School in Las Brisas #2

Together with a group of non-profit organizations, including Fundacion Tierra, NicaCan, and the Newton San Juan Sister City Project, Casa de Tierra horse-backed into the rural community of Las Brisas to create a schoolhouse for the children of this remote area, who would otherwise not have the opportunity to attend class on a daily basis. We brought in our green ideas, and educated the community members in how to build their own school with their own hands using local timber, bamboo, clay, sand and straw to replicate the chorizo technique, and applying milk-based paints to coat the walls in the country's national colors of blue and white.

Gallery Click on photos to read the captions

Austin and Jordan transfer the knowledge of natural building techniques to the local community who will help to create the school

Volunteers at work

Weaving the chorizo mixes between the bamboo posts

The volunteers from NicaCan enjoying the experience

An earthbag stem wall supports the chorizo and bamboo walls

Local workers proud of their day's work

The walls are up, the earthen plasters are on, and the milk-based paints are being applied

Milk-based paints in Nicaragua's national colors of blue and white are applied to the walls

Recycled bottles are used as window installations

The schoolhouse of Las Brisas is complete!

The children in their naturally built school

The happy schoolchildren of Las Brisas

Casa de Tierra's Austin Drill was recognized in San Juan del Sur's local newspaper, Del Sur News, for his work in the Las Brisas community, read article.