Ampersand Sustainable Learning Center

Ampersand Sustainable Learning Center in Cerrillos, New Mexico, is a place to explore aspects of sustainable living. Our solar powered site demonstrates sustainable systems including permaculture, land restoration, photovoltaics, organic gardening and recycling wastewater. We build with natural and salvaged materials, cook with solar ovens, and rely on rain catchment. People come to learn skills, build confidence and refine designs for their own projects. Ampersand is a place where people can connect, share resources and meet other sustainable-minded folks in order to encourage neighborhoods to develop sustainable local environments. It's clear we need to re-think our relationships with our resources at this point in history, and our vision for moving in to this new era includes joyful community interaction and mutual support for transitioning our lives. Ampersand is a place that inspires other sustainable projects and acts as a support for their evolution. We also offer workshops that we can present at other locations (see the descriptions below for Pathways to Sustainability and Passive Solar Works ) and Sustainable Habitat Consulting services to help you with your own property.

Workshops and Events Contact us to be on our e-mail list!

Open House Volunteer Days

Open House Volunteer Days The first three Saturdays in April: April 5, 12, and 19 10:00- 6:00 You are invited to these three events in April for a chance to tour Ampersand, learn about sustainable systems, and explore how you might get further involved. Join in the fun of building with straw and earth and learn about how to harvest solar energy. All experience and ability levels welcome. Details: April 5- Learn to build with Earthbags, Straw-clay, and mud plaster. April 12- Put up a strawbale wall in one day! Solar Opportunity: Meet Michael Bittman (aka Dr. Sparks), owner of Urown Power Co. and Solar Electrician for Arcosanti, Paolo Soleri's Urban Laboratory. Michael Bittman will be on hand to explain Ampersand's solar electric system and answer questions about grid-tied systems, solar water heating, and other solar projects. April 19- Finish the strawbale wall with cob and earth plasters Solar Opportunity: Meet Michael Bittman (above) Please call us for directions: 505 780-0535

Earth Plaster Intensive

May 3 and 4, 2008 Time: 10 am - 6pm Instructor: Carole Crews Description: Learn to create and apply Earthen Plasters from time-honored techniques in this 2 day intensive. Comfortable, durable, and versatile, Earthen Plasters are perfect for luxury homes as well as low budget structures. Day 1: May 3, 2008 Learn the basics of earthen plasters, the layers necessary (or unnecessary) for a smooth and dust-free finish, and the easiest ways to achieve success. We will gain experience with the full process from wall preparation to mixing and application of a luscious finish plaster to the curving walls of an earth-bermed, passive solar home. The first day also includes a tour of the structures and systems of this sustainable living demonstration site. Day 2: May 4, 2008 We will discuss formulas, colors, binders and techniques for making your own finish plasters: clay paint, milk paint and casein washes suitable for a wide variety of surfaces. We will gain experience with different application processes and materials. $145 To register: call Santa Fe Community College, Center for Community Sustainability (505.428.1270) or register online here. Course number CCS5300 01/CRN53193. On-site camping and meal sharing is available. Our meals are generally simple, hearty, and vegetarian. Call us at 505.780.0535 or use the email button on the top left of the page to find out more.

Earth Floor Intensive

May 10 and 11 2008 10:00 am - 6:00pm Instructor: Jim Harford Description: Mud Plaster Party and Open House Learn to create an Earth Floor from time-honore techniques in this 2 day intensive. Comfortable, durable, and versatile, Earth floors are perfect for luxury homes as well as low budget structures. Day 1: May 10, 2008 We will begin with a discussion about the theories behind earth floors including embodied energy and passive solar design. The history of various traditions of earth floors will also be reviewed, and tools, preparation methods and production goals will be introduced. In the afternoon we will work on site preparation, level and stake marking, and mixing materials. Day 2: May 11, 2008 We will continue with an exploration of emulsifiers, production methods, and labor team efficiency. By the end of the day, we will have poured a 400 square foot earth floor in an earth bermed passive solar house. $145 To register: call Santa Fe Community College, Center for Community Sustainability (505.428.1270) or register online here. Course number CCS5301 01/CRN53226. On-site camping and meal sharing is available. Our meals are generally simple, hearty, and vegetarian. Call us at 505.780.0535 or use the email button on the top left of the page to find out more.

Earthbag Workshop June 8, 2008 Time: 10 am - 6pm Instructor: Amanda and Andy Bramble $30 to $45 sliding scale Description: Learn how to build earthen walls with a low water use method during this one day workshop. We will be using the Flexible-Form Rammed Earth technique developed by Kaki Hunter and Donald Kiffmeyer, as presented in their book, "Earthbag Building." We will be working on the solar greenhouse and bathroom additions to an earth-bermed solar house which catches rainwater and recycles 100% of the greywater produced. We will break into two teams and rotate the roles to provide instruction on all aspects of basic earthbag building for all levels of experience. Planning a structure for plumbing, electrical, interior installations, and protective finishes will be covered. This will be an attentively guided introduction to the process of building an Earthbag structure.

Sustainable Living May Internship May 2 - May 18 $600 to $700 sliding scale Description: Ampersand internships are immersion experiences in Sustainable Living. Join us to experience the joys of living in right relationship to our resources: the precious desert rain, our abundant sunlight, and the strong and flexible earth which provides diverse life and fine shelter. Two weekend intensive classes, Earth Floor and Earthen Plasters are included. You will become fully trained in these interior finishing techniques with the use of local materials. The remainder of your experience will include learning other natural building techniques like cob, earthbag and strawbale construction. There will also be opportunities for learning about sustainable cooking, permaculture, land restoration, solar systems, rain catchment, and greywater use. What you will learn: This internship is focused around learning about earthen interior finishing techniques. The main teaching tool will be the solar earthbag hybrid structure. You will have the opportunity to investigate how this earth bermed structure came to be, from the site excavation, to the rain catchment plumbing, to the solar electric system. The internship curriculum is informal and integrated with the daily play of living in this environment and maintaining the sustainable systems that support us. We hope to encourage your path towards sustainability and provide you with the knowledge and experience that we have that will help you on your personal journey. Many folks have found our library to be quite helpful. What you can expect: You will be living in a tent and sharing the common outdoor kitchen facility and the yurt, which holds the library. Ampersand is a great place to live if you like being outside and close to nature! We apply our newly learned skills daily, sharing in the cooking and maintenance of the site. Our meals are generally simple, hearty, and vegetarian, although we are open for culinary explorations. We invite up to 5 interns at a time and the community experience is a large part of sustainable living at Ampersand. For us, it is important to approach our work and learning with a sense of caring and humor. Ampersand is located at 5800 feet elevation in the high desert pinon-juniper grassland ecosystem. In early may the daytime weather is generally ideal and there may be light frost at night. There are many hiking destinations from Ampersand. The geology is quite diverse and there are petroglyphs from ancient peoples to be found. You can also hike to our nearby village, Madrid, which has it's own rich history. There you will find many galleries, a coffee shop, and a historic tavern. You will get two days off per week to rest, explore, or study. Northern New Mexico contains too many treasures to mention if you care to venture farther away. To apply for this internship, please send us a letter of introduction including any experience with living in community, sustainable living, and natural building, the reason for your interest in the internship, and any of your background, experiences and dreams you wish to share.

Sustainable Living June Internship

June 6 - June 22 $600 to $700 sliding scale Description: Ampersand internships are immersion experiences in Sustainable Living. Join us to experience the joys of living in right relationship to our resources: the precious desert rain, our abundant sunlight, and the strong and flexible earth which provides diverse life and fine shelter. This internship begins with a workshop on Earthbag construction. We will be using the Flexible-Form Rammed Earth technique developed by Kaki Hunter and Donald Kiffmeyer, as presented in their book, "Earthbag Building.". This is a great opportunity to learn about several natural building techniques, passive solar design as well as greywater systems. There will also be opportunities for learning about sustainable cooking, permaculture, land restoration, solar systems, and rain catchment. What you will learn: During your internship, we will continue building the walls of the bathroom and the foundation and stem walls of the greenhouse which will attach to an earth-bermed house, a passive solar hybrid structure of earthbag, post and beam, and strawbale. You learn the ins and outs of earthbag building. This includes how to plan for electrical and plumbing and cabinet installation, and how to weave this building technique with other methods. You will also learn to apply the primary layers of earth plaster. You will have the opportunity to investigate how this earth bermed structure came to be, from the site excavation, to the rain catchment plumbing, to the solar electric system. The internship curriculum is informal and integrated with the daily play of living in this environment and maintaining the sustainable systems that support us. We hope to encourage your path towards sustainability and provide you with the knowledge and experience that we have that will help you on your personal journey. What you can expect: You will be living in a tent and sharing the common outdoor kitchen facility and the yurt, which holds the library. Ampersand is a great place to live if you like being outside and close to nature! We apply our newly learned skills daily, sharing in the cooking and maintenance of the site. Our meals are generally simple, hearty, and vegetarian, although we are open to culinary explorations. We invite up to 5 interns at a time and the community experience is a large part of sustainable living at Ampersand. For us, it is important to approach our work and learning with a sense of caring, responsibility, and humor. Ampersand is located at 5800 feet elevation in the high desert pinon-juniper grassland ecosystem. In June we may experience temperatures up to 100 degrees, so we get started early and make use of the siesta. We will also plan at least one field trip to Jemez Falls, a paradise of cool pools in the mountains. There are many hiking destinations from Ampersand. The geology is quite diverse and there are petroglyphs from ancient peoples to be found. You can also hike to our nearby village, Madrid, which has it's own rich history. There you will find many galleries, a coffee shop, and a historic tavern. You will get two days off per week to rest, explore, or study. Northern New Mexico contains too many treasures to mention if you care to venture farther away. To apply for this internship, please send us a letter of introduction including any experience with living in community, building and sustainable living, and the reason for your interest in the internship, and any of your background, experiences and dreams you wish to share.

Passive Solar Works

This one day class helps students clearly understand passive solar design concepts and how to put them to work in a Do-It-Yourself situation. From fundamentals of passive solar design, solar gain, thermal mass and insulation the course progresses to learning how to balance these appropriately to manage and store heat in buildings and spaces. In addition Amanda offers simple technologies that can be easily incorporated in one’s life, such as solar cookers, water pasteurization indicators, retained heat cookers, dehydrators, water heaters and cold frames. Students learn how to make a reflector oven, as well as design more complex projects that can be tackled later.

Pathways to Sustainability

Sustainable living is about harvesting the renewable resources of your environment in order to meet your needs. Learn options for incorporating sustainable practices into your life. This interactive workshop contains an overview of sustainable systems and practices focusing on two of the most important elements for sustainable living in the Southwest: Sun and Water. You will learn the basics of passive solar design for heating and cooling living environments and food growing systems, as well as creating solar cooking devices. We will explore the options for making best use of greywater in the landscape, and discuss rainwater collection systems. Learn how to create environments that support your goals and reflect your values. This workshop will include group exercises and individual coaching in order for each participant to craft a personalized vision of sustainability. Amanda will assist you in developing practical and fun strategies for realizing that vision. This is an opportunity to survey which sustainability skills will serve your needs and ask questions pertaining to your experience and goals.