Hyatt Westlake Plaza
DIRECTIONS
Our partners and advisors Daya Hamwi and JP Parker of Infinite Solutions
have created a truly amazing event ~ check it out!~Laura Fox
Infinite Solutions Institute hosts 2½-day design/build course with visionary sustainability
architect and star of the documentary film “Garbage Warrior” Michael Reynolds
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA—On April 12-14, 2013, just prior to Earth Day celebrations, Infinite Solutions Institute will host a weekend training with legendary sustainability pioneer, documentary film star and creator of Earthship Biotecture, Michael Reynolds.
Imagine a home that: heats and cools itself; provides its own food and water; generates its own power; handles its own sanitation; works in harmony with the intelligence of the earth and is made predominantly from recycled materials. This home is called an Earthship, and its technology —which goes beyond merely “green” to actually generative — has been refined through 40 years’ hands-on experience worldwide.
Michael Reynolds, the creator of Earthships and Earthship Biotecture, is the star of the documentary film Garbage Warrior (Open Eye Media U.K., 2007). He will be in Los Angeles Friday April 12 through Sunday April14 to offer his groundbreaking “Sustainable Autonomy for Everyone” (S.A.F.E.) 2½-day course.
Covering all aspects of Earthship history, design and building practices, the course will address the complete systemic approach to Earthships: year-round food production, water harvesting, solar and wind power generation, contained sewage treatment, thermal dynamics, and the use of recycled materials for building. It will also cover types of Earthships, custom building projects, community development, and disaster relief projects around the world.
This is the first time this course has ever been offered in California. Reynolds just began presenting the S.A.F.E. seminar to the public in 2012. Thus far it has been given in Australia, Europe, Canada and New Zealand. The California course follows wildly successful outings in Philadelphia, Christchurch and Denver. Reynolds heads for Stockholm immediately following the Los Angeles training.
Earthship building methodology has evolved to the point where the systems and technology that Reynolds has developed can be placed into a home or development of any aesthetic preference. Reynolds’ original Earthships were inspired variations on traditional New Mexican adobe structures, and have been compared to the work of Antoni Gaudi. Today, an Earthship can be made in any kind of building style desired — in Scotland, an Earthship looks like a stone castle; in Haiti, like a hut; in North America, like a conventional suburban tract home. The key is Earthship systems technology, which can be integrated into virtually any kind of structure.
Historically, eco and sustainable homes have been more expensive to build than conventional structures. This was certainly the case with the early Earthships, even given their use of recycled materials. So for many years, it was Reynolds’ intent to bring the cost of building an Earthship equal to or less than the cost of building a conventional home. That goal was successfully accomplished, just in time for the housing crisis of 2007 to hit.
Observing the dramatic results of that crisis, which in turn led to the global economic crisis of 2008, as well as having done relief work in the Andaman Islands following the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, and assisting the Haitian people following the disastrous earthquake there in 2010, Reynolds realized he would have to step up his efforts. Conventional housing was far too expensive all over the developed world for the majority of the population to afford. That’s when the public trainings were conceived.
“The modern world has a system to sustain an economy. And that economy,” says Reynolds, ”is supposed to sustain the people. It doesn’t. That’s why we’ve evolved this concept that we’re calling SAFE, Sustainable Autonomy for Everyone. We’re saying that a greater world would have a system to sustain the people.”
Reynolds’ choice to bring his cumulative knowledge forward is timely and welcome, especially for those looking to maximize both sustainability and freedom in uncertain times.
“This is profound practical wisdom, 40 years in the making,” says JP Parker, co-founder of Infinite Solutions Institute and co-host for the event. “Just imagine living in a truly generative structure: one that generates food, generates water, generates power; an elegant, world-class structure that works with the earth and nurtures us. Then imagine that we can build it ourselves. This is a massive paradigm shift.”
“The time has come to embrace radical sustainability, and walk our talk,” adds Susan Daya Hamwi, a lawyer for social justice and co-host of the event. “We have a window of great opportunity. It is time to stand as individuals and reclaim our communities, to embrace the most integrated and sustainable technologies, and to live in true harmony with our planet.”
The weekend training takes place at Barnsdall Art Park in Hollywood, and begins with a Q&A and screening on Friday at 5pm, followed by two full days of instruction by Reynolds himself. There will also be a hands-on tire brick-making session, and a presentation by Reynolds to schoolchildren at the Westside Waldorf School. An Earthship wall-building event is also planned at the Cross Bull Ranch in Topanga.
To learn more about the training and to register, visit http://earthship.com/
Community partners for the event include Topanga Earth Day, Whole Life Times, Nomad University, EmpowermentWorks, Living Mandala, Bonzai Homes, Joyful Activist, Green Business Networking, Raw Living Expo and Bless the Children.
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Michael Reynolds and select members of the Earthship Biotecture team are available for interviews with media. Contact Susan Daya Hamwi at Infinite Solutions Institute for more information:
Susan Daya Hamwi
Infinite Solutions Institute
310-210-7550
ABOUT THE EVENT PARTNERS
Earthship Biotecture is: Earthship n. 1. passive solar home made of natural and recycled materials 2. thermal mass construction for temperature stabilization. 3. renewable energy & integrated water systems . 1, 2 and 3 make the Earthship an off-grid home with little to no utility bills. Biotecture n. 1. the profession of designing buildings and environments with consideration for their sustainability. 2. A combination of biology and architecture.
Earthship Biotecture and the Greater World Earthship community in Taos, New Mexico is the global hub for Michael Reynolds’ Earthship technology, systems and training. http://www.earthship.com
Infinite Solutions Institute, an initiative of Nomad University, exits to shine the light on the solutions that are all already here to bring forth our thriving humanity and planet. As an engine for solutions-focused education and advocacy, ISI knows that by cultivating our unlimited creative resources, intelligently stewarding our planetary ones, and working as harmonious teams, humanity arrives where it was always meant to be: healthy, prosperous, peaceful, joyful and free. http://www.infinitesolutions.
Radically Sustainable LA Event with Earthships Architect Michael Reynolds, April 12-14
ExpoWest is an absolutely enormous expo with hundreds of companies in the natural foods and natural products sector. Best of Raw team attends each year to find out “what’s hot” in the larger Natural Products world and to document the “raw foods presence” at this megalithic food event.
Article By Mixtress Hava Derby
Next weekend, the Best of Raw team ~ Laura Chiraya Fox, Nathan Crane, Hava Derby and Natan Mallinger are converging in Los Angeles, CA for Natural Products Expo West, the world’s largest and premier trade show of natural and organic products. In our 4th year of covering Expo West, we are excited once again to come out to document the raw foods movement and ‘where it’s at’ in the larger natural products marketplace, through our blogs, videos and social media posts.
Founder of Raw Living Expo and Best of Raw Laura C. Fox says, “Over the years, it has been exciting to see the raw foods movement grow. One of the hallmarks of the movement’s growth is the number of raw foods companies represented at the natural foods industry’s leading event, ExpoWest. It’s always such a treat to be able to meet and greet so many eco-friendly food and applicance companies who are serving the raw foods movement in one place. This year it will be my pleasure to introduce our new teammates who are excited to discover everything ExpoWest has to offer.”
Today is the second day of the Raw Living Expo, an amazing event gathering top speakers and leaders and the best raw food products in stunning Sedona Arizona. In a world where eco-friendly production doesn’t always walk hand in hand with food production it’s so uplifting to be here at the event, surrounded by businesses that actually care about the planet and take it into consideration when producing the food. The beautiful thing about the production of organic raw food products is that the people behind the raw organic products are all very dedicated to produce in a way that does not harm our planet.
It seems as if many of the big companies in the food industry today are not thinking about the environment, but are only motivated by profits. When buying raw organic food products we not only participate in improving our own health, but we also participate in making sure our planet is taken care of through an eco-friendly production.
One of the sponsors for the Raw Living Expo is Lydia’s Organics which is an internationally distributed product line comprised of all organic, vegan, raw, dehydrated, gluten-free bars, crackers, cereals, kale chips and more. -www.lydiasorganics.com
In addition to being nominated for making the best raw kale chips, Lydia’s is also nominated for the best Cereal in this years raw award show. If you are so lucky to have made it to the Raw Living Expo in Sedona you can find Lydia’s at the expo and get a taste of her well loved raw food products.
Lydia’s is one of the Bay Areas leaders in sustainable food production and has a beautiful vision that goes way beyond just offering healthy and delicious raw food products:
“Lydia’s Organics is committed to increasing the well-being of the next seven generations and of the planet by providing nourishing vegan and gluten-free foods to globally cultivate a healthy, joyful life for all. Each day we strive toward creating environments of nourishment, productivity, and community, including supporting local farms, health food education and community outreach.”-www.lydiasorganics.com
In addition to the brand Lydia’s Organics, Lydia has also created Lydia’s Lovin’ Foods which delivers fresh entrees, spreads, desserts and raw soup available in select locations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Lydia’s Lovin Food can also be found at many festivals and conferences. – www.lydiasorganics.com
In Petaluma you find The Sunflower Center which is also founded by Lydia. The Sunflower Center is a cafe and community center located in Petaluma, California that serves a full menu of gluten-free cooked and raw items. It is a great gathering space for sharing food, knowledge and creativity – www.lydia’s.com.
You can find Lydia’s organic foods at stores around the Bay Area in Northern California, or online at their website: Lydiasorganics.com.
Author
- DitteChristina
Raw Living Expo Kickoff!
Today is the first day of the Raw Living Expo and everyone is SO excited! For many months the organizing team has been working hard to make this event possible and now the event is finally kicking off. In the stunning beauty of Sedona people are this moment gathering from all around the world to participate in a weekend packed with activities, amazing speakers, raw foods and the 5th. annual Raw Living Expo Gala dinner and awards show. Yesterday I was among volunteers who helped pack the goody bags for those attending the Gala award show and was lucky to sample Lydia’s organic kale chips which are nominated for the best kale chips – and oh boy they were Yummi! Besides the kale chips, there are 12 other raw food product categories represented that have made special impressions on raw food eating consumers all around the world.
Many of the raw food products that are nominated this year can be found at the Raw Living Expo exhibitor hall where there’ll be tasty samples and lots of delicious raw organic products to purchase. For those not attending, you can follow the award show live on this webpage.
ChocolaTree at the Raw Living Expo
One of the sponsors supporting the Raw Living Expo is the ChocolaTree café, located in Sedona, Arizona, where the Raw living Expo is being held. The ChocolaTree offers a 100% organic homemade raw and cooked menu as well as catering. This weekend the ChocolaTree can also be found at the Raw Living Expo where guests can taste some of their delicious foods.
The café is a family business with a most beautiful version:
”We see a World of natural beauty where every child is born into a domain with clean air, pure water and their very own garden growing fresh foods in a splendid paradise! We all play a part in nurturing this Vision together as we make conscious choices that honor ourselves, the planet and each other.” –www.Chocolatree.com
In every aspect of their business you can see their eco-friendly vision shining through. The menu is based on seasonal and local produce that is 100% organic or wildcrafted and their entire packaging is 100% recyclable. If you ever travel through the beautiful landscape of Sedona Arizona you don’t want to miss a visit to the Chocolatree which will amaze you with it’s many delecious raw food dishes.
Chocolatree Raw food products
Chocolatree also offers packaged raw food products and this year the Chocolatree has the chance of running away with no less than four of the awards for best raw food products. The nominated chocolatree products are The Chocolatree Goji Berry Cacao Porridge nominated for best Cereal, The chocolatree Chia Crackers nominated for best crackers, The chocolatree Nori Nachoes Cheddar nominated for the best salty Snacks and The chocolatree almond butter that is nominated in the category best ‘Nut Butter’.
The Chocolatree’s nominated raw food products can be found at their online store where you can also find a large variety of other healthy foods and a long list of different supplements for the whole body as well as different products for your skin and body. If you haven’t already tried their yummy kale chips or Raw Nachos you are in for an amazing treat!
You can read more about the ChocolaTree and how it’s practices are improving the planet, check out their deleious cafe Menu and raw organic products on their website chocolaTree.com.
Author:
- DitteChristina
Raw Living Expo Attendees, Facilitators, and Volunteers receive 15% all our tours with Sedona Red Rock Adventures, plus $10 in free organic chocolates from ChocolaTree with every reservation. (866) 445-3732
Sedona, AZ – Land of the Red Rocks
elevation 4,200′
Sedona Hiking Adventures is your premier guide for recreational opportunities in Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. All our tours stand out from the rest in every aspect.
We offer a diverse line of tours that are only limited by your imagination. If you have an idea of what you wish to see and do, we will create a unique tour just for you. Although our name is Sedona Hiking Adventures, many of our adventures take you all across the state or even to neighboring states. Hiking is just the beginning of what you can do. For what we offer is the complete package of endless recreational opportunities.
Our specialty tours include:
Living Intentions is a proud sponsor of the 2012 Best of Raw Awards and the 2013 Raw Living Expo! Join us in Sedona where you can sample their delicious products and spend quality time with the raw foods community. Living Intentions Founder Joshua McHugh is fanatical about making raw foods taste good!
HealthForce Nutritionals was founded in 1990 with a vision to help heal our people and planet by creating, and providing, the most therapeutic supplements imaginable. 23 years later, HealthForce is still a vibrant, grassroots, independent, family-owned company committed to hard-core quality and ethics. We take special care to source the most nutrient-dense superfoods and therapeutic herbs on the planet, processed at low temperatures to preserve fragile nutrients, formulated with potent synergists and energetic enhancements, and finally packaged with our signature EcoFresh seal (amber glass using a metal lid with rubberized seal and oxygen absorber) to preserve maximum potency. We adhere to TruGanic™ levels of purity – a hard-core purity standard significantly beyond “organic” that requires actual laboratory testing to verify zero detectable levels of pesticides/herbicides, GMOs, or irradiation. 100% raw, vegan, whole food, HARD-CORE supplement line.
