We Build With Mud: Bioconstruction in Delfim Moreira, Brazil

Infos

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  Description

  Olá, my name is Ray, Tutuco's dad, backpacker, and journalist, 39. I like to sing sometimes, even though my voice isn’t that beautiful. But singing makes the world around me feel lighter, maybe that’s why I live here, in the quiet mountains, where every sound echoes like a small prayer.
  
  Once upon a time, there was someone called Aru, who used to live in a big city. She woke up one morning feeling sad, with a heart as heavy as the fog in the mountains. So Aru walked far away from the city and began to sing, softly at first, then louder, until the trees started to listen. And as the song spread through the hills, the sadness slowly faded away.
  Aru is me. Aru is you. Repeat with me: "Who sings scares away bad things."
  That’s a popular saying from Brazil, now your first lesson in Portuguese: “Quem canta seus males espanta.” 😃
  
  Here, we are building a small handmade cottage using earth, bamboo, and love. Each wall carries a story; each helping hand shapes more than clay, it shapes a dream. My family, friends, and you are part of this dream. This project is about simplicity, connection, and silence.
  And you can sing as much as you want here… well, there’s a lot of empty space to sing alone… 😄
  
  Far from the noise of big cities and even beyond the quiet of small towns, up here in the mountains between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, every note floats freely, and calmness is everywhere.
  
  Our trails and waterfalls can help you to create your own music. 🎶
  
  HEY. YOU DON'T NEED TO READ FROM HERE.
  This text is just philosophical thoughts from the social column, tabloids, my friend:
  
  DEAR NEW FRIEND from another continent, or from the American continent... I know that you can follow my thoughts with words. Cause you are special, because only a special person reads books, even this one on your screen. Sorry about my English here. I write much better in Portuguese, I can guarantee.
  
  An advice: open a new tab on your computer, or smartphone, and write on Google Maps "Delfim Moreira". Then you zoom in, zoom out. After that you will see very much green in a long range of area, this is Mantiqueira Mountains, where you can find forests, pine trees (araucárias), perfect waterfalls and my little land.
  
  Some of the highest peaks in Brazil are here, like the very beautiful Pico dos Marins, by the way it is 20 km from the town. And Delfim Moreira is 7 km from here. If you are okay with long trails, you will enjoy very much the 8 hours walking/climbing the rocky mountains. I love it. And there are many lighter trails, don't worry.
  
  Well, I forgot that I am in a profile for volunteering, not a paper, not even a scientific paper maybe, well... I don't think so, I'm just a 'jornalista'... Yeap... I need to sell this paper here... Okay. Let's get back to our story:
  
  You already know where Delfim Moreira is, right? It is in the very south of the state of Minas Gerais, and right close to São Paulo state. And, again, kinda close to Rio de Janeiro. Well, many volunteers came from there, and I fully understand the beautiful idea that's to know Rio well. It is an amazing city. Actually this is the official slogan of the city, in music, public letters, and love letters. Yeap!
  
  But, after a shower of party, you probably will need some peace and fresh air. So, Delfim Moreira is the place. And helping to build a little house with your hands can be a new little dream for you.
  
  I already hosted 54 people from 18 countries, 50 people 6 years ago, in another eco house, and now 4 volunteers in this new starting house. My friend, I also worked as a volunteer. Not in Brazil, in South Korea. A place in the southern countryside, close to the Jirisan National Park, when I was hiking for 5 days on ice up to the highest mountain in the country.
  
  Again about my first volunteering experience: I spent two weeks there, working on a bonsai farm, cutting and fertilizing mini trees for a couple of weeks. Nice, very very nice. (Like the experience that I would like to share with you here in Minas).
  
  Well, back in Korea, after the work I hung out at the freezing beach, and learned some Korean, and ate in grandmas' houses, singing winter Christmas songs in the church with the whole family and friends of the host... In the church I understood only a bit of Latin prayer, funny... and a lot more things in only two weeks.
  
  Can you imagine how nice it can be spending more time? I can, but I was only on vacation. China also is nice...
  
  So... just like that, I was invited to a big wedding, again in the church, then a banquet, and I was the only foreigner there using flip-flops, metaphorically speaking. I was just a soft hard worker and already a temporary part of a family. Some families are nice.
  
  Well, in fact, I don't remember seeing any Westerner like me in three weeks. Okay. Long story, I know. But... You read the title of this column, it's not just my fault you're reading this far, and there's more! What a boring guy I am, huh.
  
  The story is over. Then I came back to Brazil, and started to host people like you. Now I am like Mr. Kimbap, the kind Korean farmer 60+. Well, I am Brazilian 30+, but owner of the maturity and temperament of 29+... hahaha
  
  So, my friend... I am a young farmer, and an old clown. For sure I had some fewer stories than Mr. Kimbap. But I can tell the stories of the week in some blog, or vlog, or YouTube channel, or Instagram accounts. Tutuco is there.
  
  Well, dear reader, you know, I need to be a good journalist, and tell you the very basic story (history) about why you should just decide to send me a request, and ask if I have a tent for you available, and come to Itajubá bus station first, then I'll pick you up, or better yet, you can get off the bus from Aparecida (to the largest church in Brazil, second in the world) directly at the largest church in Delfim Moreira. Yes, the city doesn't have a bus station. Eight thousand inhabitants here, including Ray Bandeira, me.
  
  If I was a volunteer, and liked very much nature, quiet mountains, soft weather, trails in the forest, waterfalls and, of course, a little hard work in the morning…
  
  It is a handmade mud eco-friendly bioconstruction veggie bamboo earth co-living camping hands-on cottage building project. (Sorry about that, it is just keywords for this platform.)
  
  Anyway, if most of these words are funny for you, please come to join us!
  
  Okay. If you read up to here, you are a winner of a special opportunity: BUY MY NEW BOOK... just kidding, I don't have any book yet. Maybe we can write together one, why not?
  
  For now, my friend and dear reader, you can follow me in this new adventure as my volunteer in: South America, Brazil, Minas Gerais, Delfim Moreira, here.
  
  See you here, future smart volunteer!
  
  Até logo.
  Ray

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Projets artistiques

  Aide avec des éco-projets

  Jardinage

  Bricolage et construction

  S’occuper des animaux

  Aide dans une ferme

  Entretien général
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  Centres d’intérêt

  

  Films et télé

  

  Culture

  

  Animaux de compagnie

  

  Dev. durable

  

  Végétarien ou végan

  

  Musique

  

  Écriture

  

  Photographie

  

  Jardinage

  

  Cuisine et alimentation

  

  Animaux

  

  Camping

  

  Nature

  

  Activités en plein air

  

  Randonnée

  

  Sports d'aventure

  

  Montagne

  

  Cyclisme
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  I love to play chess, I can teach you some Portuguese, photography and I can give you tips about national parks in Brazil and around the world.

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  Aide

  Tasks like bioconstruction, carpentry, painting, planting trees and gardening is needed.

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  Langues parlées

  Anglais: Courant
  Espagnol: Courant
  Portugais: Courant
  Esperanto: Débutant
  Français: Débutant

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  Hébergement

  Accommodation for volunteers is simple and connected to nature. You’ll be staying in tents. A shared bathroom is available. It’s a humble but welcoming environment, ideal for those who enjoy the outdoors and a collaborative lifestyle.

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  Autres infos...

  Itajubá - Minas Gerais - is the main city close, every day buses leave from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to there. Paraty is my favorite beach town around, so may we can connect trips to there.

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  Informations complémentaires

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    Accès Internet

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    Accès Internet limité

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    Nous avons des animaux

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    Nous sommes fumeurs

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    Familles bienvenues

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  Espace pour garer des vans

  Cet hôte a de la place pour les vans.

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  Possibilité d'accueillir les animaux

  My dog don't like cats, but he is friendly with small dogs.

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Deux

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  Mes animaux

  

  Tutuco (8 ans)

  Very kind boy. Border Collie.

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