November's Bike Month

Whew! 2010 seems so long ago, already! How does the time fly by so fast? I honestly cannot say. I can, however, tell you how the people manage to travel so quickly… They’re riding their bikes! That’s how! J I am especially thankful and proud to announce that D.R.E.E.M. Reality’s November Bike Month for 2010 was a rousing success. Fellow director Ashley and I started a FacebookTMevent in order to get the word out. We were extremely excited, as this was one of our first official acts as D.R. directors. Thankfully, it took off even more than either one of us were expecting. So many great people jumped on the chance to trade their four wheels for two. Friends told friends who told more and more friends. In no time, the majority of our posts were from complete strangers! Hooray for networking!

Please feel free to visit D.R.E.E.M. Reality’s FacebookTM page and look for “Bike Month” to see how we did. While you are there, check for upcoming events and opportunities to make a difference. Participants have posted comments, kept track of their mileage, and even posted pictures of some of their bicycling adventures! We had so many participants it was impossible to name a winner. On second thought, there was one clear winner: our mother Earth! She is likely the most thankful for the positive impact that so many bikers made to help her. J

Special thanks to everyone who pedaled their way through November, those who pedal their way through life, and those who will choose to pedal more in the future. Biking is not only a wonderfully fun and effective way to commute, but it is also a great way to exercise and have a great time doing it. Remember, every month can be bike month. So, drop those keys, grab a bike, and pick up the pace!

Love and Light,

-Kaitzilla

Composting all over the place!

Since we have returned from Hawaii, a time spent interacting closely with the Earth, a new sense of confidence and determination to create composts has arisen. It seems now that I want to insist on a compost bin and pile wherever I can stick a shovel in the ground!

This past Thanksgiving provided lots of composting opportunities, because of so much food and prep. So, Melinda and I set to work digging a compost in the back yard of our family-friend's house. Being experienced with composting, the hosts (Ashley and Crystal) were able to give us a few pointers as we volunteered the labor.

Ashley directed that we should dig two holes next to each other, each about 2 feet by 2 feet, and 2 - 3 feet deep. The first hole would be used for the new scraps and when broken down a bit, transfered to the second hole to finish the job.

Crystal had some great suggestions as to what not to put in composts (listed below).

Once the holes were dug, we set up the temporary container inside the house. You can use anything with a lid really: tupperware, 5 gallon paint bucket, etc. The trick is to not be lazy, and make sure to empty it into the mother compost, outside when it's time!

The process is so simple, and the rewards so great! The amount of waste that just returns to the Earth, making dirt naturally, is impressive - and not going into a trash bag to sit in a landfill. There are many resources online about how to make a compost, as there are several methods from just digging a couple of holes in the ground...to building a system...to just buying one (it's always nice to make your own though!).

GO DIG ONE AND GET DIRTY!

~Dani

Composting Do's and Don'ts

What CAN go in the compost:

Most all food scraps such as...

• Coffee grounds with filter and used tea bags

• fruit rinds and peels

• corn cobs and egg shells

• fruits and vegetables

• nuts and shells

Yard waste can too...

• grass clippings and leaves

• pulled plants or weeds (not seeded)

• hay, straw, and dirt

• sawdust from untreated wood

• pine needles

• manure from a grain fed animal (chickens)

*make sure to balance the compost by not putting in too much yard waste, it needs both carbon material and nitrogen material. Variety is good for balance! *

What CAN NOT go in the compost:

• meat and bones

• eggs

• dairy

• pasta

• citrus

• onion

Hawaiian Research Project - Overview

We've returned from our 3 month adventure in Hawaii, conducting the Hawaiian Reseach Project. It was an invaluable experience to educate ourselves...as well as to grow as people and adventurers.

While in Hawaii, Melinda and Dani became aware of their next step to evolve D.r.e.e.m. Reality - to attend the University of California - Berkeley for Conservation and Resources, and Energy and Resources (respectively). In order to accomplish this sudden and exciting goal, we have swiftly moved to Berkeley and are deep in the application process.

As we see D.r.e.e.m. Reality as the motivating factor to furthering our education in these areas, Dani has chosen to provide an evaluation of the Hawaiian Research Project as one of her entrance essays. The following is her submission, which provides a general overview of the findings. We definitely want to have a more in-depth evaluation at some point, but for now - here it is!

~Dani

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Hawaiian Research Project Review

On August 16th, 2010 at approximately 1pm Greenwich Mean Time, I cautiously climbed up to the raised bed, constructed completely of local guava tree wood, that would act as my open-aired room for three weeks. I pushed through the mosquito net that offered the only separation between myself and the surrounding tropical jungle, to plop down after my first day of work exchange at Hedonesia Eco-Hostel. Sun burnt and exhausted, I couldn't have been more satisfied with my decision to conduct this three month long research project throughout the Islands of Hawaii . I'd like to share the details of this project in order to demonstrate my affinity for hands-on research and education, which I am eager to proliferate through graduate studies with the Energy and Resource Group.

I've always had in interest in the creation and execution of research projects, and have been known to interview and evaluate friends, family, and co-workers for various reasons. The recent establishment of an educational non-profit, called D.r.e.e.m. Reality that I am co-founder and Vice President of, offers opportunities to apply my desire to administer significant research. The purpose of this organization is to empower people to make informed choices and actions toward sustainability. In order to provide such services, we must first ensure that we are properly informed ourselves by humbly becoming the student. The Hawaiian Research Project (HRP) was the first attempt of my organization to learn through true hands-on experience. In addition to creating this study, my role in the HRP was to be participant, observer, documenter and evaluator.

The objectives of the HRP were to:

1. Gain understanding of the environmental, social/cultural, and economic sustainable techniques of various communities and farms
2. Educate ourselves with hands on experience
3. Test and fine tune evaluative and observational techniques
4. Begin a vast network of new friends, family, and resources

The following methods were used to accomplish these objectives:

1. Immersion and Integration
2. Observation
3. Interview
4. Earth Charter Assessment.

During our time in Hawaii, we were able to spend two to three weeks at each location with some evaluative, resting, and adventuring time in between. In total, we participated in three different communities/farms – each varying in their size, structure, mission, and lessons. Notes were taken in dedicated folders as we lived and worked within the community. Additionally, a quantifiable evaluation of the community's sustainability was done with the “Earth Charter Assessment”, created by the well established educational non-profit organization called Earth Charter (www.EarthCharterUS.org). We find that this organization's mission is in line with many of our own “Universal Principals” and mission, therefore seeing it as a valuable tool in this research project.

The following is a brief profile of each community/farm that was studied:

1. Hedonisia Eco-Hostel. A 3 acre plot with community-like elements such as shared facilities and group work. Number of residents range from 4-8 at any time, with 2 permanent residents and the rest guests or staff. Study conducted for 3 weeks.
2. Pele Aina. A 10 acre farm with strong sense of community, sharing facilities, meals, traditions, and work. Number of residents range from 6-12 at any time, with semi-long term status. Study conducted for 2 weeks.
3. Pueokea and Apanalani. Two private residences (3 acre each), with established gardens and orchards. The family welcomes people to share in household chores, cooking, work load, etc, while integrating them into the family environment at either property. Study conducted for 3 weeks.

It is my desire to share an overview of the findings from the HRP, as they now are to be incorporated into the educational tool-box of D.r.e.e.m. Reality. Below I will discuss the important environmental, social, and economic techniques I discovered from observing both the communities' successes and areas of improvement. It should be noted that each community/farm has signed a release waiver and are aware of my intention to use the results for educational purposes.


Environmental Techniques
The following are effective techniques that could be utilized while establishing environmental sustainability:

• Food, agricultural, and human waste for composting and soil creation
• Passive solar heated and gravity fed water
• Rain catchment – effective in conserving water, but demanding to maintain
• Utilize local and recycled materials for building needs
• Tropical environment allows year-round farming

Social Techniques
The following are effective techniques to be explored while establishing social sustainability:

• Community meetings, shared meals, group motivation and creation
• Organization and leadership that clearly defines roles and responsibilities
• Established decision making and conflict resolution methods
• Individual living structures with shared facilities and common areas

Economic Techniques
The following are effective techniques to consider while building economic sustainability:

• Eco-Hostel – housing guests with options for work-trade to lower rates
• Woofing and work trade – providing living basics for workers, while having free or low cost labor
• Renting property or rooms
• Sales of goods and products produced in the community with its resources
• Independent financial responsibilities of residents – work outside the community
• Ensure proper zoning and permitting for community to avoid future costs and complication

Another enriching part of the research project was to ask for advice from the founders of the communities. Below are the responses to the question “What are 3-5 tips or pieces of advice you could share about building and maintaining a sustainable entity?”.

1. Hedonisia Eco-Hostel. Make a profit to ensure economic sustainability, have an effective leadership structure in order to make decisions, and be respectful and open with conflicts.
2. Pele Aina. Choose your residents and leaders carefully, it is important to trust them; allow for individual as well as community space; have a theme or purpose for your community.
3. Pueokea and Apanalani. Prioritize, keep goals reasonable, utilize good time management; be creative, barter, share, give. It's like eating an elephant so to speak, one bite at a time.

In conclusion, the experience of creating and administering The Hawaiian Research Project has provided a well of knowledge about sustainable techniques that will trickle down through D.r.e.e.m. Reality and into the community. It is this kind of first-hand education that solidifies the knowledge gained through books and within classrooms. I am eager to refine my research skills and evolve my topics of interests through the Energy and Resource Group studies at UC Berkeley, in order to create substantial change throughout the community and world.

Hedonisia - Week 3 (Final Week)

Aloha!

This past week was our last at Hedonisia Eco-Hostel as work-exchange volunteers. The whole experience was absolutely incredible and packed full of education. Though the work we partook in was primarily more chopping, weeding, and cleaning - we are always observing and learning.

I'd say that we took in a lot of information about coming together on common goals, organizing projects and project leaders, and the benefits of a solid structure for guests and volunteers. Though the idea of having rules and structure can sometimes be a restrictive, we have learned that the proper amount of structure accompanied by fair rules leads to a much more effective living and working environment. This also allows for the boundaries of guests, volunteers, and residents to be respected - which is of utmost importance.

With the quick coming of our last days at Hedo, we had to pour on the steam to complete the Earth Charter Assessment (EC-Asses). Earth Charter is another educational non-profit that has been in operation since 1999, that offers free educational material to those interested in improving sustainability. Their EC-Asses is a subjective evaluation of any entity (individual, group, organization, company, government, etc) attempting to quantify their level of sustainability. The assessment evaluates on Social, Ecological, and Democratic levels and invites these entities to create a campaign for change.

It has been one of the goals of the Hawaiian Research Project to offer this assessment. It's intensive, but very enriching. So, during the last week at Hedo we completed the assessment and are eager to set up a later appointment to review the results as well as the other observations while there.

Our next move is to recollect ourselves at the house of a beautiful friend and former manager of Hedonisia for a few days. Then we plan to take on the next community!

~Dani

Hawaii and Beach Walk Clean Ups!

We are still awaiting our approved Articles of Incorporation in the mail, but we are sure they will be here very soon. While we are waiting we are eagerly preparing for our very first research trip!

With the Eco-facility Research Project in the hopefully near future, we want to make sure we take every opportunity to have an effective study. Therefore, we are taking three months to travel the Big Island of Hawaii to learn and participate in work exchange on several Ecovillages and Farms. It is our goal to start becoming familiar with the ways that these systems work - first hand. So from August 10th until November 11th we will be on this adventure!

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On another note, our Directors Ashley and Crystal take part in a daily beach walk in Santa Cruz, California. While they walk, they collect trash! This past week we joined them...