The Goals of the program are:
-to bring together the diverse aspects of the community.
-to raise funds
-to develop leadership and communication skills.
-to strengthen community and create a shared sense of accomplishment amongst participants
-to assist individuals successfully lead their community in unfired earthen construction projects.
-to build durable functional structures with unfired earthen construction technology.
-to develop a blueprint for the successful festive earthen building event that can be replicated and that is scalable.
-to transform the cost prohibitive, labor intensive elements of unfired earthen construction techniques (adobe, rammed earth, cob, mud brick building, wattle and daub) into fun, festive, desirable community activities.
-to empower communities with the knowledge of how to create an extremely durable and non toxic building material.
-to create a culture of festive earthen builders that can work on larger projects.
-to empower ourselves with hands on experience of how to use unfired earthen construction technology to create the main components of shelter; foundation, floor, walls, furniture and roofing.
-to develop and revive the science and components of The Village.
The Mission of the program is to develop, share and proliferate the festive unfired earthen construction technology.
The Vision is a journey that begins with people coming together in the spirit of fun, cooperation, creative self expression and learning to build functional earthen structures. As the journey continues, inspired individuals attract others, creating a networked culture of festive earthen builders that organize larger events and take on larger projects. From building benches, to a backyard cottage, to building a home or community common house, to a neighborhood cluster of homes and ultimately a whole village.
The process is refined through repetition and shared learnings and the journey reaches a point where individuals have magically acquired the means for building shelter that is aesthetically pleasing, inspirational, extremely durable, and free from any cost to the environment or financial debt and with an inherent sense of community and long term sustainability. Along the way, the lines between work and play, giving and recieving, performer and audience, reality and imagination have been blurred. A new found sense of freedom and security has been ushered in. The journey continues.
The components of the Program.
The Team Leader and Team The team leader is trained by YEA in community organizing and all aspects of leading a team through the process of organizing and hosting a successful event and project.
The YEA FEBE Process and Support /Training - The leadership that coaches you through the process of organizing a successful project.
The Event - The event that is organized to bring the community together and contribute significantly to the building of the structure.
The Local Community Host OrganizationThe partner that supplies the location for the event/s project to take place such as school or other organization or individual.
Event Participants - People who come to the event.
Community Supporters and Sponsors -Who sponsor and support the project
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THE MATHEMATICS OF MUD ( mud pi )
simple additions
Subsoil Dirt (not topsoil) = sand + clay
Subsoil Dirt + water = mud.
Mud + straw + sun + music + food + people = fun + mud building blocks
fun + mud building blocks + more fun + more people = mud structure
fractions
Mud structure (completed)
people that built it = pride + other good feelings.
Good feelings
people that built it = good feelings x more good feelings
multiplication
Good feelings x More good feelings = A better world.
A better world = what we all want
What we all want = A better world
A better world = what we all want
on infinitum.
THE SCIENCE OF MUD
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Subsoil is found all over the planet in all climates, directly under the topsoil.
Subsoil is a random mixture of sand and clay.
Once the sand and clay are mixed with water into one homogenous mixture, it becomes a very good building material. There are examples all around the world of very durable and aestheically pleasing structures made from unfired earthen mixtures over 1,000 years old. ("Cob" "Rammed Earth" "Mud Bricks" "Adobe")
The best mixtures have more sand than clay which may require adding sand in clay rich areas.
An effective and fun way to mix sand and clay into one homogenous mixture is many dancing feet.
Adding straw adds tensile strength and insulation properties. Straw is a waste product of agriculture.
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A-Z of Activities to do within the program
Advertisement creation
Building a functional structure
Beating a drum
Choregraphing the dances
Cooking and serving the food
Creating the community line dances
Creating "work" songs
Decorating the site
Designing and making costumes
Documenting the process
Drumming to make rhythm
Educating participants
Frying some food
Greeting people at the event and making them feel welcome
Helping get supplies
Inviting more people
Imagining where this could go
Journalling
Jumping up and down in the mud with bare feet to mix the ingredients together
Kangaroo mimickry
Kissing the sky
Learning and teaching the science
Managing the time
Naming the songs and activities
Organizing who does what when and where
Playing music
Promoting the project
Preparing for the event
Producing a performance
Questionairre handling
Recieving and handling enquiries
Sending out invitations
Shaking a tamborine
Testing bricks for strength
Understanding more by doing it
Visualizing more
Welcoming new people
Xylophone playing
Zipping around and getting stuff done.