We are back in France, at the moment in Millau in the pyrrhenees back in the country of mc-do-wifi-stealing

We went about 2000 km in the last 2 weeks and will go on in that speed to be back in munich SOON, spending the time in the car with brainstorming for brueckenschlaeger conference and the company/collective and our visions in general …

We spent 2 nights and an amazing day in escanda, a beautiful centro social in the mountains near Pola de Lena in Asturias. The (our impression: very well-working) collective exists since about 6 years and consists of a varying number of about 12 (?) people from different countries. Their main focusses are to built food/growing cooperatives and education (this is where they got most of their money from –> english teaching camps for kids, ecological education, etc)

We talked a bit with some of the people and went with them to their fields, where they grow their own “escanda” (spelt) and beans, and corn in another one. Also we saw their beautiful gardens with many more vegetables and their self-built house.

We came in a difficult phase as they are now suffering from of the spanish train company who is building a tunnel under their place. Their main house is in danger of collapsing and the future of the project is not clear. 2 months ago they were suddenly told to leave the house within only 1 day - the workers put some strange wood construction onto the walls to support them, but anyways you can see the damages the explosions under the area already caused.

The land and main house belongs to a foundation which probably won’t let them back in even if the house is still usable afterwards. Now the discussions are if they should try to get back the house later on (if it is still possible to use it) or try to find another space and just leave their beautiful selfbuilt house that costed them 4 years building time …

(I dont really have time to write more now, maybe I will continue later on )

We hope all the best for this beautiful project, dont let go, escanda people!

Last 5 posts by anja

• Que pasa? - December 15th, 2009
• project update - July 22nd, 2009
• erste Infoveranstaltung in München / first info event in Munich - June 21st, 2009
• back in the land of rain - June 6th, 2009
• game over ... the last day - May 31st, 2009