RAMMED EARTH Course - December 2010

Final InSynch course for 2010......

Using Rammed Earth, the students built the 1st of two pillars for the base of a future cob oven on the Riverbend Farm in Lanseria (oven to be completed on the next Cob Oven course).

A usual the theory part of the course extended into a late lunch, giving the students just not enough time to complete the ramming of the pillar. So, unfortunetly the wall (or pillar) was not revealed..!
The pillar will be completed by InSynch staff and will be available for all to see during the next course... in January 2011.

Keep em' Peeled.....!

For the New Year Course Schedule.., soon to be posted to the InSynch website (http://www.insynch.co.za/ ).

From All at InSynch, we wish all our past, current and future students and clients a restful and festive Christmas break and an awesome entry into the new year!!

See you all on the other side.
Alastair & Sonia.

Natural Paint & Plaster Course - May 2010

One of the BEST courses ever...!!!

Natural Paint:

Mixing paints made from local and natural ingredients, non-toxic, zero VOC's, and kinda' cheap.

Cheap, how cheap..?

Well we mix a 20L drum of Alis paint... costing something like R15. It can be used as an exterior paint and should last up to 10 to 20 years.

You don't believe it....

well time will tell on the exterior walls the course attendees just painted!

the paint from previous courses... is still holding strong with no colour fading or deterioration.

The team mixing the Alis paints.. we mixed about 4 or 5 different colours and recipe variations.

Helen as chief chef.

Erwin... our foxie doing some quality control on the Quark (old milk) paints.

Seems it passed with flying colours...!!!

The guys taking on some of the staff quarters with their various natural paints on the Riverbend Farm.

Looking good Jean.

A lovely toned down natural pigment using some of the natural clays.

Helen, now as Picasso putting the finishing touches on the building.

We also teach you to quickly clean your brushes - hee he!

Johan. enjoying himself with the quark paints.... jeepers check the colours bru!!

Aimee, our usual course mascot and "climb in boots an' all" participant does a stunning job painting some roses on the building entrance.

Thanx Aimee'kies

Colours galore.

onto, Natural Plaster:

Mixed with local ingedients, nothing from a quarry or a hardware store.
The fibre was a nice batch of loovly fresh horse manure.

Mark ensuring we have a good mix of plaster aggregate with clayey soil.

Stick it must stick.... and look beautiful and protect the cob walls.

Yip Ladies... the manure is fresh - harvested this morning from Colin and Co. our Plaster Machines (our horses).

Different trowelling techniques are demonstrated and practiced.

It seems even Sonia from InSynch Sustainable Technologies is becomming a Plastering Master.

Sonia is teaching the internal Lime Renders to some of the course attendess.


Gerald, Peter and Alex enjoying themselves..

Wow... the end of the day on Riverbend Farm at the InSynch Training Centre in Lanseria, South Africa.

Alastair

Workshop: Constructed Wetland Build & Plant - Feb 2010

The workshop to complete a constructed wetland system on the Riverbend farm, near the InSynch Training Centre to recycle the grey and blackwater coming from the cottage.
The workshop was held on the 20th February 2010.



Maria & Porcia preparing the outlet pipe.


Yes Maria... that is the wetland....^%#%@@


Packing in the layers of stone.

Brare Rabbit..?

"Get a move on guys... I need to flush the toilet tonight!!!!"

"Two Beers for me thanx!!"

It seems you have broken a sweat Maria... Gothard will be impressed.

Grinning Bear - Mike (from Green Free Pools).

Discussing the finer details of Blackwater management...

Mike dancing with a piece of corrugated iron... Boom Boom!!

Organic compost being spread, just before the planting begins.

Luke & Liam adding their strength and advice... thanx Guys!!

Nearly ready for the plants..

The models have arrived.

Team photo at the end of a busy, fun and fruitfull day!!!

All we need do now, is final connect the septic tank diversion pipe, allow the Phragmites's (common reed) roots to grow a little, build up a diversity of effective and friendly microorganisms and wallah.... we have a nature friendly, easy to mantain black and grey water recycling plant in our back yard.

Thanx, everyone for you help!

Alastair Armstrong

InSynch Sustainable Technologies (Pty) Ltd

info@insynch.co.za

Natural Paint & Plaster Course - November 2009

WE did another of the very popular Natural Paint & Plaster courses at the InSynch Training Centre (ITC) in Lanseria, South Africa on 21 November 2009.
Mostly fun and lost of learning and practicing new skills and techniques was done by all that attended.
Start spreading the message... speaking directly to the industry professionals that attended (architects and interior designers).

For more info:
info@insynch.co.za


Two well known architects get their hands dirty, mixing up the fibre to go into the plaster.
PS: you will have to ask them what exactly kind of fibre it was.. phooie!


Some volumteers from the local Bathabile project - learning how to plaster.
The Bathabile Project is the local community and parents building a straw bale classroom at the Bathabile School.

Justin, a site manager and rammed earth expert from InSynch & EarthWorx Construction... tests his skills.

Niko Knigge, Bathabile Project Manager.

Checking on our progress, I suppose??


Krynauw, mixing a Quark (Sour Milk) paint.


Mother (Sonia) and daughter (Aimee) having some fun with the quark based paints.

Sonia is co-founder, director and trainer with InSynch Sustainable Technologies (Pty) Ltd.

Group Photo...

What a stunning day and time for a sundowner at the InSynch Training Centre (ITC).

See you all soon.

Alastair Armstrong

info@insynch.co.za