During the spring of 2014 I participated, along with 20 other people as an «Econaut», as part of the «Earth Odyssey”, a journey through different eco-centers and community projects in Central America. For 3 months we lived and traveled in two different buses thru Califorina, Mexico and Guatemala. The Earth Odyssey was an experiment in co-creating a mobile Ecovillage documenting sustainable project in Central America and also bringing eco-solutions to communities in the places we visited. The result of the journey was a series of experiments focused on implementing ecological solutions with our team and within the communities we visited and a series of 5 showing the results.
PLURITY – Project Nuevo Mundo’s Earth Odyssey – Vision I
The journey begins. A mobile village comprised of 20 permaculture engineers, a media team and holistic practitioners travel by bus for 4-months to build an on the ground network of impact centers in different parts of Central America. The individuals on the bus were hand selected for their skills in natural building, composting, human centered design, permaculture design, recycled blacksmithing, event production, community building, holistic healing and media to leave a positive trace. The Earth Odyssey exists as a mobile intentional community with a mission of creating a new world through educational workshops and sustainability installations.
.This is the first episode is focused on the concept of PLURITY, encompassing the connection between unity and plurality.
We hope these video’s inspire you to join the movement!
Created by Republic of Light.
Music Credits: Cello Joe – Kick Back Laid Back, Geoffrey Oryema – Piri Wango Iya, Sufi Soul – Fangara Fangarié, Hanna «Shamanka» – Nuevo Mundo Song
GLOCAL-Project Nuevo Mundo’s Earth Odyssey-Vision 3
GLOCAL is all about thinking GLOBAL and acting LOCAL. The New World needs individuals who act beyond their own personal desires to live in «comfort». Planetary regeneration relies on thriving in harmony with the local resources and acting consciously to see the consequences of our initiatives on a larger scale, positively affecting people around the world.
The Earth Odyssey expanded this concept by following the permaculture principle to use small and slow solutions – the bigger they are the harder they fall – slow and steady wins the race. The Econauts brought their expertise to El Pedregal, a permaculture demonstration center in Oaxaca, Mexico, to build systems that does not require outside infrastructure to sustain and regenerate itself. We planted comfrey plants to turn our urine into a fertilizer, used bio construction techniques using materials collected at the site, and nurtured the eroded soil to create a symbiotic space with mycorrhiza spores to become fertilizer for the gardens.
We hope that our efforts inspire more people to become more integral with the environment that surrounds them.
SPORACTION «Transforming Sun into Food» – Project Nuevo Mundo Earth’s Odyssey – Vision 4
SPORACTION is 1 of 3 sustainability projects with indigenous communities that The 2013 Earth Odyssey Caravan completed all around Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. After 2 months on the road through Mexico and Guatemala, Project Nuevo Mundo`s Earth Odyssey in collaboration with JUSTA and 22 permaculture specialists landed for 2 months in Guatemala to break off into 3 teams and complete 3 projects.
Team Leads: Brennan Bird, Chay Tanya, Juliana Mandell and Matt Zammit
An industrial sized solar dehydrator and solar oven were custom built at Konojel Nutrition Center, a place that feeds 80 free meals a day to malnourished Guatemalan families. Along with the installation of appropriate technology, the amazing team assisted the center with coming up with a business plan for «Solar Granola» and dried fruit to help keep the project growing. «A machine is only as good as it`s manual» the team says, so they designed a manual the two new sustainable kitchen appliances as well!
SPORACTION «Returning to the Roots» Project Nuevo Mundo Earth’s Odyssey – Vision 5
Returning to the Roots is 1 of 3 sustainability projects with indigenous communities that the 2013 Earth Odyssey Caravan completed all around Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. After 2 months on the road through Mexico and Guatemala, Project Nuevo Mundo`s Earth Odyssey in collaboration with JUSTA and 22 permaculture specialists landed for 2 months in Guatemala to break off into 3 teams and complete 3 projects.
Returning to the Roots:
Team Leads: Angie Gonzales, Elspeth Reddish, Gerardo Ruiz, Annie Brady, Cutis Perrin, Alejandro Plata
A natural dye and medicinal garden, rocket-stove and rain water catchment system were installed at Kamajachel Women`s Artisan Cooperative in Panajachel, Lake Atitlan. Now, the indigenous women are practicing the art of natural dyeing for their incredible textiles while using the space as a sustainability learning and demonstration center for students and tours!
A special thank you to:
Republic of Light Media Team: republicoflight.com/
JUSTA: justacollective.org/
Danielle Gennety: oursacredacres.com/
& all of the passionate and skilled Econauts for making this project possible!