April 2018 - Taylor Scott Nelson

EarthX Expo 2018

April 22, 2018 No Comments

EarthX Expo 2018 – Day 1 & 2 Summary

After my eco-inspired road trip, I had a hard time getting involved with sustainability initiatives in the Dallas Metroplex area compared to my time in Oregon. However, during Earth Day weekend, April 20-22 (with Earth Day on April 22), Dallas hosted its annual EarthX Expo, and I was excited to attend for my second year in a row!

“The festival, formerly called Earth Day Texas, is the world’s largest environmental festival, having drawn as many as 130,000 people. The main festival costs $5 and runs from Friday through Sunday at Fair Park.

But there are also two weeks’ worth of events, including a film festival and professional conferences that aren’t open to the public.

The three-day expo draws the general public with a tiny house village, a petting zoo, goat yoga, a scuba diving pool and about 1,000 exhibitors. At the same time, the festival is hosting conferences to discuss sustainability initiatives in the oil and gas industry and the E-Capital Summit to link investors with clean technology startups.” – Dallas Morning News Article

Last year in 2017, I went to EarthX for networking purposes and to drum up new business for the marketing agency I was working at. And the experience was more than inspiring getting to talk with hundreds of vendors/exhibitors, touring the tiny house community, watching some award-winning documentaries, and seeing cutting-edge sustainability initiatives and technologies!

General, Road Trip, Texas, Travel

Taylor’s Eco-Road Trip 2018 Itinerary

April 18, 2018 No Comments

Here’s my travel itinerary by blog post coming from Oregon down south back to Texas. You can learn more about each of my stops by click on the links for more information.

I’ve also included my planning process so you too can see where I found these eco-road trip stops. Many of these communities were listed in official intentional community directories, which helped me find their contact information to reach out!

Planning my Eco-Inspired Road Trip

OSU Master Gardens & Grant’s Pass

Coastal Redwood Forests

General, Road Trip

Eco-Road Trip – Texas Tech & Dallas Bound

April 10, 2018 No Comments

Texas Tech Reminiscing & Dallas Bound – Summary:

Who: Kelly Kingston; Sidne Smith
What: Stated at my friends’ bachelorette pad; Toured Texas Tech before returning to Dallas
When: Wednesday, April 11
Where: Lubbock, TX; Dallas, TX

Quick Resources:

My Route:

Planning my Eco-Inspired Road Trip Blog Post

My Travel Story:

I spent the majority of Tuesday driving from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Lubbock, Texas, where I went to college at Texas Tech University – and stayed with college friends, Kelly Kingston and Sidne Smith, in their downtown bachelorette loft!

This is a view of downtown Lubbock, and yes, there are high-rise buildings in West Texas!

General, Road Trip

Eco-Road Trip – Valverde Commons

April 9, 2018 No Comments

Valverde Commons Community – Summary:

Who: James Ludden
What: Visited the Valverde Commons Community
When: Monday, April 9
Where: Taos, NM

Quick Resources:

My Route:

Planning my Eco-Inspired Road Trip Blog Post

My Travel Story:

After the The Greater World Earthship Community, I traveled to the other side of Taos to visit Valverde Commons.

“Valverde Commons was conceived as an active adult CoHousing community in 2006 and developed from pastureland starting in 2011. Currently there are 22 energy efficient houses with 6 additional ones expected by 2023. Thirty four people live in the community as of 2018. The community is located in the heart of Taos, New Mexico and a short walk from the historic Taos Plaza.

The individual homes are clustered on 10 acres surrounding an almost 4 acre common green space, plus an adjacent 10 acre park with walking paths and gardens.

Our beautiful common house has a full kitchen, large meeting room, library, and laundry facilities. It is frequently used for group dining, parties, meetings, classes, and entertainment. The common house has rooftop solar energy to promote sustainability. We also have a barn building for communal garden tools, tractor, and garden carts. The barn also includes a complete professional wood working shop and other studio facilities.” – Valverde Commons FIC Profile

General, Road Trip

Eco-Road Trip – Meow Wolf

April 9, 2018 No Comments

Meow Wolf – Summary:

Who: N/A
What: Had my mind-blown at Meow Wolf
When: Monday, April 9
Where: Santa Fe, NM

Quick Resources:

My Route:

Planning my Eco-Inspired Road Trip Blog Post

My Travel Story:

I left Valverde Commons late in the afternoon, with enough time to get back to the Commons on the Alameda and eat dinner with the community – OR – check out Meow Wolf, an interactive art exhibit, which I stumbled across the day before. (I didn’t regret my choice!)

“Meow Wolf is a Santa Fe, New Mexico based arts and entertainment group that established in 2008 as an art collective and is rapidly growing into a leader in the immersive art world.

General, Road Trip

Eco-Road Trip – Earthship Community

April 9, 2018 No Comments

Earthship Community & Taos Mesa Brewery – Summary:

Who: N/A
What: Stopped at the Taos Mesa Brewery for directions; Visited the Rio Grande Gorge National Park; Toured and explored the Earthship Community
When: Monday, April 9
Where: Taos; NM

Quick Resources:

My Route:

Planning my Eco-Inspired Road Trip Blog Post

My Travel Story:

After driving through the forested high mountains of New Mexico coming from the Hummingbird Community, I traveled through the desert prairie plains to The Greater World Earthship Community.