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Six Nations Earthship Is 'Radically Sustainable' Living

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Six Nations Earthship Is 'Radically Sustainable' Living 3 • ❱ LOCAL NEWS ❱ FEATURE REPORT BRANT NEWS Six Nations earthship is ‘radically sustainable’ living Shelter made from natural and recycled materials provides affordable, environmental homes 2016 AUGUST 11, | THURSDAY, not like a moral thing, it’s a JEFF TRIBE [email protected] logical thing.” FOR BRANT NEWS Northern Canadian First Nations reserves contain a hwehhoh (Flower) combination of great need, Doxtador’s new available land and oppor- Oearthship is tunity, says Reynolds, who designed to provide solid is frustrated by the often- and sustainable shelter lengthy process of acquir- dovetailing beautifully ing building permits for with First Nations teach- unconventional designs. ings of respect for Mother “The kind of activity that Earth. needs to take place on this But its construction has planet at this time doesn’t provided the Sixth Line, need three years to get Six Nations grandmother of permits – we need to do it five much more than that. yesterday,” he said. “It’s been an awesome The independent nature experience and just kind of of reserves offers a stream- gives me another outlook lined process. that there still is people Ohwehhoh (Flower) Doxtador is currently living in a 1971 house trailer with her daughter and five grandchildren, but is looking forward to the addition of a new earthship. She was recommended as a worthy recipient to Earthship Canada’s Marianne Griffith through ‘a friend “They go over here and out there who have a heart, of a friend of a friend.’ PHOTO BY JEFF TRIBE say, ‘do it here,’” Reynolds some humanity to give and said. “That’s the permit.” help somebody in need,” by little by little,” said the blocks; mortar walls incor- filter bed. differentiate between the Six Nations was chosen she said. 71-year-old Reynolds, origi- porating cans and bottles; Earthship Central is in tiny percentage of “haves” as a build site conveniently Earthships are the brain- nally inspired, fresh out flagstones or poured floors), Taos, New Mexico, home among the planet’s seven- close to the United States child of environmental of engineering school, by solar energy (extensive base for design develop- billion human inhabitants border through the legwork visionary Michael Reyn- a news broadcast bemoan- glassed southern exposure) ment and construction proj- to its “have nots” is that of of Earthship Canada’s olds – low-cost alternative. ing a plethora of discarded and convection for passive ects as far afield as Sierra a 70-member bus, where one Marianne Griffith, origi- off-the-grid, “radically drink cans and the negative year-round heating and Leone, Argentina, Easter person has a huge sandwich nally from London. sustainable buildings” “I was convinced it was effects of clear-cut logging. cooling. Island, Fiji, Scotland, and the remainder are based on the design prin- something that would work “They’ve kept evolving and Precipitation is collected Holland and the Lakota hungry or starving. ciples of utilizing natural really well here and was in evolving and evolving and in a cistern and filtered for Sioux Nation. “It’s not going to be too and recycled materials, alignment with the values now they’re taking care of consumption and house- Reynolds views earth- safe for that one on the providing thermal and of the people here,” said ships as residential empow- bus,” he said, declaring a solar heating and cooling, people.” hold usage – the latter grey Griffith, who was referred solar and wind energy In rough terms, earth- water recycled via a food- erment with the potential to strong proportion of self- to Doxtador as a worthy production, water harvest- ships are residences utiliz- producing planter, and help address global inequal- interest in his approach. recipient through “a friend ing, food production and ing berming, thermal mass then again through the ity, thereby making the “I have to share that of a friend of a friend.” sewage treatment. (tires pounded full of earth household toilet, before world a safer place. sandwich or make it so they “All of this came little doubling as construction exiting as blackwater into a The analogy he uses to can get one themselves. It’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 ❱ OPEN AUGUST 12TH& 13TH WAREHOUSE SALE FRIDAY & SATURDAY ONLY 40-80% OFF REGULAR PRICES LARGE SELECTION OF BRAND NEW, New merchandise from BRAND NAME CLOTHING major retailers will soon be hitting our shelves! FIRST QUALITY MERCHANDISE Great New Selection of If you can’t find us just New Merchandise Arriving Weekly Fall Fashion follow the line of cars! • Personal Care Products - Footwear • Electronics • Housewares • Small Appliances • Furniture • Baby Products • Pet Products • Clothing for the Family • Lawn & Garden Hwy 403 N W ayne Gr Channel Control Merchants Corp • Household Essentials -Toys - Rugs • Home Improvement • Clothing Accessories • Bedding • Outdoor Necessities • Automotive Care • Lawn and Garden Care Products Building 2 etzk 225 HENRY STREET • BUILDING 2 • BRANTFORD • 519.770.3403 www.facebook.com/ccmccanada | NEXT SALE AUGUST 19TH & 20TH - CLOSED ALL OTHER DAYS | LOCATED BEHIND LOWES y Pkwy LOWES OPEN FRIDAY 9 AM - 8 PM & SATURDAY 9 AM - 5 PM Henry St. ❱ LOCAL NEWS • 4 ❱ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 six Earthship Central crew added Feagan, who has the elemental satisfaction of many questions. I’m seeing responsible for leadership worked on Habitat for providing shelter or support the answers.” Rather than a one-off, the and co-ordination. Humanity projects in El on international builds Rather than simple BRANT NEWS “What an honour and Salvador and Alberta. “I in locations including Six Nations build is seen as construction, Burning a bridgehead for expansion. a privilege for me to get love the passion and energy. Uruguay (a school), Kenya envisioned the earthship as “We decided to start here to take part,” said Rob I see hope when I see this (two houses and a school) a spiritual event and people and make it work and Feagan, a Brantford collection of people getting and India (preschools), project requiring minimal make connections before resident and professor at together with a common coming to Earthship equipment and offering we move on next summer,” Wilfrid Laurier, for whom purpose.” Rob Feagan Central via a two-month potential for sustainable Reynolds explained. the opportunity melds Gratitude for the oppor- academy in Argentina. living, community build- The $70,000 budget for the research on social justice tunity was a sentiment with an inexperienced “I’ve spent months in my ing and a healing journey scheduled two-week build and shelter and the require- shared by Joelle Lavalle, a workforce, but you will life so someone could have – possibly one part of a included materials, equip- ment for passionate and Quebec native and nine- never hear complaints a nice floor in their home,” complicated solution for year resident of Iqaluit, he shrugged of his motiva- THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2016 | 2016 AUGUST 11, THURSDAY, ment and travel expenses, dedicated effort for positive, from site foreman Harrison challenged First Nations financed through donations respectful relationship- Nunavut, who works with (Harry) Gardner, a native tion. “It just seems like a communities. including $1,000 contribu- building to help overcome young offenders but has of Sydney, Australia. smarter investment in my “My vision isn’t just my tions from volunteer partic- negative history revealed architectural design in her “You can’t help but just be time to be working on a reserve, it’s across Canada, ipants, who became the by the Truth and Reconcili- educational background. so respectful of everyone. project like this.” it’s my people,” she said. extended tent-community ation Commission. Hearing of the project, she They’ve financed this build- Many hands under “There are so many prob- decided to attend as the focused direction saw rapid workforce. It totalled 68 for “This kind of shelter ing,” Gardner said. lems, you just have to look best opportunity to learn progress despite consider- the project, including eight meshes with the planet in The Six Nations earthship at this and say, ‘It fits in about construction with able heat and humidity. Six Nations residents and a more sustainable way,” was designated a simple there somewhere.’” alternative materials and The exterior closed in after survival unit, a 32-by-20- As the process contin- approach. just four days. By midway foot pounded-earth-tire ued to unfold, Doxtador “To see what we create as structure with metal roof, through the second week remained overwhelmed a community and a group timber rafters, a 50-square- the “ship” had taken shape, at “the amazement of how when we all push in the foot planter, 1,700-gallon with finishing touches these people came together Kingswood same direction is pretty cistern and solar power, beginning to be applied for and did this,” lifting an Restaurant Since 1934 amazing,” said Lavalle, designed for an internal a completion ceremony on immense weight off her who hopes to find an Arctic temperature fluctuating July 30. shoulders in terms of both translation for a project only seven degrees Celsius, Describing herself as “a which impressed her via while illustrating both student of life and entrepre- housing beyond an aging Weekend rapid progress and the functionality and afford- neur,” Six Nations resident 1971 trailer and legacy for generosity and support of ability with a $45,000 to Faye Burning was a very her daughter and the grand- Special both the surrounding Six $50,000 price tag for materi- interested observer. Jaded children she supports, Nations community and als. by empty words she has while setting an example Sat & Sun Reynolds himself. “Simple, low-impact heard urging “let’s do this for others to follow. “He brought it back to living,” Gardner said. or that” but resulting in “I’ve got a feeling this basics, simplified and is “Conscious living, as in nothing, she was intently is just the first one on Eggs Benedict sharing this 100 per cent.
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