Mama Roja: A Sustainable Living Center

Internship in Sustainable Living and Natural Building

2012-01-31T01:59:00.000-08:00

Sustainable Living And Natural Building INTERNSHIP
Course Dates:
September 12- Novemeber 30, 2012

(Applicants can request a shorter time stay --minimum one month-- although priority will be given to full-term applicants.)

Internship Overview:

Mama Roja is offering an in-depth internship program to individuals interested in getting hands-on experience in the different aspects of Sustainable Living: organic gardening, renewable energy installations, natural food production, earthen and natural building, seed saving, and community living. Participants will have the opportunity for personal growth through shared learning and responsibility for providing for ones basic needs. The internship consists of full days of learning, problem-solving, discussing, and exploring in a positive working environment of like-minding people. The program also provides opportunity to have ample breaks, swim in the waterfall and rivers, practice yoga and meditation, and eat delicious foods.

Topics of Focus:

Natural Building: We will be constructing an Earthen building with our hands and feet! We will explore and play with various natural building techniques: bamboo, wood, earth, including adobe bricks, cob, and wattle-and-daub. We will cover foundation, design principles, wall construction, plaster and natural painting, roofing, and creative use of site-found and salvaged materials.

Organic Gardening: We will be making garden beds, composting, amending the soil, planting and transplanting. Other topics we will explore: seed saving, companion planting, natural pesticides, and more.

Extended Sustainable Workshops: Jarring and preserving, Fermentation (yogurt, kefir, cheeses, wine, Kombucha, etc), Cultivation of micro-organisms for health and garden, Alternative Refrigeration, “Appropriate Technologies,” Reforestation, Chicken Care, and Herbal Medicine Making.
There will also be plenty of space to explore projects of personal interest and intrigue, and for practicing yoga, meditation, massage, medicinal plant searches, nature hikes, waterfall and river swimming.

Course Details and Information:

General Schedule:

· Work Days: 5 days per week, morning and afternoon sessions, with an extended break in the middle of the day for lunch and siesta.

· There will be regular days off, group field trips, and a 5-day break in the middle of the course

· There will be an optional extended stay after the course for those interested in joining the community for longer participation.

Meals: We have a community kitchen where we all share in the meal preparations and clean-up. We provide 3 healthy and delicious vegetarian meals daily with fruits and veggies from our garden and other local farms.

Site, Lodging and Facilities: Mama Roja is located in a beautiful sub-tropical forest with many rivers and waterfalls. The center is on 78 acres in a quiet rural area within walking distance to a local bus to take you to the nearby town which has many amenities (internet, restaurants, bakeries, pharmacies, etc.)

Housing and Camping:

· There are shared earthen cabins available on a first-come basis. Cabin accommodation must be requested and reserved in advance.

· There is lots of space for camping around the property and in sites tucked into the forest. You will need to bring a tent, bedding, and other gear to make yourself comfortable.

Community Spaces and Amenities:

· We take our meals, have meetings and discussions, and watch films in our community kitchen and patio area.

· There is a community bathhouse with a shower and composting toilets.

· Washing clothes: There is now a bike-pedal powered laundry machine on-site. Also, you can hand-wash in the rivers, and there are drop-off laundry services in town.

· We have a Living Library with books on sustainability, natural and Earthen building, organic gardening, history, fiction, meditation, yoga, natural health and healing, etc. (Book donations are always welcome and appreciated!)

Course Language: English and Spanish

Tuition Contribution*:(in US dollars) $1800

A deposit will be due upon confirmation to reserve and hold your spot. The remainder should be paid upon arrival.

* Arrangements can be made for participants from Argentina or other developing countries, or for those with financial need.

How to apply:

Considering the length and intensity of this program we would like to know more about you and make sure that you understand the nature of the program. There are no prerequisites to participation, but we want to make sure what we offer fits your needs.

Write a short letter introducing yourself, answering the following questions:

1) General information: What is your age, sex (if not obvious by your name), how do you occupy your time (work, school, etc.), and where do you live?

2) What experience do you have with building, gardening/farming and alternative energy systems?

3) Why do you want to participate in a sustainable living and natural building program?

4) How do you hope to integrate the experience/learning into your life?

5) Describe your experience living and/or working in a small community.

6) Do you have any emotional or health difficulties that are effecting your life now?

7) What months are you applying for and what is your preferred accommodation?

Please send your letter and any questions you may have to kimberly@mamaroja.org or mama.roja@yahoo.com.

The size of the program is limited to ensure that everyone can accomplish their individual learning needs. Participants will be accepted on a rolling basis, with priority given to long term stays. Applications will be accepted until the program fills or a waiting list begins. Please wait for acceptance before making travel arrangements.

For more information or questions, contact us at kimberly@mamaroja.org or mama.roja@yahoo.com.

January Snapshots

2012-01-30T09:58:00.000-08:00

Some images of our summer coming along swimmingly...

The garden is tomato-tacular!! So many varieties fruiting us up with deliciousness.
Zapallito (round zucchini) blossoms in the morning.

Have I mentioned how gourd-eous the garden is?
What to do with all those cucmubers? Pickle extravaganza!
And grape jam jamboree!
Ah, sweet river of heavenly delight...

... a salvation from the jungle summer heat...
The solar power system is one of our main attractions...Friend or foe? In the eye of the beholder...

We have the stem wall prepped for the next step in the mud house on the hill... It is all coming together!Surprises everywhere.

The Glories of Roofing

2011-12-26T13:47:00.000-08:00

And so the roof goes up! The adobe house on the hill is now topped with a glorious and beautiful sombrero, put up with sweat and love!
Up, up, and up...

Outside west-facing patio. What great wood-work!!
Looking toward the future library-kitchen and bathroom.
Go team techo! These roof-monkeys were a real asset on those hard to reach edges.

Looking down from the roof into the bathroom. Bottle walls, niche, built-in shelves, bathtub hole... its got it all.
Tongue-and-groovin!
Still groovin-and-tonguing!

After the woodwork on the roof, we made an insulation layer of muddy straw.
Wood, a layer of plastic, then the mud-straw mix.
Roof with view!
A break in the wheel barrow, with Rambo soaking up the love.That's our roof!

Now the trapezoidal metal sheeting.

The future looks bright, but shaded!

Sustainable Living Internship: Natural Building and Renewable Energy

2011-12-15T19:59:00.000-08:00

Course Dates: February, March, April 2012

Interns can come for 1-3 months, starting on the first day of each month.
Minimum stay is 1 month.

Internship Overview:

Topics of Focus:

Natural Building: We will be constructing an Earthen building with our hands and feet! We will explore and play with various natural building techniques: bamboo, wood, earth, including adobe bricks, cob, and wattle-and-daub. We will cover foundation, design principles, wall construction, plaster and natural painting, roofing, and creative use of site-found and salvaged materials.

Organic Gardening: We will be making garden beds, composting, amending the soil, planting and transplanting. Other topics we will explore: seed saving, companion planting, natural pesticides, and more.

Micro-Hydroelectric Energy System Installation: we will be building a small micro-hydro system on one of our rivers to provide energy to our cabins and community spaces.

Extended Sustainable Ideas: Jarring and preserving, Fermentation (yogurt, kefir, cheeses, wine, Kombucha, etc), Cultivation of micro-organisms for health and garden, Alternative Refrigeration, “Appropriate Technologies,” Reforestation, Chicken Care, and Herbal Medicine Making. There will also be plenty of space to explore projects of personal interest and intrigue, and for practicing yoga, meditation, massage, medicinal plant searches, nature hikes, waterfall and river swimming.

Course Details and Information:

General Schedule:

· Work Days: 5 days per week, morning and afternoon sessions, with an extended break in the middle of the day for lunch and siesta.

· There will be regular days off, group field trips, and 3-5 day breaks at the end of each month.

· There will be an optional extended stay after the course for those interested in joining the community for longer participation.

Housing and Camping:

· There are shared earthen cabins available on a first-come basis. Cabin accommodation must be requested and reserved in advance. Priority given to long term interns.

· There is lots of space for camping around the property and in sites tucked into the forest. You will need to bring a tent, bedding, and other gear to make yourself comfortable.

Community Spaces and Amenities:

· We take our meals, have meetings and discussions, and watch films in our community kitchen and patio area.

· There is a community bathhouse with a shower and composting toilets.

· Washing clothes: There is now a bike-pedal powered laundry machine on-site. Also, you can hand-wash in the rivers, and there are drop-off laundry services in town.

· We have a small library with books on sustainability, natural and Earthen building, organic gardening, history, fiction, meditation, yoga, natural health and healing, etc. (Book donations are always welcome and appreciated!)

Course Language: English and Spanish

Tuition Contribution*:(all prices in US dollars)

Feb-Apr (3 months): $1900; Feb-Mar, or Mar-Apr (2 months):$1450; Feb, Mar, or Apr (1 month):$900