Eco-Technologies

Using Eco-Technologies

The Organic Village plans to sustain it´s energy and related resources through eco-technologies based upon the natural connection with and practical observation of the surrounding environment. The following are some examples of environmental engineering combined with applied eco-technologies which are either available at the Village (A) or planned for future (F):

• Solar heating of water (F) – Constructed with panels, the solar heater will permit energy savings of up to 70%. This system do not require maintenance and the costs will be paid off within 2 years.

• Rainwater harvesting (F) – Rainwater will be captured on the roofs of the buildings and houses. Once filtered the water will be stored for daily use for drinking and irrigation. Besides being cost free, some of the other advantages of rainwater are: 1) it provides a water source when groundwater is unavailable or polluted, 2) the zero hardness makes it preferable when cleaning appliances and clothing since no softeners are necessary, 3) it´s sodium free which is good for persons on sodium free diets.

• “Chimney” or stack effect (F) – Since heat rises, a well placed opening or ventilation at the top of the lodging on the roof will allow the heat to leave naturally, causing pressure below that will allow cooler air to enter from below.

• Wind effect (F) – The traditional solution in hot regions has been cross ventilation. The air, which is channeled through the open areas of the buildings and lodgings refreshes and provides a feeling of comfort.

• Heat insulation (F) – The area where most heat is accumulated is the roof. The thatched roof or “palapa” is a wonderful material for eliminating the accumulation of heat.

• Composting toilet (A) – They are effective biological converters of human and household “waste,” saving money and energy for the person and community. They start the regeneration of the Earth’s precious environment that is long overdue. To protect the underground water system from contamination we use a special drainage system which permits the recuperation of waste to be used as compost material.

• Photovoltaic cells (F) – A ‘solar cell’ or ‘photovoltaic cell’ is a device that converts sunlight directly into electricity by the ‘photovoltaic effect’. For the near future the Organic Village plans to use solar photovoltaic panels to produce energy for purposes of illumination and emergency and protection circuits.

• Earth banks (A) – Through the combination of organic waste, wood chips, algae, earthworms, etc., we are able to produce quality earth within 3 weeks.

Bio-Construction

Bio-construction – Homes and buildings which utilize available local resources for construction, having natural ventilation and relying on energy produced from sun, wind and rain. They´re generally “off the grid” constructions, minimizing their reliance on public utilities and fossil fuels. The intention is to have very little impact on the environment.

The homes are designed to exist in harmony with the environment and be freed from the constraints of modern shelters which rely on centralized utilities. It is important that the homes create its own utilities as well as use readily available and sustainable materials. In order to be entirely self sufficient the homes need to be able to handle the three systems of Water, Electricity and Climate.

At the Organic Village, the local materials used for construction include stone, earth, palm leaves and a limestone conglomerate. The roofs are being adapted for catching and using rainwater, reducing the need to bring in water from a centralized source. As water runs down the roof it will be channeled and collected into a cistern and distributed according to the needs of the constructions and different projects. At the present time there are plans for the installation of solar and wind systems.

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources-such as sunlight, wind and rain. Renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies are key to creating a clean energy future for not only the nation, but the world. By using renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies in the home, garden, automobile and on the farm, you’ll have less impact on the environment and typically save more money in the long run (i.e. utility bills).

The Organic Village, which follows the principles of permaculture is planning the use of the above natural resources to provide energy for the organic gardens, orchards, homes and other onsite constructions.

Organic Gardening

What is Organic Gardening?

Basically, organic gardening means not using synthetic products, including pesticides and fertilizers. Ideally, organic gardening replenishes the resources as it makes use of them. Like feeding depleted soil with composted plants, or planting legumes to add nitrogen to an area that had been planted with heavy feeder. The bigger picture involves working in cooperation with nature, viewing your garden as a small part of all the natural system.

One of the basic tenants of organic gardening is to “Feed the soil and the soil will feed the plants”. It’s really common sense. Plants get water, air and nutrients from the soil. Our soil which is sandy in nature, is well drained, but needs amending to make it great garden soil. This is where organic matter, from our composts, comes into play. Adding organic matter improves any soil’s texture as well as attracting soil organisms that create nutrients in the soil.

At the “Organic Village” which follows the principles of “Permaculture”, an important aspect is determining the selection of seeds to be sowed so that the harvested food can fulfill the
nutritional needs of our guests, the surrounding community as well as workers and volunteers who are participating in the the daily activities of the “Village”. The excess products can be sold or traded.

The “Organic Village Restaurant” (F): Will be created to offer guests and visitors the opportunity to enjoy home cooked meals elaborated principally with the produce of the organic gardens.

The “Organic Village Store” (F) Will offer guests and visitors organic products produced locally and nationally (i.e. foods, face and body creams, preserves and marmalades, soaps, etc.)

Sustainable Communities

A sustainable community is a community which is planned, built, or modified to promote sustainable living. It tends to focus on both environmental and economic sustainability. It´s a community that uses its resources to meet current needs while ensuring that adequate resources are available for future generations. It should not follow a “one size fits all” template but should be diverse while considering the local needs, availability of resources and circumstances in general.

The sustainable community should promote a positive and supportive social environment with a low-impact way of life that combines various aspects of ecological design, permaculture, ecological building, green production, alternative energy and community building. It should be receptive to new ideas and draw inspiration and practices from the best ways of living on the planet from both the past and the present. To aid in the establishment of other sustainable communities it should be a learning and living center that shows a way towards a brighter future for all.

What is Permaculture?

Permaculture Project

Introduction

1) In the Meso-American region there has been a progressive deterioration of the natural resources, characterized by: deforestation, contamination of water and soil, deterioration of watersheds, forest fires, extinction of species, loss of our germoplasms, increased presence of trans-nationals in the exploitation of natural resources, displacement of communities in the handling of protected areas, etc.

2) Because of it´s geographic location and the increment of the lack of climatic equilibrium the Meso-American region presents extreme conditions for the occurrence of natural phenomenoms. This situation, added to the vulnerable structural conditions that the communities face brings, as a consequence, recurrent disasters that cause severe damage to the already deteriorating social, environmental and economic conditions.

What is Permaculture?
Permaculture is a design system for creating sustainable human environments. On one level, it deals with plants, animals, buildings and infrastructures (water, energy, communications). However,  permaculture is not about these elements themselves, but rather about the  relationships we can create between them by the way we place them in the landscape.

The aim is to create systems that are ecologically sound and economically  viable, which provide for their own needs, do not exploit or pollute, and are therefore sustainable in the long run. Permaculture uses the inherent  qualities of plants and animals combined with the natural characteristics of landscapes and structures to produce a life supporting system for city and  country, using the smallest practical area. Permaculture creates a cultivated  ecology, which is designed to produce more human and animal food than is  generally found in nature.

Fukuoka, in his book The One Straw Revolution describes permaculture as a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless labor; and of looking at plants and animals in all their functions, rather than treating  elements as a single product system.

In permaculture, we embrace a threefold ethic: care of the earth, care of  people and dispersal of surplus time, money and materials towards these ends.