The "snailorganic" is a sustainable concept, an ancient life form that allows reuse everything that is given by the earth and recycle the existing efficiently. It is a biological project of Sandra Lopes Santos covering food, decor and everyday utensils. It is a way of being more environmentally friendly, in harmony with what surrounds us. Without any pressure, or rush.
What is the project snailorganic?
Sandra Lopes Santos: This project is organic, i.e., started with the dry bathrooms and exploring all that the earth provides us. Use all that the animals can provide for us, in a good way, to reuse. Is not living in a tent, is to use the less noble materials and give them a new look.
It is a concept that you apply in your house, or can also be used other?
SLS: In my house and everywhere. Recently I changed the home of some Belgian friends who live in Ponta do Pargo, rolled everything and they were a bit in shock when they returned. What I did was rearrange everything in the right direction, is not that the house was messy, but a person outside of this environment can see everything clearly. The aim was to make a more efficient the daily actions, for example, they have cacti in terms of irrigation was not effective, it adapted so as to be more efficient.
But the decor is not your single strand. Also your cook your own organic biscuits, sweets, cheese etc... Withdraw all of the land?
SLS: Yes, mostly. Except the silver bananas, but are certified, comes from a producer friend in Ponta do Sol. I take advantage of all that the island offers. It is a wonderland. People sometimes do not enjoy all it has to offer. The Madera fabric is great, for example. It was so exploited that the standard it is difficult to remove it from that context, but it is interesting and we must be open to other types of clothing, from there have done a few belts, I think it has changed and is cleaned. I like to mix and people have sent me good feedback accordingly.
Recently you showed your work at a fair. Do you think the public is very aware of these new concepts?
SLS: Very attentive. Of course, that some people may not accept, there is always a but, or an if. There is always a question mark. We now have more ways to be ourselves, and we are sure to disclose what we are saying. Twenty years ago, nobody knew what it was a dry bathroom, but we do now. The way is this; however, I am aware that this is not a path for everyone, of course. Moreover, why? These way of life goes back to what we always did, fishing, hunting, planting and harvesting. The society is dehumanized, including myself in this crazy life. When I stopped, I tried to see what was around me, I tried to convey to the other good things, even if it is only pleasing to the eye. Even though my project stopped here, I felt I had achieved something.
Why a television producer with a life associated to technological innovations goes to the other side?
SLS: I still have both. I do not leave one for the other.
It is not a contradiction?
SLS: Not at all. There are complements. I need the internet to promote my project. All these technologies are advantageous. On television one of the things we learned is to dominate the light from, where it comes from. I was a producer of locations; I had to know everything about a given area. This type of experience helps me in this work as a means of interpretation, because I know how to take advantage of an environment. Sure, it's not perfect, I is another tool I can use. I use this in my daily life, I get up early every day, create a work pace that almost need to be arrested. Now I have a hard time to stop and create other objects. All I do is unique and original and I hope to keep this component in my project, because by becoming identical it changes the concept.
Why snailorganics?
SLS: It comes from agriculture, which means spiral. The gardens are spiral. The snail is also a symbol, walk with the house on its back. In the near future want to have a mobile home, with my breads, biscuits and food. Having all my stuff inside, make a wonderful kitchen, to live in, and to be in organic movement. It is an interesting project.
What would be "snailorganic" in the near future?
SLS: I cannot make any prediction at this level. It is one day after the other. I noticed I had a great acceptance of the public above all else and that's good, is a kind of market research I'm running out and helps to determine what works or not, what is interesting in that plethora of things I like do. The biscuits, for example, in the fair, no one ate because they were very pretty (laughs). In terms of cooking, has been very good, I'm a good cook, my parents are from Alentejo, and I have a lot of traditions in terms of gastronomy and adapt all this in my project. For me, this aspect was never a novelty always made great lunches, dinners and I'm perfectly at ease. I make homemade bread, goat cheese, because I have the animal at home. I let it go, as the snail. But nature is the common thread, agriculture, animals and crafts.
Are you thinking on doing workshops?
SLS: Still, no. It would be a step. Soon. A lot of people do it. I want to make things interesting, not to fall into the same as others do. Do not like the word workshop. I still have it on the side, but I have had invitations to teach. There are always ideas, I did not invent anything. Some are more perceptive, more innovative than others. I would like to teach children, I thought of Maktub, but has to go very slow. I am glad I have the snail to do things well and without haste.
http://www.facebook.com/SnailOrganic
