Volunteering
One of the key issues of building this house is that we want to do it ourselves.
The cost of hiring a contractor to build the house might double the cost. It also creates a “communication” problem. How, in the end, do we get a contractor to do exactly what we want and how many times do you hear stories of people running in to huge problems with, or because of, contractors (even when you do speak their language perfectly).
Internship
Let’s assume that an internship is something you (the intern) pays for (it happens) or where you might expect a certain training, or schooling, or at the least some sort of program, then I can be brief, that’s not how we roll.
Volunteering
This is more like it.
I now it sounds like a cheap alternative for paid workpeople and you’d be right, ’cause it is. Then again, we might create a problem with a shortage of skilled labour and spend a lot of time guiding the volunteers.
So in my honest opinion, it levels out. Yes, we get cheap labour, but we have to pay for that with, mostly, time and sometimes with errors made through inexperience.
Social
We learned that, when it comes to “green” building, there’s a huge social movement. People volunteer freely (of course) via the website, they contact us asking if they can help, and of course you can. Or we just run into people, tell them our story and they offer their help, just like that.
When anybody comes and help us, we enlarge the social movement, create more awareness, share knowledge and have a much better time building the house.
We do also need, of course, skilled labour, electricians, carpenters, you name them. And we’ve got friends helping out who have such skills (but any additional “skill” is more than welcome).
So, the bottom line is:
If you want to help, please do.
What do we offer:
- Learn about sustainable building techniques (we’ll take the time to tell you all about what we’re doing);
- Expand you network (maybe for future purposes);
- Knowledge sharing (we are interested in your opinions);
- A place to pitch a tent (plenty of space, even for some privacy);
- Basic nourishment (anything fancy you’ll have to bring/buy yourselves);
- Basic sanitation (probably, very(!) basic);
But wait, there’s more:
- We’ll return the favour (when possible);
- We hope you have a good time (we will);
- You’ll meet friendly people (similair minds and attitudes);
- Positive karma (what goes around, comes around);
- Escape regular society for a bit (this, we promise).
When and where
The when is, relatively, easy, 2011. We will work very hard to start building in Spring 2011. The build will last throughout the year and we hope to have a watertight building before Winter. Then we can take it easy on the inside and the rest. The build will continue well into 2012 and we hope to finish somewhere later that year (Autumn). 2013 should be a year where we focus mainly on the garden (and yes, if you have green fingers, you can always help with that too).
Note that the years above have moved up by one year due to planning difficulties.
The best way to stay in touch, as far as volunteering goes is to subscribe to the Newsletter. You can use Twitter or RSS if you wish, but the newsletter will focus on the volunteering. Then again, they will all work.
If you’re travelling around, or planning a holiday. Our piece of land is in the village Chenogne, that’s in Belgium, in the Ardenne. It’s only 10 minutes (by car) from Bastogne.
Note that there is an incredible amount of tourist/outdoor activity available in the neighbourhood, so you could actually go and do something else, if you wish. The whole area is worth a visit.