Category: Alternative technologies

  • PDC August 2016 – RAM Pump workshop

    During our recent Permaculture Design Course, Jeroen took the participants through the theory and practice of RAM pumps. With a small stream at the bottom of our property, these are invaluable at Casalinho in lifting water to where we can use it.                     Join us for a more »

  • Ram Pump Workshop

    A Ram Pump is a hydraulic pump which allows you to raise water from one point to another without using an outside power source. We’re astonished that they aren’t more widely known as you can make one at home. All you need is a water drop and cheap parts you’ll find in the plumbing aisle of more »

  • Ferrocement Tank

    Jeroen spent last weekend at Quinta do Luzio in Sintra, working on a ferrocement tank. We’re hoping to make our own here at Casalinho during the Extended Permaculture Design Course we’ll be running 19th June – 20th July. Check out our courses page for full details.    

  • Straw Bale Building course

    We were recently asked why our new communal area / training room is built using conventional building techniques. If I’m honest it’s simply because it was quick and easy, the materials were easily available and will fit in with the existing house. But Jeroen is very excited to be soon attending a Straw Bale Building more »

  • Introducing Oficinas da TerraCrua

    Oficinas da TerraCrua (literal translation = Workshops of Raw Earth) is a local organisation offering workshops in a range of sustainable building techniques such as Adobe, cob, cordwood and straw bale. Nuno taught the New Build session on our recent Permaculture Design Course, which everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy. Although workshops are taught in Portuguese, more »

  • Thermal Mass Rocket Stove Workshop

    We’ve just come back from a Thermal Mass Rocket Stove workshop over at Corga da Periera, where Jeroen was helping to build a rocket stove in their tipi. The flue from the stove passes  through a cob bench (the thermal mass) as it exits, so the heat of combustion is retained and can be utilised, more »