An Introduction to Off-Grid Living
Do you find yourself dreaming of a simpler life where you are more empowered in your day to day living activities? Or perhaps you’re ready to take the first step over the line into a completley new lifestyle creating a sense of greater resilience? Maybe avoiding debt is your motivation, even a healthier living environment using natural materials? If you feel drawn to any of these ideals, then our Simplification and Resilience Workshop could be just the thing to help ease you onto the path.
This introductory workshop consists of a practical and theoretical introduction to the skills, conviction and agency required to pivot towards simplicity, financial freedom and a purposeful life more in line with the natural world.
In a society in which we are encouraged to give up our little semblence of freedom, compromise our health and live a life of indebtedness, beginning to back your own abilities, avoiding debt, and pivoting towards physical, mental and spiritual health, are profound acts of rebellion that nourish the soul.
Moreover, the great simplification which is to come will require us as individuals to reassess our needs and priorities. It will need resilience and mental adaptability alongside robust spritual practices; skills which are better to cultivate beforehand. Our two-day workshop is specifically aimed at those who know that something must change and know it must start with themselves. Our own journey can help to inspire and inform your own, whatever shape it may take. We want you to leave us with the words “I can!” ringing in your ears as you embark on your own project.
Gain agency, empower yourself and realise freedom.
We want to share with you the lived experience of conceptualising, building and living in (perhaps ‘with’ is more appropriate) a house designed to ground you in the present moment, align you with nature and free you from a toxic financial system. Having attended various courses in the run-up to our own project, we recognise the value not just in the course content itself but the time spent with others on similar journeys and also the need to have questions pertinent to your own project answered in depth. This is exactly what we aim to provide with our two day workshop.
A disclaimer: We are not building or technical specialists, as such our lived experience and knowledge gained throughout our project are what ‘qualify’ us to deliver such content. Equally, we are under no illusion that such a project will change the world. We merely aim to impart knowledge that has nourished our own souls and take a step towards a brighter future. Where we are is the result of many billions of steps over thousands of years, the challenge of our age is to take a step in a different direction, away from separation and towards connection, with no attachment to outcome but the knowledge that this is the very least we owe our Mother Earth.
What Will I Learn?
- Introduction to off-grid systems used in our house and life, specifically:
- Water collection – specifically ferrocement water tanks and rainwater harvesting
- Solar electricity principles, simple design and components
- Toilet composting & sanitation
- Heating (water and house)
- Guiding principles of simplicity, slowness, downsizing and mindfulness – a focus on front-end decisions.
- Practical workshop covering basic straw bale building principles and fun construction of a corner section of a straw bale wall including tyre foundations, basic wood framing, window techniques, bale stacking and compression.
- Learning will be delivered both verbally and practically at each stage.
What Is Included?
- Two days of focused, mindful presence from us. We built our strawbale house with our own hands, along with all of the above systems, from conception to installation and have lived with them for over 5 years and we hope to be able to share key information, mindest and empowerment with all who attend the workshops.
- Lunch and dinner on Saturday, and lunch on Sunday plus many teas and coffees!
Vegetarian Food
A sense of community will be cultivated through three meals eaten together. All food will be vegetarian/vegan with a focus on nutritious, healthy cuisine to fuel you through the course and learning. Meals will be eaten together outside under the old Oak tree or inside the straw bale house.
Venue
All of the above takes place in our home: A beautiful strawbale house set in 4 acres of land overlooking the stunning Vienne Valley in the tranquil Charente. Not only this, we are continuing to implement a permaculture design plan which, although not part of the course, will inevitably come up in conversation as we move around the land.
Details
Dates: 23rd & 24th September 2023 / 28th & 29th October 2023 / 11th & 12th November 2023. Dates for 2024 TBC.
Prices: €250 per person including all teaching, materials and three meals. Payable via Paypal or Wise transfer.
If you feel this course would be something you are interested in, then please fill in the contact form below to let us know. We will contact you with more details. The course is limited to 8 people, over 18’s only.
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*We are not professional builders – we have zero building qualifications. Having said that, we have self-built our own straw bale house and learnt a whole lot along the way. It is this learning, and the empowerment that has come along with it, which we wish to share.
Cancellation Policy:
To ensure all attendees get the best experience from their training we only run our courses in small groups.
We therefore operate with a cancellation policy: Refunds are not given for cancellations made within 2 weeks of the course. If a cancellation is made with more than 2 weeks notice, then a full refund will be issued.
If for any reason the course cannot go ahead, of course, prior notice and full refunds will be given.
Please note that some aspects of the practical work is done outside, if there is a deluge/gale/other godly event, then alternative ways of teaching these aspects will be found.
Les Vignes Basses 