We toured the coop in Aracuai, similar to the Curvelo location in an earlier posting of this blog. Outside is the sign painted by the coop members (teenagers in training) as well as some of the artwork. The guitar playing guy below is made from old discarded automobile parts. Note the body is a muffler, the hat is a disc brake rotor, the guitar a clutch plate and pressure plate, and legs/arms exhaust pipes. Very creative w/just free materials, a welder and cutting torch.
We posed with artwork painted by these coop members using earth tints and wood. Note we write the word "posed" as we're not artisitc enough to actually do the painting ourselves. The wood is prepped with a whitewash, then painted with paint made from glue and different colored dirt or ground stone or ground seeds from trees / leaves. Stan touched the red seed dust from some local tree (can't recall the name) and couldn't wash off the dye. The result is impressive.
Here members of the coop wood and metal shops sketch a drawing for a new bench design.
We watch as raw green bamboo is treated with a propane torch to dry the skin and essentially carmalize the sugar in the skin. This prevents cracking, infestation by ants and termites, and strengthens the bamboo.
Another creative member of the cooperative, Nelio, who is learning English and spoke at length with us (in English) while in Aracuai. He also plays the guitar, and writes music. 
The hand painted welcome sign to the coop's permaculture garden hangs on the chicken wire, to literally keep out the free range chickens and other wandering animals. It's hard to see in the pic, but the letters are in black, while the heart is in a deep red - another thoughtful touch to the coop's work.
In an unbiased effort to control our propaganda, recall again the website for the wares of the coop:
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