Spring 2009 Sustainability Fair

Sustainability, Peace & Justice Series

The circle grows! Back by popular demand, the Sustainability Fair will serve as the festival’s center for community involvement and environmental education. Centrally located in the Sustainability Pavilion, built by festival volunteers as a live example of sustainable living techniques, the “Circle” will host multiple forums and demonstrations throughout the weekend.

This year we have a full schedule of speakers…

Friday, April 17 Forum Series -
Friday, 1pm - Central Carolina Community College’s Green Building Program. Hosted by Green Building Program Coordinator Laura Lauffer, this interactive forum will discuss green building technology. Discussion will involve the use of renewable resources and materials in building design and renovation.

Friday, 2:15pm- Green Building 101 Public Outreach Presentation, Michael Chandler of Chandler Design-Build, Inc. This class is a graphically rich overview of the different types of green building and how the industry is responding to increased energy scarcity and climate change by improving the way homes are built and maintained. Michael Chandler has been building solar and green homes for over thirty years. Mr. Chandler has been president of Chandler Design-Build Inc. since 1987.

Friday, 3:30pm- Maintaining Natural Resources as Natural Assets for a Sustainable Future¬. Pierre Lauffer will be conducting a group discussion on maintaining regional natural resource capacity in face of community growth and development. With more than 20 years experience in environmental and regional planning, Pierre is seeking to help change the way regions and communities develop and the way people see resource usage within the communal context.

Friday, 4:30pm - The Eight Principals of Deep Ecology. Valentine Antony is Compost Coordinator for Shakori Hills and a Sustainable Agriculture major at Central Carolina Community College. He is deeply interested in restorative agriculture and global ecological harmony. Deep ecology explores our dynamic relationship to our biosphere and the need for a spiritually rooted environmental movement.

Friday, 6:00pm- The Independent Progressive Politics Network will host a forum. Our sixth Common Ground for Peace and Justice Forum will gather in open community space to share, dialogue and discover how to bring the energy and inspiration of Shakori Hills to our daily lives. Let us hear your hopes, concerns and solutions.

Saturday, April 18 Forum Series -
Saturday, 10:00am - The Eight Principals of Deep Ecology. Valentine Antony is Compost Coordinator for Shakori Hills and a Sustainable Agriculture major at Central Carolina Community College. He is deeply interested in restorative agriculture and global ecological harmony. Deep ecology explores our dynamic relationship to our biosphere and the need for a spiritually rooted environmental movement.

Saturday 11:00am – Compost Conscious “The Secret Life of Compost.” Bob and Camille Armantrout are zero waste advocates who have been composting for close to a decade. They will present basic composting techniques using low-tech, inexpensive methods that almost anyone can follow. Great fun for the whole family. A Compost Conscious production.

Saturday 12:00noon – Public Transportation and its Role in Sustainable Communities with Allison Springer of Chatham Transit Network. Transportation touches everyone’s life. It’s a subject intricately entwined with sustainability. Allison will lead us in an interactive brainstorming discussion about problems and solutions associated with sustainable public transportation that meets the community’s needs. Allison Springer possesses 8 years experience with Chatham Transit Network and has worn many hats from driver to transportation coordinator. Her insights are worth hearing.

Saturday, 1:00pm- Green Building 101 Public Outreach Presentation, Michael Chandler of Chandler Design-Build, Inc. This class is a rich overview of green building and how the industry is responding to increased energy scarcity and climate change by improving the way homes are built and maintained. Michael Chandler has been building solar and green homes for over thirty years, first as co-founder of Space Builders Inc, an employee-owned design-build firm in Carrboro, NC, and since 1987 as president of Chandler Design-Build Inc.

Saturday, 2:30pm – The Power of Solar. With the help of our solar energy expert, Ed Witkin, Shakori Hills Farm is becoming solar. Ed Witkin of Carrboro Solar Works and Solar Tech South has been designing and installing photovoltaic systems since 1989. In addition to the installation of PV systems, Ed teaches photovoltaic design courses, leads workshops, and provides renewable energy educational displays at fairs and festivals. This session is a basic interactive discussion of the benefits of solar energy and the process of converting to solar power.

Saturday 3:30pm- Childrens Music Workshop. Naturally, kids make music using anything they have at hand. Come see how they do it. This workshop is especially made for children to come and experiment with a number of instruments at hand. This is truly great fun for the whole family!

Saturday at 5pm- The Independent Progressive Politics Network will host a forum. Our sixth Common Ground for Peace and Justice Forum will gather in open community space to share, dialogue and discover how to bring the energy and inspiration of Shakori Hills to our daily lives. Let us hear your hopes, concerns and solutions. Come join us for a loving discussion!