Compost toilets, the work, the play

guesthouse compost toilets with glass bottles

 Im really settling into the social fabric of this community, and feel at ease. Each day I discover a new element of the place; the intention is for the structure of the community to slowly unfold as a jigsaw puzzle. The resident who had alot to do with construction of the buildings isn't around to give me a talk or tour, unfortunately, but Im documenting the structures anyway. The loos are beautiful! And hopefully good inspiration for one of my next visits, where I can help build one, as well as for my Camel brethren back home who are using glass bottles in walls - randomcamelcoop.blogspot.com

close up glass bottles as windows

mid morn raw breakfast for the ecology team

 Every morning I get up at 7am and walk with my bowl of porridge to the South Valley Gardens. Working here is a core team of about 8 people on the practical ecology course, joined by another 10 from the 'Love School' just for this week. As always, everywhere, we're weeding! Long, wavy contoured beds alongside one of the water retention spaces (or lakes), and terraces above hosting giant portuguese cabbages, jungles of tomatos big and small, newly planted cabbage, beetroots, onions, and carrots mixed with potatoes and sunflowers. Its all mixed culture here, in Holzer-style raised beds and just heaped beds. Also we've been bare root transplanting, as Portugal has 2 or 3 seasons for growing and the autumn is now bringing relief from scorching sun.
There's been much opinionating, suggestions and criticism from all students on the various methods of horticulture practised here, and I've been biting my tongue. A welcome personal challenge in being at Tamera is prioritising praise for the achievements and vision of the community over critique. Much food is produced here, which is vocally and poignantly appreciated in a speech before each meal.
The origin of many of the hand tools used here is in a book called Anastacia, or featuring her, detailing an attuned spiritual approach to eco system nourishment and interaction....ugh I cant get on with these Anastacia tools! I want a hoe like back on the Oak Tree farm, a swiss oscillating hoe! There are horses grazing in a pro-reforestation rotation system, and huge tusked boars helping to cultivate the soil.
The lessons we've had every Tues and Thursday afternoon haven't always been well prepared or presented, which's disappointed me. But yesterday we got one about a project soon to be visited and aided in Kenya, where Tamerans have been consulted in order to mitigate supposed water scarcity and actual water erosion. Kenyas rainfall is well above average. it has tooo much water in too short a space of time, its just that it isnt channelled and contained effectively, and disappears taking chunks of earth with it.

zambucheira beach at sunset, sunday

 Last Sunday a small group of us took a trip out to the nearest beach - what a perfect day! Five in a german estate car listening to electro - monkey safari from the fusion festival - stopped for some beers and snacks, took in amazing geology up on the cliffs, sat on the sand with a picnic, went into the buffeting surf and fell over again and again...
What struck me was the similarity with beaches in Cornwall, where im used to going; high jagged rocky cliffs to either side, a dune stream leading out to the water from a steep valley, a long run of sand, and cresting waves.Pertinent for me because my family have a house somewhere near here, and they come from Cornwall themselves.
Afterwards we went to a restaurant in a little town nearby, beautiful food, and really cheap! Good to get out into the real world and hear Portuguese.

participants in the new education seminar

ecology team at work weeding - jean-marie at forefront

Ive been extra happy to be so inspired to draw while here so far: all the people entice my pen and eye with their vibrant individuality and expressive natures.

solar village fancy compost toilets

 These toilets had special locks...they confused me for some minutes! And the design just blows me away...

and from behind...check the smell-i-scope!

 

 

 

 

close up of the scope

Interestingly, there was a meeting here to explore how the students staying at Tamera for the next month can form their own community and support one another. This brought up mixed feelings: i came away to join established groups, not help set anything up! And i saw myself very much in the facilitators and instigators of this meeting, in my past role at the Camel Coop, yet right now Im presenting very much as the slacker or outsider. I do feel a comfortable sense of belonging here and im relieved, so relieved. And amusedly surprised. My best self, i think, is coming out: joining in discussions, singing in the fields, hugging and being affectionate with people, listening to their deep issues. Theres another cocounsellor here and we've started to have sessions together. And our whole group has started 'Forum' - the Tamera-developed way of group communication to promote healing, ie conflict resolution. Its performance based, in a circle of your peers and colleagues. Very frightening, or exciting, to try!
Im trying to decide whether to head north or south when i leave here, both options are possible with Helpx and Poosh hosts.
Any recommendations? :-)