Narratives of Soil - Podcast I - I Yao Chuang (Taiwan)
Spotify Podcast Series
Transcript:
介紹: 這一次的podcast ‘Narratives of Soil’ 會以中文來進行, 這次我們也有幸邀請到來自台灣台東的莊逸堯先生講解他這些年來在自然建築上面的工作和體悟。 莊逸堯先生也是環境教育的推動者, 透過自然建築讓人們用身體去記憶和感受，建立人與人、人與自然的連結。過去這些年來在教育中心、校園和社區，與小朋友、青少年與大人一起像遊戲般地工作和創造，在這個過程中看見人們的改變，也看見自己的改變。莊先生過去曾經是科技研究人員和工程師，在途上失去平衡的生活和兒時山林的美好記憶 讓他漸漸走向回歸自然的道路。
As part of ‘Narratives of Soil' series, our podcast episode for this time round will be conducted in Chinese. This time, we are also fortunate to invite I Yao Chuang from Taitung, Taiwan to share his work and experience in natural building over the years. I Yao Chuang is also a promoter of environmental education, he believes natural building can enable people to establish the connection between people and nature through their bodily experience with it. Over the past few years, Chuang’s environmental education programme has engaged a number of children, young people and adults. Along the process of constructing natural building with the community, he witnessed the change in people, including his own one. Before involving in the practice of environmental education, Mr. Chuang used to be a researcher and engineer in the field of IT technology. The unbalanced lifestyle in his previous career and the memorable childhood times in the nature, has resulted to his eventual subscription to a natural lifestyle.
我們可以從神話故事開始來講起，在世界各地包括在古希臘，古埃及，北美，澳洲，紐西蘭，甚至包括臺灣的原住民，他們的神話裏面都不約而同提到人是由土所創造的這類的故事。
We can trace the history and practice of mud, from the myths around world. There is no exception that in the myth from many parts of the world, there is a mention of how human was created from soil. This includes ancient Greece, ancient Egypt, North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Taiwan’s aboriginal folklores.
神話故事其實是對現實的一種隱喻，所以實際上也是這樣子。我們人的身體所組成的元素裏面，除了來自水跟空氣以外，其他的都是來自於土。土裏面的元素，怎麼樣變成我們的身體？主要是透過食物。食物主要是土裏面長出來的植物，植物能夠生生不息主要靠生態系統裏面營養物的循環，營養物循環裏非常關鍵的就是植物的有機質怎麽經過土壤的動物、微生物的食物鏈層層分解之後再形成營養物，然後留存在土壤裏面，重新被植物吸收，再進到我們的身體。
As Mythology is a series of metaphor reflecting reality, the myth around the world articulated our human’s relationship with soil well. Except for water and air, all of the elements made up of our human bodies come from soil, through food. Plants extracted the nutrients from soil and survive the cycle of nutrients in the ecosystem. The most important thing in the nutrient cycle is the organic matter of plants, through decomposition by animals and microorganisms in the soil, nutrients are formed and then stored in the soil, absorbed by plants, and then enter our body.
這整個循環裏面非常關鍵的一點就是土壤。土壤能夠把營養物質保留住，是透過土壤膠質，土壤膠質有個很重要的部分就是土壤裏面的黏土，因為黏土帶負電，可以把帶正電的營養物牢牢的抓住，讓它不會流失。 如此一來，整個生態系統的營養循環才得以形成，所以我們能夠擁有這個身體，我們的生命能夠正常的維持，能夠運作，很大的程度是依賴土壤。
Soil is the most fundamental component in this nutrient cycle. In order to retain this nutrient with the soil colloids, the most important part of the soil colloids is the clay within. Along the process, the negatively charged clay must be able to hold the positively charged nutrients firmly. In this way, the nutrient cycle of the entire ecosystem can be formed, with our body and life maintained and performed actively.
土壤除了建造我們的身體以外，它還可被拿來建造我們的家。依照估計這個世界上，大概三分之一到二分之一的人口仍然是住在土蓋成的房子裏面。土蓋成的房子有什麼好處呢？第一個是土到處都是，所以他非常的便宜和，容易取得的材料。再來就是，土蓋成的房子對於溫度跟濕度的調節有很好的效果，有冬暖夏涼的好處。另外就是它對於環境是一個很好的回應，它對於節能，減碳，跟友善環境這部分，相對於主流的建築，它有很大很大的好處。
In additional to building our bodies, soil can be used to build our homes. According to a rough estimation, about one-third to one-half of the population still lives in houses made of earth. The benefit of an earthen building is its affordability, accessibility and its good effects on regulating temperature and humidity. As a good response to our changing environment, it has great performance in energy saving and carbon reduction in comparing with mainstream architecture.
另外一點是它可以讓人們不用背負很多年的債務，就可以有一個居住的地方。另外是透過土建築的建造，人們往往可以在這過程中，透過自立造屋或者協力造屋的方式去找到自己的力量還有團體的力量。
最後是土建築可以對人們的心理上帶來一種安詳和舒適的感受。
Another huge advantage of building with earth is how it enable people to have a place to live without having to bear debts for many years. Through the process of constructing earth buildings, people can often find the strength of their own and the group.
Lastly, it would be how the earthen architecture can bring a peaceful and comfortable feeling to people.
我之前是一個工程師，我所從事的工作是電腦晶片的設計，在那樣的工作領域裏面我們被要求高效率，凡事都要快速，完全理性，可以控制，而且要非常有計劃性的去做事。另外這個過程是非常目的導向的，也非常依賴標準的流程。所以我以前的做事方式跟工作的環境是必須要這樣子的，我是處在這樣的環境裏面。但是漸漸的工作了十幾年過後，我發現我沒辦法這樣繼續下去，因為這樣的生活工作的方式對我來講是非常失衡的。所以我就慢慢的去找，改變我的生活，去追求另一種生活方式。
My previous job as an engineer specializing in computer chip design trained me to be highly efficient, fast reacting, act with full rational, controllable, and planned out manner. In addition, this process is also very purpose-oriented and very dependent on standard procedure. After more than 10 years of work in such environment, I realize I could not continue with such unbalanced lifestyle. Therefore, I set out for something slower, profound and alternative lifestyle since then.
一開始是想要讓自己的身體能夠好一點，所以就從生機飲食開始，自然就接觸到有機農業，友善環境的農業，再更進一步看到更完整永續生活的樣貌，包括自然建築，是這裏面很重要的一個元素。這對我來講好像打開了一個新的世界，好像有一個新的生活方式是可以選擇的。我是從農耕開始的，當我還是上班族的時候，我就學習農耕，學習樸門。過了幾年後，我有了自己的土地，所以我就在自己的土地上開始耕種。一開始因為工程師的習性，我很依賴知識，我把我學過的方法直接套到土地上，照著我學過的方法去規劃該種什麼，哪裏該種什麼。這樣子過了兩年，我種了很多很多的東西，但是沒有一樣可以長得起來。我的土地在那時候是處在一個非常倒退，破壞很嚴重的情況。但是在這兩年當中，我同時也發現在其他地方開始恢復了旺盛的生機，有一些植物，多年生的茅草或者是先驅樹開始長起來，我去觀察那些地方的土壤是非常香的，有很多蚯蚓，團粒構造很棒，水分也很充足。相較於我一直想要嘗試種的地方的土壤還是非常貧瘠，非常乾燥，我才赫然發現，其實土地在用它自己的方式修復它自己。
後來我們把知識暫時放下，把觀察土地這件事情放到最高優先，然後就跟著土地修復的腳步，在開始回復生機的地方種下果樹，已經開始有樹林的地方我們就種下一些適合種在林下的作物，像薑、薑黃等等。經過這個過程，我們體會到土地有旺盛的生命力還有修復和平衡自己的力量。因為這個時間很長，整個過程也跟我之前的工作模式有很大的差異，所以在這兩三年的過程中，它慢慢的改變了我，也讓我更認識了土壤。
At the beginning of such transition towards a healthier lifestyle, I started with macrobiotic diet. With that, I came into contact with organic farming and environment-friendly farming naturally. From an advance aspect of that, it led to how natural building can enable a more complete and sustainable life. To me, this seems to have opened up a new world, as if there is an additional way of living to subscribe to apart from my existing one at the time. I started investigating more when I was still working for my previous career, and picked up Permaculture as the starting point of this bigger transition. After a few years, I had my own land and started to work on it. At first, the engineer side of me was still very knowledge or method, I planned for what and where to plant according to the method I learned. After two years of doing so, despite having planted a lot of things, none of them grow. My land was in a highly degraded state at that time. Meanwhile, I have also found that other places have yet to interfere, begun to restore vigorous vitality. Perennial grass or pioneer trees have begun to grow. The soil in those places was very fragrant, had good crumb structure, many earthwormsand and plenty of water inthe soil. In contrast to the parcel of land that I have yet to work on, the soil was too poor and dry to be productive. With that, I realized that the land was repairing itself in its own way.
With that realization in mind, we put our knowledge aside and see observing the land as the highest priority. We planted fruit trees in places where they began to regain vitality, and we planted some crops suitable for growing under the forest, such as ginger, turmeric and so on. After this process, we realize that the land has a strong vitality and power to heal and balance itself. As this long course of journey which is very different from my previous production model, it gradually changed myself and allowed me to have a better understanding of soil.
我從很快的漸漸變成了習慣慢，也習慣持續的做一件事情；從很理性的開始學會去用感受，也接受事情是經常在變化的，不一定是可以控制的；從目標導向變成過程導向，過程才是最重要的。另外我也學會了怎麼樣順流而下，用比較放鬆的方式去做事情。這個過程中因為種植所以每天在接觸土壤，接觸土壤這件事情讓我處在一種很愉悅，心裏面覺得很踏實的狀態，所以我開始出發是從農耕開始。也在農耕的過程中，不知不覺的被改變。現在回過頭來看，這樣子的改變也讓我後面做的事情才能夠順利的發生。
Gradually I slowed down myself, and then I learned to do something persistently and appreciate my sensibility towards what was around me. I also started to accept that change is a continuum, as it is beyond our control, it is more meaningful to be more in the process. My priority towards the land shifted from goal-oriented to process-oriented one, with that I became more thankful and at ease with the journey. Looking back now, this change also allowed me to do things later to happen smoothly.
同時我也去泰國學習自然建築，跟Dr. Owen Geiger老師學習（夯土袋的工法），在泰國學習給我一個最大的幫助就是老師常講的 “Anyone can do it” 每個人都可以做得到。我也在這學習的過程中，從完全不會蓋房子，甚至也不覺得自己能夠蓋房子的一個上班族，變成我覺得我可以做到，可以靠我的雙手利用土把它蓋起來。後來我們有了自己的土地，也想在土地上蓋房子，一開始的時候比較理想性，想要以純手工，純人力的方式蓋一個純粹的自然建築、純土屋。但是在這過程中我的身體不堪那樣的負荷倒下去了。我休息了半年才有辦法再繼續前進。但這倒下去的過程，讓我的身心有很大的改變。我開始用比較折衷和自己能夠承受的方式，來完成用土建造房子這件事情。所以我們就做了些調整，改成用輕鋼構作為主結構，剩下墻體的部分再用土來做。在先把屋頂完成的情況下，我們就搬到了土地上，然後用露營的方式，開始在那裏開始一邊生活一邊蓋房子，就這樣過了大概一年半的時間。
在這一年半的時間裡，我意識到我們是最後搬進去的。原本在土地上有很多的動物，很多鳥，昆蟲，在那邊自由的來去，在那邊生存著，所以也因為這樣的歷程，我們的房子做了很大的調整，土墻之外，我們用木板來做門窗，除了需要遮風擋雨的時間之外，我們讓這個房子保持通透。所以空氣也好，動物也好，螢火蟲，蝴蝶，蜂，等等，它們可以自由的穿越。這是因為慢下來所以讓我們有很大的改變。
另外我們用雨水來作為我們的水源，因為要少量的用水所以我們就用乾式的堆肥廁所。這兩件事情讓我們很清楚看到了水是怎麼來的。我們把水儲存下來使用它之後去了哪裏？它回到土地上，回到植物，再回到天上去。這讓我們很清楚的看到以前在都市看不到的。原來水循環是這樣子在發生著。也因為我們要省水，所以我們用了乾式的堆肥廁所，我們清楚地看到我們吃進去的食物成為我們的排泄物之後，再經過一兩年的堆肥，最後成了養分回到了土，回到了果樹，然後再變成我們的食物。這個過程雖然時間很長，但它讓我很清楚的看到我們是如何参與了大自然的水循環跟物質的循環。很多住在都市的朋友來看我們都會覺得我們過著一種與世隔絕的生活。但是我回頭看看以前在都市的生活，我看不到這些真正支持我们生命的大自然背後的循環。所以我現在的感覺是以前的都市生活才是真正的與世隔絕。
Around the same time, I went to Thailand to learn more about natural building, I was hugely inspired by the teaching of Dr. Owen Geiger (the technique of earthbag) "Anyone can do it". Before that workshop, I have never built a house, nor ever think I can build a house. The process guided me into believing building with earth and our own hand is possible. Soon after that we have our own land, and the next goal is to build our own house on the land. At the beginning, I was being quite idealistic in thinking of a pure natural building - pure earthen house with pure manual efforts. My body collapsed in the demanding process and I rested for half a year before I could move on. However, the process of falling down has changed my mind about it, I started to arrange the task in accordance to what I could bear to complete. With some adjustments, we changed to use light steel structure for our main structure, and then we used earth for the remaining walls. Once the roof completed, we moved to the land, and then started to live there in a tent while building the house. This process took us a year and a half.
Along the process, we realized that we were the last ones to move to this land and there were many animals, many birds and insects which came and went freely. Our house was also adjusted a lot because of this process, in addition to building erathen walls, we also use wooden boards for our doors and windows. We kept the house open in most time, so the air, animals, fireflies, butterflies, bees, etc. can travel freely.
Meanwhile, we use rainwater as our water source and dry composting toilet as it required least water. This allowed us to see the cycle of our water clearly. It enabled us to understand what was not seen in cities before. From the composting toilet, we also clearly see how the food we eat becomes our excrement, after one or two years of composting, it finally becomes nutrients and returns to the soil. Then it returns to the fruit tree, and finally became our food. Although this process takes a long time, it allows us to clearly see that we are participating in the natural water cycle and the material cycle. Many friends who live in the city came to see us and felt that we are living a life of isolation. But when I look back at my previous life in the city, I can't see the cycles behind the nature that really supports our lives. So now I feel that the urban life in my past is really isolated from the real world.
因為蓋了這個自然的土屋，開始就被從事環境教育朋友看見。她邀請我們去進行針對小朋友跟大人的環境教育。最早是在2016年，我們在臺東的環境教育中心。帶著一群小學生跟幼稚園的小小孩，一起蓋一間很小很小的土團屋。這個由小朋友蓋好的土團屋在完成之後三天就發生了非常強烈的一個颱風。這個颱風對臺東造成很大的破壞，小土屋附近的樹， 就好像經歷了森林大火，沒有留下任何的樹葉，大部分的樹枝也都折斷了。但在這樣的景象之下那座小小的土屋幾乎是完好無損。這個給我們很大期待跟信心。所以我們最後決定繼續用土來建造房子的方式來提供小朋友跟大人直接動手，直接接觸土來建造的機會。
Since I built this natural earthen house, my practice started to gain attention from a friend who has been engaging in environmental education. She invited us to conduct an educational program for children and adults at the Environmental Education Center in Taitung in 2016. With a group of elementary school students and little kids from the kindergarten, we built a very small mud house together. A very strong typhoon occurred three days after the mud house was completed. This typhoon caused a lot of damage to Taitung and most trees nearby seemed to have experienced a forest fire, leaving no leaves, branches broken. But under such a scene, the little earthen house is almost intact. This gives us great boost in confidence and expectation, from there onwards, we decided to use earthen building to provide children and adults a direct hands-on, building opportunities as well as environmental education.
接下來的兩三年，我們就在環境教育中心用土跟竹子蓋了一間土屋，它是給小朋友的一個遊戲空間，這個土屋有超過500人次的協力完成，包括小孩和大人。完成了這個遊戲土屋後，我們在另一個國小陸陸續續完成了可以遊戲的土椅子，還有它上面的一個竹拱，另外我們也建造了一個土窯，還有一個竹棚子。在這個過程中，我們持續的用土這個材料來提供大人和小朋友接觸土的機會，而創造出來的空間可以讓他們有更實際的體驗和感受到土跟人直接的連結。
在這同時臺灣各地有越来越多人也投入用土，竹，木，石這些材料來做自然建築。所以在2018年的時候林雅茵建築師發起了臺灣的自然建築交流會，Nature Building Colloquium Taiwan，2019年我們跟臺東的幾個夥伴舉辦了第二屆的NBC。在那一次的交流會裏面，我們設立了一個主題，希望來自臺灣各地的夥伴都把他們在地的土的材料帶過來用他們所使用的配方來做成抹墻的材料，一起抹在一間土屋的墻上。那一次的交流會真的是一次很難忘的交流，因為我們看到來自臺灣各地的夥伴帶著臺灣各地的土，各種不同的顏色，不同的質感，然後調配成一個又一個美麗的抹墻的材料，最後當這些材料展現在一起的時候，呈現了臺灣各地不同土壤的不同質地，也展現了不同的施作者不同的特質跟個性。
In the following two or three years, we built a house with earth and bamboo in the Environmental Education Center. As a play space for children, the earthen house was completed by hundreds of people, including children and adults. After finished this earthen house, we have successively completed some earthen benches with a bamboo arch sit on top of it in another elementary school, soon after that we also built an earthen oven and a bamboo shed. In this process, we continue to use earth as a material to provide adults and children with opportunities to work with it. The space created also allowed them to have a more practical experience and build direct connection between soil and people.
At the same time, we witnessed more individuals and group across Taiwan started using earth, bamboo, wood, and stone to build natural buildings. In 2018, Architect Lin Yayin initiated the Nature Building Colloquium in Taiwan, the NBC Taiwan. In the following year 2019, we also held the second NBC with several partners in Taitung. In that exchange meeting, we set up a collective theme with a hope that our partners from all over Taiwan could bring the materials from their respective region, and their own formula for the mix to work together on the wall of an earthen house as finishing. That exchange was considered as a very unforgettable one, as we saw partners from all over Taiwan bring soil from all over the island, with various colors and textures, and then blended them into beautiful wall-plastering materials, one after another. Finally, when these materials were displayed together, they showed the different textures of different soils in various parts of Taiwan, different characteristics and personalities.
我想再分享另外一個故事，有關我們施作的工法。在臺東的一個原住民的部落，有一位建築師去協助他們做傳統家屋再造，這傳統家屋是用石頭跟木頭建造的。當他們建造第一棟的時候，這位建築師為了謹慎期起見，用了很多結構的計算，科學的數據去決材料的尺寸，這樣建了第一個房子。可是蓋出來還是和傳統的家屋有差別。所以當他要蓋第二間的時候就去訪問更多的老人家。了解當初在建造傳統家屋的時候，山裏面的什麼地方取多大的材料，然後用在什麼的部位，記錄下來後。然後他們用這樣的方式建第二間，透遏這樣的過程，這位建築師跟所有參與重建的原住民的居民才真切的感覺到，原來老人家一代接一代傳授下來的知識，其實是要用身體去記憶的。當他們照著老人家的指示，取得適當的材料來建造適當的部位的時候，很明顯的感覺到了穩定性跟強度。所以這位建築師跟我們說這個事情的時候，他有很深的感觸，特別是當我們想要用自然材料來建造的時候，更重要的是回歸身體的經驗，而不一定是只能完全依賴跟著科學的計算。身體的經驗這件事情是當我們使用自然材料的時候是一個非常重要的依據。很多東西當沒有辦法完全依賴現代的科學和技術的時候，其實到最後還是要回歸到我們的身體記憶，讓我們身體去感受去接受這些自然材料它告訴我們的訊息。
I would like to share another story in regards to the construction method we heard from an architect before. The architect went to an indigenous community of Taitung to help them on rebuilding their traditional house, which was built of stone and wood. When they in the process of rebuilding the first house, the architect used a lot of structural calculations and scientific data to determine the size of the materials in order to be cautious. Despite so, the outcome of this scientific result is still looking different from the traditional houses. Therefore, when it comes to their second house, he went to visit the elderly members of the community. Through that, he learned how much material was taken from which part of the mountain, and where it was used for the house building. Informed by this learning process, they built the second building.
Through this process, the architect and all indigenous residents who participated in the reconstruction got to understood how important it is to have the bodily experience and knowledge in building passed down from generation to generation. After they followed the instructions from the elderly members of the community, they obtained the proper materials with the stability andthe strength required to build the houses. When the architect shared with us regarding this, he emphasizes it is very important to return to physical experiences when it comes to building with natural materials instead of relying on scientific calculations. The experience of the body is a very important basis when we use natural materials for building. While many things cannot completely rely on modern science and technology, they will need to return to our bodily memory for guidance, as that our bodies can feel and perceive the information that these natural materials have given to us.
用自然材料來建築這件事情，我想它非常需要一個多樣性，特別是現在我們的生活形態已經和過去傳統的農業時代不一樣了。人力的資源也好，或是能夠互相幫助、付出勞動力的方式都已經和過去的時代截然不同了，所以我想它應該是一個光譜，在這個光譜裏面，有各種不同的材料和工法的選擇，當這個光譜展開的時候，它呈現出來的多樣性才可能去創造更多人能夠去選擇，進而去發生改變的可能。這個光譜裏面可能有一端是純粹的自然建築、材質，再過來一點會結合部分工業生產的材料。再過來一點，它可能是一個混合式的，像我家一樣是用鋼構作為主結構，然後再結合自然材質作為墻體，在過來一點可能就是現在普遍的綠建築，採用很多的方法和一些綠建材來達成主流建築裏面比較友善環境的方式，再更過來一點，在光譜的另外一端，就是綠改造，針對我們已經有的房子，可能使用一些土的塗料，或者是其他的材料去做改造，讓我們現有的房子不再那麼的耗能，或者是對人的健康有所改善。在工法上也是, 有的方法是純粹的手做的，比較適合有時間可以投入，純粹用手做的的方式來完成。在中間一點我們可以適度的引用機械，然後自動化，在另外一端就是更工業化的，像是預先制造，然後到了現場再用組裝的方式來完成。所以對於推廣，擴散這件事情，也許我們需要像光譜這樣的多樣性。也許我們每個人都會在裏面會找到一個我們最認同的，你可以不認同其他辦法，但我相信它們的存在是有好處的。透過包容和理解，我們可以創造更多的選擇。给不同的想法、不同的身心承受程度的人，在有用自然材料來建造這樣的想法下可以找到能夠做的選擇，那這樣一來才有可能讓改變發生。
I think the development of architecture that use natural materials at this phase requires diversity in exploration, especially now our production model is very different from the agricultural era we had in the past. Our human resources, lifestyles, social support system, and production model is completely different from that of the past. Therefore, I think it should be a spectrum that covers a variety of materials and construction methods. When this spectrum is unfolded, the diversity it presents can enable more possibility for individuals to subscribe upon. I imagine one end of this spectrum would be the natural building carried out in a pure manner; At the next point of the spectrum, there are some parts of industrial materials involved. Near the middle of it, it may be a hybrid type that allows combination of natural and industrial material such as my home. On the other end of the spectrum, we may use some soil paint, or some other natural materials to make green renovations, so that our existing houses are not so energy-consuming, or it can improve human health. The spectrum also gives implication towards its construction methods we can subscribe to, on one end of the spectrum we may carry out the building with pure hand, which is suitable for those who doesn’t mind investing time on the construction. As for the middle point of the spectrum, we can use machinery appropriately, and then automate it. On the other end, it may be modified, which is pre-manufactured and then assembled on site. Despite all differences, I believe only when we allow such diversity of discussion for building with natural materials, then it can truly prevail in the contemporary building. Through tolerance and understanding we can create more subscription models for a variety of ideas, minds, and individuals with different tolerance levels. In the hope that when one has such an idea of building a natural home, he or she can always find a model he or she can make possible with.
我們畢竟是從事利用土、利用自然建築來從事環境教育，所以教育這件事情其實對我們來講是最重要的事情。
我也想要分享一下我們在這幾年過程中看到人們在接觸土之後的改變。從小學生中學生大學生到大人甚至老人家，我們看到沒有例外的就是被土黏住這個事情。人們通常是第一時間是反感的，因為這個可能是他們平常很沒有接觸到的東西跟經驗。特別是小孩子，他們會很直接的說「好髒哦，好噁心」。可是往往過沒有多久，當他們用腳，用手去接觸土之後，就會產生很大的改變。你會開始看到笑容從他們臉上展現出來，人們開始變得很開心，很放鬆。
尤其是時間比較長的課程，到最後幾乎不管是大人或小孩幾乎是被土所黏住了。有的人拾不得上課的結束或者是一而再地回來。包括我們自己在內，我們在這些人身上看到這個土怎麼樣的去照顧人們的身心。讓人們從不平衡，壓力緊張的狀態，很神奇的變成放鬆的，然比較安詳，愉悅的狀態。
這就是我們看到的人被土所黏住，被土所改變。它其實有著大自然的力量，就像我們身心常會被大自然改變，讓我覺得很驚喜的是即便是在人造的環境裏面只要是使用自然的材料，用土，用竹子所建造的空間一樣是可以傳遞大自然照顧人們身心的品質，跟那種力量.
After all, we are engaged in the use of soil and natural buildings for environmental education, so education is actually the most important thing for us. Then I also want to share a change that we have witnessed in the course of the past few years after people established their contact with soil.
Without exception of the participants’ age or background, we witnessed how they attached to soil by the end of every participation. Most participants are usually disgusted the first time, as this may be something and experience that they don't usually touch in their daily life. "it's so dirty, it's disgusting" is something we heard a lot from kids. But often it doesn't take long for the change to happen. After constant contact with soil with their feet and hands, we start to see smiles on their faces and they start to become joyful and relaxed.
This happens especially for our courses with longer timeframe, almost all adults or children are attached to the soil by the end of it. Some participants experienced withdrawal symptom and came back to us, again and again. We witnessed how the soil took care of their bodies and minds of our participants, including ourselves. It is fascinating to see how people can shift from an unbalanced, stressed state, towards a miraculously relaxed, peaceful and pleasant state within a short time.
Soil encompasses the power of nature, just as how our mind and body are often recalibrated by mother nature if we allow them to. What surprised me is that even in an artificial environment, as long as it is build or finished with natural materials, such as earth, and bamboo, it still owns the capacity of nurturing body and mind.
今年到明年，我們會有兩個主要的計劃，其中一個是在臺中，有一個食農教育協會，在他們的食農教育基地裏面，我們會跟這個基地的志工一起來完成土跟竹子搭建的教室。這個教室將來會作為樸門的課程，或者是社區大學跟食農、跟環境相關的課程來使用。所以這個教室的搭建，可以預想的是將來會有很多很好的知識跟經驗在這個教室裏面分享跟擴散出去。這個計劃比較特別，它是一個由協會和基地的志工為主角的協力建造計劃。
這個團體其實已經有很大的能量，因為他們經常協力完成很多種植還是推廣的課程。但是對於蓋房子的這件事情，他們一開始會覺得這是我們所不了解的，還沒有能力去做的事。所以在這個計劃裏面我們會採用一種成長團體跟自學的方式，去分享我們經驗跟協助設計。但是那個力量要能回歸到這個教室的擁有者跟建造者，也就是這個協會的夥伴身上。所以現階段他們會先進行讀書會，對自然建築、對土建造、對竹構，先進行學習跟了解。另外他們也開始去針對材料，土、竹子去進行了解跟學習。我想就是透過這種方式，讓搭建的主角保持在擁有者本身。我覺得這是在傳遞一個重要的訊息：有一個重要的精神是”owner builder” 我是這個自然建築的擁有者，同時我也是它的建造者。
From this year onwards until next year, we will probably have two major participatory workshops which we welcome new participants. The first one is in Taichung, together with Food and Agriculture Education Association, we will work with the volunteers of this organization to build a classroom with earth and bamboo. The classroom will be used for carrying out Permaculture courses in the future, or anything related to food, agriculture and environment for the community. Therefore, the construction of this classroom is expected to showcase a handful of knowledge and experience to be shared and manifested. What is unique about this plan is its joint venture with volunteers from the association, which we would like to see as protagonist of the project.
In fact, a volunteer group of this organization had already showcased a tremendous energy, as they often work together to organize a number of courses, regardless it is on planting or promotion. But when it comes to building a house, they would feel helpless as it is something they don't understand, or don't have the ability to do so. Therefore, we will kick start from a self-learning group to share our experience and assist in design. I believe the power of building must be able to return to the users and those from this group. Hence, in their first stage, they will conduct a study session to learn about natural building, earthen construction, and bamboo construction. In addition, they began to understand and study materials, earth, and bamboo physically. I think this process is sending an important message and spirit of "owner builder" - I am the owner of this natural building, but at the same time I am also its builder’.
另外一項計畫在台東本地，會是在上半年就是即將來到的學期，我們會跟臺灣的陽明交通大學一起合作，透過一個通識課程，由建築研究所的老師來帶領，在臺東的一個小學蓋一個自然建築的設施，在校園裏面針對社區的老人跟小孩做一個照顧的空間，和舉辦相關的親子的課程跟活動的空間。所以在這個計劃裏面會有在地的居民，會有來自大學的學生，然後會有新移民或者是其他各個不同的群體所一起的合作。除了能夠讓這些大學生有一些不同的文化體驗之外，也是協助這個學校扮演對社區更大的角色。更重要的是透過自然材料的使用，創造出一個讓很多人可以使用和接觸，並且去享受自然材料創造出來的空間的機會。由這個計劃再延伸出來一個更長遠的夢想，我們有很多在臺灣各地第一線投入實踐的自然建築的夥伴，現在慢慢的在學術界也有老師開始投入自然建築的研究，所以我想這是一個非常重要的步驟。當學術界也好，産業界也好，開始有更多的觸及自然建築的機會，就可能用比較長遠的方式，來推動自然材料作為建造居所的一個選項。
Another event will be held in Taitung, it will happen in the upcoming semester in the first half of the year. We will collaborate with Yangming Chiaotung University, a university in Taiwan. With a course created with teachers from the Institute of Architecture, we are going to build a natural building facility for an elementary school in Taitung. The outcome from this time round will focus on serving the campus, we will provide a care space for the elderly and children in the community, related parent-child courses, and regular event. Thus, we can expect local residents, students from universities, new immigrants or a variety of groups working together in this process. Apart of enabling these college students to have a different cultural experiences, it is also to facilitate the school to play a greater role for the community. And more importantly, through the use of natural materials, create a spatial opportunity that many people can experience with natural materials. This plan also led to a dream of longer-term, we have many partners in frontier of natural building all over Taiwan, now we are slowly realizing that there are also academic partners around Taiwan, who have begun to invest in the research of natural architecture. When academia or industry has more opportunities to reach to natural building, then I think it is time for us to use a more long-term approach to promote natural materials as an option for building housing.
Podcast 內容的相關資料：
- Dr. Owen Geiger 從主流建築從業者到推動人人可以做到的自然建築方法，協助災後重建、重建家園，啟發許多人。 www.forevermissed.com/owen-geiger/lifestory
- 林雅茵 建築師 同樣從主流建築轉向較純粹的自然建築，背後有許多反思和理念的堅持。她是台灣自然建築運動的先驅者之一。 www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFR2Kym7i4Y
- Natural Building Colloquium (NBC) Taiwan nbntaiwan.blogspot.com/ NBC在北美已有近20年的歷史，2018年由林雅茵建築師發起第一屆NBC Taiwan，2019年我們在台東舉辦第二屆。（錄音中我的年份講錯了）
- Owner-builder 自力造屋者，在自然建築中意味著蓋自己的房子，蓋合身的房子， 降低物質需求， 以及自我賦權。
- 陽明交通大學 學習服務中心
透過服務和學習，讓學生與社會產生緊密聯結，在做中學的過程中獲得個人與團體的成長。 service-learning.nctu.edu.tw/
This podcast is brought to you by Wendy Teo and Eliza Collin. The research project ‘Narratives of Soil’ is supported by British Council’s ‘ Connections through Culture’ programme.
