Workshops
Each and every one’s work and skills contribute to the natural and human environment. As skills develop, the individual’s contribution grows. When the villagers clean their rooms, help prepare the meals, work in agriculture or in the workshops, they improve their skills and become vital partners in production and services as well as in the social life of our community.
The work placements are designed to fit the villager’s abilities, and enable them to learn and grow. Each villager’s contribution to work, service, and cultural life is essential. The therapeutic process aims at finding the unique contribution and expression of each community member, as well as finding the reflection of the whole community in each individual. Each villager’s contribution to work, service, and cultural life is essential. We make an effort to bring the various aspects of life into harmony, and to allow each individual to find his unique part in “Life’s symphony” The therapeutic process aims at finding the unique contribution and expression of each community member, as well as finding the reflection of the whole community in each individual.
One can buy some products in our shop.
Weavery
Patience, perseverance, precision and color sensitivity develop simultaneously when working with colored fabrics in the weaving workshop. We use natural raw materials, and some of the wool fibers are hand-woven. We weave curtains, tablecloths and runners, bags, cushions and elegant clothing.
The menu at Kfar Rafael includes various home grown organic bio-dynamic fruits and vegetables. Even though the desert land is arid and the climate harsh, the ground is brought to life with natural fertilizing compost and kitchen leftovers. The land responds to this treatment and gives forth squash and carrots, avocado and almonds, figs, olives and much more. Some of the crops are sold, and some are used as raw material in the food processing workshop. The work on the land integrates the villagers with the yearly cycle of the seasons and nature. Naturally, this also has a therapeutic effect. We grow squash and carrots, avocado and citrus fruiits, figs, olives and much more. – In the vegetable garden we make bio-dynamic preparations: special homeopathic medicine made from herbs with the intention to contribute to the well being of the earth. For that we grow the special herbs and in unique constallations make the preparations.
Bio-dynamic Bee hive
We have a small hive, run since 2009 as bio-dynamic. We approach the bees with love acording to their true being and needs. The hard working bees insiminate the various trees and plants. We’re all pleased to taste a bit of the bio-dynamic honey the bees make for us.
Bakery
Those who work in the bakery are quite proud of the organic wheat bread which they bake. All households enjoy the bread for breakfast and supper in the village and we also sell outside of the community. Each day we bake a different kind: whole wheat bread, sourdough bread, buns, sweet “chala” bread for Shabbat and even granola and pizza!
Foodpro
In the food-processing workshop we process the fruit and vegetables from our bio-dynamic plantation and garden. We dry, pickle and preserve them and produce various kinds of Jam, pickled olives and olive oil, herbal infusions and many other products. All are popular both within and without our village.
Gardening
The estate gardeners create all the beauty and greenery in which we live. The diligent bio-dynamuc care for the lawn and the trees, the flowerbeds and the bushes turn our village into a real oasis.
Cooking
In each house one of the villagers, together with a volunteer or the house-parent, cook lunch for the whole house community. We try to cook wholesome organic food, and also use some of the bio-dynamic fruits and vegetables that grow in the village.
Paper
In the process of making paper we tear the paper to little shreds, soak it in water, sieve it into the net frames, dry it, press it and cut it. We add leaves, straw, and tree bark to achieve different textures and colors. In the afternoon we decorate the paper, draw, print or glue different elements from nature (flowers, feathers). Among the list of our product one can find greeting cards, bookmarks, letter papers and envelopes, notebooks, boxes, lanterns, wind fans and more…
Candles
In the candle workshop we melt 100% beeswax and create candles in a wide variety of shape and size. Some candles are decorated with leaves and flowers which we collect and press-dry. The proccess requires patience and the outcome fills the room with special light and fragrance.
Laundry
