📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
The workcamp is organized by the NGO Hnuti Brontosaurus Jeseniky which is active in a remote and unprivileged region of Jeseniky and Rychleby Mountains. Brontosaurus is focused on the environment and sustainability; they maintain abandoned sights with respect to traditional methods and materials. One of the main projects is the abandoned village of Zastavka (Stillstand) in Rychleby Mountains where they cultivate old species of fruit trees and they experiment with the natural architecture. The aim of the workcamp is to help with the renovation of the village and the creation of an eco-village with respect to traditional methods and natural lifestyle.In this workcamp, you are actively working for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Sustainable Cities and Communities (UN SDG11) and Life on Land (UN SDG15).
💼 What the programme involves
Work: The work will be divided into 2 parts. Firstly, July 17th - 19th there will be a festival Folk Grass Cutting, which tries to bring back folk traditions to the local community and also the importance of protecting nature. During the festival, you will join the community in cutting grass in the meadows with scythe as it is a tradition. The second part will take place in the village. The tasks will include cutting grass and drying it, building a dam - a small pond, garden work and various maintenance tasks. Please bring some folk clothes- a white plain shirt, trousers/long skirt and a hat for the event.Study part: Excursion around the vanished village of Zastavka (history and current development); presentation of the organization Brontosaurus; a visit and discussion with locals that live a different lifestyle; workshops (different crafts skills) and lectures upon interest.
🏠 Accommodation on site
During the festival, volunteers will stay in a lodge with other festival participants, sleeping on mattresses. During the rest of the workcamp volunteers will stay in a natural house Hobitin made of clay and straw. Sleeping on mattresses, but you can bring your own sleeping mat. Bring a warm sleeping bag Access to electricity is limited; water is delivered in barrels. Toilets are dry (outhouse). There is no indoor shower (theres a stream or improvised natural shower ( water is heated by the sun). You will cook your own meals in improvised field kitchen, taking turns.
📍 About the location
GPS coordinates: 50.351553 - 17.011342. Vanished village of Zastavka (Stillstand), part of Uhelna in Rychleby Mountains, around 29 km from the town of Jesenik. The village is situated at the hilltop and is quite isolated (the last settlers left 70 years ago after WWII). The nearest village Uhelna is reachable on foot at the distance of 2 km. The surrounding countryside is mountainous and has a charming nature.Meeting point: Uhelna (Jesenik Region). The meeting time is usually in the afternoon. Please note it takes 5-7 hours to get there from Prague. The exact information will be provided in the infosheet.Leisure time: Discovering the beautiful mountainous countryside; visiting a local spa; protected area of Rejviz; towns of Mikulovice, Zlate Hory and JesenEk, etc.