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DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20200301T170000
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UID:7918-1583082000-1583564400@cobworkshops.org
SUMMARY:A Complete Introduction to Earthen Building Techniques (Cob\, Earthbag\, Wattle and Daub)
DESCRIPTION:Intro to Ecological Construction \nFor thousands of years\, people have been building their homes out of the dirt beneath their feet. Natural and vernacular building techniques have roots in every culture around the world\, but share the distinction of using local materials\, being energy efficient\, and having a low ecological footprint. Only during the past century have natural building methods been replaced by the construction industry which is characterized by an unsustainable sourcing of non-renewable resources\, energy inefficient design\, and a huge carbon footprint. \nNatural building techniques allows individuals to use their hands and feet to form earth mixed with sand and straw\, a sensory and aesthetic experience similar to sculpting with clay. Natural building is easy to learn\, inexpensive to build\, and lends itself to organic shapes such as curved walls\, arches and niches. Earth homes are cool in summer and warm in winter and maximize the capture of natural sources of energy. Natural building methods don´t contribute to deforestation\, pollution or mining nor depend on manufactured materials or power tools. In this age of environmental degradation\, dwindling natural resources\, and chemical toxins hidden in our homes\, doesn’t it make sense to return to nature’s most abundant\, cheap and healthy building material? \nSummary About Logistics \nThis six day workshop will cover considerations on picking a house site including passive solar design\, building a rubble trench and natural rock and lime mortar foundation\, wattle and daub wall construction\, earth bag construction\, cob construction\, and natural\, earthen plasters. We offer private transportation from the Guatemalan airport to Santiago Atitlan and vice versa. Lodging options include comfortable local hotels or home stays with local families. Included in the price of the workshop is a day-long tour of several communities around Lake Atitlan to experience and learn about other types of natural construction. Also\, participants will have the opportunity to participate in several recreational and cultural activities during the evenings to learn more about the unique culture and history of the Tz´utujil people. \nAbout Lake Atitlan \nLake Atitlan is one of the three major tourist attractions of Guatemala\, sharing the distinction with the ancient Mayan center of Tikal and the classic Spanish colonial city of Antigua. The Lake lies in the Central Highlands of Guatemala\, 80 miles west of Guatemala City and three hours by car along the Pan American Highway. \nLake Atitlan has long been considered by discriminating travelers to be among the most physically beautiful lakes in the world. But\, the magic is not just the Lake. It is also the surrounding volcanoes and escarpments that frame this 130-square kilometer surface of sparkling water. It is the sun and breeze\, playing on the Lake’s surface\, nudging it into revealing its capriciously changeable character. \nThe enchantment of the Lake is also found in the proud but friendly Mayan people living along its shores that hold to the essence of their cultural identities while adapting to modern conveniences that fit their pragmatically adjusting view of the Universe. \nAbout the Tz’utujil People and Santiago Atitlan \nThe Popul Vuh describes the mythic journey and arrival of seven tribes of warriors to a place called Tulan. In this account\, the Tz’utujil are the first of the seven tribes to arrive. Existing evidence indicates that Tz’utujil-speakers once occupied the territory surrounding Lake Atitlán as well as the southern expanse of territory to the coastal lowlands. \nThe word “Tz’utujil” means “Corn Flower.” Today Tz’utujil is spoken in the towns of San Pablo\, San Juan\, San Pedro\, Chicacao\, and Santiago Atitlan. “Atitlan\,” a word of Nahuatl origin\, means “close to the water.” \nSantiago Atitlan is the largest of the 12 lakeside communities and is the principal population center of the Tz’utujil people. Its population is over 32\,000\, with about 95% indigenous. The town is located on the embankment of broken lava at the foot of Volcano Toliman\, across the bay from the pre-Conquest Tz’utujil capital\, Chuitinamit. \nThe survival of the Tz’utujil Maya and the existence of present day Santiago Atitlan\, one of the largest intact communities in the Americas\, give powerful testimony to the spirit of Tz’utujil resistance. \nThe Infrastructure You´re Helping to Build \nOn a pragmatic level\, the Utz´ K´aslimaal Collective seeks to demonstrate a tangible example of sustainable living\, ecological land design\, and natural construction. All of the structures built on the land are made from locally available\, natural materials. In the long term\, we hope to build a center to launch a diverse array of educational programs that allow Western people to learn from indigenous people\, engage in exchanges of mutual solidarity\, and offer a new standard of tourism that involves and values the local community\, culture\, and environment. \nCommunity Involvement \nAs an organization that seeks to belong to and participate in the life of the community that has accepted us\, this workshop will also open spaces for local Tz´utujil youth to learn about natural construction techniques. The migration of young people to North American is a huge issue affecting the local community. Many young people choose to migrate in order to raise money to build a modern home of their own which can be prohibitively expensive. Through helping young people to discover the vernacular\, beautiful and natural methods of construction\, we also hope to add a small contribution towards helping young Tz´utujil people stay in their communities. \nGuatemala has gained international notoriety as a country reeling with violence from youth gangs and drug trafficking.  However\, the vast majority of this violence is confined to the urban areas of the country.  The town of Santiago Atitlan\, where the workshop will be held\, is a quiet\, peaceful town where violence of any type is a rarity.  Workshop participants will be picked up directly from the airport and driven (by van) to the small town of Santiago which is about 3 hours west of Guatemala City. \nNatural Building Techniques to be Taught \nRubble Trench and Stone Stem wall: Instead of relying on concrete footers\, we will explore how you can build a strong\, reliable foundation for your home that offers both structural and drainage functions with nothing but natural materials. \nWattle and Daub: This simple wall construction technique uses a lattice of wood that is then filled in and plastered with earthen materials. It is among the most anti-seismic building materials known. \nEarthbag: Filling polypropylene sacks with stabilized earth allows you to build massive\, thick\, and sturdy walls for your home. We´ll be building a fence out of earthbags during this workshop. \nCob: A mixture of sand\, clay and straw allows you to build the walls to your home that can then be sculpted into any design that you choose. The thick walls also function as a thermal mass to effectively heat your home. \nNatural Plasters: A naturally built structure is nothing but a mud hut until you add the finishing touches of a natural\, earthen or lime-based plaster which turns your mud hut into an earthen home. \nEach day of the workshop will offer a mix of classroom style conceptual/theoretical instruction in the mornings and several hours of practice with the different natural building methodologies that we´ll be using. We will also have the opportunity to visit several naturally built structures around the Lake and process what we´ve been learning at the end of each day. Each participant will receive a booklet with information on the natural building methods that we´ll be covering and electronic copies of several leading books in the natural building niche. \nThe $500 workshop cost covers: \nLodging in a clean and comfortable local hostel with a view of the lake\, or a homestay with a friendly indigenous family. (You can choose which you prefer). \n\nFive (full) days of workshop.\nA day tour of the Lake\, in which you will travel by boat to different towns to see magnificent examples of the very natural building techniques you have been learning about and putting into practice.\nDaily you will be provided with breakfast\, lunch\, dinner\, and refreshments.\nNumerous activities that engage the rich local Tz’utujil culture and that invite you to experience the recreational possibilities of the surrounding environment.\nEducational materials\n\nWhat Is the Utz’ K’aslimaal Collective? \nAlmost all indigenous cultures around the world have a unique understanding of what it means to live the Good Life. For the Mayan Tz´utujil people of Guatemala\, the Good Life\, or Utz´ K´aslimaal\, is characterized by a life of balance\, of proper relationships with the community and the land which holds them\, and the fullness of a simple life lived well. The Utz´ K´aslimaal Collective believes that the indigenous concept of the Good Life and the inimitable worldview of the Mayan peoples from Guatemala especially\, offers needed guidance\, wisdom\, and a practical path forward in the light of the multiple crises we collectively face on a global scale. Through our connections with the indigenous communities and territories around Guatemala\, and through the ecological development of a small piece of land in Santiago Atitlan\, we hope to offer a glimpse into how the Good Life might open pathways for the construction of sustainable\, just\, and balanced communities around the world.
URL:https://cobworkshops.org/event/a-complete-introduction-to-earthen-building-techniques-cob-earthbag-wattle-and-daub/
LOCATION:Bahia de Santiago\, Santiago Atitlan\, Bahia de Santiago\, Aldea Tzanchaj\, Santiago Atitlan\, Solola\, 503\, Guatemala
CATEGORIES:Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cobworkshops.org/wp-content/uploads/A-Complete-Introduction-to-Earthen-Building-Techniques.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Utz%C2%B4%20K%C2%B4aslimaal%20Collective":MAILTO:tobiasroberts20@hotmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20191130T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20191207T070000
DTSTAMP:20260410T104544
CREATED:20191012T141830Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20191012T141830Z
UID:7854-1575144000-1575702000@cobworkshops.org
SUMMARY:A Complete Introduction to Ecological Building Techniques (Cob\, Wattle and Daub\, Earthbags\, Natural Plasters)
DESCRIPTION:About The Workshop\nThis six-day workshop will cover considerations on picking a house site including passive solar design\, building a rubble trench and natural rock and lime mortar foundation\, wattle and daub wall construction\, building with cob\, earthbag construction\, natural\, earthen plasters\, and ways to heat your home in a sustainable and natural way.  During the workshop\, we will build a rubble trench and rock foundation for a new structure. We will also build wattle and daub walls for a communal center currently under construction\, and add natural earthen and lime plasters over the finished walls\, including adding several clay-based paints. Additionally\, we will be building a cob oven\, an earthbag sofa\, and visiting several other natural homes to explore the wide variety of natural building techniques used around the beautiful Lake Atitlan area. This complete natural building workshop will introduce you to several different and varied natural building techniques and is the perfect way to either begin your learning journey related to natural building or further develop your natural building skills. \nWe FULLY believe that the best way to truly learn about natural building is through hard work and getting your hands and feet dirty. Many of our past workshop participants have expressed appreciation for the fact that the majority of our workshops are dedicated to the PRAXIS of building. Our worksite features several earthen buildings in different stages of completion\, from a finished cob cabin to a longhouse in the early stages of planning. If you are a learner through doing\, this is the workshop for you! \nFor this workshop we offer private transportation from Guatemala City to Santiago Atitlan and vice versa. Lodging is at a comfortable hostel with WiFi and hot water in the vibrant and lively indigenous town of Santiago Atitlan located on the shores of one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Included in the price of the workshop is a day-long boat tour of several communities around Lake Atitlan to better get to know the surroundings and learn about other natural construction techniques including vernacular adobe construction\, bamboo architecture\, and more. Also\, participants will have the opportunity to participate in several recreational and cultural activities during the course of the week to enjoy the beauty of the lake and learn more about the unique culture and history of the Tz’utujil people. \nThe workshop begins with dinner on November 30th and ends with breakfast on December 7th. \nPickup in Antigua or Guatemala City airport is at 3pm on the 30th. Departure to return to Antigua or Guatemala City is on the morning of the 7th of December. \nAntigua is a beautiful colonial city popular with tourists that is roughly 45 minutes from Guatemala City airport. There are reasonably priced shuttles that can take you directly there from the airport. The following link explains in detail the process: (how to get to Antigua from the Guatemala City airport). \nWe are available to answer any questions you have about travel logistics\, what to expect or workshop content. Please ask! \n\n\nNatural Building Techniques to be Taught\n\n\n\nRubble Trench and Stone Stem Wall: Instead of relying on concrete footers\, we will explore how you can build a strong\, reliable foundation for your home that offers both structural and drainage functions with nothing but rock\, rubble\, and lime.\nWattle and Daub: This simple wall construction technique uses a lattice of wood that is then filled in and plastered with earthen materials. It is among the most anti-seismic building materials known.\nEarthbags: Filling polypropylene sacks with stabilized earth allows you to build massive\, thick\, and sturdy walls for your home.\nCob: A mixture of sand\, clay and straw allows you to build the walls to your home that can then be sculpted into any design that you choose. The thick walls also function as a thermal mass to effectively heat your home.\nNatural Plasters: A naturally built structure is nothing but a mud hut until you add the finishing touches of a natural\, earthen or lime-based plaster that turns your mud hut into an earthen home.\n\n*Each day of the workshop will offer a mix of classroom-style conceptual/theoretical instruction in the mornings and several hours of practice with the different natural building methodologies that we will be using. We will also have the opportunity to visit several naturally built structures around the lake and process what we’ve been learning at the end of each day. Each participant will receive electronic copies of several leading books in the natural building niche. \n\nCost: $500 per person\, which includes: \n\nTransport service between Antigua and Santiago Atitlan and vice versa.\nPrivate lodging in a clean and comfortable local hostel with WiFi.\nTwo meals a day (dinner is open for you to explore the town of Santiago).\nWater and snacks during the workshop.\nSix full days of workshop.\nA day tour of the lake\, in which you will travel by boat to different towns to enjoy their beauty and see magnificent examples of the very natural building techniques you have been learning about and putting into practice.\nNumerous activities that engage the rich local Tz’utujil culture and that invite you to experience the recreational possibilities of the surrounding environment.\nEducational materials.\n\nMore Information at: \nhttps://utzkaslimaal.org/about-our-workshops/ \nhttps://www.facebook.com/utzkaslimaal/ \ntobiasroberts20@hotmail.com
URL:https://cobworkshops.org/event/a-complete-introduction-to-ecological-building-techniques-cob-wattle-and-daub-earthbags-natural-plasters-2/
LOCATION:Bahia de Santiago\, Santiago Atitlan\, Bahia de Santiago\, Aldea Tzanchaj\, Santiago Atitlan\, Solola\, 503\, Guatemala
CATEGORIES:Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cobworkshops.org/wp-content/uploads/Natural-Building-Workshop-2-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Utz%C2%B4%20K%C2%B4aslimaal%20Collective":MAILTO:tobiasroberts20@hotmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20190518T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20190525T090000
DTSTAMP:20260410T104544
CREATED:20190305T170522Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20190314T164124Z
UID:7783-1558195200-1558774800@cobworkshops.org
SUMMARY:A Complete Introduction to Ecological Building Techniques (Cob\, Wattle and Daub\, Earthbags\, Natural Plasters)
DESCRIPTION:An Introduction to Ecological Building Techniques \nIncluding Rubble Trench and Rock Foundation\, Wattle and Daub\, Earth Bags\, Cob\, Natural Plasters\, and Rocket Mass Heaters! \nMay 18th — May 25th\, 2019 \nIntro to Ecological Construction \nFor thousands of years\, people have been building their homes out of the dirt beneath their feet. Natural and vernacular building techniques have roots in every culture around the world\, but share the distinction of using local materials\, being energy efficient\, and having a low ecological footprint. Only during the past century have natural building methods been replaced by the construction industry which is characterized by an unsustainable sourcing of non-renewable resources\, energy inefficient design\, and a huge carbon footprint. \nNatural building techniques allows individuals to use their hands and feet to form earth mixed with sand and straw\, a sensory and aesthetic experience similar to sculpting with clay. Natural building is easy to learn\, inexpensive to build\, and lends itself to organic shapes such as curved walls\, arches and niches. Earth homes are cool in summer and warm in winter and maximize the capture of natural sources of energy. Natural building methods don´t contribute to deforestation\, pollution or mining nor depend on manufactured materials or power tools. In this age of environmental degradation\, dwindling natural resources\, and chemical toxins hidden in our homes\, doesn’t it make sense to return to nature’s most abundant\, cheap and healthy building material? \nSummary About Logistics \nThis six day workshop will cover considerations on picking a house site including passive solar design\, building a rubble trench and natural rock and lime mortar foundation\, wattle and daub wall construction\, earth bag construction\, cob construction\, natural\, earthen plasters\, and rocket mass heaters. \nSpecifically\, we will be finishing the cob and wattle and daub walls on the first floor of a hexagon-shaped classroom for an organization that designs cross cultural learning experiences. We will also be building a rubble trench and rock foundation for another cabin\, incorporating earth bag furniture into the hexagon classroom\, installing a rocket mass heater/stove in the kitchen area\, and finishing up plaster work on another finished cabin on the land. \nWe offer private transportation from the Guatemalan airport to Santiago Atitlan and vice versa. Lodging will be at a comfortable local hostel with Wi-Fi and hot water showers in the heart of Santiago Atitlan where you will be able to enjoy the vibrant night market of a beautiful and unique Mayan town.  Included in the price of the workshop is a day-long tour of several communities around Lake Atitlan to experience and learn about other types of natural construction projects including cob\, adobe\, and bamboo building\, two meals a day\, and snacks. We have found that participants like to have free time in the evenings to explore the town and enjoy dinner on their own. \nAbout Lake Atitlan \nLake Atitlan is one of the three major tourist attractions of Guatemala\, sharing the distinction with the ancient Mayan center of Tikal and the classic Spanish colonial city of Antigua. The Lake lies in the Central Highlands of Guatemala\, 80 miles west of Guatemala City and three hours by car along the Pan American Highway. \nLake Atitlan has long been considered by discriminating travelers to be among the most physically beautiful lakes in the world. But\, the magic is not just the Lake. It is also the surrounding volcanoes and escarpments that frame this 130-square kilometer surface of sparkling water. It is the sun and breeze\, playing on the Lake’s surface\, nudging it into revealing its capriciously changeable character. \nThe enchantment of the Lake is also found in the proud but friendly Mayan people living along its shores that hold to the essence of their cultural identities while adapting to modern conveniences that fit their pragmatically adjusting view of the Universe. \nAbout the Tz’utujil People and Santiago Atitlan \nThe Popul Vuh describes the mythic journey and arrival of seven tribes of warriors to a place called Tulan. In this account\, the Tz’utujil are the first of the seven tribes to arrive. Existing evidence indicates that Tz’utujil-speakers once occupied the territory surrounding Lake Atitlán as well as the southern expanse of territory to the coastal lowlands. \nThe word “Tz’utujil” means “Corn Flower.” Today Tz’utujil is spoken in the towns of San Pablo\, San Juan\, San Pedro\, Chicacao\, and Santiago Atitlan. “Atitlan\,” a word of Nahuatl origin\, means “close to the water.” \nSantiago Atitlan is the largest of the 12 lakeside communities and is the principal population center of the Tz’utujil people. Its population is over 32\,000\, with about 95% indigenous. The town is located on the embankment of broken lava at the foot of Volcano Toliman\, across the bay from the pre-Conquest Tz’utujil capital\, Chuitinamit. \nThe survival of the Tz’utujil Maya and the existence of present day Santiago Atitlan\, one of the largest intact communities in the Americas\, give powerful testimony to the spirit of Tz’utujil resistance. \nAdditional Cultural and Recreational Activities \nIn addition to learning about natural building methods\, during your visit to Lake Atitlan you will be afforded the opportunity to participate in numerous activities that engage the rich local Tz’utujil culture and that invite you to experience the recreational possibilities of the surrounding environment. These activities range from hearing from and dining with local ancestral leaders and spiritual authorities\, to spending a day touring the Lake by boat and visiting different towns to see magnificent examples of the very natural building methods you have been learning about and putting into practice. Of course\, if you would rather just relax and enjoy your pleasant lodging accommodations\, or meander around Santiago Atitlan and enjoy a cup of coffee or beer\, you are more than welcome to do so. Nevertheless\, we from the Utz’ K’aslimaal Collective\, want to make sure that you have every opportunity to enjoy the immense natural and cultural beauty of Lake Atitlan. \nThe Importance of Ecological Conservation at Lake Atitlan \nAs man increases his presence at Lake Atitlan and as modern culture increasingly imposes its influence here\, the balance of the Lake ecosystem becomes increasingly prone to destabilization. The challenge to find ways to adjust the demands of our communities so that they fit into the greater balance of the Lake ecosystem is exacerbated by unique demographic factors as well as the attractiveness of the Lake as a tourist destination. \nThe profit sector of modern mass culture has loaded the Lake environment with products to promote material progress without considering the serious side effects. The indigenous communities that inhabit the Lake\, and the outsiders who increasingly call it home\, are just beginning to appreciate the consequences. \nWith the alarm having sounded\, today there are many organizational actors which play active roles in preserving the Lake as a healthy\, living entity. These include international\, national and local environmentally-focused groups directly engaged in the dynamics of protecting the Lake ecosystem. Still\, there is a good deal of “catching up” to do\, and the Utz’ K’aslimaal Collective is one of these actors joining the effort to design ecological forms of livelihood that respect the natural limitations and boundaries of the land itself. \nThe Infrastructure You´re Helping to Build \nOn a pragmatic level\, the Utz´ K´aslimaal Collective seeks to demonstrate a tangible example of sustainable living\, ecological land design\, and natural construction. All of the structures built on the land are made from locally available\, natural materials. In the long term\, we hope to build a center to launch a diverse array of educational programs that allow Western people to learn from indigenous people\, engage in exchanges of mutual solidarity\, and offer a new standard of tourism that involves and values the local community\, culture\, and environment. \nCommunity Involvement \nAs an organization that seeks to belong to and participate in the life of the community that has accepted us\, this workshop will also open spaces for local Tz´utujil youth to learn about natural construction techniques. The migration of young people to North American is a huge issue affecting the local community. Many young people choose to migrate in order to raise money to build a modern home of their own which can be prohibitively expensive. Through helping young people to discover the vernacular\, beautiful and natural methods of construction\, we also hope to add a small contribution towards helping young Tz´utujil people stay in their communities. \nThe issue of violence in Guatemala\, emphasizing the contrasting peace and security in Santiago Atitlan \nGuatemala has gained international notoriety as a country reeling with violence from youth gangs and drug trafficking.  However\, the vast majority of this violence is confined to the urban areas of the country.  The town of Santiago Atitlan\, where the workshop will be held\, is a quiet\, peaceful town where violence of any type is a rarity.  Workshop participants will be picked up directly from the airport and driven (by van) to the small town of Santiago which is about 3 hours west of Guatemala City. \nNatural Building Techniques to be Taught \n\nRubble Trench and Stone Stem wall: Instead of relying on concrete footers\, we will explore how you can build a strong\, reliable foundation for your home that offers both structural and drainage functions with nothing but natural materials.\nWattle and Daub: This simple wall construction technique uses a lattice of wood that is then filled in and plastered with earthen materials. It is among the most anti-seismic building materials known.\nEarthbag: Filling polypropylene sacks with stabilized earth allows you to build massive\, thick\, and sturdy walls for your home. We´ll be building a fence out of earthbags during this workshop.\nCob: A mixture of sand\, clay and straw allows you to build the walls to your home that can then be sculpted into any design that you choose. The thick walls also function as a thermal mass to effectively heat your home.\nNatural Plasters: A naturally built structure is nothing but a mud hut until you add the finishing touches of a natural\, earthen or lime-based plaster which turns your mud hut into an earthen home.\nRocket Mass Heater: This is one of the most energy efficient ways to heat a home\, and uses a cob bench as a thermal mass that will hold in and radiate the heat during long\, cold nights.\n\nEach day of the workshop will offer a mix of classroom style conceptual/theoretical instruction in the mornings and several hours of practice with the different natural building methodologies that we´ll be using. We believe that natural building is best learned through “doing it.” Our days usually start with an hour or so of theory over breakfast before heading out to the construction site and getting our hands and feet dirty. \nWe will also have the opportunity to visit several naturally built structures around the Lake and process what we´ve been learning at the end of each day. Each participant will receive two e-books with information on the natural building methods that we´ll be covering and electronic copies of several leading books in the natural building niche. \nWorkshop Options \nOption 1 – Complete International (cost $700) \nThis option is directed to persons that are coming from abroad. We only have 12 spaces available\, so act now! It can be paid for through PayPal which is found on our website or Facebook page. It includes: \n\nTransport service between the Guatemala City airport and Santiago Atitlan.\nCommunity lodging in Santiago Atitlan’s famous lakeside hotel\, Posada de Santiago<http://www.posadadesantiago.com/lodging.php>\, which includes the use of its beautiful campus\, a jacuzzi\, heated pool\, bicycles\, and canoes/kayaks.\nSix (full) days of workshop.\nA day tour of the Lake\, in which you will travel by boat to different towns to see magnificent examples of the very natural building techniques you have been learning about and putting into practice.\nTwo meals a day (breakfast and lunch) and snacks throughout the day.\nNumerous activities that engage the rich local Tz’utujil culture and that invite you to experience the recreational possibilities of the surrounding environment.\nEducational materials\n\nOption 2 – Complete Lake Atitlan (cost $500) \nThis option is directed to persons that are coming from abroad that want to save a little bit of money by staying in a nice hostal with Wi-Fi\, hot water showers\, and access to the Lake. It can be paid for through PayPal and includes: \n\nTransport service between Antigua and Santiago Atitlan and vice versa.\nPrivate lodging in a clean and comfortable local hostel.\nTwo meals a day (breakfast and lunch) and snacks throughout the day.\nSix full days of workshop.\nA day tour of the lake\, in which you will travel by boat to different towns to enjoy their beauty and see magnificent examples of the very natural building techniques you have been learning about and putting into practice.\nDaily you will be provided with breakfast\, lunch\, dinner\, and refreshments.\nNumerous activities that engage the rich local Tz’utujil culture and that invite you to experience the recreational possibilities of the surrounding environment.\nEducational materials.\n\nOption 3 – Arrange Your Own Lodging (cost $450) \nThis option is directed to experienced travelers that would prefer to arrange their own lodging and get to Santiago Atitlan by themselves. It can be paid for through PayPal and includes: \n\nSix full days of workshop.\nA day tour of the lake\, in which you will travel by boat to different towns to enjoy their beauty and see magnificent examples of the very natural building techniques you have been learning about and putting into practice.\nTwo meals a day (breakfast and lunch) and snacks throughout the day.\nNumerous activities that engage the rich local Tz’utujil culture and that invite you to experience the recreational possibilities of the surrounding environment.\nEducational materials.\n\nFor more information visit: \n\nThe Utz’ K’aslimaal website www.utzkaslimaal.org or our facebook page: www.facebook.com/utzkaslimaal\n\nWhat Is the Utz’ K’aslimaal Collective? \nAlmost all indigenous cultures around the world have a unique understanding of what it means to live the Good Life. For the Mayan Tz´utujil people of Guatemala\, the Good Life\, or Utz´ K´aslimaal\, is characterized by a life of balance\, of proper relationships with the community and the land which holds them\, and the fullness of a simple life lived well. The Utz´ K´aslimaal Collective believes that the indigenous concept of the Good Life and the inimitable worldview of the Mayan peoples from Guatemala especially\, offers needed guidance\, wisdom\, and a practical path forward in the light of the multiple crises we collectively face on a global scale. Through our connections with the indigenous communities and territories around Guatemala\, and through the ecological development of a small piece of land in Santiago Atitlan\, we hope to offer a glimpse into how the Good Life might open pathways for the construction of sustainable\, just\, and balanced communities around the world. \nOur Story \nWe understand our privilege\, and don´t try to hide the fact that\, at the most basic level\, we are in some ways continuing a history of dispossession and violence towards the Mayan people of Guatemala. The piece of land where Utz´ K´aslimaal Collective is located was originally forcefully appropriated from the Tz´utujil people by a coffee baron at the turn of the 20th century. The land was then sold off to some of the wealthiest families in the country who privatized the land in hopes of turning the land into an exclusive country club for the oligarchy. \nToday\, thousands of foreigners come to the beautiful Lake Atitlan area and purchase the best pieces of land in order to create projects or businesses from the ample financial resources they have. In the vast majority of cases\, these privileged foreigners never make an effort to belong to the reality of the indigenous communities around the Lake\, but rather impose their values\, ideas\, worldview\, and financial influence onto communities that struggle to maintain some sense of autonomy and sovereignty. \nWe have seen time and time again that that the tendency for these types of local/non-local relationships is to be exploitive\, oppositional and ugly; offering meager employment opportunities at the cost of a more fundamental and structural dispossession of indigenous communities and their ancestral territories. \nOne of the guiding values of the Utz´ K´aslimaal Collective\, then\, is to purposefully and resolutely attempt to embody a new pattern and archetype of local/non-local relationships; one that first disgracefully acknowledges the historical privilege from which we´ve come in order to conscientiously construct relationships based on a profound respect and esteem for the community that has so graciously accepted us to form a part of their reality. \nAs we develop an educational program around the themes of natural building\, ecological design\, indigenous epistemologies\, and place-based development\, we want to exemplify a different model of local/non-local relationship that doesn’t just passively benefit the community via menial part-time employment and periodic bursts of income\, but actively seeks to create spaces for local decision-making\, voice\, profit-sharing\, and power. \nThis new model of local/non-local relationships is possible because of the way in which we have been formed over the years by indigenous communities and the real relationships that we have built. We don´t look at the indigenous communities of Guatemala and see Instead need\, privation\, and poverty. Rather\, we admire and respect their wisdom and way of life\, seek to learn from them\, and build meaningful relationships of trust and justice.
URL:https://cobworkshops.org/event/a-complete-introduction-to-ecological-building-techniques-cob-wattle-and-daub-earthbags-natural-plasters/
LOCATION:Bahia de Santiago\, Santiago Atitlan\, Bahia de Santiago\, Aldea Tzanchaj\, Santiago Atitlan\, Solola\, 503\, Guatemala
CATEGORIES:Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cobworkshops.org/wp-content/uploads/Natural-Building-Workshop-3.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Utz%C2%B4%20K%C2%B4aslimaal%20Collective":MAILTO:tobiasroberts20@hotmail.com
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