FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:     Registrar, The Lama Foundation -- 505-586-1269     or <registrar@lamafoundation.org> RE:     Build Here Now, 2001: An Earth Odyssey     June 10 - 17, 2001 For the third consecutive year, natural builders, permaculturalists, and those who would learn from them will "converge" for a week at the Lama Foundation, creating a microcosm of ecological community in the forested mountains outside Taos, New Mexico. Homes made of earth and straw, composting toilets, organic gardens: Once the province of back-to-the-land revivalists, these ideas are going mainstream as energy and housing costs soar, and people seek less toxic environments. "Build Here Now" (inspired by Lama co-founder Ram Dass' seminal book Be Here Now), shows participants how to build sustainably and cultivate wisely. A new emphasis this year will be community-building workshops led by Lama residents. Attracting presenters and participants from across the U.S. and as far away as Europe, Brazil and Estonia, Build Here Now 2001 includes workshops on building with straw bales, adobe, cob, earthbags and bamboo, and using earthen and lime plasters and natural paints. Among permaculture topics are site planning, water harvesting, forest gardening, sustainable timber harvesting and native medicinal herbs. Other topics offered include composting toilets, photovoltaic systems, cisterns, and designing a healthy and spiritually alive home. Workshops run concurrently throughout each day, interspersed with artfully-prepared vegetarian meals, morning yoga classes, evening dances, nature hikes and informal chats. Lasting friendships are often born of the shared experience. "I will never forget," said one of last year's participants, "standing in the cob pit with seven other barefoot builders; holding onto one another for support; our feet doing the work of mixing the sand, straw, water and soil together; singing, laughing, work merging with play. This is the essence of what it means to 'build here now' - when work and play are the same thing." The original event began as a way of helping the Lama Foundation rebuild from a 1996 fire, which decimated most of their original buildings. Since that time, a flurry of building activity has taken place, with several new earth-friendly structures now complete. The work of erosion control, replanting and rebuilding continues this summer at this non-dogmatic spiritual community, founded over 30 years ago. Build Here Now 2001 presenters include well-known Southwest permaculturalists Scott Pittman, Joel Glansberg, David and Lynne Trew, and Dr. Bill Roley from California. Straw-bale building will be led by authors/videomakers Steve Kemble and Carol Escott of Sustainable Systems Support. Healthy home architect Paula Baker-Laporte and master builder Robert Laporte, creator of the "Econest," will also present. Workshops in earthen plaster and earthen floor techniques will be taught by Carol Crews of Gourmet Adobe, while Janell Kapoor of Kleiwerks will demonstrate how to build with cob, an adobe mud mix. The New Mexico Solar Energy Association's "Sunchaser II" solar demonstration trailer will be on hand, and Taos architect Vishu Magee, author of the book Archetype Design, will provide a powerful visualization process for creating your dream home. A special invitation is extended to officials and residents of fire-ravaged Los Alamos, NM to come view the progress Lama has made, and to avail themselves of inspiration and instruction in regenerative land practices. Lama is also offering several scholarships to Taos area residents to attend Build Here Now. The event is co-produced by the Lama Foundation, the Permaculture Institute, and The Last Straw, the International Journal of Straw Bale and Natural Building. Build Here Now 2001 runs from June 10 - 17. For more information or to register, contact The Lama Foundation at 505-586-1269. Members of the press are invited to visit Monday through Saturday, June 11-16. Photos are available.
More information about the next Build Here Now A participant-written article about the 1999 event Build Here Now 1999 participant comments and a list of workshops & presentations A photo tour of the 1999 event List of workshops & presentations at the 2000 event A testimonial from a participant of Build Here Now 2000 A photo tour of the 2000 event Additional photos from the 2000 event Announcements and Notices regarding Build Here Now 2001 A collection of uncaptioned photos from the 2001 event A photo series from the 2001 event