Sunseed desert technology was set up in 1986 in an abandoned village in the Almeria dry lands of Southern Spain, the most arid region of Europe. The aims of the project were and still are to develop, demonstrate and communicate accessible, low-tech methods of sustainable living in a semi-arid environment.
With the current climatic problems and the ever growing energy concerns, the work undertaken at Sunseed grows more and more important in our understanding of the balance that can be maintained between us and nature.
One of the most interesting aspects at Sunseed must be demonstrating communal living. This is one of the key aims at Sunseed, as far as possible using methods which have the least environmental impact. All energy for the project is supplied via Solar panels. Solar energy is even used to heat water for showers and to cook food during the summer months.
There are several departments within Sunseed, all responsible for different aspects of maintaining a small community of people. These include everything from dry land regeneration to waste management. It is this community spirit, with everyone having their own unique role within the community, which makes Sunseed such an interesting environment.
An interesting twist to the work being undertaken at Sunseed is the research into Low-tech methods to promote the use of Mycorrhizal. These are fungi which attach themselves to the roots of plants and trees and have been shown to markedly increase the growth of some crops in desert regions.
These factors, combined with the growing lack of natural resources such as Oil upon which we have become so heavily dependent, make the work undertaken by Sunseed Desert Technology a more contemporary issue than ever before. Focusing on the relationship between the community and their environment has allowed the images contained within the accompanying book to have a more personal touch which will hopefully add to the urgency with which at least some of these methods should be incorporated into modern lifestyles.
