Both for the alliteration of it, and because the way we do things is so often not the way “it’s done,” our annual holiday crafts-and-goodies bazaar has been called “bizarre” since it’s beginnings. This year, after so many years organizing it, I was able to organize the Bazaar and have it set up and taken down in half the time as ever before with, of course, the help of a new cadre of Earthaven elves.

We love our bazaar and there’s nothing bizarre to us at all about all the homemade, hand-built, humbly priced treasures we wait all year to snatch up for our friends and families, and for our own use and delight as well. From handcrafted salves, lotions and tonics to chocolates and cakes, potions and power drinks, with upcycled clothing and jewelry and more, neighbors and residents flow in and through the transformed decorated Council Hall.

Earthaven co-founder Michaeljon Drouin visited One Stone Community neighbor Otter Malone at his jewelry table.

Pripo and Rainbow Teplitsky, from nearby Rosy Branch Farms, at her upcycled clothing “booth.”

Geni Stephenson of Full Circle Farm (literally next door) sells creamed honey, felted decorations and—this year, at last—her pottery!

Amakiasu returned to live at Earthaven with her husband, Abdullah, who baked up a storm for the Bazaar, including the best sweet potato pie in WNC!

River Devil—oops—River Otter is Earthaven’s Outreach Coordinator, Campground Manager and wearer of many other important, non-devilish hats. In her spare time, she’s a massage therapist, jin shin jyutsu practitione, and a popular resident herbalist.

The post Not So Bizarre – Notes from the 2014 “Bizarre Bazaar” appeared first on Earthaven Ecovillage.

On a cold Saturday in February we sat in the Council Hall, sunrays and snowflakes dancing outside the windows, listening to a lively presentation by David Blume, author of Alcohol Can be a Gas, and Luke Staengl, of the Virginia Ethanol Association.

They vividly explained how we can produce alcohol using a wide variety of plants like cattails, corn, beets, kudzu and more or using waste products like stale donuts.

“Alcohol fuel is liquid sunshine,” said David Blume, and you can even use it in your car, right now! Converting a car to 100% alcohol or flexible fueling (both alcohol and gas) costs only between $350-$500 for a converter, which they sell from their website.

With alcohol fuel, you can become energy independent, reverse global warming, and survive Peak Oil in style. More at permaculture.com.

But we need someone to start a production system here locally. David and Luke implied that a small-scale alcohol plant of 500 acres would be enough to start an energy revolution!

I was touched by David and Luke’s involvement with Project Gaia, which brings ethanol cooking stoves to refugee camps in the developing world. Their work with stoves and with establishing regional alcohol plants helps to reverse global warming because alcohol burns very clean. One stove (cost of just $50) used for a year removes up to 17 tons off the carbon footprint of the planet.

In fact, I was so impressed that I decided to donate a portion of my upcycled clothes sales to Project Gaia too. As I walked home through the forest, I felt uplifted, hopeful and inspired, knowing there’s so much possibility to turn the energy crisis around, right here in our Valley-and out there too.

Yvonne Rainbow Jensen Teplitsky is involved with Transition Black Mountain, a grassroots organization aimed at increasing local awareness of appropriate ways of living in response to energy descent and climate change. Rainbow also creates unique upcycled clothes for sale at the EH Trading Post, on Etzy, or on Facebook: Artsy Goddess.

The post David Blume Inspires Us appeared first on Earthaven Ecovillage.