Eco-Road Trip – City of the Sun Pt. 2
City of the Sun Pt. 2 – Summary:
- Who: Sheila Bjeletich
- What: Toured the City of the Sun in Columbus and met other residents; Drove to northern New Mexico through various cities; Arrived at The Commons on the Alameda
- When: Sunday, April 8
- Where: Columbus, NM; Hatch, NM; Santa Fe, NM
Quick Resources:
- City of the Sun FIC Profile
- City of the Sun Facebook Page
- Columbus New Mexico Webpage – COS Articles
- City of Hatch Webpage
- Rio Salado Sand Dunes Webpage
- The Commons on Alameda Webpage
My Route:
Planning my Eco-Inspired Road Trip Blog Post
My Travel Story:
The following morning in the City of the Sun, I woke up to the sounds of dozens of dove cooing above me, and flocks of desert quail running around under my hammock and in the gardens. So it was an interesting morning alarm.
We started the morning touring one of her neighbor’s homes, which was a round hand-built building, with a mermaid themed bathroom that was undergoing repairs because a storm and water damaged knocked down part of the wall.
Eco-Road Trip – The Canelo Project
The Canelo Project – Summary:
- Who: Bill Steen
- What: Got lost without GPS/Cell reception; Visited the natural buildings of the Canelo Project community
- When: Friday, April 6
- Where: Elgin, AZ
Quick Resources:
- The Canelo Project Webpage
- The Canelo Project Facebook Page
- The Canelo Project NuMundo Profile
- Canelo Project Resources
My Route:
Planning my Eco-Inspired Road Trip Blog Post
My Travel Story:
After leaving Avalon Organic Gardens & Ecovillage, I spent the day driving to The Canelo Project in Elgin, AZ. While it was a beautiful countryside of grassy plains and desert parries with mountain ranges dotting the horizon – I had no cell phone reception to call or search for my GPS location – so I spent several hours lost in the area, going down wrong roads, waiting for free-range cows to cross the road, and circling back to high hills to get one or two cell bars to make calls.
I finally find the right road a few hours later, much to the exasperation of my host, and this was another destination with a long road seemingly to nowhere – passing camping grounds, a ranger station and over several cow pastures. (more…)
Eco-Road Trip – Avalon Organic Gardens & Ecovillage
Avalon Organic Gardens & Ecovillage – Summary:
- Who: TaliSeen JahRing
- What: Toured and had lunch at the Avalon Organic Gardens & Ecovillage
- When: Friday, April 6
- Where: Tumacacori, AZ
Quick Resources:
- Avalon Organic Gardens & Ecovillage Webpage
- Avalon Organic Gardens & Ecovillage Facebook Page
- The Avalon Country Store Webpage
- The University of Ascension Science and The Physics of Rebellion (UASPR)
- Global Community Communications Alliance (GCCA)
- The Urantia Book Webpage
My Route:
Planning my Eco-Inspired Road Trip Blog Post
My Travel Story:
I started the day with a personal tour led by TaliSeen JahRing, the Farm Manager of Avalon Organic Gardens & Ecovillage (AOGE), an impressive ecovillage model with stacks of sustainability initiatives and green projects, built on a strong Christian foundation, spiritual exploration, vocational learning and training, and organic permaculture practices.
On my way to AOGE, I pulled over at a rest stop to take a phone call, and came across this rock – which really set the tone for the day!
Eco-Road Trip – Wind Spirit Community
Wind Spirit Community – Summary:
- Who: “Don”
- What: Visited the Wind Spirit Community
- When: Thursday, April 5
- Where: Winkelman, AZ
Quick Resources:
- Wind Spirit Community Webpage
- Wind Spirit Community FIC Profile
- Wind Spirit Community Facebook Page
- WSC Retreats & Workshop Webpage
My Route:
Planning my Eco-Inspired Road Trip Blog Post
My Travel Story:
My second stop of the day after The Bee Oasis was after a long drive through the desert canyons and mining towns to Wind Spirit Community (WSC) in Winkelman, AZ. (This was another community with a long road seemingly to nowhere, but I pushed on and finally made it without any GPS navigation.)
A picture from my drive to Wind Spirit Community, which resembles the general terrain I was driving through.
I stopped in a mining town rest-stop and took a picture of the old refinery factory on the hillside. (more…)
Eco-Road Trip – Biosphere 2
Biosphere 2 – Summary:
- Who: N/A
- What: Toured the University of Arizona’s Biosphere 2 research complex
- When: Thursday, April 5
- Where: Oracle, AZ
Quick Resources:
- Biosphere 2 Webpage
- Biosphere 2 Facebook Page
- Biosphere 2’s Mars Colony Experiment – Business Insider Article
My Route:
Planning my Eco-Inspired Road Trip Blog Post
My Travel Story:
Rushing over from the Wind Spirit Community in Winkelman, I barely made it to the last group tour at the University of Arizona’s Biosphere 2, the world’s largest enclosed earth system science research facility, in Oracle, AZ.
The tour began in the ‘actual Biosphere’ (Earth) so I had to walk through the on-site housing facility, known as “The Village,” which comprised of 28 furnished 3-to-5 bedroom casitas for students and faculty, and incorporates sustainable practices like rainwater harvesting and solar energy.
Eco-Road Trip – Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West – Summary:
- Who: N/A
- What: Toured Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West complex
- When: Wednesday, April 4
- Where: Scottsdale, AZ
Quick Resources:
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West Webpage
- Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Facebook Page
- The Whirling Arrow Blog
- Frank Lloyd Wright Biography Webpage
My Route:
Planning my Eco-Inspired Road Trip Blog Post
My Travel Story:
Today was a jammed packed day, and I started the morning off at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s desert home and student learning facility is preserved by the FLW Foundation, and is still an active student facility for architecture students. “As Taliesin West extends the legacy of innovation by showcasing unique design, sustainable practices, and education, the preservation team maintains a reverence for the history of the site.” – The Whirling Arrow Blog Post (more…)