Compressed Earth Blocks

Since I was tasked to come up with a “real” floor for the SLC Barn, I’ve been plagued with ideas, problems, and everything else that comes from a complete ignorance of everything involved in this project. Various Board members have tried to give me some direction – some suggested a simple concrete pouring, others a placed stone floor, and so on. It was during Nick’s presentation on Gaviotas (check out http://onehundredtrees.org/) that a particular idea came up: Compressed Earth Blocks. Running a non-profit is interesting: we have no money, but plenty of volunteers willing to put in many hours of hard labor – and if we can educate at the same time, double bonus! Moreover, owning a compressed earth block machine will pay off over...

The Crisis of Conscience

I didn’t get much work done today – I had an appointment in Iowa City that took far too long. It did, however, give me time to think. Now that I have a better grasp on what the SLC really it, what role it should be playing in the community, its history with all the successes and failures… well, it has put my job into perspective. Having that perspective, in turn, makes me more aware of how my time and the SLC’s money (both to-be-raised and existing) would be best spent. I was tasked, when I came in, with two basic, fundemental jobs: 1) Get prices for a new floor and water system. 2) Raise the funds to get ‘em. I wouldn’t even need to have them installed – just getting to the point where they could be would be enough. My...

The Physical/Educational Divide

It seems readily apparent to me that this job is actually two jobs – each of which could be better handled by people with experience in those areas. The first job is the physical maintenance and upgrading of the SLC SEED Center. This could be a full-time job in the warm months. Included in their duties would be: - Maintaining the gardens (weeding, watering). - Mowing and trail maintenance. - Checking the electrical and water systems. - Working with contractors and volunteers to build new buildings and upgrade existing ones. - Teaching workshops.   The second job is running the Sustainable Living Coalition itself, a non-profit educational entity designed to empower individuals and communities through sustainable practices. Jobs include: -...

American Farmer (GF)

[This is one of my posts from Growing Freedom, my old blog on the trials of trying to start your own sustainable garden/mini-farm with almost no personal experience. This was originally posted on Apr 27, 2009] from “How To Grow More Vegetables” - “One mini-farmer may be able to net $20,000 to $40,000+ a year on a 1/8-acre mini-farm. He or she might work a 40 hour work week and take a 4-month vacation each year.” When I heard this for the first time, my jaw dropped. First, straight-up, that’s more a year than I’ve ever made – and I’d have all the fresh free food I could eat, too. In fact, that sentence was the reasons I started this whole mini-farm/garden in the first place. How could I pass up the chance to make...

On Credit Cards

A credit card is a lot like a basket full of puppies held by a gun-wielding maniac. You can take all the puppies out of the basket and play with them, but you have to put them all back – plus two more puppies. If you don’t, the maniac will shoot you. Get Volume 1 Now!