Consumable Earth – Kamloops

Someone near us is building an earthship and they want you to come and see what they are doing!

If you have seen the movie ‘The Garbage Warrior‘ then you know what the heck I am talking about. If you haven’t the movie begs the question what do beer cans, car tires and water bottles have in common? Not much unless you’re renegade architect Michael Reynolds, in which case they are tools of choice for producing thermal mass and energy-independent housing. For 30 years New Mexico-based Reynolds and his green disciples have devoted their time to advancing the art of “Earthship Biotecture” by building self-sufficient, off-the-grid communities where design and function converge in eco-harmony.

The Burkholders are building an earthship in Darfield BC and are sharing their journey and the story on their blog. Also they could use some old tires. Not random tires but fairly specific ones to simplify their constructive process.

"They MUST be 245, 235 or 225 as we use them like bricks so the thickness has
to be the same.  Diameter (anything after the R on the tire) doesn't matter.
We certainly appreciate any donations of these sizes!  And after going
around the tire shops for the last 6 months, there is certainly no end of
tires....a real eye opener."

We would love to go out and visit when they start constructing walls and would like to arrange a group of people who are interested. I imagine they are pretty busy so showing a larger group around once would take up less of their time than a whole bunch of people lots of times. Comment or post here to express your interest and we’ll make it happen!

The first markets of the year, offering bedding plants, early veggies, baked goods and art work, will be held:

Saturday, April 18th
8am-12noon
3rd & St Paul Street
(in front of Stuart Wood School)

Wednesday, April 29th
8am-2pm

5th & Victoria Street
(in front of the library)

For more information visit Kamloops Farmers Market.
See you there!

This post was originally found at http://soundkamloops.org an amazing site dedicated to changing thoughts to action.

Kamloops

E-Waste Collection (hosted by 1-800-GOT-JUNK)

Help us dispose of electronic waste the right way! Bring your unwanted e-waste to our Earth Day event on Saturday, April 18th for our e-waste recycling. Only the first 100 residential drop-offs will be accepted. We can take computers, monitors, keyboards, mice and printers. Laptops less than four years old will be donated to the Developing World Connections charity. ReStore volunteers will be onsite to see if any old PCs can be refurbished as well.
Date: April 18, 2009
Time: 9am – 1pm

Location: Aberdeen Village Center, 1395 Hillside Way – Come to the west end of the parking lot by Pacific Way

Contact Email: kamloops@1800gotjunk.com
www.encorp.ca/electronics

Why Urban Hens?

Growing our own food is one of the best ways that people can make an impact by become more sustainable. Vegetable gardens are a great start to producing food in your backyard but by raising egg-laying hens people can introduce a home grown protein source into their diet. It creates not only food security but food sovereignty on an individual, community and global level. It may be a small, innocuous thing to have a chicken or two or three in your back yard, but it is the principal of it that makes it important. It is having the right to provide yourself as much of your own food as possible. It will improve food security in the city. It is about allowing people the dignity to legally become as sustainable as possible in a world that is quickly moving in the other direction. It is about individuals realizing that eating locally will make a difference. It is about the freedom to use land to its full extent to feed people. And it is about empowering Kamloops citizens to become more self-reliant, more food secure, and more able to step outside in the morning and collecting their fresh, very nutritious and very local eggs.

There is a unique intrinsic satisfaction that comes with occupying one’s time and energy collecting fresh food from the land you live on. What better way to start making a positive individual and social change than in your own back yard at, literally, the grassroots level?

Read a short report on the benefits or email Bonnie Klohn at b_klohn@yahoo.com for more info.
This is a project of the Thompson Rivers University Eco Committee

For some great articles on building your own coops and general chicken care

A Winner Of CMHC’s EQuilibrium™ Sustainable Housing Demonstration Initiative

KAMLOOPS, February 13, 2009 — A Kamloops builder and developer team made up of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) Central Interior Chapter, and Thompson Rivers University, has been chosen to build one of three new CMHC EQuilibrium™ Sustainable Housing Demonstration Initiative homes, the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC) announced today.

read the full article at CMHC

Penn and Teller had this wonderful program called BullShit! Sorry if that offends but that’s the name! They called Bullshit on recycling which was incredibly eye opening and SO true. Check it out here.

So before you happily and blissfully throw all your ‘recyclables’ into that blue lidded bin think twice about where that yogurt container is going and what you want your sustainable solution to be.

Check out these 5 recycling myths

And these 8 myths on recycling

Confused yet? There is a lot of conflicting information out there so you’ll have to draw your own conclusion and make decisions for yourself. Keep the whole picture in mind and focus on your goals!

Oh and before you throw it out try out the TNRD waste redirection program. Or post your items on Freecycle Kamloops.

I’ve taken this information from the Green Drinks Kamloops Facebook group. To connect and share with them please join their group and go meet with them every month people with an interest in environmental conservation meet up for a beer at informal sessions known as Green Drinks:

From Deanna:

• This book at the public library is very detailed about types of cold storage and root cellars that can be constructed.
• DIY Root Cellar - this is a simple root cellar plan I came across on the web. Note: in rural / urban interface areas this simple design may cause problems – ie bear attractant.

Solar Canning:

• A good place to start Solar Food Processing including canning.
• Build It Solar - this is also a good resource. Note: it also has some information on root cellars.

I am interested in talking with anyone in Kamloops about solar cooking / food processing. Contact Deanna 250-376-4723

Share your tips and ideas about how you are living greener and more chemical free in your home. Post information about products you are using or not using and how you are trying to stay closer to home.

I discovered an amazing Hemp Producer today at www.livingharvest.com.  The birth of Living Harvest is the story of a father and son in British Columbia, Canada and how their quest for healthful living through whole foods led them to discover the nutritional benefits of nature’s miracle plant – hemp. By launching Living Harvest, this entrepreneurial team has created not only a product, but a platform for educating people about the complete, balanced nutritional profile found in hemp seed.

Check out the Living Harvest Hemp Seed Nutrition

.: Be good to yourself and to others :.

Currently I have been pondering this situation as there is going to be an aquisition soon regarding the furniture that will go outdoors on our new deck. Actually three decks so there is some serious thinking to be done.

New is not an option. There just isn’t something out there that I am going to spend money on to support. Something sustainable that would last. What about iron? Steel and iron furniture will last generations and can be made from recycled materials.

Wicker or rattan options are made from the fast growing leafy part of the tree. Bamboo is another fast growing wood.

Now to find a local artist who is capable… Richmond isn’t exactly local but it’s a start.