Earth Activist Training pics

Me, Steph and Lauren on May Day.
Myself, Aaron and Matt moving some dirt to make room for a composting toilet. ...Seeing no evil, hearing no evil, and speaking no evil in an undisclosed location

Yard sale and Mojitos

We had a moving sale today, not such a good turnout, except of course our friends were there and the mojitos were good. I have lived in at least nine houses since moving to Tahoe and at least 5 other in the last 6 years. Always in search of cheap rent, not yet plantin roots and especially because the housing market in Tahoe is shall I say extreme, lust like the riding and lifestyle. Could this cohousing project provide us with a home we could afford and a community we could invest in?
Da house
Jolene and Aaron
Me

Lake Run. My favorite Donner Lake playground

View from the tunnel looking at Donner Summit. Fresh lines. epic day.
This is the icy tunnel we hike.


Inside the Ice tunnel.

Critical Mass has begun

Michael (From the Arctic to Guatemala) and raw cacao pie Tyler....blessed be the bold....
This is from our first Critical Mass. I think there was 12 of us. We had Michael, the million miler with us and Tyler towing our bbq goods. May in tahoe... as it goes it started snowing a bit. It felt really great to be making a public statment about the importance of bike lanes and functional public transport. And of course, it was super fun, especially to ride around the roundabout...ummm a few times... and stuff up traffic abit.
For our third Critical Mass, we changed it up and spun around Donner Lake (picture above is of the beautiful lake) rather than the town loop and had a lovely picnic at West End Beach. This picture is from our second Critical Mass. 26 people....doubled from the first one. woo hoo!

Biking for a Better World

Last night, Biking for a Better World, aka John, Jake, Duncan, and Sam threw a benefit at the River Grill with some jazzy live music. They raffled off a great cruiser and hopefully rasied some serious cash. They are planning to leave next June from Alaska to bike to Argentina. They will bike from Alaska to Argentina to raise money with the purpose of building a school in Nicaragua. Good people doing good things. This event kicks off a weekend of bike extravaganza with Critical Mass on Friday night and the Fat Tire parade and beer fest on Saturday. Better rest up. Thinking about a big ride tomorrow. Dedicating the weekend to all that is biking.

Letter to Charles Durrett of CohousingCo.

Hello Charles,

I was unable to attend the first cohousing meeting in Truckee, but I am overjoyed by this project. Who better than yourselves to buy this 3 acre piece in Truckee for the development of cohousing. I have left Tahoe/Truckee 6 times do to a low wage, tourist driven economy and the unaffordable housing dilemma, pursuing more viable living situtaions..... and yes come back 6 times, because my heart is here in these mountains, and pristine waters. And I am called to help Tahoe heal, with the potential for sustainable development, and real "green" collar jobs where the small, but growing community of conscious and sustainable folks, some of whom are bubbling biodiesel, composting, growing in greenhouses, sharing CSA baskets, and actively choosing to ditch their cars and pedal to work can experience a right livelihood where sustainable business ventures define Lake Tahoe and Truckee.

A bit about me: I am leaving for Sweden in two weeks, where I will study at Blekinge Institute of Technology and pursue a Masters in Strategic Leadership for Sustainability. This graduate program aims to equip its students with the leadership skills to consult for municipalities and businesses so that they may adopt sustainability priniciples, like The Natural Step. I have previously gone to San Francisco Institute of Architecture to study sustainable design and natural building, lived at a permaculture farm in a budding eco-village in Telluride, worked for an architect and Interior Designer, built cob and strawbale structures, and I have my permaculture design certification. Basically, what I am saying is that I breathe the advent of a community that functions in accordance with the laws of ecology as do your cohousing projects and I am honored that you have intiated such a project in Truckee.

The town officials are excited and ready for sustainable concepts, as they were introduced to Hunter Lovins and Natural Capitalism at last year's Sierra Business Council's Annual Conference, yet not sure where to start. I am deeply embedded in the inner workings of Truckee and concerned about a number of issues. I believe this project to be monumental in inspiring cohousing all over the Tahoe Basin as the time is ripe for such ideas.

Although, I will be in Sweden for the year, I want to be as involved as I may be and have wanted to play out a nonhierarchal system of decision making for some time. Consensus based solution finding is not somthing this town is familliar with. Mayumi at Moonshine Ink (mayumi@moonshineink.com) is the creator of the town's free press, which you may know and will be more than glad to print any thing cohousing related. Also, my architect friend Cole Butler of Laughing Gravy Studios would be an excellent creative addition to the cohousing architect team and is also a member of the Planning Commission and Greenbuilding Commitee.

I know there is much enthusiam for this cohousing project, especially amongst my group of 20-30 something environmental savvy cohorts whose hearts are here and yet roots are not planted because of the affordable housing crisis. I am assuming there was also quite a bit of interest in the elderly and hispanic community, three groups all on the outside of affluent Tahoe, who would make excellent cohousing candidates.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I look forward to the the round table discussions that will ensue as this monumental 'for Tahoe' project takes shape.

Cheers and cohousing, Cari Bivona

It's on. Cohousing in Truckee

Am a wee bit tired from the all night South Lake adventure. Jurassic 5 played at Mont Bleu. It was fun, but I'd prefer a Wisdom Show or Sweatshop Union or DJ Loren. And I must add the three night binder began with 2 Out Ralley at the Pasttime and Fearless Chicken at Concert in the Park. After feeling our garage sale market had sufficiently died out, I went to Cascade Lakes Region with Paoli, Tim and Jesse. Long Lake had a tree diving board and a rope swing. This was very fun. I was scared to walk the small tree, 15 feet out, got over it. And I was scared to do the rope swing because it really looked like I would splat against the tree the rope was hung from. No worries. That was fun too. Really love the swimming. I plunge and its automatic reset. Today I was really anxious for the water. I 'm pretty sure I'm addicted. The views from Long Lake are amazing. In the South is Devil's Peak and to the North is Castle Peak. I have got to ride those mountains. Afterwards, Tim and i went to Tacos Jalisco, one of three places I can affford to occasionally eat out in town....more the reason for a bad ass organic, fairtrade, locally grown, on-site greenhouse, vegan, raw amazing afforadable eatery, called Lua's Kitchen with a solar energy producing carport. We continued a conversation we were having earlier about sustainability, Truckee's development and all the rest that needs healing in Truckee. The focus was the co-housing project, which feels like the most viable and successful idea to date on the Tahoe Sustainability Front. Charles Durrett, the father, I'll call him of co-housing, bought three acres in Truckee for a co-housing project. The members will design their living environment, community meals, shared laundry, green building, mixed-use zoned, ......This is huge. A huge victory. Thanks Charles for seeing your dreams in to fruition. I will keep abreast of this one. This may even be a great thesis project...How co-housing solves many issues like affordable housing, meanigful employment and rebuilding community.

Into the woods

I'll be mountain biking soon, up Cold Stream Canyon, solo, 100oz. of water and we'll see where it leads me. Two days ago, I went to Tahoe City to ride the Nordic Center trails. After my normal, woop de doo loop with 15 or so fun rollers and nice single track banked turns, I saw a previously undiscovered singe track veering right. It was less traveled with richer, firmer dirt and new growth that scraps your calves as you pedal by. I then proceeded further right and back up the mountain on a trail that snaked alongside, and over a stream that completely altered the landscape. The tall, lush grasses, and plump wildflowers accenting the other wise green hued marshy field were a pleasant contrast to the dry alpine manzanita and pine forest. Two bleached, brittle, skeleton pines stood tall, bright white against the deep blue sky and alive landscape. Good ride. Held on during the gravel decent and had flashbacks of wiping out in 2000. Back when I worked at Cyclepaths and Jiffy's cruised with Mark most days, was living at Bill's house, petsitting tuco, and I was not yet graduated from College. Perhaps a little reckless, leaving Middlebury College in the spring of my senior year, but a good decision, nonetheless, growing and digressing in Tahoe. I still remember my first views of Desolation's white peaks upon ascending Mt. Rose Highway, and the lake, relaxing below, so big and clear, like a utopic paradise. And this is probably why everyone comes to Tahoe on the weekend, pulled by Big Blue, to experience her bliss, and yet somehow they stay seperate and evermindfully still at home, in the bay. I find it interesting that people become so comfortable with the same experience, especially when on holiday, "getting away" and they choose to maintain the same habits, as they would at home. And I think, this is largely because the Tahoe area is not trying to display anything differrent than what is anywhere else, except of course, what is mostly not of human doing; the lakes, rivers, forests, and rocks. What I am saying is that, Tahoe is special. It is different than anytown USA, and yet apart from the playful surroundings, the town supports the tourist in is tourist tendencies, and does not present itself as anything other than anytown, USA. We are not really deeply embedding our guests in the ecosystem and importance of this gem. Tahoe, than is just a place among places, offering nothing more than what you brought- an airconditioned view of the Sierras via your landcrusier, your boat, and your toys, and a nice meal and lots of booze. It sounds alot like a numbing, and perhaps that's why they say "escape to the mountains." And I know that this is not every Tahoe tourist, and I know that there are people who come for its amazing trails, and pristine waters, and those who truly support the healing and protection of the Basin, but this overwhelming feeling of disregard for this delicate place, is evident in the goods and services that become town priority. And these, for most locals, are the dense filter we must look through everyday to actually feel the spirit and wildness that is Tahoe. And when I see the true essence of Tahoe, I have striped it naked of its human sculpting. And this saddens me. How do we continue on, zombies in the wake of the human experience that is so destructive and yet wildly seductive that success is measured by how much green stuff hangs out of your wallet? I feel so betrayed by the lie that is lived everyday. I see a slow awakening towards a resource regenerative society, and yet in its patience for policy and greed, I see a slow dying of the earth that is us and sustains us. And a dying that may not rebirth that which we need to survive. Strip away all that is not survival, learn where your food is produced, how the water finds its way to your tap, the value of waste, the things you buy and in what capacity is their necessity? What would be your perfect day and how many things would you need? Are you really that desensitized by your abundance? When we seperate ourselves from the things we hook onto us, that somehow define us, when we pull the filters away and experience life as a spirutal quest of love, our true essence can be felt and seen, and ourbehaviors will be a reflection of that core understanding of the human experience. It is not things, it is relationships, giving, receiving. It is the abilbity to coexist in nature, not to have dominion over, not to destroy ourselves, the earth, but to be love, to laugh, and be noursished, to feel and be heard to listen and grow, to live fully, uncloaked by greed and material possesions that only serve to plug the channels that are otherwise open without effort. And up coldstream to ground and clear the cobwebs out, to honor Lua on her birthday, to celebrate her life tonight, and continue to carry her firefly spirit with us.

Thoughts on another sunny day

Ever feel like today may be the last sunny day? In Tahoe, the temperature today is 82 degrees, the sky is cloudless and severely blue. The air is dry and still with castings of a mild breeze to keep the air from feeling stagnant. Yesterday, we found ourselves a bit tired from Linsey's going away soiree the night before, but happily climbing Light Deprivation. We knew Big Chief would be scorching hot being a south facing rock outcropping that runs directly east west, and crowded being a weekend and the Bay Area's closest decompression destination of sizable scale. But Light Deprivation was shrowded in shade where pines hug the boulders and the morning sun quickly abandons the easterly facing climbs. A lazy day at the wall, a few climbs, a few hours later, with a few good friends.

Sagan is out

Alright Sagan. welcome to whatever you make it. Happy birthing. July 12, 2006 1pm. 9lb. big dude. Lori and Mike. love you. Congratulations. blessed be the baby that is. The Peaceful Warrior, Sagan....hmmm. tall order. beautiful legacy.

opening doors

I am in the habit of opening doors, journeying into the unknown. "Leaving in a month," I say. And I am asked, "Will you come back to Tahoe after Sweden." I reply, "Who knows, I'm opening doors." And I motion the opening of double armoire doors. I like that image, like entering into Narnia. Love the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. I swear I've been to Narnia. I also really believe I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus. The first door I opened this morning, I actually more unzipped as I emerged from my back deck tent in a too fast developing, unaffordable, yet wilderness rich and playground plentiful Truckee, California. I let myself sleep longer and the sun was high. I opened the door into my home. Monique, my sustainable cohort from college and Liz, who we met at our "Be the freak that you are party" live inside. Jolene does too, but I think Charlie's bed is way more comfortable. She's seldom home. I ate some fresh watermelon and salad, a bit of homemade kombucha- a high ph way to start the day. Well done. Later I drank fairtrade, organic, and yes acidic coffee from Jen and Glenn's little slice of bliss at The Dam Cafe. It was mildly sweet and tasted good. I came to Tahoe City today via public transport. $1.50. I walked to the farthest bus stop because it was hot, I was early and there is no formal, "this is a nice place to sit in the shade, smell the flowers and wait for the bus" stop. Just a sign and some asphalt. I called the transportation office the day it rained. I was emotionally involved in our public transportaion system from that day forward. He explained to me that there is simply is not enough money to run the bus during rush hour. I argued that the chicken and egg dilemma will prove itself if you actually ran the bus when people were going to work. I stretched out my arm to catch a ride at the bus stop. I mean bus sign. Whatever comes first, ride or bus, I'll take it. I like hitching--sharing a story or two. The success and failure of getting or not getting a ride. The mild and meaningless rejection is like a vaccination shot. I'm working on being immune to rejection- some childhood thing. The bus came first. 10:38 , every two hours.

I gave a Slovakian girl $5 yesterday, because hitch hiking is really carpooling or ride sharing. The not so funny thing was that I dropped my wallet in the street as I insisted on paying. I think she wanted me to the keep my money. She was gifting me a ride and she felt good in that gesture of sharing time with a kindred spirit. Instead, I wanted the kudos unconsciously and tossed the money at her. Oh yes clever me. And then I got bit in the ass when I went to buy a coffee, and had no wallet. Good, mild lesson, because an honest lad named Tom dropped off my little black wallet where I work at the BridgeTender the next day.......and I could go to the Wisdom show and flash my ID that says I was 28, no, not under 21. I was given a free ticket to Wisdom at the Yellowman show a few weeks back, I think because I was having so much fun and I owe that to Yellowman. He has that contagious raw high energy that flows into the crowd. Last night, after riding my bike from Tahoe City along the Truckee River path in the dark, with only glimpses of a tree line, I cashed in my Wisdom ticket and plugged into a hip-hop reggae vibe with political and positive lyrics. Beyond the riverside outdoor venue hung the waning moon and a baby black bear was apparently frightend into in a pine tree at the entrance.

The bus ride is an hour for the 12 miles from Truckee to Tahoe City, but I bring a book, Starhawk's, Dreaming the Dark: Magic, Sex, and Politics. Today I read about group facilitation and consensus, a nonhierachal method for determing the vision and choosing an action. Starhawk, political activist, vigilent protester, witch, author, and mycoremediator permaculture goddess has used consensus over 100 times and in situations where issues were emotionally charged and of immediate importance. The keys to a sucessful consensus process are a great facilitator, small groups, like affinity groups and a central hub, where information can flow from and to. Ideally, a well-informed population, with open minds and open hearts would allow the collective consciousness of the group to channel throughout the process. I want to give consenus decision making a go, although a debriefing would be necessry because our hierarchal systems have not allowed people to feel that their voices can be heard, nor are their needs are met. I generally feel powerless against the seemingly complex and untouchable decision makers. Rounds, where each person within the group may voice concerns and ask questions, would be more time consuming at first, but more efficient in the long run, because communication lines are open and needs are addressed before the final decision is agreed upon. Thus there is greater participation in the completion of the chosen decision as each member in the group is emotionally and directly responsible for the group decision. I assume this would move meetings from the visioning stages to the action stages more quickly. I have been to numerous commmunity visioning sessions, where there has been no follow-up meeting and no action. We need a Natural Step frameworkand its 4 Conditions, laying out the basis of what already is, so we can move into the imtimate relationship that is action.