I just returned from Besao with some new photos of our first attempt remodeling a humble home in the village of Besao Philippines. The front and back walls are redone with Ecobricks, Hospital Foundation bricks, gin bottles and colored water! The mortar is our ‘organic cement’ (clay/sand/straw mix + a tiny cement) with concrete only used for two posts and a foundation layer. This means the material cost is almost zero to upgrade Jane’s house from plywood and tin to… Beauty!
The great thing about this construction is that it is a humble house in a far village– and not a wealthy person who has just paid people to do a fancy renovation with city materials. On the contrary, Jane is a passionate basurera alchemist! She goes around the town of Besao personally collecting waste plastic from the stores, PET bottles and glass bottles. At home, her mission is to make an Ecobrick everyday. In this way, little by little she is rebuilding her house– and inspiring everyone else to think twice about their “trash”!
Go Jane Go! 🙂
