New Laundry Area!!
Written by Tobin – AKA Bobin
Laundry – often overlooked as a part of life in the west – but we wear clothes and they get dirty and we’d like to wear them again…so we clean them. Sadhana had a small table for volunteers to wash the forest debris from their garments but when we jumped up to 120 people this December, our long term volunteer Sebastian (also known as Tobin’s Hygiene Assistant) had the gumption to give the area an overhaul.
The trouble with the previous laundry area was seating, drainage and workspace. Seb started by removing the small table and stone seats and leveling the area. He created a slope towards a deep trench that takes excess laundry water as well as the shower water. In this trench we’ve planted reeds and banana plants to absorb and clean the used water.
Once a flat area was created he laid a border of bricks to hold the floor. Sand was spread out as a foundation. On top of the sand he laid Kadapa stone (a local black lime stone) as a floor that would not get muddied and would allow the water to flow off of quickly. Around the large flat slabs of stone he put small stones as a border to catch any stray water or dirt.
He replaced the stone seats and decided to try out using the floor instead of a washing table to wash one’s clothes. A broom hangs in the middle so that users can scrub the floor before and after walking and washing on it.
So far it both looks nice and works well. Clothes are clean, water goes where it is supposed to and we now enjoy using the space. Well done Seb, many thanks.
Hello seb xx
Oh my goodness Ed… you are truely amazin’!!!!!
A true laundry Super Hero!!!!
I love you…
Cat xx
One more reason to come again to visit you !!
thanks Sadhana for improving every day, every second, every breathe !
Love
Claire (Accordeonist, France)
Way to go Seb!! It looks beautiful.
Never thought I would say this, but I miss the hygiene team..
xx
Dang…what does a guy have to do to get a hygiene promotion around here?