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Eco Update July 2002

We are now well into the middle of summer and 'Gan Bayit', as we still like to call it (Gan Bayit is our organic home garden at Eco-Kef Center for Creative Ecology) is looking incredibly green. The sun beats down but things carry on growing against all odds. This is the first year the garden looks this green at this time of year. A true miracle – sweet corn, tomatoes, mint, many types of flowers & herbs.

We owe lots of applause to Leah Zigmond, our head gardener who works half time in the organic garden and half time at the Yotvatah agriculture research station. She is continuing to amaze us with growing so much vegetables and the area looking so beautiful. We welcome Doron a new eco-volunteer who has started working with Leah and is already adding his unique touch. For example the sun dried tomatoes, onions and garlic.

Green Apprenticeship (3 month work/study program)

We have just finished the March Green Apprenticeship, during the 3 months we worked in many areas, studied and had lots of fun. This course had people from all over the world:

• Ido- Israel
• Jenny- U.S.A
• Jonathan-Israel
• Madeleine- U.S.A
• Randy-Canada
• Ruth-Australia

We studied the fine art of mixing mud as you can see. We did major work on our sacred meeting place / space ‘the Papachanga”. For those who remember, the Papachanga was named and originally built by the 1997/8 Shnat Sherut group (young Israelis before their army service) with guidance from Noad. It’s a 4V icosa alternate dome (9.6 meter diameter) made from 250 date palm branches carefully cut, and shaped to the right dimensions.

After a few years of use, sand storms and the occasional rain, we've decided it was time for some repair and improvements. This included replastering the mud benches and fire pit. We also built a buffet table and wall enclosing the firewood from tires , junk and mud. At the very end, we've covered everything with our special secret sealing agent (old chip & falafel oil), this will help to waterproof the mud, strengthen it and generally protect it from the elements. The projects where we have used this method before have indeed passed the test of time.

We also built the Mamachanga from scratch. Created in the small organic fruit orchard next to the goats, we started off with a tyre filled with earth foundation, continued with straw bale walls, and a geodesic dome roof with date-palm branches for shade. We are hoping this is the first in a series of prototypes to find a simple quick housing solution that is ecologically appropriate.

Our work in the summer months now is catching up on general upkeep, shade structures, cleaning the garden, turning compost, and already sowing seeds for the coming season. More updates & pictures will be coming soon, have a great summer & hoping to see you soon.

Yours,

Mike Kaplin
lotan-ecoprojects@lotan.ardom.co.il
Kibbutz Lotan Eco-projects.

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Contact Lotan Center for Creative Ecology

Mark Naveh
lotan-ecocenter@ardom.ardom.co.il
Tel: +972 8 6356811; +972 8 6356935; +972 54 9799033
Toll free (while in Israel): 1800 2000 75