Women on Wednesday

2007-02-20T22:24:00.000-08:00

Women on Wednesday
Feb. 21

Topics/Events to Ponder:

building sector unites to confront global climate change

January 1, 2007

Santa Fe, N.M. — Recognizing that the building sector is responsible for almost half of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually, The American Institute of Architects (AIA / www.aia.org), U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC / www.usgbc.org), American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE / www.ashrae.org), Architecture 2030 and about 20 other leaders attended a special meeting at Greenbuild 2006 in Denver to confront the global-warming crisis.

The group reached a consensus on three critical issues facing the building sector as it works to bring energy consumption and GHG emissions in this sector under control: the need for a common goal; the definition of this goal; and a baseline to measure progress against, and have adopted "The 2030 Challenge" targets. These targets call for all new buildings and major renovations to reduce their fossil-fuel GHG-emitting energy consumption by 50 percent immediately; increasing this reduction to 60 percent in 2010; 70 percent in 2015; 80 percent in 2020; 90 percent in 2025; and finally, that all new buildings would be carbon neutral by the year 2030. The 2030 Challenge targets had previously been adopted by the AIA, the U.S. Conference of Mayors (for all buildings in all cities; Resolution #50) and individual cities and counties; endorsed by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) and incorporated into their “Statement of Action”; integrated into the EPA’s Target Finder; and promoted by the National Wildlife Federation and others. The collaborative adoption creates a powerful consensus allowing for the sharing of information and support. For more information, visit www.architecture2030.org.

Cradle to Cradle Certification provides a company with a means to tangibly, credibly measure achievement in environmentally-intelligent design and helps customers purchase and specify products that are pursuing a broader definition of quality.
This means using environmentally safe and healthy materials; design for material reutilization, such as recycling or composting; the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency; efficient use of water, and maximum water quality associated with production; and instituting strategies for social responsibility.

This is a smidgen of the interesting Penny Bonda column:

www.interiordesign.net

I am having some difficulty finding a sustainable alternative to vinyl wallcovering. Any suggestions?

Penny Bonda
Interior Design · January 8, 2007

Not all current “green” offerings come close to the durability and cleanability of a Type II vinyl. Many manufacturers have introduced vinyl alternative wallcoverings, but as one recently told me, “some of the products out today are basically "bastardized" non-woven technologies which don't perform like vinyl.” Others, of course, disagree.

Milliken has introduced 180 Walls, a PVC-free textile wallcovering that hangs without paste, can be removed years later without damage to walls, is made of 100% recycled fiber and is breathable rather than impenetrable like vinyl, which helps to inhibit mold – all good environmental attributes. As for durability and cleanability, Milliken says 180 Walls excels in both and passes vinyl performance requirements.

Carnegie’s Xorel has been on the market for many years and is certainly more durable and easily maintained as any vinyl with the added benefit of being free of chlorine, plasticizers, heavy metals and harmful dyes, though generally at a higher cost. In breaking news, Carnegie has teamed with Len-Tex to introduce its collection of Surface IQ, a vinyl alternative wallcovering based on TPO - thermoplastic olefin, a brand new sheet film technology. Watch for the announcement in February.

Other wallcoverings to consider include Duraprene by Designtex and the Innvironments Collection by Innovations. One thing is certain – product suppliers are scrambling to provide new products in response to requests like yours. Keep it up.

Are there any hypo-allergenic wool carpet options available in the marketplace?
December 20, 2006

Hi Penny, I just read your article on wool carpet and it surely is a great option. We have clients with wool carpet they’ve had for 35 years and it wears like iron! The one area we run into issues is with wool from overseas as it has to be treated to enter the US. Those who experience a reaction to wool carpet often are reacting more to the treatments for pests and moths than the actual wool itself. We’ve had best luck with carpets made and shipped in from Canada.

The reader referred me to Nature's Carpet, a Canadian line of natural fiber, non-toxic and biodegradable floor coverings, developed and distributed by Colin Campbell. It’s a great product—made from all natural, biodegradable high quality wool, natural jute backings and natural bonding agents utilizing renewable resources—and I’m happy to pass the recommendation on to you.

10:10

Linda Delair.

Interviewing::
Green Fusion
All of our designers are LEED AP and Linda Delair has lectured extensively on green materials and design options. http://www.greenfusiondesigncenter.com/Team

Deborah Crosby , Denise Bellas, Linda Delair and Kathleen Lanphier, Green Fusion Design Center's interior designers are now LEED AP. What is LEED®? LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ and is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.LEED provides a roadmap for measuring and documenting success for every building type and phase of a building lifecycle.
What is LEED AP? LEED AP stands for leadership in energy and environmental design accredited professional. The LEED Professional Accreditation distinguishes building professionals with the knowledge and skills to successfully steward the integrated design and LEED certification process.

The LEED AP credential is given by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). The foremost authority on Green Building and demostrates a superior level of green design and expertise.

Linda Delair – Green Fusion Design Center’s Interior Designer & Green materials expert for this event. Topics covered included:
• Greener choices in countertops- Paper, Glass, Tile Concrete, Lava & Soap Stone
• Durability, Functionality, & Style
• Design choices that fit your home

She may be joined by our other designers
http://www.greenfusiondesigncenter.com/team.htm if they are available.

Green Fusion Design Center
14 Greenfield Avenue
San Anselmo, CA 94960
P(415) 454-0174 F(415) 454-0173
www.gfdc1.com
Linda and other women with Green Fusion!

**********
10:30

Community Involvement

In 2004, Richardson ISD Carolyn G. Bukhair Elementary opened, and students began walking to school each day on recycled glass floors. Ecologically sound Terrazzo runs throughout the two-story building in vivid blue, mustard, jade, and several shades of beige to brown. District values like ‘fairness,’ ‘patriotism,’ and ‘honesty’ are inlaid in steel insets throughout the Terrazzo floors and are repeated in a hanging mobile over the front desk.

In an effort to educate the next generation of green builders, EnviroGLAS Products Inc. spearheads Recycling Day at Bukhair on November 15. Students receive encouragement and instruction in ecology, recycling and sustainability and have the chance to see examples of products made from recycled materials. They watch a slide presentation on the installation of their school’s recycled glass floor, learn that the glass came from a local source, and have the opportunity to ask and answer questions. They participate in their own recycling drive and sign pledge cards to recycle at home. Students also receive TEKS appropriate recycling classroom lessons.

EnviroGLAS Products has donated terrazzo products to a number of worthy causes, including:
• Make a Wish Foundation, Dallas, TX
• Earthways Home, St. Louis, MO
• Travis County Demonstration Garden, Austin TX
• Sustainable Home - Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Florence, KY

EnviroGLAS Products Inc • 3941 Legacy Drive, Suite 204 -211B • Plano, Texas 75023
(888) 523-7894 • (972) 276-9451 • info@enviroglasproducts.com

www.enviroglasproducts.com

Patty's tel. is: (214) 367-7513 8235

Extra Information:

Recycling Organizations

www.nrc-recycle.org
www.recycletx.com
www.wrap.org.uk
www.whiterocklake.org

Environmental News

www.enn.com
www.livegreenordie.com
www.resource-recycling.com
www.recyclingtoday.com
***
11:00

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Affordable Bamboo Housing: A Presentation by Oscar Hidalgo

Saturday, February 24th, 7pm

@ Grandma Mary's Organic Farm (directions below)

Architect Oscar Hidalgo, dubbed "the Grandfather of Bamboo", will discuss his new project: modular bamboo housing for earthquake and hurricane relief in South America and the Caribbean. Hidalgo has dedicated his life to bamboo research, and teaching the world about the limitless possibilities of this remarkable plant. Born in a bamboo house in Chinchina, Colombia, bamboo construction was common in his state, where many residential and public buildings were constructed using this cheap and widely available material. Hidalgo is the author of many books, including the definitive book on bamboo: Bamboo, The Gift of the Gods, which will be for sale at the presentation.

*Please bring some food or drink to share.
Grandma Mary’s Organic Farm is a half-acre urban agricultural site in El Cerrito, CA, located @ 100 Behrens St. near the El Cerrito Plaza Bart station.
From the bart station: walk east on Fairmont 3 blocks. Turn right on Behrens St. and walk to the dead end.
Driving: Exit I-80 @ Central and head east. Go right on San Pablo and left on Fairmont, head a few blocks past the bart station, make a right on Behrens Street, head to the end of the block and you are there.

Recent Biomimicry Innovations:

Microbe-inspired replacement for platinum catalysts in fuel cells

One reason fuel cells are so expensive is the use of platinum in the membrane that conducts the hydrogen chemistry. Cyanobacteria catalyze this same reaction using an enzyme created from common and biocompatible metals. Cedric Tard and Christopher Pickett of the John Innes Centre in the UK have successfully mimicked the active site of the hydrogenase protein. The resulting iron-sulphur framework functions as an electrocatalyst for proton reduction, a potentially important step towards inexpensive materials to replace platinum in the anodes of fuel cells.

Butterfly-inspired Pigment-free Color

The feathers, scales, and exoskeletons of iridescent birds, butterflies, and beetles have structural features that cause light to diffract and interfere in ways that amplify certain wavelengths. This creates brilliant colors to the viewer through the use of structure rather than the addition of a chemical pigment. Imagine, instead of painting a product, simply adding surface layers that play with light. Thin-film interference of this sort can create color that is 1) four times brighter than pigment, 2) never needs repainting, 3) avoids the toxic effects associated with pigment mining and synthesis. The first products from this research include Morphotex, a pigment-free fiber produced by Teijin ( Japan), and a low-energy, sunlight-readable PDA screen from Qualcomm (USA).

Diatom- and sponge -inspired silicon manufacture

Silicon chips are now processed in energy intensive, toxic ways. Marine sponges, on the other hand, form silica dioxide structures at ambient conditions with the help of a protein called silicatein. Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara have created a mimic of this protein called a “cysteine-lysine block copolypeptide.” Lab results confirm that these molecules are able to direct formation of ordered silica structures, just as silicatein does. This demonstrates the possibility of developing a non-toxic, low temperature approach to computer chip manufacture.

************************************************
11:30

Workshop Announcements:

February 20-March 3, 2007 --- Natural Building and Ecological Living
Tlasco, Tlaxcala, Mexico

Cob Cottage Company, Zopilote Association and Proyecto San Isidro Educacion Permanente is offering their 21st year of Natural Building and Ecological Living workshops of practical hands-on learning in Highland Mexico. This workshop to focus on Natural Building. Topics to include: Mexico's traditional buildings; understanding local ecology and culture; local economics and building techniques; the natural house (using local resources); climate-responsive building; practice and explanation of cob, strawbale, lightclay, thatch, natural floors, natural plasters, roundwood and wastewood; design of natural buildings. Cost: $1200 includes all meals and camping. Contact Cob Cottage for more info: 541-942-2005 or http://www.cobcottage.com/ecologicalliving

MARCH

March 5-April 1, 2007 --- Earthbag Building Workshops
Punta Gorda, Belize

Kaki Hunter and Donald Kiffmeyer offer their personal expertise and guidance in the construction of a small earthbag "casita" located at the Maya Mountain Research Farm tucked in the jungle of the Maya Mountains in Southern Belize. Learn the latest tools, tricks, and techniques for this cutting edge contemporary form of earthen architecture from the authors of Earthbag Building.

Doni and Kaki will conduct two, 2–week hands–on workshops focusing on construction of an earthbag structure designed for a high rainfall tropical location. This will be an adventurous, fun, life affirming opportunity for all. And the food will be awesome! We invite you to join us in this wonderful collaboration of efforts! For more information, and to register for either two weeks or all four weeks, visit Maya Mountain Research Farm (http://www.mmrfbz.org/earthbag.html). Space is limited, so register today. We'll see you there!

March 15-21, 2007 ---"Build with Us" Workshops
Yasothorn, Northeastern Thailand

Pun Pun Organic Farm, Seed Center, and Sustainable Living Learning Center invites you to join with the Pun Pun Team of builders/facilitators, learning natural building techniques in a hands-on workshop experience. This year Pun Pun will host two, 7-day workshops where you will experience building an earthen home from starting designs to finishing touches. This workshop will be held at "Suan Tom Ruam Jai" (Unity of Dhamma Garden) emerging intentional sustainable community. Experience Thai village/farming life while learning the skills you need to be able to build your own efficient, affordable, beautiful home the easy way! For more information click here: http://www.mynewsletterbuilder .com/home/published.php?action =view&newsletter_id=1409579230

March 17-November 17, 2007 --- Internships
Asheville, North Carolina

Various internship positions are available with Kleiwerks for the season. Please visit the Asheville Village Institute page for more information about this program. http://www.kleiwerks.org/avi/

2007-01-21T17:32:00.000-08:00

Jan. 17 WOW Builder's Show:

10:00 Marisha Farnsworth

SF Institute of Architecture project
Merritt College

Kleiwerks West

Bioconstrucciones

> For more information contact:
> The Natural Builders www.naturalbuildersworkshop.com

> 510.325.4277
:
This is the a new project of Fred Stitt of SFAI. Kevin and I will be teaching several workshops on weekends including: Bamboo, Strawbale and Adobe. Where will the series of workshops be held?
• Berkeley at the Aquatic Park and will be helping to renovate the existing buildings there, which are in sore need of attention. The site has a lot of potential.

A new project of Kleiwerks:
• Kleiwerks West will be hosting a series of workshops in 2007 in the East Bay--more information about this will be on our website NaturalBuildersWorkshop.com and on Kleiwerks.com in the coming month. We now have an iCal of select natural building events on our website NaturalBuildersWorkshop.com that people can subscribe to or view.

Merritt College's Natural Building Class Spring semester (taught in the Landscape/Horticulture Department) will be a weekend intensive again and it begins on April 26th.

Also, Kleiwerks is supporting a very cool project called Bioconstrucciones in Chiapas, Mexico: The primary instructor and organizer is Alejandra Caballero, an architect specializing in natural building and permaculture. There project involves a workshop and hurricane reconstruction in a village in Chiapas and is in cooperation with organizations of Mayan small farmers who are attempting to build a future for their communities based on ecological sustainability and social justice.

Here is the email information from Michael Smith:

I want you to know about an excellent opportunity coming up soon to:
- learn some great natural building skills including adobe, cob,
earthen plasters, thatching, lime fresco, natural paints, straw bale,
straw-clay and more!
- get a great cultural and historical introduction to Mexico,
including Precolumbian and Colonial architecture and building
- understand the effects of NAFTA and other neoliberal policies on
the economy and people of Mexico
- see an incredibly inspirational example of a forest reclaimed from
an eroded wasteland
- eat delicious vegetarian Mexican cuisine
- improve your Spanish
- optionally, participate in the reconstruction (using permaculture
and natural building techniques) of communities in southern Chiapas
that were devastated by a hurricane in 2005

The workshop, called "Bioconstrucciones" is being offered by Proyecto
San Isidro in cooperation with the Cob Cottage Company and Zopilote
Association. It runs from February 20 to March 3 and again from
November 20-December 1, 2007. (There's also a course called "Building
a Sustainable Way of Life" from July 24-August 4.) It takes place in
Tlaxco, about 2 hours by bus from Mexico City. The primary
instructors are Alejandra Caballero, an architect specializing in
natural building and permaculture, and her husband Paco Gomez, a
sociologist, along with other members of the Caballero clan who have
decades of experience in ecological restoration, regenerative
forestry, organic gardening, place-based education, and community
organizing for social change. I have known Alejandra and her family
for 14 years and consider them among the most inspirational people
I've ever met.

Here are some more details on the workshops: They cost $1200 for
foreigners, including lodging and meals. That money helps subsidize
Mexican participants and to support the other work of Proyecto San
Isidro, especially an ecology-focused primary school school for local
low-income children. The class is taught in Spanish and English, with
translation. The first week is for foreigners only and consists of an
intensive introduction to Mexican culture and history, with many
field trips. For the second, hands-on week, a number of Mexican
participants join in.

Immediately following the workshop will be a unique opportunity to
apply some of your newly-acquired skills to actually help out a
family in need. Alejandra has been helping to organize the
reconstruction of villages in southern Chiapas that were hit very
hard by hurricane Stan, which destroyed crops and infrastructure
throughout the region and left many families homeless. This project
is very exciting as it takes place in cooperation with organizations
of Mayan small farmers who are attempting to build a future for their
communities based on ecological sustainability and social justice.
Their vision includes reforestation and many other aspects besides
natural building, and will take many years to complete. Volunteers
are asked to commit a minimum of 2 weeks of their time. I will
personally be present and helping to coordinate the project for about
6 weeks starting at the beginning of March.

I've attached further information about the workshops. Please let me
know if you have any further questions. You can also check out
Proyecto San Isidro's web site at www.proyectosanisidro.com.mx and
find more information about the courses at www.cobcottage.com. Please
forward this announcement to anyone you know who might be interested.
We really need more participants to make these excellent programs
happen and to support the important work taking place both in Tlaxco
and in Chiapas.

peace in the new year,
Michael G. Smith

10:35 Janell Kapoor
(kleiwerks.org)
Founding Director: Kleiwerks International
Kleiwerks International promotes social transformation and ecological regeneration by leading hands on trainings in natural building and whole systems solutions that result in community-based sustainable living centers.

KLEIWERKS

March 8 – 20 Americorps Volunteers will be learning and working with us for the day. If you have a school group or other group that would like to volunteer and learn at AVI, please give us a call or email Scout.
March 13-16 – The Beginning Builders class from A-B Tech in Asheville will be with us for the week, learning and building. If you have a school group or other group that would like to volunteer and learn at AVI, please give us a call or email Scout.
March 17- November 17 – Internships - Asheville, NC. Various Internship positions are available for the season. Please visit the AVI page for more information about this program.
April 14-15 - Natural Finishes: Earthen Plasters & Clay Paints - Asheville, NC
May 22-31 - Participating in Village Building Convergence- Portland, OR
March through September Volunteer! Tuesday through Saturday most weeks, come join a work party at the Ashevillage Institute. Advance notice is always appreciated. Asheville, NC
Programs are under development at Kleiwerks West, in El Cerrito, CA; workshops and dates will be announced in January

A Kleiwerks International core event
Asheville, North Carolina
Natural Finishes: Earthen Plasters & Clay Paints
April 14-15, 2007
Learn various stages of the following: making & applying beautiful, totally eco-friendly, customized organic plasters & paints; making & applying casein washes; & creating textured finishes.

A Kleiwerks International core event
Asheville, North Carolina
Wild Food & Fermentation
May 11, 2007
$75, includes lunch
Come participate in a cultural revolution! Wild fermentation is a way of incorporating the wild into your body, becoming one with the natural world. Wild foods possess a great, unmediated life force which can help us adapt to shifting conditions and lower our susceptibility to disease. Microorganisms are everywhere, and the techniques for fermenting with them are simple and flexible. In this workshop, we will spend time walking outdoors, getting to know some local plants and harvesting edibles and medicinals, and together we will make kimchi, kefir, herbal elixir meads, and much more. Come and join us!

Sandor Ellix Katz, also known as Sandorkraut, is the author of Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods and The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved: Inside America's Underground Food Movements. He is also an herbalist, activist, builder, and craftsperson. Sandorkraut lives in an intentional community in Tennessee, Short Mountain Sanctuary, and travels widely spreading fermentation fervor by demystifying fermentation processes and encouraging people to embrace our bacterial allies. Check out Sandor's Website.

Kleiwerks:

An affiliate event series
THAILAND
Pun Pun "Build with Us" Workshops
Learn to construct a simple, beautiful, affordable and easy-to-build earthen home. November 25th - December 1st, 2006
"Jit Chiang Chan" (Mind Close to the Moon) Art Studio
Pun Pun Organic Farm, Seed Center & Sustainable Living Learning Center
Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand
...and...
March 15th - 21st, 2007
"Suan Tom Ruam Jai" (Unity of Dhamma Garden) emerging intentional sustainable community
Yasothorn, Northeastern Thailand
We invite you to join with the Pun Pun Team of builders/facilitators, learning natural building techniques in a hands-on workshop experience. This year Pun Pun will host two, 7-day workshops where you will experience building an earthen home from starting designs to finishing touches. Experience Thai village/farming life while learning the skills you need to be able to build your own efficient, affordable, beautiful home the easy way!

**
11:15 Carol Weiss
(carol@solarenergy.org)
Program Coordinator for Solar Energy International

Women’s Photovoltaic Workshop

Carol Weis is the PV Program Coordinator at SEI. She writes and updates the PV and Advanced PV curriculum and instructs in both the hands-on and online workshops. Carol also organizes SEI renewable energy trainings for other institutions and organizations. Carol is a NABCEP Certified PV Installer and is ISPQ Certified as an Affiliated Master Trainer in Photovoltaics by IREC. She is a licensed electrician in the state of Colorado, and before coming to SEI, she worked as a solar electrician installing a multitude of systems. Carol works from the Paonia office.
PO Box 715 • 76 S. 2nd St. • Carbondale, CO 81623 • 970-963-8855 • fax: 970-963-8866 • sei@solarenergy.org

Women's Photovoltaic Design & Installation

Register now!

A PV Design and Installation workshop geared specifically towards women. Participants in the PV Design & Installation workshop learn how to use PV (photovoltaic) technology to produce their own electricity from the sun through practical design and installation of PV systems. Participants learn system sizing, site analysis, hardware specification and component selection. The workshop covers typical applications and case study examples. Install an operational system in the field and learn the proper use of tools and safety precautions. This workshop is for the beginner who wants to use PV or for those seeking employment in the solar industry.

This workshop is certified by the Institute of Sustainable Power and fulfills one of the requirements for national photovoltaic certification. See www.nabcep.org for more information.

6-day vs. 10-day workshop
The off-site PV workshops are shortened versions of the workshops offered in Colorado. In the 6-day format, four days will be spent in the classroom/lab, and 2 days doing hands-on field work.

Other presentations include PV in developing countries and discussions on issues such as being a woman in a traditionally male field.

Is this workshop easier than the coed workshop?
No. It covers all the same material as the coed workshop. Participants have included licensed electricians, engineers, teachers, students and homemakers.
Topics Include
• Home Applications
• Basics of Electricity
• Solar Site Analysis
• PV System Components
• Energy Efficient Appliances
• PV System Sizing
• Components Specification
• Electrical Wiring
• Safety Procedures
• Tours of PV Residences
• a Field Installation

Sessions
Date
Location
Instructor
Price
Starting Date
Member Price
Jun. 18-29, 2007
SEI, Paonia, CO, - Women's PV
Carol Weis
$1600
Jun. 18, 2007
$1500

Related Workshops
• Women's Photovoltaic Design & Installation
• Carpentry Skills for Women
• Photovoltaic Design & Installation
• PV Design Online
• Women's Wind Power
Quotes from Past Participants

It was the friendliest and most open learning environment I've ever taken part in. The entire workshop, from start to finish, was inspirational.
-- 2003 Women's PV workshop participant

Thank you so much. Coming in, my knowledge base was fairly extensive, and yet the workshop challenged me in ways I didn't know I was lacking. The instructors were great, intelligent, and humorous.
-- Lori Leyrer, 2003 Women's PV workshop participant

Workshops begin at 9 am unless otherwise noted
PO Box 715 • 76 S. 2nd St. • Carbondale, CO 81623 • 970-963-8855 • fax: 970-963-8866 • sei@solarenergy.org

11:35 Jenny Pell
Wilder Institue
www.permaculturenow.com

Once a month workshop in Port Townsend

Program for single-mothers

Single Mothers and Children in Nicaragua

For the month of March, 2006, an international team of women permaculture designers joined forces to teach a special hands-on intensive to the Rosas de Volcanes, a group of single mothers and children from the Village of Balgue. Jenny Pell, Maria Bullock, Andrea Calfuquir, and Jamie Mulligan-Smith designed the curriculum in June, 2005, spent the year fundraising, and thanks to our generous donors were able to present an excellent program, with enough funds to see projects through to fruition in the coming year.

During the course we built potable water filters for each household, studied and practiced numerous plant propagation techniques, learned about medicinal plants, made tinctures and infusions, studied women's health, water catchment, small market economy, paper making, nutrition, baking, making chocolate, and even had time for music, art, and a puppet show with the kids!

The Wilder Team has been working with the Rosas and their children since February, 2005. The group has learned composting, seed collecting, grafting, soil mixes, plant nursery management, and how to build a fuel-efficient cook stove. Two of the women have had steady nursery work for 8 months, and now that the entire group has completed a design course they have been offered part-time work seed collecting, growing trees and plant propagating for private clients out of their own homes, grafting, plant installation, and longer-term plant care work.

The most popular part of the course was baking: sour-dough bread, chocolates, ginger cookies, and banana bread. Baked goods are delicious, nutritious, and an excellent income source. We put the wood-fired cob oven at Finca Bona Fide to work, and on market day the women sold out of their wares in 3 hours, earning more money than they had ever seen at one time. They immediately invested 50% of their earnings to purchase supplies for the next week.

The Wilder Team made a deal with the Rosas - plant 1,000 fast-growing firewood trees a year and we will fund a cob oven of their own. The oven was completed with Wilder help less than 4 weeks later!

Goals for the next year include extensive food gardens, grey-water plant guilds and plant propagation at each home, hosting more workshops with Nicaraguan educators for continued learning, selling artisan crafts, baked goods and plants at market each week, and learning how to manage their money.

The Wilder Institute will be fundraising this year to start construction of a small restaurant, store-front, permaculture showcase garden, and workshop space. We anticipate this project to create 15 full-time jobs for the Rosas de Volcanes, and will build skills as well as infrastructure. Please contact Jenny Pell with any questions or to make a donation, and thank for your support.

Permaculture Design Course
Ometepe Island, Nicaragua
February 1st - 18th, 2007

At the Finca Bona Fide Permaculture Farm and Homestead

Instructors: Douglas Bullock, Christopher Shanks, Reed Aubin, Michael Judd, Jenny Pell, and many local guests.

Join us for an 18-day bilingual permaculture design intensive! Permaculture is thriving in Latin America, and we work hard to provide educational opportunities for campesinos (peasant farmers), local agronomists, and villagers. This course offers a very unique opportunity to study with Central Americans, meet their families, be invited to their villages and farms, and learn an enormous amount of Spanish as well as permaculture!

Ometepe's dense tropical forest is one of the richest and most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. We encourage you to allow ample time before or after the course to explore the natural and cultural wonders of Ometepe. Accessible only by boat or float plane, this twelve-mile, twin-peaked volcanic island is located in one of the world's largest freshwater lakes, Lake Nicaragua. A beautiful lagoon fills the crater of the Maderas Volcano, from which flow several sizeable waterfalls and river systems. Visit the jungle, beach, summit a volcano, study petroglyphs, seek out tropical wildlife, or meet the locals. Most of the island's 30,000 residents are farmers who cultivate plantain, sesame, fruit, cattle, and coffee as their main agricultural products. Ometepe and Bainbridge Island in Washington State have enjoyed a 15-year friendship, and student and cultural exchange program through their sister island association program.

$1,500. A $400 non-refundable deposit is required for registration.

For more information:
Chris Shanks: ch_shanks@hotmail.com

Visit www.silentdust.com/bonafide to learn more about Ometepe and Project Bona Fide

building sector unites to confront global climate change

January 1, 2007

Santa Fe, N.M. — Recognizing that the building sector is responsible for almost half of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually, The American Institute of Architects (AIA / www.aia.org), U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC / www.usgbc.org), American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE / www.ashrae.org), Architecture 2030 and about 20 other leaders attended a special meeting at Greenbuild 2006 in Denver to confront the global-warming crisis.

The group reached a consensus on three critical issues facing the building sector as it works to bring energy consumption and GHG emissions in this sector under control: the need for a common goal; the definition of this goal; and a baseline to measure progress against, and have adopted "The 2030 Challenge" targets. These targets call for all new buildings and major renovations to reduce their fossil-fuel GHG-emitting energy consumption by 50 percent immediately; increasing this reduction to 60 percent in 2010; 70 percent in 2015; 80 percent in 2020; 90 percent in 2025; and finally, that all new buildings would be carbon neutral by the year 2030. The 2030 Challenge targets had previously been adopted by the AIA, the U.S. Conference of Mayors (for all buildings in all cities; Resolution #50) and individual cities and counties; endorsed by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) and incorporated into their “Statement of Action”; integrated into the EPA’s Target Finder; and promoted by the National Wildlife Federation and others. The collaborative adoption creates a powerful consensus allowing for the sharing of information and support. For more information, visit www.architecture2030.org.

2006-08-16T21:37:00.000-07:00

Women on Wednesday 8/16/06

Northern California Women's Music Festival, Black Oak Ranch, Laytonville, August 25, 26, 27. Woman only event (except boys up to age 6) music, workshops, camping, all meals included in ticket price. 3-day $200 ($170 55+, $55 7-14)
See www.norcalwomensmusic.org
or call 707-684-0012

Feet First's new show IMAGINE at the Mateel Community Center, Thursday, August 24, through Saturday, August 26,at 8 pm, doors 7:30. Sunday matinee, August 27 at 2 pm, doors 1:30. Tickets at Back in a Flash, Garberville, $15.

2006-05-18T20:35:00.000-07:00

June BOOK CIRCLE: Starhawk's The Fifth Sacred Thing
tune in Wednesday, June 14 at 10 am. Participate in phone-in discussion!

2006-04-23T20:06:00.001-07:00

Hi to all who have explored the blog world, Thank you.
I mentioned the blog during the April 19 builder's segment of Women on Wednesday, I would love it if everyone would spread the word.
Kelly Larson's info was posted on our previous communique, but to reinterate: please call or email Kathleen to participate in the April 29 and 30 Solar Electric Workshop. Kathleen is reachable at 845-1047 or KathleenGar@yahoo.com

The Urban Permaculture Worshop at the Alameda Point Collaborative this summer is being organized by Katherine Steele.
For more information please investigate the webiste for Alameda Point Collaborative (www.apc.org)

Marisha Farnsworth works with City Repair in the East Bay. You can google City Repair and come up with tons of fun information. Please also check out the www.eastbay.cityrepair.org or subscribe to the riseup.cityrepair listserve.

The Cob Cottage in Coquille, Oregon is hosting many new workshops in the coming months including projects in Mexico and Ireland. Give them a call at 1-541-942-2005 to talk to Linda Smiley or Ianto Evans.

Thank you for your continued interest and input.
Sincerely, Terri Klemetson

2006-04-13T21:29:00.000-07:00

Women on Wednesday April 12, 2006

Book Circle discussion of Primal Tears by Kelpie Wilson (See post of 3-9-06 for link)

Calleaghn is working with Buffalo Field Campaign in Yellowstone National Park. http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/

Beginnings in Briceland is having a festival Mother's Day Brunch on May 14 in the Octagon to benefit the kitchen renovation. For info, reservations, to contribute a baked good, or to volunteer, call 923-3617. Advance tix are advised.

The NEXT meeting of the SoHum Economic Localization group will be April 24 at the Vet's Hall at 7 pm. End of Sububia will be shown.

2006-04-11T13:04:00.000-07:00

COMING on Women on Wednesday's Builders Show April 19th

Hello!
My name is Terri Klemetson. I am programming the April 19th builder's segment of Women on Wednesday. The program will be a synergy of natural building, permaculture and alternative energy. I will be posting other bios as the interviews solidify. Thank you for your participation!!

Local KELLY LARSON teaches energy classes for the Solar Living Institute, Solar Energy International and at energy fairs. An electrical contractor and engineer, she has many years of experience as a system engineer with Alternative Energy Engineering and now runs a renewable energy design, installation, and repair service in Northern Mendocino and Southern Humboldt. She delights in making difficult subjects such as electricity and renewable energy technology simple enough for everyone to understand.

Kelly will be on Women On Wednesday April 19th at 11am to talk about her upcoming workshop and field alternative energy questions from the audience.

Upcoming workshop:
Women’s Solar Electricity Workshop
April 29th-30th
in the Southern Humboldt area

We are looking for a workshop site; easily accessible to Garberville – Redway, with an existing alternative energy system, and room for the class indoors, (if inclement weather). If the system is needing work, we may be able to use that for the hands-on portion of workshop.

For more info on the workshop: contact Kathleen at kathleengar@yahoo.com or 845-1047

2006-04-01T08:17:00.000-08:00

Hi this is Terri Klemetson.
I have not figured out how to load the builder's show discs onto our blog.
The good news is that contact info is easy to type.
So if anyone still remembers the amazing interviews with Janell Kapoor (Kleiwerks) and Alyson Ewald (Center for Safe Energy, Altai Project) get your pencil out!!!

Janell Kapoor and Kleiwerks
www.kleiwerks.org For connections to work in Argentina, Thailand and elsewhere!!

Sacred Earth Network: The Altai Project
93A Glasheen Road
Petersham MA
01366 Phone: 978-724-0120
www.centerforsafeenergy.com
cse@centerforsafeenergy.com
Alyson Ewald lives at Red Earth Farms which you can google.

If anyone has future comments or questions about the builder's show, when I have conducted the interviews, feel free to email me at: thunderress@yahoo.com

Women!!! Please call in during the show on April 19 and May 17 with questions, thank you.

2006-03-30T17:59:00.000-08:00

Women on Wednesday March 29, 2006

Contact info for Antonia Lamb:

POB 395 Mendocino, 95460
707-937-0119

Donations can also be made to Community Credit Union of Southern Humboldt account #12632

2006-03-30T12:06:00.000-08:00

Next time you're buying a book for yourself, why not buy a book to help rebuild the collection at the New Orleans Public Library?

A group of Princeton University students working with Powell's Books are rebuilding New Orleans's libraries, all 13 of which were damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Eight branch libraries are beyond repair, their entire collections ruined. You can pledge a book to help rebuild the city’s libraries by going to Powell's at http://www.powells.com/katrina/

Pass this on to all your book loving friends.

2006-03-28T09:44:00.000-08:00

Women on Wednesday March 22, 2006

GILLIAN BROWN is owner and leader of Mystical Tours, guiding pilgrims to some of the most significant ancient sites of southern England, including Stonehenge (where they have special access inside the circle at sunrise), Avebury, Silbury Hill, Glastonbury - Isle of Avalon, Tintagel Castle, Men-a-Tol and many more.

Gillian’s summer 2006 tour is from August 1-15, and is open to both men and women. Reservations are now being made. This year 2 units of credit are being offered through New College of California.

Contact Gillian for more information at gillianb@asis.com or phone 707 923 4139.

The REALITY WALL event will be held at the Mateel Community Center on Friday, April 7th. The wall features 3 x 5 cards from schoolchildren and adult community members anonymously answering the question "How have drugs, alcohol, or domestic violence affected your life?" Tributes to young people in the community who have died are also featured.

Reality Wall Memorial Wall viewing starts at 1 pm with free dinner, music and dancing to follow from 5-11 pm

For more info call Debbie Frazier 923-1147

KELLY LARSON teaches Renewable Energy workshops for women. Workshops are being planned for April 29-30. If you have a site easily accessible to Garberville - Redway that has alternative energy and could host the workshop or are interested in attending contact Kathleen at kathleengar@yahoo.com or 845-1047

ADULT WELDING CLASS is held on a drop-in basis on Thursdays from 5 pm until 10 at South Fork High School.

The COMMUNITY GARDEN PROJECT meets weekly at the greenhouse at the Tooby Community Park on Saturdays 10 am until noon

2006-03-09T07:51:00.000-08:00

The April Readers Circle will feature a discussion of Primal Tears and an interview with author Kelpie Wilson. Join us April 12 at 10 am on KMUD radio or listen online at www.kmud.org.

A cross between a human and a bonobo? Carl Sagan and others have speculated: Is it possible? What kind of creature would it be? And how might this affect our world?

Primal Tears is the story of Sage, born to a young woman who has volunteered to be a surrogate mother for an endangered bonobo chimpanzee. The process goes awry, and Sage, a lovable youngster, is neither completely one species nor the other. When her existence becomes public knowledge, she needs all the best characteristics of both species to find a place for herself in our human-dominated world.

Read the first chapter online: http://www.kelpiewilson.com/primal%20tears/chapter1.htm

Ask your local bookseller to order a copy from North Atlantic Books.

Kelpie Wilson is the environmental editor and a writer for truthout.org. Her articles and essays have been published by Orion, AlterNet, Tidepool, Wild Earth, High Country News, The Progressive, Hope Dance and Sentient Times. She was interviewed as part of the New Dimensions Radio Deep Ecology series and profiled as a diarist in Grist Magazine. She also does technical writing for the solar power industry.

Kelpie was a key organizer of the Earth First! Exxon Valdez campaign in Alaska (1989) and of the Redwood Summer campaign in California (1990). From 1991 to 2003 she worked for the Siskiyou Regional Education Project, a grassroots forest protection group, serving as executive director from 1997-2001. She also helped lead the campaign to create a one million-acre Siskiyou Wild Rivers National Monument.

She lives with her husband in a solar-powered home in the Siskiyou Mountains.

2006-02-17T13:03:00.000-08:00

"Reading Lolita in Tehran" for March's Book Circle

On Wednesday, March 8th, International Women’s Day, Women on Wednesday’s Book Circle will be discussing “Reading Lolita in Tehran” by Azar Nafisi.

In 1997 Professor Nafisi invited a small group of women students to her home in Tehran to read and discuss works of literature forbidden by the government.

Her account is a beautifully written, moving and rare inside look at the lives of women in post revolutionary Iran. And also has much to say to all of us about life and the nature of freedom.

So tune in on Wednesday, March 8th at 10:00am to Women on Wednesday. Join the discussion by calling in or email the book circle at wowreader@yahoo.com.

Note from Calleaghn: This book is amazing! I expected to like it, but I'm really blown away by her writing and how much the stories Ms. Nafisi tells touch some deep places in me that relate to my own life experiences. I'm told the Humboldt County Library has several copies available.
Professor Nafisi isn't available right now for an interview (I was told to check back in August and I think we should do that!), but I'm hoping lots of people will read the book and call in to discuss it with us.
Blessings~ calleaghn

2006-01-28T11:59:00.000-08:00

from Wednesday, January 25th show:

----- Original Message -----
From: "Raven~Light"
To: "Raven~Light"
Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2006 2:51 AM
Subject: Help for Gwen Avery!!!

Dear Friends,

A friend of all of ours needs our help. Gwen Avery has energized the Bay Area music community for the past 30 years with her soulful songs and dynamic presence. If there was a cause that needed her voice, whether it was women in prison, AIDS, violence against women or particular artists in distress, Gwen generously donated her talents. Now she needs us to help her.

For the last five years of so, Gwen had a healthy stretch of gigs around the Bay Area. But due to changes in her personal life, she lost the home she was living in as well as the management of her music. As a result, she has barely been performing or earning money. After several years, she gave up her senior Section 8 housing to move in with her partner.The end of that relationship has resulted in her being forced to pay all of her benefit check for rent with nothing left over for the basics of food and other necessities. The Section 8 list is currently closed. She is facing the frightening possibility that could face any of us of becoming homeless unless she can get some money soon.

Gwen is not someone who asks for help and that is why I am asking on her behalf. Here is what she needs:

1. A Great Music Benefit - donated venue with donated time from artists to share the stage with her and bring her several thousand dollars. People who will donate their time to produce this, publicize it, etc.

2. Help selling her instruments and equipment. Gwen is prepared to sell her piano and other equipment like speakers, amplifiers, microphones and stands, mixers, etc. but needs someone well organized and skilled at taking digital photos of the equipment and putting it on Craigslist or E-Bay.

3. Friends to call and extend a hand, a hello, words of encouragement and any other help they can offer, financial and otherwise. Her number is 510.717.0089. Her email is g.avery@worldnet.att.net

Gwen's situation is horrifyingly similar to that of many poor seniors (yes, she turned 66!) particularly lesbians without family resources or pensions to fall back on. We have swooned to Sugar Mama and had our spirits lifted by her voice over the decades. Please help in lifting her spirits by "putting some sugar in her bowl."

Thanks so much,
Melanie

P.S. Please forward this to friends and fans of Gwen!

Melanie Berzon
Program Director
KCSM Radio - 91.1FM Jazz
1700 West Hillsdale Blvd.
San Mateo, CA. 94402
650-524-6944 (phone)
650-524-6975 (fax)
mel@kcsm.net (email)

2006-01-21T08:39:00.000-08:00

Reader’s Circle, 2nd Wednesday of the Month on KMUD-FM

February 8 at 10:00, join us for a discussion of The Red-Haired Girl from the Bog: The Landscape of Celtic Myth and Spirit and an interview with the author, Patricia Monaghan. Learn more about Patricia and her work at http://www.patricia-monaghan.com/

Read a chapter of The Red-Haired Girl online! http://www.altogether.com/patricia/works/redhead.html

For book ordering information or visit the your independent bookseller, or order online from the publisher’s website
http://www.newworldlibrary.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=279

Patricia Monaghan is the author of the definitive dictionary of feminine divinities, The Book of Goddesses and Heroines (Dutton 1981; Llewellyn 1990) and its revised edition, titled The New Book of Goddesses and Heroines (Llewellyn 1997). She is also widely respected as an expert and chronicler of Celtic spiritual traditions and is the editor of Irish Spirit (Wolfhound Press/Merlin 2002). In addition, she is the coauthor of Meditation: The Complete Guide (New World Library 2000) and several volumes of poetry.

A former resident of County Galway, Monaghan holds dual Irish and American citizenship. She is active in Irish organizations in both countries, serving as advisor to the Center for Celtic Spirituality at Old St. Pat's Church in Chicago and as a supporter and fund raiser for Salmon Poetry in County Clare. She is a frequent guest at Clifden Arts Week in Connemara and leads student tours to Northern Ireland. She is a member of the interdisciplinary faculty at DePaul University in Chicago, where she lives.

2006-01-18T20:42:00.000-08:00

Women On Wednesday
From the Book Circle’s December show, Liz’s list of books she most wants to give or receive as solstice gifts, with contributions from friends.

Homeopathic Treatment of Influenza
Sandra J. Perko.

This is very left-brained and highly specific to homeopaths and natural healers, but it gives some interesting perspective on the 1918 flu epidemic that is being so touted in recent media hysteria over avian flu. It notes, for instance, that in that epidemic the allopaths of the day lost not infrequently up to 50% of their patients; the homeopaths as an entirety, however, in the same epidemic lost under 1% (and homeopathy was pretty common at that time--in fact the AMA was started up specifically and explicitly to protect the "mainstream" docs of the day from "homeopaths and herbalists"). The few homeopathic patients who died were almost invariably ones who had taken allopathic treatment first, and in particular, who had taken aspirin. If you’re interested in natural remedies and in looking past the hysteria of the media’s coverage of disease, this might be an interesting read for you.
www.homeopathic.com (Homeopathic Educational Services, Berkeley)

Hazel Wolf: Fighting the Establishment
Susan Starbuck
Drawing upon twenty years of taped interviews with the Seattle environmentalist, communist, and labor organizer, Susan Starbuck has written a biography of an extraordinary activist and recipient of the National Audubon Society's Medal of Excellence, mostly using Hazel Wolf own words. The great thing is Wolf is funny, sharp and to-the-point. "I was just there," Wolf says, "powerless and strong, someone who wouldn't chicken out."

Talk Dirty to Me
Sallie Tisdale
Tisdale's provocative look at sexuality relates personal experiences alongside meditations on subjects such as pornography and prostitution. Ms Chris writes, “I've gleaned and expanded some of my best feminist theory from a sensuous piece of work called Talk Dirty to Me, by Sallie Tisdale. I could hear the authoress whispering sweet accounts of women's lives, drawing universal truth from personal experience and forcing me to
reassess my stereotypes about sex, sexuality, choice, and image. Any feminist library is incomplete without this book.”

Seasons of the Witch, 3rd edition
Patricia Monaghan
A stunning poetry collection exploring the power and passion of woman as reflected in the changing seasons. The first edition, long out of print, remains my favorite because it was such a lush little object, printed on fine textured paper and illustrated with beautiful woodcuts by Sudie Rakusin, and because of its elegant structure: four seasons of thirteen poems each. A second edition was published about three years ago by Llewellyn which greatly expanded the text and while there was more poetry for the buck in the book, the focused sensuality of the first edition was lost. A third edition has just been issued by Creatrix Press, a woman-owned small press in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, further expanded and including two CDs of poems set to music. It promises to be a big enjoyable book of poetry for the goddess-centered woman on your gift list. But if you can score a copy of the very rare first edition, do it. Order from Creatrix 608/839-5011 or katsoj@execpc.com

Zorro: A Novel
Isabel Allende
Allende's Zorro is a lively swashbuckling historical novel that recasts Diego de la Vega as the son of a California hidalgo and a Shoshone shaman and warrior and manages to tell a story about class and race as well as romance and honor. It is Diego’s identification with native peoples exploited by and dying in the Spanish colonial missions that forms the basis of his thirst for justice and defense of the downtrodden. All that and secret societies in Spain, pirates in colonial New Orleans, and swordfights too.

Except the Dying
Under the Dragon’s Tail
Night’s Child
Let Loose the Dogs
Maureen Jennings
The Detective Murdoch Mysteries
I haven’t read these yet, but my mystery loving friend Joan highly recommends these gritty historical mysteries, set in Victorian Toronto. Jennings explores Canadian society, and tells the everyday history of the poor, especially poor women and children. Joan likes the well plotted stories and the vivid and often painful history her stories reflect.

My exception to the women-authors-only theme of WOW is justified by my admiration for the delightfully eccentric action heroine Tuesday Next in Jasper Fforde’s series of screwball time-travel book-jumping adventures: The Eyre Affair, Lost in a Good Book, The Well of Lost Plots, and Something Rotten.

In an alternate 1980s England, where dodos and mastadons have been re-engineered and Richard III is the hot Saturday night show, literature really matters and decorated Crimean war-veteran Tuesday Next defends readers from literary fraud, frightfully evil corporations, and the occasional vampire. Aided at various times by Dicken's Mrs. Havisham, the Cheshire Cat, and scores of minor characters from the Well of Lost Plots, the Next novels are Douglas Adams at warp speed through a hypertextual universe, a laugh-out-loud mix of English literature, social satire, and convoluted time travel.