| Welcome
to Rainbow Communities
Sustainable Life Skills Training 2008 This year we are offering a
Friends & Family working week and some practical "hands-on" self-build
workshops now in Alentejo, Portugal to help you learn practical life skills
at Quinta Arco-Iris where we are part of an eco-neighbourhood community.
This is an exciting program as we continue to develop our sustainable built
environment and our fourth year on this wonderful land
Listed below is our Workshop program with just a few to go to the year´s
end. Jonathan and Jennie intend to run a one week eco-holiday or workshop
per month on average often with a working holiday option to follow on - to
progress our skills and help complete the tasks we started! 
Click on the appropriate link to be taken to your specific interest - all
pages have a booking form included, all you need do is complete it to secure
your place. Please check by phone or email for latest up to date
details.
We are keen to support developing eco-quintas and community projects.
If you would like us to participate in an event or arrange a workshop with
you - please contact us.
Rammed-Earth & STRAW-BALE - builD A DONKEY HOUSE -
September 20 to 27
Rammed
Earth, or "Taipa" is a simple natural technique using clay-rich soil to
create solid masonry walls. We will build a short low-height taipa
wall, then raise height using straw-bales. We will construct a roof
and front timber wall. Join us on this self-build experience week to
help us construct a new home for Snr Romao!
We
will also learn how to use
adobe natural “barro” and “Cal” or lime plaster - useful skills needed to
build or renovate your own earth house. This
is a practical experience for anyone wanting to live more sustainably,
experience
community living + an introduction to practical "how-to" self-build.
How to
Build ... A Dry Composting Toilet!
- October
17 to 24
Learn the basic essentials for low-impact ecological and self-reliant living
- how to construct a new composting loo! We will understand composting
basics and design for location and use, choose a practical location for
access + garden, design and build a twin-composting loo!
This is a practical and fun experience for anyone wanting to live more
sustainably and experience self-reliant low-impact living.
PROVISIONAL * PLANNED * ONGOING
Friends + Family (working holiday) EQUINOX ACTIVITY WEEK -
11 to 20 April
This is a wonderful
event. Meet friends old and new, share cooking, explore the nature,
sing, tell stories and help make Quinta Arco-Iris even more beautiful.
This is the mid-Summer Solstice celebration of high-Summer. We will
build a limecrete and pallet chicken house, 'taipa' + straw bale donkey
house, clean out the spring font, repair the terrace garden and other lovely
jobs! A contribution of €5 per day towards food. Accommodation
and everything else is provided in exchange for your efforts.
How to Make & Install ... DIY
Solar Water Heating & ELECTRICITY!
Part 1 - 20 to 26 May
Choosing your own system will be a lot easier once you know what is involved
and could save you €£1000's! We will be installing a simple 'diy' hot water
store and solar heating panel plus solar powered washing machine!
This is a 5 day activity for up to 6 people.
Cost: €15 / day or work exchange.
Part 2 - 3 to 9 June Learn how to install a complete domestic
solar water heating and electricity system for one of our traditional houses
at Qu.Arco-Iris. This is a 5 day activity for up to 6 people.
Cost: €15 / day or work exchange.
How to Make your own ADOBE Geo-Dome
HOME!
- 22 to 27 June
make your own year-round accommodation using locally sourced natural
materials. A geo-dome is not only an attractive and versatile
temporary building but can be a low-impact dwelling. Making shelters and
structures is a basic survival skill, and a way into self-sufficient and
community living. We will use eucalyptus poles, wire mesh and adobe and
install a door and window to make a visitors accommodation. This is a
5 day workshop for up tp 6 people. Cost: €15 / day or work exchange.
Vision Quest!
Riding with Donkeys
- 7 to 11 August
A 4-day
experience following the old trails along the River Mira as it winds its way
to the West Atlantic. We will go as a small group taking with us only
basic essentials, meeting our needs from natural sources of water and food
and people on our way. We will sleep under stars, tell stories and
share experience and renew our trust in nature and the spirit in Life.
For more details contact Jonathan ...
How to Make...
A Clay-Earth Oven! +
How to Make ... Honest To Goodness
Bread! We will; Learn from different traditions,
(N.American, European, African), Gather, prepare and work with rock, earth
and clay, Build a man-sized heat sink base from stone and shingle, Construct
a dome with sand and clay, Bake some bread! This is a 3 or 4 day workshop.
Bread is the "staff of life". Making bread is a living creative process
working with nature - it can put us in touch with ourselves, restore health
and well-being to our families, and reconnect us to the earth which gives us
the wholegrains and all that we need. This is a 1 day course.
HOW TO LIVE WITH SOLAR, WIND POWER for Electricity and Water Heating -
Alentejo
October 14 to 22
How much energy do we need and how does it work? What do I need to run
my home, my office, my camper? We will learn how renewable energy can
meet our needs and how to install it. We will make a low-cost solar
water heating system * install a wind-generator and solar electricity.
Make Your own
Gas-Bottle Wood Heater
–
October 8 to 13
How to make a heater for your low-impact home using easily obtained free or
recycled materials.
Plant Spirit Medicine + the Journey of Life - Quinta Arco-Iris,
Alentejo January '07. 2 day Workshop
An introduction to shamanic journey and five-element self-healing. Deepen
your inner connection to life living through us and our relationship to the
nature that gives us medicine, food and resources. This workshop can
help you understand how nature can truly support our well-being and how we
can live more natural sustainable lives.
Working With Trees - at Arco-Iris Community, Alentejo
February, 2007
If you love trees this is the time they need most care for the
seasons ahead. Pruning, transplanting and hugging benefit both
species. We will learn from Portuguese teachers how to tend Olive,
Almond, Cork, Sweet Chestnut, Pear and Apple, to cultivate and use their
wood and produce for food, construction and medicine.
How to Design For ... Sustainable
Living - Alentejo March 2007
If you are interested in:- Growing food, Sharing and Exchanging, Natural
Building, Renewable Energy, Recycling & Reusing, Pure Water, Whole Health,
Cooperative Living... This 2 week workshop is an introduction to
Permaculture and Sustainable Living methods, a practical group experience
for yourself, if you're thinking of joining or starting your own
eco-village.

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