Non formal group – Association for building with natural materials
1-15 September, 2011, Izvor village, Rodopi mountain, Bulgaria
“Know-how to find a needle in a bundle of hay�
Demonstrational strawbale house
The project The project's goal is encouraging and focusing on international partnership, through exchange of experience and practical techniques in the sphere of building with natural materials: straw and clay, specific techniques from the traditional cultural and architectural heritage of all partner counties and permaculture principles and techniques. Looking back in the past for common origins of these techniques as stimulating strategy for sharing knowledge, experience and colloboration through teamwork in innovative methods for revival of this valuable traditions. The Introduction to the participants the advantages of using natural materials and finding common way as Europeans to sustainable future aware of the ecological, social and economical challenges.
Non formal group – Association for building with natural materials The place The location of this demonstration center is a mountain site in a village called Izvor, in the Rhodopi mountains with the magic atmosphere and amaizing nature…
Also remarkable architectural heritage and cultural traditions.
Activities Work: The duration of the Youth exchange will be 15 days including workshops and lectures from expert builders and architects from Slovakia and Bulgaria. During the workshop will be practiced several techniques for building in-fill straw bale walls and their finish coat with earth, lime and other plaster. Other techniques will be presented in lectures and through workshops as COB, Light Clay, “knitting”. Activities do not expect heavy physical work and still have very practical value.
There will be comparison between the traditional architecture and its characteristics with the contemporary one – like materials, energy efficiency, microclimate, etc. The participants will also gain knowledge and skills related to renewable energy sources. We believe that this
Non formal group – Association for building with natural materials project will be essential for participants in terms of acquisition of significant knowledge and skill on the topics of bio-climatic design and construction with natural materials.
Daily schedule: Time
Duration
Activity
7:30 – 8:00
½ hour
Energizing exercises (optional)
8:00 – 9:00
1 hour
Breakfast
9:00 – 9:30
½ hour
Sorting in groups
9:30 – 12:30
3,30 hours
Theoretical / Practical activities
12:30 – 13:30
1 hour
Lunch
13:30 – 15:30
2 hours
Leisure, rest, free time
15:30 – 18:30
3 hours
Practical activities
18:30 – 19:30
1 hour
Dinner
19:30 – 20:00
½ hour
Discussion - evaluation of classes during the day
20:00 – 21:00
1 hour
Leisure, rest, free time
21:00 …
-
Intercultural evening the exchange of traditional music, food and dance, improvisation with screenings (films, photos ...)
Free time: Discussions, thematic cultural exchange and musical events will take place. Visits to some sights in the region will be organized. Nearby is the cultural capital of Bulgaria Plovdiv.
Non formal group – Association for building with natural materials The philosophy of the event will follow the ethics of Permaculture - care for the earth, care for the people, setting limits to consumption. Thus we seek the reproduction of the living systems and the sustainable use of resources as underlying principles. In its roots the method of non-formal education is looking for the real nature of experience and for an overall internal motivation. So that we will try to create a sense of self responsibility, respect to the others and the environment among the young people and we will introduce to them in detail several sustainable technologies and methods for learning through exciting experiences. Moreover - during the exchange, a community will be created in which food, materials, responsibilities, tasks, good moods and smiles will be shared. The participants will be able to assess the quality of rural life, to become personally acquainted with people living in rural areas.
Programme of activities Date
Activity/Duration
01.09.2011
Day for arrival: gathering in Sofia, transportation to the village Izvor, accommodation, celebration the beginning of the exchange.
Thursday 02.09.2011 Friday
Day for guidance: aquaintances, review of topics, discussing the roles and objectives, agreeing with the general rules of the exchange.
Date
Theoretical and practical activities 9:30 – 12:30
Practical activities 15:30-18:30
Intercultural evening 21:00...
03.09.2011
Lectures:
Saturday
1. History of straw bale construction
Straw bale house constructions – a wooden construction
Bulgarian evening – traditional music and cuisine, film projection
2. Building techniques with natural materials 3. Basic principles in permaculture
04.09.2011 Sunday
Natural building with adobe bricks – the making of Permaculture design through zonning – the yard and the surroundings
Straw bale house constructions – a wooden construction
Straw bale house constructions – a wooden construction
Natural building with adobe bricks – the making of
Natural building with adobe bricks – the making of
Free/open program
Non formal group – Association for building with natural materials Permaculture basic management of soil through mulching and composting – a compost pile 05.09.2011
Permaculture basic management of soil through mulching and composting – a compost pile
Visitation of architectural objects in the nearby villages Orehovo and Kosovo
Monday 06.09.2011 Tuesday
07.09.2011 Wednesday
08.09.2011 Thursday
09.09.2011 Friday
Straw bale house constructions – a wooden construction
Straw bale house constructions – a wooden construction
Natural building with light clay bricks – the making of
Natural building with light clay bricks – the making of
Permaculture basic management of water through rainwater harvesting – making of ditches
Permaculture basic management of water through rainwater harvesting – making of ditches
Straw bale house – the roof
Straw bale house – the roof
Natural building with light clay bricks – the making of
Natural building with light clay bricks – the making of
Permaculture basic management of water through rainwater harvesting – making of ditches
Permaculture basic management of water through use of gray water – recycling and storage
Straw bale house – the roof
Straw bale house – the roof
Natural building with light clay bricks – the making of
Natural building with light clay bricks – the making of
Permaculture basic management of water through use of gray water – recycling and storage
Permaculture basic management of water through use of gray water – recycling and storage
Straw bale house walls – different kinds of straw bales and their characteristics
Straw bale house walls – building with straw bales
Natural building with adobe bricks – the making of Permaculture design through plant diversity – uses, roles and preferences of plants 10.09.2011
„Open doors“ free day
Natural building with adobe bricks – the making of Permaculture design through use of edges – refining of the hedge
Slovakian evening – traditional music and cuisine, film projection
Free/open program
Czech evening – traditional music and cuisine, film projection
Free/open program
Non formal group – Association for building with natural materials Saturday 11.09.2011
Straw bale house walls – light clay
Straw bale house walls – light clay
Natural building with adobe bricks – the making of
Natural building with adobe bricks – the making of
Permaculture design through use of edges – refining of the hedge
Permaculture and the transition to wilderness – edible landscapes, common lands and conservation
Straw bale house walls – plastering, protection from moisture and fire
Straw bale house walls – plastering, protection from moisture and fire
Natural building with adobe bricks – the making of
Natural building with adobe bricks – the making of
Permaculture design through use of edges – making of key-holes
Permaculture design through use of edges – making of key-holes
13.09.2011
Lectures:
Tuesday
1. Bio-climatic design – principles and methodology
„Open source“ - time for lectures and discussions of own ideas, elaborations and works in certain directions
Sunday
12.09.2011 Monday
2. Standards for sustainable design of buildings - review
Free/open program
Free/open program
Free/open program
3. Lifecycle of the building – energy and carbon dioxide footprint 14.09.2011 Wednesday 15.09.2011
Closing day of the exchange – evaluation of the past two weeks, discussions for following activities, final evening celebration Day for departure: transfers from Izvor village to various directions.
Thursday
Food and accomodation We will try to provide organicaly produced and local foods. Food will play an important role in this exchange. We will pay particular attention to topics like the origin of food, its cultivation, preparation and consumption. The participants will sleep in tents with own sleeping bags and mats. In the mountain by the middle of September the temperature can go below 20, so you should have warm sleeping bags and cloth.
Non formal group – Association for building with natural materials In case of health problems, or other serious reasons, participants can move to a room inside a nearby house. There will be a mobile phone for accepting and emergency calls. There will be electric plug inside one of our tents. You can charge mobile phones or computers also inside nearby house. Showers (outdoor solar) will be available. Toilets will be outside - very simple composting toilets. There is basic medical equipment available. Car will be available in case of need. We have also first-aid trained person in the team. We must be informed about any health problems of participants, before they come. Sending organizations are responsible for this. Travelling: Do not forget to collect tickets. Otherwise we will not be able to reimburse your travelling cost. Please take your attention - only tickets second class for transportation will be paid from the Bulgarian national agency! Contact: Email : natural.association@gmail.com www.naturalmaterials.wordpress.com Candidates for participation should apply at sending organizations. We have partners from Slovakia and the Czech republic. Only young people in age 18-25 years can participate on this project. You can contact these persons: Mirec Kašiak, kasiak@zajezka.sk Кatka Hanačíková, katka.hana@seznam.cz