Vampire Diaries Star Speaks At Coal Rally

"We’re all here to address the biggest challenge of our time — climate destruction," Somerhalder said. "We don’t need to keep pursuing these toxic fossil fuels. We have options, and you know we do."

Somerhalder also touted the use of solar energy and encouraged the audience to be more energy-efficient. "Lets weatherize our homes," he added, "We can build a better, healthier economy based on good-paying, clean-energy jobs."

The initiative of the really was mainly to convince Duke Energy to retire its coal-fired power plant in Asheville; something that may or may not happen. But, it accomplished plenty by featuring a hot star like Somerhalder to influence the younger generation to be more aware of energy and environmental causes.
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Activist Community Potluck

5-8pm, Sunday September 19
Malvern Hills Park
Asheville, NC

This is the first of many monthly potlucks, each on a different topic, and each in a different location. All activists, community builders and leaders, and any community members are welcome. This is a great opportunity to get together, build relationships, network, share ideas, brainstorm, and synergize.

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DAY OF ACTION - Saturday

Evolver Asheville, Transition Asheville and Ashevillage Institute are hosting a DAY OF ACTION!!!!

10am-5pm GETTING OUR HANDS DIRTY
At the Ashevillage Institute (directions below)
...
Bring a bag lunch and tools (wheel barrows, shovels, hard rakes, garden trowels, gloves, sneakers, weed whacker, buckets, tarps)

7-9pm FORMING ACTION ALLIANCES
Firestorm Cafe, 48 Commerce Street, Asheville, 28801

Creative Collaboration on future projects by individuals and organizations from Urban crop-mobbing to co-sponsored film screenings to anything we can dream up together... Bring your ideas and enthusiasm!!!

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Valet Gourmet — formerly known as Blue Ridge To Go — makes some positive changes

from the website - "Our service is very simple. We provide delivery from over 25 of your favorite Asheville restaurants to homes, businesses, hotels and most other places people want delivery."

Kenan Hopkins opened shop in 2003. They deliver from Asheville's best restaurants and they also have a large delivery area. This re-vamp of their successful business will bring about sustainability in the food delivery service.

I've used them many times and I will say that they are fast, affordable, and reliable. (photo by Jonathan Welch from Mountain Xpress)

via | Link

PRAMA INSTITUTE

Holistic Education for People and Place

The Prama Institute is a conference and retreat center located on forested hilltops and grasslands surrounded by the Appalachian Mountains. It sits in Marshall, NC, near the French Broad River, about 25 minutes outside Asheville, NC. Our scenic and peaceful surroundings create the perfect place for educational conferences, yoga retreats, workplace seminars, and other events.

Besides the high-quality conferences that the Prama Institute organizes all year round, the facility is also available for rent to all types of groups, organizations, and businesses. Our experienced staff is available to offer you assistance with event planning, marketing, and registration. Let us assist you in creating your own successful workshop or seminar.

JULY 23 - 25

Blissful Path to Bliss - Yoga and Meditation Retreat with Stephanie and Michael Johnson

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Firefly Gathering

July 22-25, 2010

The Firefly Gathering is for people seeking to deepen and expand their connection with the natural world.

There will be over 100 classes available focusing on self-sufficiency and wilderness skills taught by over 40 masterful teachers from around the region and country.

It offers learning for adults and children, evening entertainment, and on-site camping.

Firefly will be held at Camp Pinnacle, a little over a half an hour from Asheville, NC. Rustic Camp Pinnacle has a beautiful 18 acre lake, many covered areas, plenty of camping, cabins, and showers. If it is hot we have a lake to swim and canoe in, if it is rainy we have plenty of shelter.

Register Now!

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Friday @ Asheville Green Drinks

This Friday, Rev. Itsumi and Sister Denise of the Nipponzan Myohoji peace-walking Buddhist monks will be speaking at the weekly Green Drinks gathering.

People gather for Green Drinks at 6:00 to socialize, and the presentation starts at 6:30. It usually involves a talk of about 20 minutes with questions to follow. The location is the Bobo Gallery, 22 North Lexington (just off college Street).

Itsumi and Denise will speak about the interrelationship of peace and environmental issues, specifically emphasizing how they are intertwined at the nuclear weapons manufacturing complex in Oak Ridge, TN, just over the mountains and upwind of western North Carolina.

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Green Drinks isn't just an Asheville thing but it does lean "Green". And it's global. If you're not in Asheville, see if your local node has a gathering.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

2pm – 4pm
In front of Asheville City Hall
2 – 3pm Kids and Adult Activities
3:00 pm Climate Action Rally
3:30 – 3:50 pm Be in the Big Photo that is going to Copenhagen!

350 is the most important number in the world--it's what scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Everyone from Al Gore to the U.N.’s top climate scientist has now embraced this goal for stabilizing the planet and preventing complete disaster. Our leaders need to craft a treaty and policies that will put the world on track to get to below 350.

Asheville 350 | Global 350

Organicfest 2009

is TODAY!

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Your Chariot Awaits

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The Gathering of the Peacemakers

Features days of conscious instruction on topics including solar, wind, wilderness skills, organic gardening, wind, affordable & green shelters, handling your money wisely, creating & sustaining loving unions, finding your mission in life, staying awake in a sleeping world & more!

April 9, 2009 - April 13, 2009

Black Mountain, NC

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Fowl Play in Asheville?

from the Inbox

Have you ever dreamed of walking into your back yard and collecting fresh eggs from your own chickens? Have you dreamed of never again paying $4/dz for organic free range eggs? Would you like an all natural and totally green way to rid your garden of insects and bugs?

Dream no more. A group of people have begun meeting at Greenlife to develop an amendment to the current Asheville city ordinance regarding keeping a small number of chickens within city limits.

The group (fowlplayAshvl@aol.com) hopes to collaborate with city officials to establish a more friendly distance requirement. The current restrictions now prevent urban folks to tend small back yard coops. Restrictions on size of habitat, number, roosters would be emphasized.

For any suggestions/input, interest, or even help please send your comments and contact info to Jenny at fowlplayAshvl@aol.com

Yours in intentionally communing,

Cathy

The Green Sage

How is The Green Sage Coffeehouse "green"?

Friday, May 23rd at 6:30pm - Come hear about a model green business.



The Green Sage, Asheville's fair trade organic coffeehouse, serving food made with local and organic ingredients, breakfast until 4pm, lunch & dinner til 9pm, 10pm on Friday and Saturday. First restaurant in downtown Asheville to install solar hot water panels on the roof.

In the old Bean Street's location, on the corner of Broadway and College St. Partners are Randy Talley and Al Kirchner, both formerly involved with Earth Fare.

What's New @ Earthaven Ecovillage?

Earthaven is always bustling with new people and new building projects. And you can make reservations for the guided tours they have on Saturdays. This year they're planning to sponsor workshops in Qigong, The Power of Manifestation, Homeopathy, and Plant Wisdom.

News From The Ecovillage

Five Icelandic Sheep have arrived at Brian and Farmer's Gateway Farm. They are considered good breeds for milk, meat and wool. In April we expect a group lambing.

Michaeljon is rebounding wonderfully from bypass surgery, having only just come back from a trip to Machu Picchu, with Kiesa, when we were all surprised by his sudden illness.

Village Terraces neighborhood cleared another three-plus acres of land on the west side of the complex. And Martha and Finch moved into their downstairs flat next door at "Pokeberry Hill."

2008 Calendar Listing of Events

Courses
Permaculture Design Course: 7 Weekends at Earthaven Ecovillage
with Patricia Allison, Chuck Marsh, and Rudy Ballentine M.D.
April 18–20, May 17–18, June 21–22, July 19–20, August 16–17, September 13–14, October 11–12,

Email: Permaculture@earthaven.org or call (828) 664-7632 or visit http://www.patriciaallison.net/.

Internships
Sustainable Life Skills Permaculture Internship at Earthaven Ecovillage
with Patricia Allison, Chuck Marsh, and Rudy Ballentine M.D.
April 12th thru June 15th, September 1st thru November 8

Email: Permaculture@earthaven.org or call (828) 664-7632 or visit http://www.patriciaallison.net/.

Camps
Camp Katuah – Residential Permaculture Summer Camp for boys and girls, 7-15 years old near Raleigh, NC at William B. Umstead State Park.

Session One - June 30 - July 6 for campers 7-11 years old
Cost for Session One is $450

Session Two - July 21 - August 3 for campers 11-15 years old, or entering 6th - 10th grades
Cost for Session Two is $900
Email: info@campkatuah.org or call (828) 664-7632 or visit http://www.campkatuah.org

Click here for more class information!

link | Intentional Communities | Cohousing

The Ashevillage Institute (AVI)

An Urban Sustainability Center

The Ashevillage Institute (AVI) is an emerging urban education center and living laboratory for sustainable solutions in action. AVI is located in a cluster of houses in a neighborhood a few blocks from downtown Asheville, North Carolina.

Living at the Asheville Institute in 2008
We want enthusiastic, super responsible, skilled people who are great at living collectively, have a skill-set and passion to help develop AVI, and support the season's programs (while participating in them for free). Read More...

See Upcoming Events
Sustainability Workshops Series
At The Ashevillage Institute (AVI)
Participate in the whole series, or just one!
Discounts are available if you register for all.
Introduction to Permaculture Workshop -- March 27 & 28
Residential Rainwater & Greywater Harvesting Workshop -- April 24 & 25
Bee-Keeping Workshop -- May 29 & 30
Natural Building Workshop -- June 26 & 27
Wild Food & Fermentation Workshop -- July 24 & 25
TBA -- August 28 & 29
TBA -- September 25 & 26
Natural Finishes Workshop - Earthen Plasters & Paints -- October 23 & 24

Support AVI:
AVI is administered by Kleiwerks International. 100% tax-deductible donations can be made by credit card through paypal at http://www.kleiwerks.org/support_us.php, or checks can be sent to: Kleiwerks International c/o 82 Buchanan Ave., Asheville, NC 28801. Write AVI in the memo line.

For more information contact:
Email: AVI@kleiwerks.org
Call: 828.225.8820

Communal Living - CoHousing

Interested in an Intentional Community? Earthaven Ecovillage and Southern Dharma are a few communities in our area.

The Practice Community at Southern Dharma (PCSD) is an intentional sangha or practice community developed adjacent to Southern Dharma Retreat Center (SDRC) where individuals with a spiritual practice can live, retreat, study and meditate with the support of others.

The PCSD consists of ten sites or "holdings" that are divided into three clusters along the Dharma Path. Seven of the ten holdings are now owned. These holdings consist of five completed cabins, one pre-existing cabin, and one cabin under construction this Fall 2005.
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Earthaven Ecovillage is an aspiring ecovillage in a mountain forest setting near Asheville, North Carolina. We are dedicated to caring for people and the Earth by learning, living, and demonstrating a holistic, sustainable culture.

Since 1995, we have grown to 60 full members--from young children to a great-grandmother--and we expect to grow to 150 people. We are building homes in 14 neighborhoods and developing on-site businesses as part of our own village-scale economy.
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Zendik (zendik.org) moved a few years ago to West Virginia, but there's also the Westwood Cohousing Community, and Zim Zam Intentional Community.