Building with Mud!

Today at 9 am, I helped out in the registration of a Mudhouse Building Workshop which was launched here at Nature's Village Resort (NVR) where I work. This workshop will run for 7 days. Our instructor came all the way from Thailand, Ms. Lynn Moltzau, a Norwegian-Canadian.

Attending the workshop are workers of haciendas, mostly men, who were sent by their employers to learn this ancient technology.

The organizer of this workshop is Ms. Kaila Ledesma, a Negrense. She is with Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PRRCFI). Kaila is supported by her father, Mr. Gerry Ledesma, Mrs. Sonia Sarrosa, the owner of Nature's Village Resort, and Ms. Nina Paras, the interior designer-consultant of this resort-hotel.

Held at the Isabel Room of the resort's restaurant area, Ms. Moltzau gave a talk on mudhouse technology using an LCD and a laptop. So, why build with mud? The number 1 reason is that it is eco-friendly. Much has been told about global warming. Mudhouses preserve the environment and maintain ecological balance. It also facilitates creative personal expression. She showed us pictures of existing mudhouse structures which were taken from all parts of the world: China, Thailand, India, Iran, Yemen, the United States, Mexico, Tibet, Timbuktu, and a lot more.

What's interesting to note is that 50% of the world's inhabitants actually live in mudhouses!

The main tool in preparing the mud you will use for building a structure is none other than your feet! And your hands! Or your whole body! Bamboo is used as the main structure for building your mudhouse.

In the afternoon, the group went to the Campsite Area where Nature's Village Resort's 1st MUDHOUSE will soon rise!

More updates in the days to come ...