Austin Trip – Austin Central Library Talk
Austin Central Library – Sustainable Food Systems Talk
While I was house-sitting for my grandparents in Bastrop, Texas, I planned excursions into Austin to see some sights and attend some public talks. My first public talk was at the new Austin Central Library as part the “Talk Green to Me: Sustainable Living Series,” a collaboration between the library, the Austin Office of Sustainability, and several other organizations speaking in the series.
This was first talk I attended in the series, which was presented by Edwin Marty, Austin’s Food Policy Manager, discussing about the State of Austin’s Food System.
Austin Trip – Monolithic Dome Institute
Monolithic Dome Institute
My two week adventure to Austin started with a stop at the Monolithic Dome Institute’s Dome Research Park in Italy, Texas.
As a kid, I would always travel by Bruco, the giant dome caterpillar, on our family trips to visit my grandparents before they lost their home to one of the Texas fires several years ago. So this was the first time I actually pulled off the highway and took a look at the actual domes and houses that made up this unique dome community!
EarthX Expo 2018
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! (more…)
- Published in General
Eco-Road Trip – Valverde Commons
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 (more…)
Eco-Road Trip – Earthship Community
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:
- Earthsip Biotecture Webpage
- The Greater World Earthship Community Webpage FIC Profile
- The Greater World Earthship Community Facebook Page
- Mike Reynolds – Wikipedia Page
- Taos Mesa Brewing Webpage
- Taos Mesa Brewing Facebook Page
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.
Eco-Road Trip – Hummingbird Community
Hummingbird Community – Summary:
- Who: Rich Ruster
- What: Visited and toured the Hummingbird Community
- When: Monday, April 9
- Where: Cleveland, NM
Quick Resources:
- Hummingbird Community Webpage
- Hummingbird Community Facebook Page
- Hummingbird Community FIC Profile
- Hummingbird Community NuMundo Profile
- Gaia Education Webpage
My Route:
Planning my Eco-Inspired Road Trip Blog Post
My Travel Story:
I left the Commons on the Alameda that morning and drove into the high mountains of New Mexico to visit the Hummingbird Community, also known as the Hummingbird Transformational Living Center.
“Nestled in a valley among the Aspens, Cottonwoods, and Ponderosa Pines in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico, rests a 500-acre ranch that is home to a 20-person residential Hummingbird Community. (more…)