ECO-SOLUTIONS:
Here are many natural efforts we are doing to help our ecology and environmental health:
Taliesin – The Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture Partnership
Katelyn Hudson, Taliesin Uganda Project Manager, came to our village in June 2008 to help us understand the vision of her school’s founder, Frank Lloyd Wright, and why his vision will help our campus become a sustainable, ecological model. Wright’s philosophy is called “organic” and his architecture uses locally available building materials, increases safety through good design applications, and pays close attention to the human uses of buildings so that a synergy flows into the final building and landscape creation. His philosophy is very important to our agrarian lifestyle, and will help us to learn helpful natural steps we can take to eradicate our poverty, improve our water and food resources during climate changes, and appreciate the fact that people all over the world will want to come see the campus as a model of ecological success. We welcome the Taliesin model which includes solar power, natural water catchment processes and enhanced environmental stewardship we want to regain as we try to complete the Five Year Plan for our future 30-acre campus.
Hudson and Kawuzi, Workshop for Construction Owners
& Village Leaders, June 2008
Hudson has a vision of the Nawantale Mountain Conference Center and Habitat which will be the highlight of our campus. The Conference Center will be a training location for global businesses, healthcare conferences, future Taliesin students, and ecologically-minded visitors upon completion. We will welcome you to come see the Taliesin vision here in Nawantale, Uganda, and your attendance here will help us sustain our campus and eradicate poverty through our employment and management of the Conference Center, guest Habitat complex, and culinary School and Restaurant. We would like your help in making this vision possible.
Hudson and Workshop Attendees locate Sites for High School,
Health Education, and Library, June 2008
Living Fences
We are happy to learn that our practice of laying dried branches atop growing Lantana bushes creates a natural barrier called “living fences” which keeps our livestock and other animals from damaging our fields.
Creating a New Living Fence with Dried Branches |
Full-Sized Living Fence, Nawantale Village |
Energy Saving Cook Stoves
The government of Uganda has trained a team of Nawantale masons, both men and women, to install energy saving stoves so that we will not deplete our forests for wood and charcoal so rapidly. Nawantale village has already installed numerous stoves in family cooking kitchens and we are learning the steps we need to take to reduce our dependence on wood.
2 Burner Stove Uses Little Wood for High Heat and Vents Fumes out Chimney |
Single Burner Stoves Use Reduced Fuels
|
Ground Water Protection and Human Waste
The latrine construction platform which replaces the “full” Primary School latrine is dug carefully to keep waste from leeching into the ground water which is usually around 45 feet below the surface.
Construction is Underway on the New Latrines, June 2008
Edible Landscaping, Mixed Use Farming, and Re-forestation
The Community School Country Office now has an edible garden which reduces dust, and uses grey water as the water supply to grow dodo [a spinach-like plant] and other edible vegetables on site. We are encouraged to create these edible gardens next to our homes and use grey water, washing water, to keep the gardens producing. In addition, we are growing maize in smaller patches among trees and other crops to avoid clearing land and risking erosion from floods or loss of roots to hold the soil. And, we plant trees on the campus land, some edible, some for shade.
Edible Landscaping, Compound, 2008 |
Mixed Use Farming, June 2008 |
Young Trees on Project Land, June 2008 |
Aggressive Protection of Old Growth Trees , June 2008 |
Networking, Agricultural Training, Improved Field Practice
The last Friday of every month, many of us meet on a Nawantale farmer’s land to share agricultural ideas and exchange new methods to solve field problems. The Community School will provide an agricultural co-op and offers an educational location to bring in many regional organizations, association specialists and researchers to help our understanding of soils, pest control and other practices without relying on toxins and costly shortcuts.
Sources of Agricultural Support, Jinja 2008 |
Typical Irish Potato Field, Nawantale Village, 2008 |
We are very determined to learn the natural processes which will enhance our productivity and enable us to erase our food “insecurity” while learning about ways to avoid costly mistakes with over-reliance on modernization that may hurt our environment in the long run. The Community School Project opens the door to the world’s best thinking and we will be able to read about these best practices and implement them in our fields IF the school is built.
Won’t you help us with the construction of the eco-campus?
Please join our vision and donate. You will become part of the only campus in Africa designed by the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture. Thank you.
