Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Radical Urban Sustainability Class


Radical Urban Sustainability:
Theories and Techniques for Transforming Our City

A two-evening course with Wilson Alvarez
Thursdays, May 13th & 20th, 2010 6:30pm-8:45pm
Cost: Sliding scale of $35-$50

Picture this: Lancaster is completely surrounded by a twenty-foot wall. There is no way to go over it, under it or around it, no food or resources coming in or going out. What skills would we need to obtain the food, water and other materials required to sustain life? How could we create a system that would be truly sustainable without any input from the outside world?

Join us for this 2-part course as we explore cutting-edge theories and techniques that can be used to create a truly self-renewing system, right here within the city and inside our homes.

Topics include:

Week 1:
May 13th
Sustainability Theory:
Systems thinking
Stone age economics/nature awareness
Voluntary simplicity

Food:
Forest gardening
Small scale intensive agriculture
Mushroom cultivation
Micro-livestock
Home-scale fish production

Landscape Decontamination:
Bio-remediation
Myco-remediation
Bio-char production

Week 2:
May 20th
Appropriate Technology:
Human Powered Machines
Composting Toilets
Rocket Stoves
Low Impact Home Designs

Water:
Watershed Rehabilitation
Grey-water systems
Rainwater Catchment

Class will be held at Radiance, 9 W Grant St, Lancaster, PA 17603
Call 717-290-1517, or stop by to register

Wilson Alvarez is co-owner of Homegrown Edible Landscaping Co. with his wife Natasha. He has a background in history and anthropology and has spent the last seven years studying the local ecosystem and sustainable living techniques. Homegrown is a human-powered business and is based in Lancaster City.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

New Spring Mural at Radiance


This is a photo of the new mural hanging in the stairwell at Radiance. Eli Weaver has been painting a series of seasonal murals for us, so this is the Spring mural. Demeter and Kore strolling through the meadow, leaving early flowers in their footsteps. Come see us and the mural anytime!