The Art Farm Group. Permaculture, Green Building Projects in the South of France

  France

Privas

Description: Looking for workshop facilitators, Permaculture teachers, ECO builders, Artists and all round talented people.

The Art Farm
In the Rhone Valley region of France just 1 ½ hours from Lyon airport, high up on a mountain between Privas and Aubenas, sits an unusual art project that has caused quite a stir in the world of eco chic and environmentally friendly living lifestyles. The brain child of Johnny Grant; The Art Farm continues to grow in popularity with over 100 residential visitors staying form anywhere from one week to three months and countless other passers by. It seems The Art Farm has a unique way of doing things. During the summer months The Art Farm pays host to numerous workshops from Permaculture to Ceramics, wild-greens cooking classes to green building workshops. The Art Farm, France, makes exciting products and converts everyday unwanted items into the most desirable products ever.

At The Art Farm we sell products to provide funds for courses, renovate the buildings and more importantly to learn how to make other products. The Art Farm themes change and develop as we go along. For example, when we have residential Aromatherapist onsite, everyone learns how to blend essential oils correctly, how to make soaps, candles and massage blends from a professional. All the products used on a daily basis are made at The Art Farm. When we have a visiting ceramics artist we buy in lots of clay and have a ball. Even the kilns were made by our members. For The Art Farm it is not enough to just send their glass bottles and jars to the recycling bin, we demonstrate how to invent new products. We teach how to blow glass from them, cut them or use them when building walls.

Helping individuals create their own ECO-CHIC business

Our network in the Ardèche region of France includes some 40 Artists and 57 Organic food producers. We have helped local artists make extra income by providing them an outlet for their arts and crafts while supplying raw materials to enable them to create new ones.
Many locals have learnt to make soaps, ceramics, candles and cosmetics which are now sold at the local markets and stores. The Art Farm has played host to courses on soap making, candles, Aromatherapy and ceramics, eco building, Permaculture and glass blowing.

Johnny Grant, founder of The Art Farm recently gave an interview in France with a local newspaper regarding the success of The Art Farm project.

Organic juice and food

For the spring, summer and fall of 2009 The Art Farm plays host to workshops and courses from Massage to Green building and Permaculture.

The main aim of The Art Farm is to provide artist space and encourage others to opt for a healthier lifestyle. We also invite teachers to use our location for workshops. When possible visitors can come for free either exchanging their skills or joining in on the projects happening at that particular time.

We would like to hear from anyone with an interest to help out and join our team. We are also looking for partners interested in opening up their own Art Farm Shops around the UK and Ireland as well as partners for Art Farm Belize.

This is an exciting opportunity giving you the chance to actively experience a sustainable way of life. The Art Farm Group, France is a new intentional type community looking for workshop facilitators for the spring and summer and of 2008.

The Art Farm site with its 250 year old farmhouse and barn is being transformed using applied permaculture design techniques featuring eco building, organic fruit and vegetable gardens, solar water heating, solar showers, composting toilets, grey-water recycling, rain-water harvesting, dry stonewalling, Straw bale construction and lime rendering.

We host residential courses in natural building techniques, Lime mortars, dry stone walling, including Permaculture Design Courses being taught by renowned international Permaculture Designers and Educators, thanks to the Art Farms' unique International Permaculture Exchange Program.

Highlights: Learn traditional skills blended with the most up to date energy efficient systems. Explore the local area of the Ardeche.

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to France Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Phone Interview
• Resume
• Written Application

Art Farm Group's Mission Statement: The Art Farm Group provides a place for creative thinkers coming together to build and produce products that benefit the body, mind and home.

Year Founded: 2003