So, our first major project for the program is a Community Action Project. We are going to be designing / revamping a Permaculture Playground for a school that serves underprivalaged kids from the town nearby, Pirenopolis. Today we broke down the things we needed to get as far as materials and also the method in which we were going to approach the building of the playground. We divided up the various elements (design tasks) between groups that will start and work on them tomorrow. Then, when people get tired of what they are donig they can switch it up. It's a great way to do things because we all get to help out with everything in the end. Variety keeps people interested in what they are doing. Monotony, monoculture, homogeny----boring (I of course would add monogomy to that list, but that's off topic and not part of the plan) =:)

     Tomorrow, after having worked for the day, we will divide up the next days tasks, as before, and get to stepping. It should be really fun; the kids are going to be helping us build and paint murals and fill up plastic bottles with food coloring and water to create pathways and borders for the spiral garden we are implementing. There will also be a herb garden, built in chessboard table and chairs, a trellis with flowers, a superadobe bench and tables in another area as well, a sculpture, and a sandbox. We also have to put a swale in at the top of the hill to stop the erosion.

     Originally, our design groups, that we are divided into for the duration of the program, went all out designing for the entire space, but the space has been reduced and the beautiful mango tree (where I wanted to put bunk-bed hammocks that the kids would climb a rope ladder to get up to) is no longer part of the design plot. What we have planned looks pretty cool so far though. The nun in charge of the school (she is originally from Canada) picked something from each group's design, which is nice.

     I am coming around to the idea of the restricted space. I was orginally really unmotivated to work on the space, even with the mango tree incorporated, because I felt like there was an absolutely ideal spot in the back corner to do some really amazing, functinal and appropriate Permaculture designs there; the landscape contours plus already built structures and accessable light were perfect for a garden and irrigation system, but oh well. We have to work with the desires and specifications of the client. Boo business. After I saw the final design though, I felt better about it; its far more reasonable. We only have a day and a half to get the whole thing done. Giddy-up! Tomorrow, I will be working on digging the sandbox, filling/structurally supporting the bottom (not sure how yet), and building superadobe edges to contain it all. Very exciting! I didn't do much superadobe during Bioconstruindo because I thought we'd be doing some during the program, so starting out in this group is good for my determined spirit. When I get bored or tired, I'll do some tile cutting for the mosiacs we are doing. Also awesome!!!! I heart mosiacs and it's also something I want more practice with. I might do gardening too.

     I think our group will rock out the sandbox in no time, leaving us plenty of time to contribute to other projects. I defintely think we will be able to finish all we intend to do over the time alloted. I think we work well together as a group, and our instructors are amazing, hardworkers, and super organized, so . . . . fingers crossed and positive thinking.