Nothing goes to waste is a phrase said quite a lot around the grounds of SEDS and as we have explored some of the surrounding areas it is not hard to see why.
The electricity at SEDS is powered by the grid in the area, however, it doesn't seem to kick-in until around midday with the farm being so remote. Therefore, on workdays (Monday-Saturday) electricity is powered by a generator. It is not unusual to go without power on a Sunday until the evening and it being our only day off provides a nice break from relying on electricity and we have taken to enjoying a book, crocheting or simply meditating/relaxing down by the pond.
The surrounding local communities have limited electricity too. It is something we take for granted in Australia, a couple of times we have mentioned to our friends here that our major cities leave their lights on in empty office buildings all night long as it makes the city look pretty at night….and have watched their jaws drop in shock that the Australian government allows this.
We have explored some of the local communities and I have been touched by the resilience of some of the families that live in tents in the middle of the desert, with no water pump or electricity for kilometers. The children still attend school despite their circumstances and learn to 'study by candlelight’ something that we have never experienced in Australia. The local government and SEDS have provided bore wells to be able to supply water to these areas. SEDS also has approval to fit 5000 bio-gas containers in the communities. We saw how large ditches were being dug to fit the large domes that create methane from a mixture of cow manure and water….this provides natural gas straight to the homes to fuel stove cookers. We were invited into one of the homes and drank coffee fueled by shit (so to speak). It was awesome!!
At SEDS our water is provided by a small tank that runs out on a daily basis as this area does not get much rain. It doesn’t take long for the many hands on deck to fill it up again. I have forgotten what a shower feels like for here we bath ourselves with a bucket. It saves so much water and there is nothing like pouring a small bucket of cold/warmish water over your head in the morning.The same bucket is used to hand wash our clothes. Claire and I have not quite worked out how we can live without toilet paper yet, however we have taken to burning our paper as a ritual to the distant drumming sounds from the nearby villages.
The farm has had some difficulty in maintaining a fruit and vegetable patch on the premises as large monkeys roam the rooftops searching for food, so food is purchased from the nearby markets or farms. Every little food scrap is kept to make compost or to feed the many animals who live at SEDS including 3 cows and 8 dogs…and so the cow manure is used for bio-gas that provides our meals. Everything is interconnected and nothing goes to waste.
SEDS fundamental aim is to empower the local communities to achieve sustainable livelihoods. SEDS provides a holistic approach to natural resource management that is based on the efficient use of limited land and water. Imagine the possibilities of what we could do in Australia if we applied this concept to every household and business!
The electricity at SEDS is powered by the grid in the area, however, it doesn't seem to kick-in until around midday with the farm being so remote. Therefore, on workdays (Monday-Saturday) electricity is powered by a generator. It is not unusual to go without power on a Sunday until the evening and it being our only day off provides a nice break from relying on electricity and we have taken to enjoying a book, crocheting or simply meditating/relaxing down by the pond.
The surrounding local communities have limited electricity too. It is something we take for granted in Australia, a couple of times we have mentioned to our friends here that our major cities leave their lights on in empty office buildings all night long as it makes the city look pretty at night….and have watched their jaws drop in shock that the Australian government allows this.
We have explored some of the local communities and I have been touched by the resilience of some of the families that live in tents in the middle of the desert, with no water pump or electricity for kilometers. The children still attend school despite their circumstances and learn to 'study by candlelight’ something that we have never experienced in Australia. The local government and SEDS have provided bore wells to be able to supply water to these areas. SEDS also has approval to fit 5000 bio-gas containers in the communities. We saw how large ditches were being dug to fit the large domes that create methane from a mixture of cow manure and water….this provides natural gas straight to the homes to fuel stove cookers. We were invited into one of the homes and drank coffee fueled by shit (so to speak). It was awesome!!
At SEDS our water is provided by a small tank that runs out on a daily basis as this area does not get much rain. It doesn’t take long for the many hands on deck to fill it up again. I have forgotten what a shower feels like for here we bath ourselves with a bucket. It saves so much water and there is nothing like pouring a small bucket of cold/warmish water over your head in the morning.The same bucket is used to hand wash our clothes. Claire and I have not quite worked out how we can live without toilet paper yet, however we have taken to burning our paper as a ritual to the distant drumming sounds from the nearby villages.
The farm has had some difficulty in maintaining a fruit and vegetable patch on the premises as large monkeys roam the rooftops searching for food, so food is purchased from the nearby markets or farms. Every little food scrap is kept to make compost or to feed the many animals who live at SEDS including 3 cows and 8 dogs…and so the cow manure is used for bio-gas that provides our meals. Everything is interconnected and nothing goes to waste.
SEDS fundamental aim is to empower the local communities to achieve sustainable livelihoods. SEDS provides a holistic approach to natural resource management that is based on the efficient use of limited land and water. Imagine the possibilities of what we could do in Australia if we applied this concept to every household and business!
Photo Courtesy: Natalie Owens
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