CAN THE GLOBAL HOUSING PROBLEM BE SOLVED

CAN THE GLOBAL HOUSING PROBLEM BE SOLVED?

Wood. In the northern mountains of Nicaragua there was wood. But these people couldn’t afford to buy it from the lumber mills. So we cut our own wood.

Footnote: Reforestation & Planting. It was part of our plan to include in the construction program a tree planting program to assure wood as a sustainable resource. We were not successful. We weren’t disciplined enough and it would require longer term involvement than we had.

Interestingly, we were able to get quite a bit of wood without cutting down trees but using trees that were already down.

Living fence: fences were a place to grow wood, most easily for firewood.

Small tools. As I will explain and as will become evident as I speak, we found that the less external resources we required the better. But we couldn’t get along with none. We had to select very carefully what we purchased or imported. One of the areas where we felt the cost of imported items was worth it was with small tools. Not large ones. The small tools were inexpensive but yielded huge increases in capabilities and productivity. They are also portable, maintenance is easier and parts and replacements are more available.

Art is Important. There is a tendency when people with lots of resources talk about providing housing for people with very little to feel that they need decent housing, but not luxurious or beautiful housing. However, we believe that art and beauty are essential in all housing. The campesinos when making these tiles for their homes, spontaneously decided to put these little sculptures on some of the tiles. These people, living in conditions of extreme poverty, consistently showed their interest and willingness to put time and energy into creating quality and beauty in their work.

Here is a picture of the finished tile ceiling. Note the image etched into one of the tiles (click on picture for larger image).

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CAN THE GLOBAL HOUSING PROBLEM BE SOLVED?

	Wood. In the northern mountains of Nicaragua there was wood. But these people couldn’t afford to buy it from the lumber mills. So we cut our own wood. Footnote: Reforestation & Planting. It was part of our plan to include in the construction program a tree planting program to assure wood as a sustainable resource. We were not successful. We weren’t disciplined enough and it would require longer term involvement than we had. Interestingly, we were able to get quite a bit of wood without cutting down trees but using trees that were already down. Living fence: fences were a place to grow wood, most easily for firewood.
	Small tools. As I will explain and as will become evident as I speak, we found that the less external resources we required the better. But we couldn’t get along with none. We had to select very carefully what we purchased or imported. One of the areas where we felt the cost of imported items was worth it was with small tools. Not large ones. The small tools were inexpensive but yielded huge increases in capabilities and productivity. They are also portable, maintenance is easier and parts and replacements are more available.
	Roofs. We made roofs from Spanish clay tile that we made ourselves. Made from clay we located locally and fired on site with wood. (Note: Although the efficiency of production is low it is feasible, they can actually get these tiles, while efficient production using factories and gas fired kilns is not available at all.)
Firing roof tiles
	Art is Important. There is a tendency when people with lots of resources talk about providing housing for people with very little to feel that they need decent housing, but not luxurious or beautiful housing. However, we believe that art and beauty are essential in all housing. The campesinos when making these tiles for their homes, spontaneously decided to put these little sculptures on some of the tiles. These people, living in conditions of extreme poverty, consistently showed their interest and willingness to put time and energy into creating quality and beauty in their work.
	Here is a picture of the finished tile ceiling. Note the image etched into one of the tiles (click on picture for larger image).

· home · projects · bulletin board · links · who are we · contact ·