Eco Design + Living

The following is an excerpt from an inspirational essay by Chaia Heller, Imagining the Impossible, about what drives and sustains the activist that stays the course over a life time. The quotes are from Murray Bookchin.

“It’s about ethical versus instrumental reason,” Murray said to me, so many times over the years. This discussion buoyed me up as I tried to cultivate my own revolutionary focus and morale. “If you are driven by instrumental reason alone,” Murray said, “you will be guided by logic of efficiency and pragmatism. You will be forever running toward the lesser-of-two evils rather than pursuing our own dreams. If you are driven instead by ethical reason, then you will be guided by logic of what ought to be, what is just and humanistic—as well as simply ‘doable’.

Building a permaculture spiral herb garden from Walton Outdoors on Vimeo.

Is this cool or what? My dear friends, the Horns - owners of Artisan Builders - have outdone themselves with a double herb spiral, in this unforgiving heat, even. Check out the full story at Walton Outdoors.

Following up on my post, What is Sustainability?, I couldn’t help but share this line from a recent talk by Dmitry Orlov. “Industrial products that help the environment are a bit of an oxymoron. It’s a bit like trying to bail out the Titanic using plastic teaspoons.”

Gotta love him.

Read the full text here.

Another snippet - great little project happening in Detroit. Sustainable, affordable, hip, and cool housing.

Power House Project by Design 99

The AIA (American Institute of Architects) will extend their requirement for continuing education units to include 4 hours of sustainable design. Read more about it here.

It’s come and gone, stopping for a few short hours. I managed to step away from the Moonlight Micro-Farm booth at the Seaside Farmer’s Market last Saturday and catch a glimpse of the past-futuristic solar car that was traveling through the area. Read more about the solar journey through Walton County here and here. For more information about the project, visit The Power of One.

For all my aging punk rock friends…

Punk Rock Permaculture E-zine 

An inspiring link and great information on sustainability and food forests.

Share something you have changed or want to change about your lifestyle that lessens your impact on the Earth.

• share a link, a list, or a short description
• 250 words max
• may include a photo
• post anonymously, with an alias, or be yourself
• stories will be posted to a page on this site
• no efforts too small
• local or not so local, welcome
• please respond by June 1, 2009

Send stories to chandra@cfhdesignstudio.com

Celebrate Earth Day today and everyday! Earth Day 2009: The Green Generation

Live well.

Chandra