Earthrising Foundation Volunteer Camp for Baobab Home 2009
End September 2009 until Nov. 17, 2009, Bagamoyo Tanzania
by Elke Cole
4 volunteers from North America joined project leader Elke Cole for 6 weeks (1 person only 2 weeks) to participate in the construction of the home. After a short orientation period in Bagamoyo town (with 2 of the vol. only) we settled into our camp at the farm site. Here we were supported by the caretaker’s wife for food needs and the Baobab Team for all other needs.
The group set the following Intentions and goals:
-To help construct Ubuyu 1, the first home, at the farm site
-To conduct necessary repairs/ refinishing on natural building built early 2009 by Earthrising
-To explore and try permaculture practices at the farm site that will serve the homes in the future
As is typical in the country things don’t move as fast as we would like them to. While decisions were being made about the new building we set about re-finishing the cob building: the plasterers returned to apply a lime finish on the exterior and a clay plaster on the interior. Volunteers helped with interior plaster as well as setting decorative mosaics in all windowsills.
The interior was then finished with a natural paint made on location – mixed and applied by the volunteers.
finished interior
As a group we also developed the bug-screen system that we installed.
Abdul was hired to make the dutch-style door and weather shutters on the south-east windows. The building is now ready for occupation.
Ubuyu 1, the first home for Baobab children was designed earlier this year by Elke and drawings produced by volunteers in Canada. Some small adjustments and materials choices were made with Caito and Terri from Baobab in consultation with Elke and local builders.
The key elements are:
-Earthbag foundation with stabilized local soil using recycled cement bags.
-Stabilized compressed earth blocks for exterior walls
-Fired clay bricks made on site for interior walls
-Metal roofing
-Insulated ceiling with rice husks bagged in recycled cement bags.
-Interior clay plaster lime stabilized
-Rainwater collection system, with tanks set into holes that were dug to extract sand for the building
-Greywater system
-Composting toilet
-Natural Ventilation by orientation to the breeze and shaded porches
-Shower outside of living space giving less opportunity for mold growth.
Elke and volunteers began the process by laying out the site and leading the excavation work. Our Earthbag work was supported by the “Baobab guys” and took 7 days to complete.
makeshift leveling
laying earthbags
Earthrising Foundation purchased a brick press to be used for the future buildings. We tested different mixes and settled for a ratio of 6-6-1 claysoil/sand/cement, which represents significant reduction in cement use compared to conventional blocks, but delivers a material that is stable to wind-driven rain. We expect to not need to apply any further finishing to the exterior of the building
A local brick-making team was hired and volunteers and Baobab guys helped by screening clay and sand, and stacking blocks.
During our final week we decided to build a cook stove for our cook who complained about suffering from the smoke from her small cooking fire. Using her experience with rocket stoves, cob ovens and masonry heaters, Elke created a design and we used a combination of rice husk/mud bricks, fired bricks, and cob to build the stove. It allows the cook to use wood in one part and charcoal in another, and includes an insulated compartment for keeping things hot.
Elke building the stove
Mos uses her new stove
Besides our involvement in the construction effort we made yogurt from the fresh milk of the farm cow, successfully produced sprouts, fermented fruit peels, built an outdoor shower and women’s urinal. Our volunteers helped with other farm activities like milking, harvesting, and even firefighting. The neighborhood children came for English lessons and games.
The Earthrising team took a short trip to Lushoto in the Usambara mountains, a days trip north. There, with the help of a local guide, we hiked through rainforest, farmland, and out to viewpoints with stunning vistas of the surrounding mountains and plains. We enjoyed the change in climate- Lushoto is much cooler than the coast- and seeing another part of Tanzania gave new perspective to our location.
Another fieldtrip took us to Makombusho- the village museum in Dar Es Salaam that gives insight into the many building techniques used by the different tribes in Tanzania.
On an as need basis we spent time in Bagamoyo town: to access the internet, buy supplies, have time off with the comfort of a hotel room and to connect with friends. All of us were always glad to return to the farm, which clearly was home away from home.
We are all grateful for the hospitality and the opportunities we experienced.
