Title: Building a Perfect Retreat Environment in the
Desert
a. Purpose: The purpose of this course is to cultivate a
core group of designers and builders who can implement extensive and immediate
building needs for the coming Great Three-Year Retreat. Data compilation will be
a primary activity, and will become an integral resource and reference for
building the DM Retreat Center. Information generated through the class will
also assist retreatants to complete a comfortable three-year retreat with
minimal infrastructure.
b. Overview: The setting for the Great Three-Year Retreat
is situated at about 5000 ft elevation in the foothills of the Chiricahua
Mountains where the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts merge in Southeast Arizona. The
terrain is rugged and hilly, with footpath access only that will serve all
activities. The challenge will be to
fulfill basic infrastructure needs for meditators without commonly used systems
and materials. Over the next five years, the class will explore ancient and
emerging methods of building that will have an overall low impact on global
resources, while regenerating local resources. The class will develop, present
and build new paradigms in housing that may be applied outside of the retreat
environment with good results as well.
c. Syllabus for this course over the next five years will
be directed by actual project needs in process at Diamond Mountain. There will
be extensive hands on building and design, and extensive research and
publishing.
Bring your laptop
to each Thursday class for on-line research and data collection.
Bring your gloves
to each Saturday class for hands on building efforts.
Class 1:
Overview
of class structure and goals.
A presentation will be made by Diamond Mountain’s Retreat Master Ani Pelma, who
will review spiritual practices that will define the physical requirements for
the perfect meditation environment. Discussion of what each class participant sees
as the ultimate retreat environment will follow with a group visualization of a
functioning structure in this setting. Class will make a listing of minimal
necessary systems and structures.
Home work: Take
basic visualization, and systems list and refine it
while going through the motions of daily life in your meditation hut. See yourself cooking, cleaning, practicing, gardening. Write
down the details. Distill into one page summary for insertion into class
generated building database.
Class 2:
Continue efforts from
last term on the rammed earth cistern at the World View Office. Lay and stabilize
five final courses, and begin concrete work on inside surface. Finish drainage
pipe installation to cistern from roof.
Class 3:
Presentation
by and discussion with Anne Duncan, General Contractor. Anne will be focused on Very Low Impact
methods building retreat huts for the Great Three-Year Retreat. During this
class she will impart an opportunity to cultivate a deeply personal
rapport with the elements of nature as we plan and build holy space in harmony
with those elements. Anne combines the
safety of modern building principles with sensitivity to the dynamics of the
planet. She introduces a practice of mindfulness to the spirit of the geology,
the plants and animals, the wind and rain flows as we learn to build for the
benefit of all beings. Discussion of homework, refinement of "needs"
list to reflect realistic expectations and logistical realities, based on our
discussion with Anne, with the overview on basic needs: food and storage,
water, shelter, food production, water, power, waste reduction and management.
Distillation of class
discoveries will be published in the database library webpage.
Class 4: Continue with final concrete work
and final connections on cistern at World View office.
Class 5:
Explore materials
and methods options for interior plasters for earth buildings. Produce
materials list for plastering interior of existing mud hut to meet requirements
as described by DM’s Spiritual Director. Procure materials in time for use in
Class 6.
Class 6:
Meet at Jamyang
House. Plaster interior of existing mud hut.
Class 7:
Detailed analysis
of each individuals water consumption patterns.
Detailed
analysis of availability of water on site, and the costs of bringing it from
off site.
Rain
collection potential and costs.
Water
storage and purification options.
Conservation
and reuse starting now.
Waste disposal
issues. What is waste? Answer what waste you really NEED to generate and
provide justification.
Composting toilets
Grey versus Black
water
Homework: water
consumption analysis, collection evaluation, distribution expectations and cost
analysis worksheets.
Class 8:
Work with
permaculture and land regenesis company to begin
outlining arterial roads-cum-water catchment opportunities in Deep Retreat
Valley.
Class 9:
Overview, structures
and settings
Dome, Box with hip
roof, cave, or Kiva
Who’s going to
build it?
Materials and
Methods options
What is Embodied
Energy and how is this at the foundation of materials and methods decisions?
Permitting process
Solar orientation
Ventilation and
insulation
Plumbing
Electricity
Heating and cooling
Safety and privacy
Cost estimating
Gardens and shade
Overall
environmental impact of developing a site
Getting your
materials to the site
Homework
Cost estimate work
sheets with internet research of prices and availability of all necessary
materials, systems, and appliances. Development of time line
for planning, financing, and implementing building process.
Class 10: Meet in classroom and continue
with and complete Class 9. We will debate our perceived needs versus our perceived
desires for every component. Each student’s work will be inserted into
the DM database of building information.
d. Assignments (readings, quizzes, debate, finals, any
others)
There will be a three ring binder with readings and
homeworks for each class
Final
project will be sketches, materials list, construction schedule and budget for
your perfect meditation cottage.
e. Readings (identify any required texts)
List readings available from last year
f. Is the course part of a series? (if
so, describe the series and when subsequent courses could be offered)
The course will be offered every term, with individual
subjects explored, not dependent on previous courses. Course syllabus will be
based on a current building projects and needs in process at Diamond Mountain.
g. Course prerequisites and requirements
A PASSION to explore
and develop ways of living simply in the desert will be helpful.
h. Are audits allowed?
Yes.
i. Other information
This class is
hands-on, and syllabus will fluctuate based on how each segment progresses as
well as on what needs for research or building are identified.
Faculty
a. Availability to teach at DMU (terms this course will
be offered, as well as any restrictions on days of the week or time of day
you’re available to teach)
Thursdays, 4:30 to 6:30pm
Saturdays, 1:00 to 5:00pm
b. Other DMU courses you’d be interested in attending
c. Class location preference (DM, Tucson, or other
location)
DMU
d. Equipment and/or material needs
Bring lap tops to
Thursday classes and gloves to Saturday classes.
THE NEXT TWO TERMS
Classes will continue
throughout the year with subjects of focus defined by current DM projects and
priorities.