 
Message-ID: 
Date: Mon, 12 Apr 1993 12:50:32 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Jon C. Slenk" 
To: +dist+/afs/andrew/usr/js9b/Public/camc.dl@andrew.cmu.edu
Subject: From Bill
Fred: is Not

[Bill was having problems with uucp, so I am sending along his
comments...]

Message-ID: 
Date: Sat, 10 Apr 93 02:13:19 GMT
To: +dist+/afs/andrew/usr/js9b/Public/camc.dl@andrew.cmu.edu
Subject: Earth Base Projex (Quicksilver notes)
Reply-To: wce@hogbbs.scol.pa.us
X-Mailer: ZipNews Reader/Mailer v0.92d (Beta)

Hey, is this mail getting through? I've posted several times in the last
few weeks with no signs of reaction, and no return of my own posts to my
mailbox... I've been using a new offline reader-- maybe it's choking, so
I'll mail this via several routes. RSVP.

Here's something that crossed my desk this week. This is Quicksilver
Notes, a one page report from Terry Ryan Kok in Bloomington, Indiana.
Terry's running a rather funky rainbow-pagan style community effort he
labeled Earth Base Projex a few years ago. Sounds like he's goin through
changes, but he's at least got an escrow account and is beginning to
talk about realistic levels of money.

I like elements of his funding plan (which isn't described below), in
which he is selling leases of homesites & campsites at realistic prices.
I expect to copy some of these elements as I develop my own funding and
financial documents. Bloomington is a little far away for an easy travel
arrangement between the two communities-- a twelve+ hour drive. I'll
have to check wether the changes in air travel and the growing airport
in State College will bring the cost of air travel down to an acceptable
level.

I'm seriously thinking of buying a lease for one of his 23 foot circular
campsites. It's about a hundred down, and a hundred per year for 7-10
years. Supposedly, it's an infinite lease, as I recall.

Terry's approach is very "pure", in the sense of appropriate tech,
building with recycled materials, nothing but solar/wind electricity,
nothing but bioshelters and composting toilets and a radically
ecologically sustainable lifestyle. I have to respect him for that,
although I wonder deriously if he isn't taking into account traditional
local government resistance to such radical architecture. Maybe he knows
something about the bloomington area's building codes that I don't...

Later, Bill

---

Quivcksilver Notes
Vol B Issue #2, Spring 93
Startech, P.O. Box 1328, Bloomington, In, 47402-1328




It is obvious to an increasing number of people that the composting day
is near. It is useless to alert someone who doesn't want to hear. Let us
instead focus upon the task at hand and construct a sustainable future.
As a popular protest button says, "Wearing a button is not enough". If
we want a better life we must avoid making the same mistakes as our
ancestors. We need to free ourselves from their shadows and cast our
own. While doing so it is important to remember that _the shadow you
cast is the environment in which your children will play_.

  _Okay, this may very well be true but I want to know what a better
  future looks like. How can you expect me to be a visionary when it
  takes everything I have to put bread on the table and a roof over my
  family's head? Build me a self-sustaining solar powered subdivision.
  I'll move right in._

REFOCUSING THE PROJEX

We set out four years ago to attempt to do just that. We called it the
PROJEX and started promoting the Earth Base One vision. We threw three
alternative lifestyle festivals, set up educational booths, sponsored
panel discussions, lectured at universities, taught classes, made
videos, published papers, amassed mounds of information on all
appropriate technologies and generally "pushed the envelope" to see what
was out there in the way of interest and support. The answer was, "Not
much in this neck of the woods". It seems that the most dedicated bunch
we've encountered call themselves "elves'. Now isn't that strange.

New technologies arise from old myths. We haven't made much progress by
attempting to link with the old. It is better to listen to the choildren
as I wished my parents would have listened to me. My children prefer the
elves so that is where we have been placing most of opuyr attention in
the past few months. We have included information on a festival I think
you might find of great mythological significance. It takes place on the
LOTHLORIEN Nature Sanctuary, Surevival education Center, and Woodland
Meeting Grounds: "Green Havens for Elfinfolk", operated by a non-profit
educational organization Nora and I helped found 10 years ago, E.L.F.
(Elf Flore Family, Inc.). We haven't given up on Earth Base. In fact,
we've given an elfin name to the Projex-- ANDOR.....

The object is to create a sustainable future by construcyting it in the
here and now. A major part of that vision is involved in making the
process of manifestation and the results _open to the public_. Right
now, in this area, the most vital channel we now is called ELF. The
PROJEX doesn't have land (Still scanning but haven't yet located the
appropriate site for EB-1). Yet, LOTHLORIEN is available for use as a
training center, a place where we may experiment. We are exploring the
possibilities for synergy between organizations. We are encouraging the
PROJEX membership to participate in ELF's _Ecotech Science Guild_.

ELFIN ECOTECHNICS

ELF's primary focus is on environmental education. As you look over the
enclosed ELF information you will see quite a broad approach to this
process. It is very similar to what the PROJEX has laid out for it's
"econauts". Consider Lothlkorien as a training ground through which
future EB-1 inhabitants pass. There is no use in duplicating efforts.
Our proposed SEA classes will be channeled through the medium of the
Ecotech Science Guild. Projex membershipos will be honored by the Elf
Lore Family.

Remember how we said in the last issue that we wanted toi set up a
center to process and store recycled building materials? We have just
finished choosing an appropriate site on Lothlorien and should have it
up and running this summer. Once we have the sheds in place we will be
flooded with materials, some of which will be kept for EB-1.

SOLAR LONG HALL-- We are designing a 72' x 24' self sustaining community
building for Lothlorien. It will be a passive solar superinsulated
structure with a wind/photovoltaic electric system and a grey water
recovery for the kitchen. ELF put in a rubble trench foundation in 1991
and is currently raising the funds for the concrete pad and foundation
rim. This should be completed late this year. Construction on the walls
and roof will begin in 1994.

EB-1 / ANDOR Progress

As of this date the PROJEX has almost $6000 placed in an escrow account
for EB-1. A possible backer has approached us with an offer to
contribute at least $50,000, maybe more. We should have details by next
issue. We still need a lot of people to prepurchase leases. If you are
serious about combining resources please get a copy of the EB-!
Orientation Manual ($2) and respond by putting your money on the line
(and in the escrow account). We need to sell at least ten more leases to
pull this off. We are extending our offer until Winter Solstice '93. If
we find the appropriate piece of property before that time we may make
the purchase immediately. Don't be left out because of procrastination.
We are looking for land fairly close to Lothlorien.

MERGING NEWSLETTERS

Most of the PROJEX members are also members of ELF. I am responsible for
putting together both organizations newsletters. Why Duplicate efforts?
From now on look for the Wild Magick Bulletin instead of Quicksilver
Notes. ELF publishes W.M.B. 2-3 times a year. You will get issues equal
to the number of QS-notes you paid for. When you renew do so by
purchasing an ELF membership (only $10 a year). This gives you the right
to visit and camp ($3/night) on LOTHLORIEN, participate in programs and
festivals and use the facilities. ELF members automatically receive the
W.M.B.. EB-1/ANDOR info will be included in each issue.

Signed by Terry Ryan Kok, PROJEX co-ordinator
"I would rather live a dream than live a lie", Todd Rundgren.


----------------------------------------------------
Jon Slenk           angst+@cmu.edu     EVERYTHING is
Carnegie Mellon     Pittsburgh PA      Disclaimed

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