Sunseed structure 2023

Sunseed’s main pillars are three main circles: technical, practical, and office. Inside these circles there are departments:

Office: educatiOn, cOmmunicatiOn, administratiOn; Practical: drylands, sustainable living, and gardens; tech: at(aPPrOPriate technOlOgy), and ecO maintenance.

In the best-case scenario, each circle ideally has a manager who oversees the ongoing departments for a period of two years, while also holding a position within one of the departments. Individuals taking on coordinator roles in the departments have been working in Sunseed for a minimum of 8 months. “By implementing a three-manager system, we hope to achieve more stability during transitions and ensure that there is always someone familiar with the department’s objectives and tasks for a certain period of time. Naturally, each person can modify the department according to their preferences. I’ve heard that in Sunseed, there have been instances where things were forgotten or lost. Therefore, maintaining oversight of these departments for an extended period will be beneficial and lead to improvement.”

Sunseed utilizes sociocracy as a governance methodology, encompassing decision-making, structural organization, and daily functioning of departments. Sociocracy offers various valuable insights and learnings. Essentially, individuals who are committed to long-term involvement in the project have the opportunity to participate in decision-making processes. Fridays are designated as community meeting days, providing an opportunity for long-term residents to propose ideas, contribute to the community’s needs, and oversee the overall well-being of the community.

“I believe it’s not entirely horizontal nor completely hierarchical. As a result, there are some hierarchical elements present. To address this, we have recently implemented Tronki’s meetings, which include individuals staying for at least six months. This decision arose from the necessity to distribute the hierarchy beyond the coordinators’ hands. Previously, we had volunteers who stayed for just one month, and they had the ability to make significant changes and then depart. The current situation is already challenging enough, with frequent turnover every six months.”

“The current structure that Sunseed offers is primarily oriented towards short-term learning experiences. Given the infrastructure and environment, it does not provide a suitable setting for long-term living. There is a lack of privacy and the ability to separate oneself from the constant influx of people. I believe this is one of the major factors contributing to burnout, as individuals find themselves stuck in repetitive tasks and constantly experiencing high levels of stress. The continuous arrival of new people who often make the same mistakes also adds to the ongoing stress.”

“Well, the challenge lies in assuming responsibility for a place that I did not personally create. It has been an interesting process to establish a community structure based on the needs of the individuals within the community and to address the diverse stories and ideas associated with this place. How do we align emotionally to work together effectively? This has been a significant challenge, both within the community and with our neighbors in the village, as maintaining positive relationships with them is crucial. However, I am pleased to see that we are gradually moving in a positive direction.”

Drylands

From its origins, the concept of desertification has been controversial. The prevailing confusion between two desertification visions, one that considers it as the expansion of deserts and another that emphasizes its anthropogenic component, has been transferred to society.1

“I believe we need to redefine the concept of ecosystem restoration in relation to the ecosystems surrounding us. In a way, we should assist nature in carrying out processes that it would naturally undertake over a longer period of time, without extensive human intervention. Two years ago, they were planting plant species, such as pinus, that are not native to this area. Personally, I would prefer to utilize the shrubs that are already abundant here. The initial question we need to ask ourselves regarding restoration is: What ecosystem services do we aim to restore? Restoration is a human concept, rooted in our perspective, as the land itself does not have preferences for a particular state.

“The river emerges from the ground at ‘el Nacimiento’ (the Birth), flows through the bottom of the valley it gives life to, then all but disappears back into the ground as the valley rounds a bend towards the sea. The surrounding land, not irrigated by the ancient Moorish system of channels that carry water from the river to the lower terraces, is dry, harsh terrain turned to a near desert that stretches away in all directions from the tiny oasis valley.”2

What we are witnessing here is the result of human intervention. This land was cultivated until 60 years ago, and it was once covered with cereals. Now we see an abundance of shrubs, but also a significant amount of bare soil. Considering the high erosion in this area, the primary ecosystem service humans are seeking is soil stability and fertility.

To restore these essential ecosystem functions, our first step is to cover the soil. Everything is interconnected: by preventing erosion through soil cover, we stabilize the soil, facilitate water infiltration, recharge groundwater, increase soil moisture, and create better conditions for plant growth. Consequently, this leads to an increase in soil organic matter and nutrient content.

In my opinion, the presence of trees is not the priority as long as we focus on covering the soil. Once the soil is adequately covered, ecological evolution and succession will naturally lead to the establishment of trees. With improved soil conditions, tree seeds dispersed by birds and animals will have the opportunity to germinate and thrive.

Planting species that do not belong to this specific ecosystem can have unpredictable consequences, ranging from disaster to positive outcomes. However, we can avoid this risk by allowing nature to take its course while supporting the process by covering the soil.

My plan involves germinating seeds and planting them in areas that are already relatively fertile. By expanding around existing shrubs or trees, these areas can further develop. We have various microenvironments with different soil types, such as clay soil, areas with natural gypsum, and places with red soil containing higher iron content. We aim to define specific microecosystems and select plant species that naturally thrive in these environments, creating unique plant communities.

The concept relies on utilizing a wide range of genetic diversity by collecting seeds from this region. The seeds that are best suited to the conditions will naturally thrive, eliminating the need for us to decide which plants should grow. Through this process, the species that are most successful will survive and flourish.

I strongly believe that our experiment should not pose risks. If it fails, no significant consequences will occur. If it succeeds, it will accelerate ecological succession and aid in faster soil coverage compared to natural processes.”

Education and Communication

“I have a strong belief that footprint needs to be effectively combined with handprint.”

Education is a vital department in Sunseed, where the entire project is centered around non-formal and informal learning experiences. The department organizes educational courses, programs for short-term volunteers, on-site educational tours, and various activities and initiatives related not only to Sunseed but also to the outside world.

The Communication department focuses on social media management, newsletter creation, and daily email communication with individuals interested in volunteering, visiting, or interning at Sunseed. They also collaborate on projects, podcasts, and documentaries to make Sunseed more accessible to newcomers.

“People who come to Sunseed have the opportunity to educate and empower themselves by utilizing the tools, facilities, space, and time we provide here. However, we don’t have individuals who can structurally teach a specific body of knowledge. Instead, we offer workshops, space, and opportunities for co-learning and experimentation.”

“I believe that politics and a broader social and ecological perspective are essential components of educational activities at Sunseed. While it’s great to lead a self-sufficient life, such as making your own marmalade, it’s equally important to cultivate awareness and work towards dismantling capitalist, patriarchal, and colonial structures. This is why I find motivation in staying here and being the person who consistently brings political and environmental factors into the community, striving to integrate them into our daily lives.”

Festival Del Agua

“We have been hosting the Festival Del Agua for a couple of years now. The main idea behind the festival is to protect and raise funds for the legal rights of one of the most precious rivers, Rio Aguas. This river provides water throughout the year to off-grid villages, including our own village, Los Molinos. The festival also aims to take legal action regarding the state of the aquifer, which has been exploited for massive monoculture irrigation, putting the rivers at risk of drying up. The festival is organized in collaboration with the entire Los Molinos community.

The theme of the festival in 2023 will revolve around water cultures and territorial knowledge. It will feature numerous workshops, live music performances, homemade food, and collaborations with our art residency program.“

Artist residency

“The idea to explore various artistic approaches connected specifically to the concept of degrowth emerged last year. We contemplated the idea of organizing a residency to encourage collaboration and investigation into the intersection of degrowth, art, and community. The initial residency experience lasted for one week, providing a wonderful opportunity to perceive the community from a fresh perspective. It served as a much-needed space for self-care and community-care, allowing us to break free from the routines of our daily lives and collectively explore this concept.“

Office

“I oversee the work of the office, but in reality, my role is that of an administration coordinator or operations coordinator, as it was previously called. The role was temporarily removed due to some power-related issues. My responsibilities include accounting and finding sustainable methods for financial management. Additionally, I handle the legal matters of the Spanish association and ensure the statutes are updated. The office also takes care of the bureaucracy of ESCs, and also provides informational training about different Erasmus+ and other opportunities for the community.”