May 2021, Briançon (France), Introduction workshops for refugees with LowTech with Refugees
In parallel with the permaculture project at Le Bez, we also had the project to help the association LowTech with Refugees to propose initiation workshops.
"LowTech with Refugees: Low-tech with, by and for refugees Improves the resilience and autonomy of exiled community's while contributing to the sustainable development of the territory, through the dissemination of low-tech know-how and systems and through socio-professional integration via ecological trades."
We had been able to carry out three workshops, despite the restrictions due to Covid, with the help of Noémie (in civic service for the association Eko!).
Leather sewing workshop:
As we had learned to work with leather, to build our adaptable bike and horse saddle bags and horse harnesses, we were able to teach the basic techniques for the refugees at the Briançon shelter, including the saddle stitch method. Together, we built belts, wallets, bags...
Workshop to build a cart from recycled materials:
We had built a first cart for our departure from Aix-en-Provence, which we had to repair... much sooner than expected. The goal of the workshop, in partnership with the Atleier Cyclonique, was to design the structure out of scrap metal and then weld the different pieces together before adding the forks to hold some children's bike wheels.
Permaculture initiation workshop:
During this one day workshop, which took place in the future participative garden in Lasalle les Alpes created by Jack & Josh, we were able to approach some very important points in Permaculture. After a first observation of the conditions (climate, relief, water availability...) of the land, we explained and realized a soil study (test of the pudding and the jar) to know the composition of the soil (proportion in clay, silt, sand and organic matter) then how and with what to amend the soil before and during the cultures. The afternoon was mainly devoted to practice with the setting up of several beds of culture, with amendment, mulching and staking.
A big thank you to all the refugees for the good time we spent together, to Lowtech with Refugees, to the Atelier Cyclonique of Briançon and especially to Noémie and César (to whom we send kisses even if they will surely not join us in Greece!)
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