainable living place where you can play and make mistakes transient community or group of sustainability enthusiasts, in an experimental center in Southern Spain.

Community exposed into the Los Molinos village ing and purpose have varied for me during different phases.”

In attempting to summarize the project’s identity, it is crucial to emphasize that Sunseed holds a different significance for each individual involved. It is important to embrace diverse perspectives, which continually evolve and transform day by day or year after year. Each person’s perspective is shaped by their own unique reasons, experiences, and arguments associated with these terms. The passage of time and the assimilation of experiences greatly influence the definition and understanding of such projects.

Colonization

After reading about the history, the aspect of

“I don’t believe that they had malicious intentions back then. I think their intentions were genuinely good, even when they planted the invasive Prosopis spp plant. It’s just that they might not have fully comprehended the consequences of their actions. Perhaps we are still doing things without knowing the potential impact they will have in 20 years.”

“Colonization appears different when viewed from the perspective of the colonizer versus the colonized. Even with the best intentions, overtaking resources and cultural heritage of those with less power cannot be justified. Often, the affected individuals are unaware of what is happening.

I believe that the majority of the European Union has become part of the globalized culture and market. We are now colonizing and

In Sunseed’s case, the situation is rather atypical. A project that began with a group of foreigners taking advantage of low property prices during rural abandonment is now protesting against corporations that are encroaching upon the last water sources of rural communities...

Internally, there may be clashes between privileged white Europeans in their twenties attempting to establish equitable relationships with individuals from more disadvantaged backgrounds. However, I see this topic being openly discussed and deconstructed. It is not always easy or structured, but there is sensitivity towards this matter and space for dialogue. In my opinion, that’s what matters most.”

“I believe that the strong colonial history of Sunseed’s identity is undeniable, and it makes me uncomfortable. Honestly, I am not particularly proud to be seen as a representative of it.”

“Some people have argued that we shouldn’t label this as colonial because our intentions here are good and noble. They claim that it has nothing to do with colonialism, and I was completely shocked and angered by such statements. None of the principles of decolonization were present here. I am actively working on improving my communication and educational skills regarding these specific topics.”

From these observations, it is evident that the current team is striving to reflect upon and deconstruct this past while still acknowledging the legacy of the entire project. Interestingly, the first Spanish volunteer joined the project only in the 2000s. Until now, Sunseed’s visibility has been higher in northern European countries rather than locally in Spain.

Legacy Of The History

It is intriguing to delve into the legacy of Sunseed and examine what history imparts and conveys to new members. Despite being an innovative project in the early 80s, Sunseed continues to maintain its focus on fields such as drylands restoration and appropriate technologies. However, the current members’ time commitments still pose sustainability challenges, making it difficult for the working group to propose and implement significant changes, such as reshaping the project or reimagining its ideas. Presently, the aim is to structure the organization in a way that enables it to survive and effectively navigate day-to-day challenges.

“But colonization is something that seems inevitable; it’s almost inherent. When someone arrives with more knowledge or resources, like when the Spanish arrived in America with advanced technology, colonization tends to occur. It happens because of the belief that one is superior or possesses more knowledge.”

“I believe it is essential to initiate bold proposals and make decisions that go beyond simply fortifying the existing structure but rather involve building a new one. We are constantly yearning for this shift in energy. However, I find myself somewhat apprehensive about being alone in this transformative process if I were to propose it. I often question whether I should start generating this energy now or wait for new group members (coordinators) to join and collaborate in creating it together. These thoughts weigh heavily on me, but I have yet to find a clear answer. Perhaps it is because I do not have sufficient time to contemplate and strategize about these matters. I would greatly appreciate dedicating some creative time to contemplate the re-envisioning or rescaling of the project.”