Tag: Natural building

Communify Un-Conference in San Diego, Saturday, March 7, 2015 from 9am to 6pm

Join us at COMMUNIFY San Diego:     Communify un-conference

A gathering of pioneers, seekers, neighbors, organizers, dreamers, trainers, leaders, and activists reclaiming a more sustainable world through intentional communities, cooperative culture, deep democracy, and participatory economics.  

Saturday, March 7, 2015 9am-6pm at San Diego Friends Center  

People in intentional and traditional communities around the world are already living more green, peaceful, and abundant ways of life.

Reclaiming the power of cooperative human connections, people everywhere have been asking questions that lead back to more satisfying lives. We’re busy reinventing what we own, how we spend time, grow food, earn a living, do business, invest money, and participate in our neighborhoods and governments.

Get the jump on Earth Day. Meet, learn, share, and break bread with old and new friends across community movements here in southern California. There’s plenty of time to network and strategize next steps forward.

Sustainable Community is Within Reach!  

Communify San Diego is an unconference.  Using “open space technology” we will convene a marketplace of ideas when everyone can propose sessions on the topics they are most interested in. Sessions can be skills-sharing, discussions, interviews, games, or presentations.  Opportunities to get to know each other will include “Speed Dating” and “Deepening Connection” sessions. Other sessions have been proposed and are invited include:

  • Dealing with Difference – Communication Games and Technologies of Participation
  • Conscious Elders & Aging in Community
  • Wisdom Circles and Restorative Justice
  • Post-Occupy Organizing of the Commons
  • Sacred Economics
  • Slow Money, Crowdfunding, & Participatory Budgeting

We’ll also share opening and closing circles, a panel of special speakers, info tables for partner groups, raffle prizes to benefit Fellowship for Intentional Community and our local host.  Morning coffee, healthy snacks and lunch are provided.

Special Guests & Presenters  

Lois Arkin, Founder of Los Angeles Eco-Village
CASA: Consejo de Asentamientos Sustentables de las Américas
Diana Leafe Christian, author of Creating a Life Together, and Finding Community
 Raines Cohen certified Senior Advisor / Cohousing Coach
Betsy Morris, PhD, Cohousing Researchers Network, and author of “Making Cohousing Affordable,” and “Urban Redevelopment and the Emerging Community Sector.”
Plus YOU, bringing the topics you want to learn about or share.

EVENT DETAILS:
Time:
Saturday, March 7, 2015 from 9am to 6pm

Location:
San Diego Friends Center:
San Diego Friends Center
3850 Westgate Pl
San Diego, CA 92105
Google map and directions

Cost:
$65 in advance;  $75 at the door.
Partner discounts, work-trade/volunteer rebates are still available or call 619-457-6198 (voice/SMS) for more information.

Contact:
Betsy and Raines · info@communify.in · 619-457-6198

Will you come?
RSVP on Facebook
AND purchase a ticket here

More info here:
Communify unconference About San Diego

Add-on Events 

Weeknight showing of Within Reach, Friday evening at colab.

Sunday 1:30-6:30pm –  Tour and Half Day Intensive at Emerald Village in Rio Vista,  specifically on the nuts and bolts of developing cohousing and ecovillages — people, place, and process.

Communify San Diego is produced by Cohousing California partners, Cohousing Coaches Betsy Morris & Raines Cohen, of Planning for Sustainable Communities, in Berkeley, CA and the San Diego Local Hosts, Patti Shields, Jonah, Mesritz, Andrea Carter, and Mariah Gayler.

Cohousing California is pleased to promote the work of our organizational partners including the Fellowship for Intentional Community (FIC), Cohousing Association of the US, and CASA, the South American regional association of the Global Ecovillages Network, and CRSP Institute for Urban Ecovillages.

Tax-exempt donations are welcome through our nonprofit sponsor, the Fellowship for Intentional Community (www.ic.org).

 

 

 

Open post

Permaculture Voices 2015, March 4-8, 2015 Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina: San Diego, CA

PV2 features speakers such as Diana Leafe Christian, Paul Stamets, Gunter Pauli, Maddy Harland, Dr. Elaine Ingham, Starhawk, Mark Shepard, Larry Santoyo, Toby Hemenway, Pandora Thomas and more
Overall there will be over 60 presenters and 100 hours of content talking about everything from broadacre permaculture to social permaculture to green business.
There will be extensive networking opportunities throughout the event including two parties.
 
Event Logistics:
March 4-8, 2015
San Diego, CA – Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina
More Information: permaculturevoices.com/pv2
 
Want to be a part of the change, either on a personal or business level?
PV2 isn’t just another permaculture convergence that focuses on hyper-local DIY skill building and resiliency; we instead decided to look bigger.
We are blending the practical techniques and tactics found in workshops with the entrepreneurial spirit and opportunity of a business conference.
We have brought together a diverse group of creative and innovative doers in a variety of fields looking to share experiences, knowledge, connect, and create in ways that increase passion, purpose and profit.
These doers come from a variety of fields both within and outside of permaculture. Each field has its own needs and yields. It is this edge that creates the opportunity for things to happen, and it is this opportunity that offers value to the attendees – how can you fill needs and utilize yields to create more value.
 
Why we organized PV2 the way that we did.
At PV1 we realized that the attendees themselves were a wealth of knowledge and a diverse collection of needs and yields. Given that, we have focused on turning some of the conversation away from the stage and into the audience to create an experience for diverse participants to share ideas, discover opportunities, and create strategies and connections that enable meaningful and financially viable creations.
We want to see a massive impact on an environmental, social, and financial level, so PV2 will be heavily focused on right livelihood – making a living within the permaculture space.
Business fuels change and we believe in the power of utilizing business for positive change.  You may be involved in a business in some way as an employee or an owner, and given the time spent on(in) that business, it has a huge effect on your life, both financially and emotionally. If your values aren’t aligned with what you do, then it isn’t sustainable.
Therefore PV2 is planned to help inspire change on a personal level and an organizational level in a way that maximizes the triple bottom line.
We want to help people make business more sustainable and we want to help promote and grow the next generation of regenerative businesses.
If you aren’t a business owner or an employee you can still benefit by participating in this discussion because there is a lot of opportunity and needs out there. And there will be a lot of change makers at PV2 looking for help. If you want to help, then you’ll be in the right place.
NOTE:
Los Angeles Eco-Villagers Laura Allen and Lois Arkin will also be at this conference.  Come hang out with Laura at the Greywater Action table on Thursday and Friday. 3/5 & 6.  And with Lois at Diane Leafe Christians workshop Friday  3/6 from 1:30 to 2:30pm.
Open post

The Economics of Happiness Conference in Portland OR February 27 – March 1, 2015

Videos from our past conferences

The Portland area is a hotbed of localization initiatives and we will be joined by at least 50 partner organizations, offering workshops on everything from local investing to storytelling, alternative economic indicators to earth-based education. There will also be more than 20 speakers from around the US and the world, who will be covering a range of interconnected topics – local food, technology, healthcare, local business, indigenous rights, environmental justice and much, much more.

If you can’t make it yourself, invite your friends on Facebook and look out for the videos, which will be posted online after the conference.

Conference details and registration here

For more fascinating information on the Economics of Happiness, including videos and resources, go here.

Open post

Rocket Stove & Sustainable Architecture Combined Workshop! April 19 – 26, 2015 at Cal-Earth, Hesperia CA
Come join Cal-Earth as we combine sustainable architecture with sustainable heating systems! This combination workshop is very hands-on and is geared towards anyone who wants to learn to build and create a useable space right away. In this workshop you will learn how to build your own house and how to build a super high-efficiency rocket stove (masonry heater) in only eight days! As with all Cal-Earth workshops, no prior experience necessary.

Workshop Details

The workshop will include the standard core curriculum taught at Cal-Earth during the first four days. In this unique workshop, you will not only have the opportunity to build a full dome from beginning to end, but also a fully functional rocket stove! The rocket stove mass heater will be a real, permanent installation, inside one of the houses at Cal-Earth. Learn more about rocket stoves and expert instructor Lasse Holmes.

Cost: $1800 for new students/$500 for previous workshop alumni (25% work study  and/or partial gift scholarships available)

Note: Anyone who has previously attended a Cal-Earth workshop may attend the Masonry Heater portion for $500 (April 23-26). Please contact us for more information on this. 
APPLY NOWNote that Cal-Earth has free monthly visitor’s day.  More info here:
http://calearth.org/

 

Cal-Earth 2015 Workshop Dates:
Jan. 31-Feb 1 (weekend-taught in Spanish language)
Feb 18-21 (4 day)
March 16-21 (week)
April 19-26 (Rocket Stove Combined)
May 11-16 (week)
June 15-20 (week)
July 8-11 (4 day)
Sept. 14-19 (week)
Oct. TBD Permaculture
Nov. 16-21 (week)

 

 

 

 
Open post

The Los Angeles Permaculture Design Course: six weekends April 25 – Sept. 27, 2015

The Permaculture Design Course has changed the lives and enhanced the careers of thousands of people around the world!
 

The Permaculture Design Course Certificate Series- Los Angeles


The Permaculture Design Course (PDC) is the foundation of Permaculture education.

Veteran Instructors with over 27 years experience. Earn your PDC Certification through EarthFlow Design Works & The Permaculture Institute USA.For all the DETAILS –
http://www.permacultureacademy.com/product/LAPDC2015/DATES: Classes are Sat & Sun, 10-5. The third weekend of each month for six months- April-Sept. Starts Sat & Sun, April 25th & 26th
LOCATION: The Los Angles PDC will take place at various venues in and around Los Angeles County.TEACHING TEAM: Lead by Larry Santoyo Director, The Permaculture Academy includes other internationally acclaimed Leaders in the Worldwide Sustainability Movement:
 
CERTIFICATION: Certificate of Completion the Permaculture Design Course is awarded through EarthFlow Design Works & The Permaculture Institute USA.
TUITION:
$1250.00 for entire series-  that’s less than $15.00 per hour!
$275.00 per weekend
Note: additional $100 lab fees apply for extra curricular hands-on training and other certification requirements
REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT:
http://www.permacultureacademy.com/product/LAPDC2015/DISCOUNTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, WORK STUDY: We offer partial scholarships for Teachers, Group Discounts, Work Trades & Payment Plans: – http://www.permacultureacademy.com/product/LAPDC2015/
 
NETWORKERS & ORGS:
Contact us for group discounts and “Affiliates Code” to raise money by refering students to the program.MORE INFO:
Larry Santoyo, Director
The Permaculture Academy

 

 

Open post

Declan Kennedy in Dialog: Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at 7:30pm at L.A. Eco-Village

Prof. Declan Kennedy is an Irish architect, urban planner, permaculture designer and ecologist. Founder  of the Permaculture Institute of Europe, he has been teaching and practicing urban design, landscape and agricultural planning since 1972.

Declan served as Professor of Urban Design at the Technical University of Berlin, Chairman of the Board of the Global Eco-village Network – www.gen-europe.org – and as Chairman of the Advisory Board at Gaia University International – www.gaiauniversity.org

Declan coauthored with his late wife, Prof. Margrit Kennedy, Designing Ecological Settlements – http://goo.gl/gy0nEe

At 80 years of age, Declan continues traveling the world and teaches ecovillage design from the ecological community which he co-founded and where he lives, Lebensgarten Steyerberg in Lower Saxony, Germany – www.lebensgarten.de (in English at: http://goo.gl/a4RktR ).

Some people say “It is 5 minutes to 12 – for the Earth and for the environment.”
Declan Kennedy says, “the situation on Earth has already tipped over – it is already 5 minutes after 12! But – the good thing about midnight is – it is the beginning of a new day! So – let’s start afresh!”

Please join us for this rare treat of hanging out with Declan.

WHEN:  Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at 7:30pm*

WHERE: L.A. Eco-Village, 117 Bimini Place, Los Angeles 90004

FEE:  $5 to $15 sliding scale.  No one turned away.

RESERVATIONS:  crsp@igc.org or 213/738-1254

*Join us for a veggie potluck in our courtyard at 6:30 pm, if you’d like.  PLEASE bring your own non throwaway eating ware and make this a zero waste event.

 

 

West Coast Women’s Permaculture Gathering, Seattle area, September 18-21 2014 Fall Equinox weekend

Join Permaculture’s Finest Women for a Weekend in the Woods!

Welcome to the West Coast Women’s Permaculture Gathering September 18-21 2014! This is our 4th year and we are gracing the greater Seattle area! Join us at Camp Hamilton near Monroe/Duvall for a long weekend together sharing skills, ideas and collaborating! Contributing & Collecting in Collaboration!
Where ‘Full Steam Ahead’ melds with ‘Relax and Receive’ for Continuous Thrivability
Considering how much permaculture activity is brewing in our respective regions these days, from public food forests to natural buildings and successful kickstarter campaigns, the subject of permaculture is upfront and growing! We will take a central focus of taking permaculture beyond an interest or hobby to inspiring women with permaculture examples to find their path to right-livelihood and thrive! Thivelihood!! This years Gathering will feature exciting presentations, skill-building opportunities and our first ever Saturday Market Place to support your right-livelihoods, followed by our first ever Dance Party around the fire near the lake! Tickets are available for the entire three days, Saturday only, children at a reduced rate, child care is FREE with ticket for whole weekend. See ticketing page for details.Spend a weekend with strong, committed women who share Permaculture ethics and vocabulary.  Come connect, learn, and laugh!  In a breathtaking space, surrounded by nature and amazing women, you will be inspired and invigorated.

Presenters for 2014 include:
We have an amazing line up of extraordinary speakers!
Jessi Bloom – Best-selling permaculture author, green industry advisor, & owner of design/build N.W. Bloom 
Marisha Auerbach – International advanced permaculture educator & consultant to environmental non-profits
EagleSong – Founder of RavenCroft Gardens and Healing From the Ground Up herbal apprentice program
Jacqueline Freeman – Biodynamic Beekeeper and owner of Friendly Haven Rise Farm in Venersborg, WA
Jeanette Acosta – Author and composer raised by traditional indigenous healers, designer and ethnobotanist 
Emet Degirmenci – International urban and indigenous permaculture community design
Honored Guest Starhawk – The Fifth Sacred Thing,The Last Wild Witch & Earth Activist Training

Join this amazing opportunity to gather with other revolutionary women!

Picture We are delighted to be creating this gathering and look forward to sharing it with YOU!
Help us spread the word, “Like” and share us on Facebook! 

To get up-to-date announcements about the gathering and to be part of the biggest (maybe the only!) online group of permaculture women please sign up for the google group:  http://groups.google.com/group/westcoastwomenspermaculture

Open post

Los Angeles Green Festival at the LA Mart Downtown Los Angeles, Sat. & Sun. October 19-20, 2013

What:       Los Angeles Green Festival

Where:    L.A. Mart, 1933 S. Broadway, Downtown Los Angeles 90007

When:     Saturday, October 19, 2013 from 10am to 6pm, and Sunday, October 20, 2013 from 11am to 5pm

 

Now in it’s third year, the Los Angeles  Green Festival welcomed over 22,000 enthusiastic participants last year.

Plan to attend this year’s event and enjoy dozens of workshops, music, art, fashion shows, yoga, kids’ activities, organic beer and wine, visionary speakers,  wide assortment of environmentally sensitive green products, and more.

And to get your free weekend pass to the Festival worth $25, go to www.greenfestivals.org/latickets13 and enter the code <lagreenfest2013>.   Note this pass is only available on-line, not at the door.

ALSO FREE AT THE DOOR FOR
– Youth 18 and under
– Bicyclists using Clif Bar Bike Valet
– Green America and Global Exchange members
– Sierra Club Members
– 2 for 1 admission for Natural Solutions subscribers (must present magazine as proof of subscription)
– 2 for 1 admission for all Yoga Journal / Vegetarian Times readers (must present magazine as proof of subscription)

For more details, visit here.

Do take special note that the Festival location has changed this year to the:
LA Mart
1933 S. Broadway
Downtown Los Angeles 90007.

For more info on admission if you don’t get a free weekend pass, go here:
http://www.greenfestivals.org/la/admission

Visit the Los Angeles Eco-Village booth at the Festival
and
Please help spread the word to your local Los Angeles networks.

Green Festivals are sponsored by Green America and Global Exchange

 

City Repair’s Mark Lakeman from Portland at L.A. Eco-Village Fri. Nov, 1 at 7:30pm

Learn more about City Repair here:  www.cityrepair.org

VISIONARY ARCHITECT AND PORTLAND’S CITY REPAIR FOUNDER MARK LAKEMAN
RETURNS TO LOS ANGELES ECO-VILLAGE

Friday Evening November 1, 2013 at 7:30pm for his inspiring Slideshow and talk

at L.A. Eco-Village, 117 Bimini Place, Los Angeles 90004, directions

Join visionary architect Mark Lakeman as he inspires and guides the grid structure of a typical American city into a vital social commons with Portland’s City Repair Project <www.cityrepair.org>.

Now a national movement (just google it to get a sense of it), City Repair is about cities, towns, grids and the intersections where our lives can converge.

Multidisciplinary, City Repair combines architecture, urban planning, anthropology, community development, public art, permaculture and ecological design in projects that transform public space.

Intersection Repair is the citizen-led conversion of an urban street intersection into a public square.  It is a form of grassroots city planning that can nurture art, public gathering and volunteerism in your neighborhood.

“Mark is among  the most inspiring speakers I have seen in my more than 30 years of local activism,” says Lois Arkin.

FEE:
Friday Nov 1 at 7:30pm:   $5 to $15 (self selected sliding scale)
Reservations required:  crsp@igc.org or 213/738-1254

*Note:  Saturday morning November 2nd public forum with Mark was canceled.  Check our website for future forums on progressive city planning issues.

————————–
WANNA BE IN THE KNOW ABOUT CITY PLANNING ISSUES IN LOS ANGELES?
CHECK OUT THESE RESOURCES:

For an excellent introduction to current City Planning in Los Angeles, visit:  http://cityplanning.lacity.org/

To review recent community  input on the updating of the City’s Mobility Element, go here:  http://ideas.la2b.org/

To review the draft Housing Element for the City of Los Angeles for 2013 –  2021, go here:
https://sites.google.com/site/lahousingelement/home/draft-plan

To follow the Updates on the City’s codes, go here:
http://us7.campaign-archive1.com/?u=8dfee8dbbd1900ea3b2a89244&id=9f1e16cf24&e=5309617c39

To keep updated on some of the most progressive city planning policies, proposals and actions from throughout the world, check out these websites:

http://www.SustainableCityNews.com

http://www.losangeleswalks.org/

http://la.streetsblog.org/

http://www.carfree.com/

OTHER UPCOMING LOS ANGELES AREA/SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA  EVENTS WITH MARK LAKEMAN

Date: Sat Nov. 2   Time: Doors open @ 5 pm

Place: The Shed 1355 Lincoln Ave. Pasadena, CA 91103
Place Making Workshop w/ Mark Lakeman & James Rojas
Special Performance by Moses Sumney @ 7 pm
Tickets $12 advance/ $20 at the door
———————————————————–
Date: Sun Nov 3  Time: 9 am – 1 pm
Place: Venice Learning Garden – 13000 Venice Blvd. 90066. Enter on Walgrove.
Cob Bench Workshop at the Venice Learning Garden
Donation: $15 – $20
Contact: melbowerman@gmail.com, 310 869-5607
————————————————————
Date:  Sat Nov 3   Time: 1 pm – 5 pm
Place: WRHAP 12401 Slauson Ave, Unit G Whittier, CA 90606
2nd Annual Pizza Party for City Repair feat. Mark Lakeman
Admission is $15 ($10 pre-sale tickets available); children 12 and under $5.
Contact: Megan meganhobza@gmail.com (562) 457-0450
———————————————————–
Date: Mon Nov 4   Time: 6 – 9 pm
Place: Casa Coracao 1742 Deerhill Trail Topanga 90290
Community Building Topanga with Mark Lakeman
$10 donation, no one turned away at the door.
Light beverages and snacks will be provided
———————————————————-
Date: Tue Nov 5  Time: 1 – 5 pm
Place: Beyond Baroque 681 Venice Blvd, Venice
Community Building on Venice Blvd.
FREE Event
RSVP and Contact Info: Lauren Tucker laurenfrancestucker@gmail.com
———————————————————
Date: Tue Nov 5  Time: 7 pm – 9 pm
Place:  Private Residence 805 Brooks Ave, Venice 90291
City Repair Slideshow and Potluck
Donation: $10
Contact: Lauren Tucker  laurenfrancestucker@gmail.com
——————————————————-

Thanks to Camille Cimino for coordinating this tour schedule:
Camille Cimino
“The Nature of Things”
(213) 924-5238

 

Open post

The 5th Annual Farm Conference May 29-31, 2013 in Summertown Tn

What:      The 5th Annual Farm Conference on Community and Sustainability
Where:    The Farm in Summertown TN http://www.thefarmcommunity.com/conference/
When:      May 29-31,2013

 

More information:

May 29–31 Memorial Day Weekend Summertown TN

Best conference bargain!    Register here

The Farm Conference
As we chart the uncertain waters of modern times, life in community serves as both a lifeboat, providing shelter from the storm, and as a flagship, leading the way to a more sustainable future.
If you seek a life with direction, with greater meaning, holding true to your ideals, follow the course of community. In community there is strength, gaining the leverage necessary to achieve your full potential.
Take the next step. This Memorial Day Weekend, May 29-31, join with others who share your vision, and leave uplifted, with the energy  to pursue your real life goals.
In community we depend on each other, and it is clear that each one of us has value and something to give, contributions to the whole, made visible through our work.
Find your passion:
  • Green Building
  • Green Business
  • Organic Food Production
  • Alternative Education
  • Midwifery
  • Environmental Activism
  • Peace and Justice Activism
  • Music and the Arts
  • and more
There is room for everyone in community, and you will have the opportunity to see how this can be expressed in a very real way when you are part of our special gathering.
Without question, our Green Building Tour is always one of the most popular aspects of our annual conference. For many years now, The Farm has been undergoing a housing boom, with an average of 4 new homes under construction every year. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to see multiple examples of many types of green construction, including:
  • 3 Insulated Concrete Form Homes
  • The Massive Recycled Steel Dome
  • The Solar School, the largest Passive Solar Building in the State
  • Straw Bale, Earth Bag
  • Cob, Clay Slip and Cordwood
  • The Deltec Home
  • The Earth Shelter
  • A Hand Hewn Log Cabin, Affordable Amish Cabins
  • A home built with over 80% Recycled Materials, including framing, windows, doors, siding, tile, kitchen cabinets, lighting fixtures
  • The Locally Harvested Lumber Advantage
  • Over 100 KW in Solar Arrays

What people say about our past conferences:

“I really liked how organized the events are, how friendly everyone is.”
“Lots of hard work went into this weekend. I appreciate your efforts!”
“I throughout enjoyed it and would not change a thing about it.”
“Moved along at a good pace.”
“Highly informative. Very Inspirational. Heartwarming”
“I felt a strong connection to everyone I met.”
“Learning anything is possible!”
“Finally I saw all the methods I had only read and dreamed about.”
“The most encouraging experience I’ve had toward living my dreams.”

Visit Our Web Site to Learn More and Register Today.

The $175 per person registration includes camping and all delicious vegetarian meals featuring local and homegrown produce.

Contact me with any question you may have. I look forward to hearing from you!

Douglas | douglas@thefarmcommunity.com
931-964-2590 office | 931-626-4035 cell

Our fifth conference in partnership with the Fellowship For Intentional Community.

 

Posts navigation

1 2 3
Scroll to top