First retailer in Canada to go completely off the grid
“We didn’t want just a store. We wanted something that fully encompasses what we were doing.”
So says Paul Long, the co-owner of Anian, a surfboard company making waves from inside their own, solar-powered headquarters.
When they originally purchased a downtown Victoria lot for their business in 2013, they were planning to power it conventionally.
“I really thought I was going to pull power from the city,” says Nick Van Buren, the other co-owner.
“[But] it’s about $5500 to get a pole on this side, and then you’ve got to have a power bill.”
It forced them to think outside the box for their power needs. Their buildings are made solely from recycled and reclaimed materials, and they recently had a successful crowdfunding campaign to purchase four 250-watt panels.
It’s enough to power all the necessary lights and tools, with plenty left if the company ever expands.
From Apartheid to Ecovillages
In this 17 min TEDx Findhorn talk Kosha Anja Joubert reminds us of the future we dream of and how people all across the globe are building it now, following their inner values, focussing on life as a whole and rebuilding the connections that have been broken. We can regenerate the soil, replenish depleted water …
Giftism: Designing For Generosity
What would the world be like if instead of seeking to compete and hoard out of insecurity, we would share and give out of generosity?
Check out this TEDx talk by founder of ServiceSpace Nipun Mehta! It is truly amazing and inspiring.
What Would Mandela Do ?
There is a right and wrong way to apologize, isn’t there? As our brothers and sisters in tribal communities around the world struggle between language barriers, legal barriers and unfortunately the physical removal of their people from the places they were born; eventually we will have the courage to give it back to them. That energy …
DAVID VS. GOLIATH: BRITISH GOV’T AIMS TO DESTROY FAMILY’S HOLISTIC RETREAT CENTER
Nicholas Joyce is the founder of InTerraTree, a center for possibility specializing in sustainability, and cultural immersion in Togo, West Africa and an active board member and international director within The Global Ecovillage Network. He has been a longstanding brother and GEN-liaison to Valhalla since consulting and living with us in 2013.
This past weekend, I found myself at a beautiful Natural Holistic Retreat Center known as Mellowcroft. Soon after arriving on this special piece of land in the countryside of Wales, I was told by the builder and young father, Eddie, that the place was facing destruction. Turns out, despite having built all temporary and natural structures, holistically managing the land and significantly increasing the biodiversity, and legally forming an organization and paying proper taxes to offer this idyllic retreat experience to the local community and outsiders alike, the British government wants to bring Mellowcroft down. For more of the specifics click here.
Essentially, this would leave Eddie and his young family homeless, destroy the biodiversity they have worked so lovingly to create, and level all of the beautiful natural building he has done over the last 9 years (^including the incredible treehouse above^). The good news is: he has received overwhelming local and global support causing the authorities to agree to holding a Public Inquiry. Even better news: YOU CAN HELP!
Currently, they have secured just over 4,500 signatures for their petition to the authorities and are needing just under 500 more. You can sign the petition here (you’ll need to use “N0T1GB” as your postcode if outside the UK). You can also donate to their crowdfunding campaign for legal assistance and help Mellowcroft beat the government.
One supporter states:
“They are trying to evict these people, and I believe part of the reason is because they know many others are thinking of going self sufficient and sustainable outside the ordinary system. This is feared by Govt as they seek more & more control. Please act now to stop this eviction. If it occurs, not only does it damage the family involved but will have wider implications for those hoping to achieve similar.”
I couldn’t sit back and watch this happen so I decided to reach out to you. Are you going to watch this happen or are you going to click here and sign the petition?
If you are thinking that it will all work out, that this family has done so much right and that it will of course be recognized, DON’T let that be a reason to sit back. You reading this article and signing the petition, or donating, is as much a part of the unfolding as my arriving at this beautiful Retreat Center in the midst of it’s legal battle. It ALL matters!
Just a couple years ago, the structure above faced a similar issue and WAS destroyed.
Don’t let this happen again!
The Biggest Cleanup In Human History – Ocean Cleanup
The Ocean Cleanup project was sparked a few years back when teenager, Boyan Slat conceived an A-For-Effort design that went absolutely viral, until those mean online skeptics got hold of hearing it and Boran shared a seat beside Solar Roadways. Have no worries, hope is here. Fortunately the concept was proven absolutely feasible! At Asia’s largest …