Argentina archives
12-Week Permaculture Practicum in Patagonia
El Bolsón, Patagonia, Argentina
January 10 - April 4, 2005
A certification program in Permaculture principles & design, intensive hands-on practice, personal, group & public projects, Natural Building, community life, direct access to a network of specialists and one-on-one internship opportunities...

One year later, April 2006:
A powerful experience for everyone involved, this 12-Week Practicum drew participants from eight countries, many of whom have gone on to present about, help on and/or start their own projects in other parts of Argentina, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, The United States, Spain and Germany. In El Bolson where the Practicum was held, the local group (Carlos, Jorge, Paulina, Max, Alex, Denali, Alejandro, Blanca Rosa, et al.) continues pioneering Natural Building and Permaculture in their region and beyond. They are establishing a large-scale ecovillage and education center, working with indigenous Mapuche groups, traveling Argentina and surrounding countries teaching workshops, presenting, and networking, and have been receiving significant media attention. To find out more visit their website at www.cidep.bolsonweb.com.

Other alumni (Diego, Nathalia, Eugenio and Faye) have gone on to start Yanantin- a Natural Building and Permaculture education center in Central Argentina. Visit their website at www.yanantin.com.ar . Paulina has been invited to teach and build on many projects throughout the country, including a spiritual healing center in Mendoza. Claudia, Daniella and Marcella are working on sustainable architecture projects and community gardens in Santiago, Chile. Alfredo continues to build domes and vaults in Chile and just visited us (a year later) at our 6-Week Training with Yanantin. Gabriella,Silvia and Aldo made a book about the 12-Week Practicum experience that is being passed through many hands. Claire and Luis completed a video documentary about the Pracitcum, inspiring others to get involved.

Luciana has been teaching workshops in northern Chile. Julio built an earth and straw house in upstate New York, and the two of them met up in Mexico to continue their journey together. Micah has gone to learn timber-framing and assist at a school in Vermont where he has worked on a number of projects. Kate is now the Program Coordinator for Global Routes in Latin America, with the intention of transitioing their conventional building projects to Natural Building. She is bringing a youth group to work with Karina and her family in the Sacred Valley of Peru. Given the powerful vision, connection and work ethic of Karina's family, this is the first of what will surely be many more educational programs to come. Mariana has taught numerous workshops in Peru. Romulo has been building efficient wood-fired barrel baking ovens for villages in the Sacred Valley of Peru. Xtn has travelled to Israel, England and Spain where he has been sharing his years of Natural Building, Permaculture, community and political activism experience with hundreds of others.

After only one year's passing alumni and organizers have worked on at least 40 new Natural Building projects and some of them are just getting going! Our apologies to any Practicum participants who have not been highlighted above. Please send us your stories and we'll be happy to include you.

To see and read more about our two years of work in Patagonia, visit the website made by participants with tons of pictures.

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