FINDING YOUR FEET SUNSEED DESERT PROJECT

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1 SUNSEED DESERT PROJECT FINDING YOUR FEET Welcome to Sunseed! This information is provided to help you find your way during your initial days at the project. We ve included details that will be useful to read when preparing for your journey as well as for during your stay. If you have any questions please contact any member of staff, or ask other volunteers for advice. A visit to Sunseed is a rewarding experience. We welcome your curiosity, enthusiasm and initiative and we feel confident you will find these qualities in our project. Be prepared to work hard at times but also to explore the landscape and find out about how to live more sustainably. There are many opportunities (and challenges!) to be enjoyed here and we hope you ll embrace at least some of the practical ideas and incorporate them into your home, neighbourhood and workplace. Be the change you want to see. The valley that we call home is beautiful the stars at night are amazing, the birdsong is a constant soundtrack, and the landscape is inspiring. The hints, tips and guidelines that we provide here are designed to help you make the most of your stay and for you to help us protect this precious environment. The vast majority of our visitors arrive through word of mouth recommendations from previous volunteers. We hope you ll join them in becoming an advocate for Sunseed and a greener way of life. For more information about becoming a Friend of Sunseed, please contact the EPF coordinator. Before setting off, we encourage you to skim through the full A Z but please pay particular attention to these sections: 4Climate 4Clothing 4Food 4Packing list4tetanus Sunseed Desert Project is the Spanish initiative of The Sunseed Trust (UK-registered charity no / No. reg. Assoc. Espana ) Sunseed s abbreviations AT = Alternative Technology DM = Drylands Management ECM = Eco-construction and maintenance EPF = Education, Publicity and Fundraising OG = Organic Growing SL = Sustainable Living A Accommodation: Sunseed volunteers stay in one of four original characteristic rural Spanish houses. This will usually be in a shared dorm, though dependent on availability other arrangements are available. All visitors share the general living spaces, a well-equipped kitchen and basic bathroom. Administration: Gina is our administrator; you will find her in the office (Mon Wed, 10am 4pm) to discuss any payment and admin-related issues. Arrival: After your arrival at Sunseed, please make sure you sign the Health and Safety form and give it back to the SL coordinator. You will receive a bed sheet, pillow and case. Take part in the general tour and the other special interest tours at Sunseed to understand more about the project. Artisan: There are several local artisans in Los Molinos who have musical instruments and other arts and crafts available for sale find out more from Pita Escuela, Jessie s soaps, and Debbi. B Bathroom/Toilet: There are two showers, with the main one located in the bathroom behind the main house (the water is solarheated check for the timing of hot water in the winter!); toilets (i.e. urinals) are located in that same bathroom. Also, there is a compost toilet (with separate tanks for urine and faeces) in Terrace I and Isabella s House. Both parts of our human waste are part of the closed cycle, i.e. returned to the gardens to boost soil fertility. Batteries: If you re bringing battery-operated items, please use only rechargeable batteries you can use our solar battery charger, although be aware that in the winter electricity may be restricted due to reduced solar power. Beds and bed sheets: You will have a bed in one of the dorms. A pillow and bed sheet will be provided (make sure you clean and return them to the SL coordinator the day you leave to regain your 5 deposit) but please bring your own sleeping bag. Bicycle-powered washing machine: 4See Laundry Bikes: Bikes are available for hire (daily or weekly fee). Please speak to the Organic Growing coordinator for more information on availability and rental conditions. We encourage you to bring your own clip-on bike lights (front and rear, with rechargeable batteries). Bread: This is baked at Sunseed two or three times a week using organic wheat flour and other grains (spelt, chickpea, rye), which are sourced from a farm in Murcía. You are welcome to help make bread please speak with the SL coordinator. C Car: If you are travelling by car there is space in the car park. However, we encourage you to think of a more environmentally friendly way to travel to and from Sunseed. Public transport in Spain is cheap and accessible. For more info and ideas, see Travel information or get in touch with us! 8 sunseedspain@arrakis.es ( (+34) * Sunseed, Apdo. 9, Sorbas, Almería, Spain

2 Climate: In summer (mid April to end of September) it s very hot and dry especially June, July and August. You will be working outside, sometimes in direct sunlight, though we do have a siesta during the hottest part of the day. Our spring, autumn and winter (October to April) are generally like a British summer, though night-time temperatures in winter are low, and occasionally below freezing. The coldest period is usually December, January and February although it s still warm during the day in direct sunlight, the temperature can drop suddenly after nightfall. Expect some rain, sometimes very heavy, during these seasons. 4See also Clothing and Cosmetics Clothing: Whatever the time of year, you will need to bring strong boots or shoes and durable gloves for safe outdoor working otherwise you will not be able to work in certain departments. We have plenty of gloves to borrow, and some boots, but they may not be in your size. In addition, during summer (mid April to end of September) you ll also need:»» long-sleeved light-weight shirts and light clothing»» high-factor eco-friendly»» eco-insect repellent sunscreen»» light sleeping bag»» sunglasses and sun hat or sheets In spring, autumn and winter (October to April) you ll also need:»» waterproofs boots and clothing»» warm clothing and layers for warmth (hat, gloves, jumpers, warm coat, etc)»» very warm sleeping bag or duvet Coffee: Sunseed count this as a luxury and provide one cup of fair trade coffee per person daily. If you would like to buy your own coffee through our shop, please contact the SL coordinator. Communal Working Day: The Sunseed community all work together one day a week (usually Wednesday) towards a special project that is selected by the coordinators. Working together is a central part of what it means to be at Sunseed. Refer to the weekly agenda board for the week s activity. Community: Life at Sunseed is based on community. Regardless of the length of stay, all visitors and staff take their turn in a rota of household chores to ensure the smooth running of our project. From cooking to cleaning, it s a shared effort from which everyone reaps rewards. Please look out for yourself and others, offering to lend a hand where and when it might help. We want to ensure a harmonic and balanced life for everyone staying at Sunseed. Please be aware of and respect other people s needs. See also 4Quiet time Compost and compost toilets: Compost is a base essential of good soil. As vegetables and fruits grow they take nutrients from the soil, and kitchen, garden and humanure compost is the best way to replace those lost nutrients and create healthy, fertile soil. Compost benefits the soil and the environment by increasing microbial activity; building sound root structures; attracting and feeding earthworms; balancing soil ph; improving the nutritional content of food; and of course by reducing waste and a reliance on chemical fertilisers...and the list goes on. At Sunseed we compost all organic waste as well as using the compost toilets to ensure a closed cycle of food4digestion4faeces4compost4fertilization. Cooking: Everyone visiting Sunseed will lend a hand with cooking communal vegetarian meals at some point during their stay. Whenever possible, please make use of the solar cookers (to save on resources) and the hayboxes (to keep things warm). If you are less confident in your existing cooking skills or feel wary of catering for a large group, don t worry ask for help or advice from someone who has more experience to share. 4See also Food / Kitchen / Vegetarian Cosmetics: No toxic or chemical ingredients must enter Sunseed s reed bed wastewater system this water is filtered and returned to the river and we must protect the local environment. Please make sure that any product you bring is listed as being eco-friendly, as well as ethical and not tested on animals. This also applies to any toothpaste, body lotion, sun lotion, etc as that will likely wash off when you re taking a shower or swimming in the river. We have eco-friendly products in our shop if you need to buy them while here. 4See also Sun Courses: We offer a programme of courses on different subjects please check the website or the list on the living room noticeboard, or check with the EPF coordinator. D Departments: The work of Sunseed is split into six departments: Appropriate Technology; Dryland Management; Eco-Construction and Maintenance; Eduction, Publicity and Fundraising; Organic Growing; and Sustainable Living. Each department has a coordinator who will inform you about her/his projects. Feel free to ask and get involved! Drinking water: This is a precious resource that we collect from a natural spring in a village 12km from Sunseed. Water is stored in the large white containers under the kitchen shelving and freely available to help yourself from the brown tapped barrel on top of the kitchen work surface. Please make sure you drink enough water, especially in the summer. 4See also Grey water / Water Duration of your stay: Please let the Administrator know how long you will stay at Sunseed this helps us plan our activities. 4See also Administrator E Eco-balance / Ecological footprint: Due to the immense carbon emissions that flights and car travel contribute to climate change, we encourage you to choose public means of transportation that have less environmental impact. For advice on carbon emissions see: 4See also Reduce, recycle, re-use / Travel / Vegetarian Energy: Our electricity is supplied by the sun and wind supply can be limited, especially in the winter and on cloudy days. Check the battery status on the digital box in the living room or ask any staff member. Charge batteries, mobiles, etc in Gaye s House. Try to reduce energy use at all times turn off lights, unplug chargers, switch off the internet when not in use.

3 Expertise: If you have a special field of expertise that might be of interest and use to Sunseed, please let us know! There is an Open Space every week, and you are welcome to offer anything you want to share with the wider community. 4See also Open Space F First aid: The First Aid box is located in the living room / main house. Medication (herbs and pharmaceuticals) is kept separately contact any member of staff if you need anything. If you are in the field, you are encouraged to take a small first aid kit with you. Always be aware of safe working habits and pay attention to any instructions you are given re tools or general safety. Prevention is better than cure for example, in the summer months you should ensure you drink sufficient water, cover up and apply eco-friendly sun protection and insect repellent. 4See also Health and Safety Fire procedure: On arrival at Sunseed please read the fire procedure available in each room. The meeting point is in the carpark if you hear the continuous gong please proceed there as quickly as possible. Be aware that during May to November there is very low rainfall and therefore a high fire risk, especially in the drylands. No fires are allowed in the entire region during this period. 4See also Smoking Food: During your stay food is provided by Sunseed. This includes breakfast, a morning break, lunch and dinner on working days. On weekends, breakfast and lunch are provided on Saturdays, and dinner on Sunday. Other meals (and meals on Bank Holidays) are not provided but do it yourself, with Sunseed providing the ingredients often people choose to cook together but help yourself to food. Our Food Policy see page 6 is displayed in the living room and kitchen. You are encouraged to read it and apply it to your own diet as well as when you are cooking or shopping for Sunseed. As a vegetarian/vegan project, we do not eat meat or fish or accept them on site. We also minimize the consumption of dairy products; we use free-range eggs only (both once a week). If you have any special requirements/allergies please let us know by writing it on the chalkboard in the kitchen please observe other people s requirements when cooking. The board also lists the main garden produce currently available please prioritize including these and wild foods in your meals. You may want to supplement your diet with food you purchase yourself please respect the food policy and do not bring fish/meat or products from multinationals like Unilever, Nestle or Coca-Cola. No food should be stored in your room there s space in the food store to store your personal supplies. If you would like to donate any food this would be appreciated. Welcome contributions (in minimal packaging please) include:»» Any local foods»» Mustard, herbs and spices»» Any fair-trade goods»» Barley cup / herb teas (especially organic) e.g.»» Seeds e.g. mustard chocolate, cocoa powder or poppy seeds»» Creamed coconut»» Soy sauce»» Nuts and dried fruit»» Pectin 4See also Cooking / Kitchen / Vegetarian Fundraising: As a non-profit organization, we rely on the contributions of our volunteers and we welcome any donation or fundraised money. If you have ideas about how to raise funds, please talk to the EPF coordinator. Muchas gracias! G Gardens and gardening: Sunseed has gardens in Los Molinos and the surroundings from which you re welcome to use produce that is ready (some of these will be highlighted by pick/eat me signs). Please respect other villagers gardens and properties, i.e. do not pick fruits/vegetables in gardens that are not Sunseed s. Ask the OG coordinator if you are not sure. Greywater system: Greywater is the waste generated from domestic activities such as laundry, dishwashing, and bathing. At Sunseed we recycle this on-site by filtering it through reed beds so that it can be returned safely to the river. 4See also Cosmetics / Reduce, recycle, re-use / Water H Haybox: These are very straightforward and energy efficient, using the principle of insulation to maintain the temperature of whatever you put inside. Any food with a high liquid content will cook well in a haybox bring it to a boil on the hob, and with a lid on place it into the haybox for approximately one and a half times the period that it would take to cook on the hob. Try it! Health and safety: These are important issues, both in and outdoors and whether working or in your own time. Your own health and the general health of our community are vital please look out for yourself and others. On arrival you will be asked to read our Health and Safety policy. If you have any related issue, contact the Project Manager (H&S coordinator). 4See also First Aid / Fire procedure Household: Before starting work at Sunseed, please make sure that you ve read the following documents: Food policy (in the living room and kitchen) Shared household duties guidance (in the kitchen) Fire alarm procedure and general introduction (in or on the door of your room) I Insurance: Before setting off for Sunseed make sure that you ve obtained a European Health Card or equivalent (available from post offices in the UK) or medical insurance for non-eu citizens. Internet: Availability depends on solar power. Office and research work takes priority. Out of office hours it can be used for checking personal s but not for down/uploading files or accessing sites such as Facebook, YouTube or Twitter. This is because the satellite running costs are very high and we have only limited bandwidth. Please only use it for your s if you really need to, after checking that there is sufficient battery power and that the monthly usage limit hasn t already been reached. In return we ask for a donation towards running costs. There is plenty of internet access in Sorbas. Guadalinfo (open ) is a public space with PCs and free internet access. There are also other places where you can pay to use internet and some cafes have WiFi (like Caymar and El Suave).

4 J Job allocation: Every morning after breakfast coordinators will highlight what they ll be working on during the day and volunteers can choose what they d prefer to help with. K Kachelofen: This is a thermal mass stove, which is a highly efficient way of heating water and rooms. They are different from normal stoves wood is burnt to heat up the thermal mass of the masonry that surrounds the firebox, rather than the air around the stove, to create convection currents and give off radiant heat. In winter we can also use the stove s embers to cook. Kitchen: This is at the heart of Sunseed a place to challenge yourself with creative cookery and conversation. Please keep it tidy and wash up after yourself. Use solar-heated water for boiling and washing. Use the haybox and solar cookers to minimise use of gas! 4See also Cooking / Food L Language: Due to its international nature, the operational language of our project is English. We welcome volunteers from many European countries and beyond, which means there is generally plenty of opportunity to also practice your French, Spanish, German, Italian etc. We offer Spanish lessons to improve these skills you could also talk with friendly locals in Los Molinos or help out with the weekly shopping trip to Sorbas. Our library has books available in several different languages. We welcome those interested in learning or practising other languages, and sharing your knowledge with others. Laundry: Clothes washing can be done in the black/white barrels with detergente lavadora (found under the sink in the kitchen), or on the bike-powered washing machine behind the main house. For instructions, please ask the SL coordinator. Library / Literature: Sunseed has several small libraries which we encourage you to borrow from and add to. In the main house there are books on ecology, permaculture, dryland management, etc. On the second floor in Gaye s House are fiction, magazines, language books, etc. For books on Los Molinos or special interest literature, please ask any staff member. There are also documents, reports and research papers available for the different departments/projects. M Maps: Local hand-drawn maps (Sunseed/Los Molinos, and Tourist map) are displayed in the living room. Contact any member of staff if you re interested in other maps. Music: Music and socializing are welcome at Sunseed, but night quiet time starts at 11pm. On Tuesdays there is an open Jam Session at the Pita Escuela, a nearby neighbour project. N Nature: Sunseed is located in the valley of Rio de Aguas. This Paraje Natural is rich in natural assets and attracts students of geology, earth sciences and geography, as well as botanists interested in the many plants which are unique to it. The natural vegetation is typically Mediterranean: thyme, sage, saltbush and ground scrub, with scarce trees such as olive and carob. There are also many pita (agave) and chumba (cactus), introduced to Spain from Mexico. It is an environment that inspires locals and visitors alike. Please help us protect it by keeping it clean and undisturbed. See also 4Smoking / Wildlife O Open space: Every week there is time set aside to offer something unique, special, funny, interesting something you want to share with others. Also, if you have space in your packing, we very much like DVDs of new or old films preferably Spanish, documentary or cultural! Plus fun games or other things you might like to contribute. P Packing list: This is not exhaustive but you should definitely make sure you include:»» Passport or ID card»» Travel insurance, European Health Card (if an EU citizen) or personal health insurance details»» Weather-wise clothes»» Drinking water bottle»» A torch»» Rechargeable batteries»» Eco-friendly soaps, shampoos and cosmetics»» Sleeping bag, or bed sheets and duvet, and pillow case we can provide these but you may prefer your own»» An open enquiring mind! See also 4Batteries / Clothing / Cosmetics / Insurance Post: Sunseed s post is collected from and dropped off at the Correos (Post Office) in Sorbas once a week, usually on a Tuesday. The Correos is open Mon Fri 8:30 14:30; Sat 9:00 13:00. Project manager: The Project Manager is responsible for the Sunseed project in Spain on behalf of a Board of Trustees the Sunseed Trust. To assist the Project Manager, six coordinators are appointed to run the different departments. Coordinators are often supported by technical assistants who come to Sunseed for about three months to contribute their ideas and learn more about becoming future coordinators. Q Quiet time: 11pm is quiet time, i.e. no noise/music in the housing areas. Please consider that others in Sunseed and the local community may be asleep and/or have an early start the next day. R Reduce, recycle and reclaim, re-use: Sunseed re-use or recycle most of our rubbish, and all our organic waste goes back into the soil as compost or into composting toilets. Please help protect our environment by not bringing (or buying in the

5 first place!) products that contain harmful ingredients, are over-packaged or designed to be disposable. Think green! See also 4Batteries / Cosmetics / Greywater Rooms: Please make sure your room is clean and tidy if you stay in a shared bedroom/dormitory arrange a proper clean up at least once a week. No food should be kept in the bedrooms. Feel free to decorate your space with local natural materials check first with SL if you would like to do any big projects. S Scalopendra: This is the only dangerous/poisonous insect that might be found in the area. Please read the infosheet in the living room, which includes a picture. Seminars: Sunseed coordinators offer one seminar per week. Please join in and take advantage of this learning opportunity. Shopping: Sunseed does basic food shopping once a week talk to the SL coordinator if you have any/special requirements. Smoking: There is a designated smoking area near to the main house (in the public space beneath the olive tree before the steps down to the gardens) but other than that Sunseed does not allow smoking on its property. Please do not smoke in the drylands. Sorbas: The nearest town to Sunseed Sorbas, 5km is accessible by walking (1,5hrs) or bike (30min); there are shops, bars, a church, supermarkets, sports complex, petrol station, hairdresser, hardware shop, hospital, doctors, ceramic shops, etc. There is also a tourism office (closed Nov Feb) and a Visitor Centre for the Sorbas caves. For more information try / See also 4Post Sports: Apart from swimming in the river pools, many outside activities are possible in Los Molinos, i.e. hiking, biking, etc. Sun: Show the summer sun some respect wear adequate sun protection (choose an ethical eco-friendly product like Yaoh yaoh.co.uk), cover up exposed skin, wear a hat and sunglasses, and drink plenty of water. Sunseed s working hours incorporate a summertime siesta to avoid the hottest hours of the day. See also 4Climate / Clothing T Taxi: The local Sorbas taxi number is Telephone: You can pay to use the phone in Sunseed s office contact staff for details. Sunseed has good mobile coverage but battery charging is likely to be restricted on days with less sunshine. Tourism: Andalucía is renowned for tourism and this is very important for the local economy. If you are interested in tourism and nearby rural tourism projects, contact the SL coordinator. Nearby tourist attractions are the Cuevas de Sorbas. Information is available from Oficina de Turismo in Sorbas (10:30 14:00, Mon Fri) or the Visitor Centre at the Caves (2km from Sorbas). Travel: When arranging your travel remember that, in view of the environmental aims of this project, there is a 10% discount for those travelling by public transport. For more info about or options see the separate document Travel information. U Urinals: The urinals (for women and men) are located behind the main house in the same building as the solar-heated shower. After use, please flush the toilet with a small amount of water and spray some refreshener. V Vegetarian: Millions of people around the world live without meat or fish. Here at Sunseed we eat a vegetarian diet with limited dairy products some people choose to be vegan and also bypass animal products like milk, eggs and honey. These are positive choices for a variety of reasons, namely because a balanced vegetarian diet is one of the healthiest options around, it s more sustainable growing grains and pulses to feed animals is much less efficient than eating them ourselves and it s also better for animals. A vegetarian diet can also be one of the cheapest ways to eat well. For more information about going and staying vegetarian, visit 4See also Food Visitors: are welcome at Sunseed with advance notice. If you want to invite a visitor, please talk to the SL coordinator. W Walking: There are several local marked walking routes please see the maps in the living room for more information or ask any coordinator. Walking is safe, however for longer trips please inform a coordinator when you re leaving the project and consider taking a small first aid kit with you just in case! Waste: Minimizing waste is an important issue and at Sunseed we try to reuse and recycle things rather than throwing them in the waste bin. Make sure that you correctly separate your waste (main bins are in front of the shower/urinals). See also 4 Reduce, recycle, re-use Water: Andalucía is the most arid region in Europe a semi-desert area with sparse vegetation and even sparser water. Where there is water, its use for irrigation has only been made possible by channelling it through or around difficult, rocky terrain with great ingenuity. The Rio de Aguas is one of the few all year running water sources in all Andalucía. Please preserve this precious resource and protect the river and its surroundings. Sunseed uses river water for showers and washing. Be careful to turn off taps and only use what you really need. We also collect rainwater which we drink in summer when there s enough solar power to filter it. See also 4 Drinking water / Grey water Wild pigs: They are around the area and love our garden produce! Please make sure that the gates are properly closed at all times! Working hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 13:30 and 14:30 17:00 (winter); 8:00 13:30 and 17:00 20:30 (summer). Y Youth: We welcome children on the project, although those under 16 must come with an adult, and year olds must provide their parent or guardian s consent and a reference about their maturity. The guardians of children remain responsible for their safety and actions at all times.

6 SunSeed Food Policy Update November 11, 2010 As a general rule of our semi-vegan food policy, we do not eat meat or fish. We also minimize the consumption of dairy products; we use free range eggs only. We aim to... provide a healthy and nutritious diet food should taste good as well as be good for you grow our own fresh, organic produce without use of agro-chemicals enhance the production of seasonal home grown vegetables, enjoy each one at its own time encourage people to enjoy and appreciate the pleasure of eating food grown and picked with our own hands foraging wild food and using and promoting it for our daily diet demonstrate and enhance food preservation as a way to enjoy out of season produce s energy avoid producing waste; we re-use and recycle as much as possible actively compost all remains to complete the food cycle maximize the use of solar cookers, hay box and other appropriate technology when preparing foods in order to reduce our consumption of (conventional) energy use up leftovers to avoid wasting food; be open to experiment, explore and enjoy preparing food minimize or avoid processed food in general, especially food with significant amounts of additives, chemical preservatives, or huge ecological impact avoid buying food from companies whose production exploits the planet, its inhabitants and ecosystems (for instance NESTLÈ, UNILEVER etc.) prioritize buying local organic and/or fair trade products where possible We encourage e people to take all these ideas with them when they leave SunSeed and implement these practices and policies into their daily lives.