“The continent hosts so many pioneers who are looking for other living ways. We are out to meet some of them in Quebec. Starting with the inhabitants of the Bay eco-village, who invented a straw building technique which is heard of in Europe event and beyond, too: the GREB technique. Behind those initials there is the « Bay Ecological Research Group » which, for 25 years now, has been experimenting a post-petrol way of life!
Community
Small Town Urban Homesteading
This video tour of an urban homestead with Justin Tiret shows us his backyard garden in Portland, Oregon. Tiret is able to grow and raise much of the annual food production to meet his family’s needs.
Old Town Districts
Most cities have an Old Town – a historic district of quaint, old buildings that have been renovated to capture the original look and feel of the area. Often these areas are thriving tourist areas due to the unique architectural detailing and abundance of interesting shops.
Culturally Sensitive Disaster Response Work
I had a great talk the other day with a freelance journalist who travels and documents things such as the earthquakes in Nepal. One of our common concerns is how NGOs, and foreigners in general, respond to disasters. Aid work is fraught with well-intentioned people and innovative solutions that often go terribly wrong. Remember the emergency food dropped to war refugees by US military planes? It was unrecognizable to them and so they ended up feeding most of it to their animals.
Recipe for Hope
It is my honor to introduce Dr. Jerry Epps, my friend’s poverty reduction plan. He helped inspire me as I developed the Take it to Zero and Rosetta Interactive Library projects (both still in early start-up stages) as I helped inspire his Recipe for Hope project.
“The goal of Recipe for Hope is to End Poverty (at least 80% or more of it) by creating the economic conditions that enable families to have more money to spend and thereby move out of poverty into the working class.
The Canelo Project
This weekend I had a chance to attend a presentation entitled “Conversations in Clay” by Bill and Athena Steen of the Canelo Project. This happened in Silver City, New Mexico, and was part of a larger Clay Arts Festival.
I have followed the work of the Steens for nearly two decades, as they have promoted natural, sustainable building practices in many ways. The Canelo Project is a non-profit organization that they founded in 1989 with the theme of “connecting people, culture and nature.” The focal point of their work is handcrafting simple, small-scale and comfortable shelter that is built primarily with local and natural materials. They have evolved a unique straw bale and clay wall system that is finished with beautiful clay and lime plasters, sculptural wall carvings, earthen floors and clay ovens.
