“The Uros use bundles of dried totora reeds to make reed boats (balsas mats), and to make the islands themselves. The larger islands house about ten families, while smaller ones, only about thirty meters wide, house only two or three. The islets are made of totora reeds, which grow in the lake. The dense roots that the plants develop and interweave form a natural layer called Khili (about one to two meters thick) that support the islands.
Peru
Report from Pisco
We have reported on the building of a community center in Pisco, Peru, and now this article from the Media Global organization has an update about how the community has responded to the introduction of earthbag technology: “The Ring of Fire” is a 25,000-mile hotbed of seismic activity stretching north from New Zealand through East … Read more
Earthbag Trainer Needed in Peru
My name is Carmen Mauk, and I run a non-profit, Pisco Sin Fronteras, in Peru. We have been working here since 2007 when an 8.0 earthquake devastated the region. Thousands of families are still living in tents and unfortunately, the Peruvian government hasn’t been forthcoming in supporting reconstruction efforts. We are introducing earthbag building to … Read more