Dear Parents,
This week we will begin a new simulation that will (hopefully) teach your child a little about both command and market economies. Both Janet and I are working together to adapt a great lesson plan she found online that involves students earning money and paying money.
Phase one involves she and I turning ourselves into dictators and assigning roles to each student that will benefit the greater good. Students will be paid (minimally) for their services and for other things such as good behavior, class participation and performance, and other acts of service. They will also be required to pay for things such as rent for their desk, teacher services, supplies (i.e. pencils, paper, etc.) and penalties for being tardy and turning in late work.
Phase two involves students gaining more economic freedom and many more opportunities to participate in free enterprise. During this phase, students will learn more about capitalism and it's tremendous impact on contemporary world history.
Please remain engaged with your child. Talk to him/her about he/she is learning in school, and expect complaints about the unfairness of it all (especially during the command economy phase).
Let's have some fun!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
I hope . . .
I get the job at Roots and Wings Community School outside of Taos, NM. It's a natural, expeditionary school. I've never actually been in the building, but I've driven past it several times when I was interning at the Lama Foundation. The campus seems to be naturally built and beautiful.
I have an interview coming up, just don't know when. I think it'd be great to work there and when it comes time to doing natural building projects, I'd be right up my alley. Schweet!
I have an interview coming up, just don't know when. I think it'd be great to work there and when it comes time to doing natural building projects, I'd be right up my alley. Schweet!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
I Wanna Some Land!
I have dreamed for so long of having my own pedaso de tiera. I've spent many a moments daydreaming about what it w0uld be like to be a steward of a little patch .
What I saw was this:
Five round structures about 196 sq. ft. each. There are four in each direction and one in the middle. They are connected by walkways and trellises with big, fat tomatoes growing on them. There's also ivy, which grows on top of the trellises. In fact, it thrives there.
The center structure is the kitchen. There are windows covering the south wall and green things are growing on shelves, soaking up the sun. The kitchen exudes warmth and love and light. It is a light earth color with vigas going across. 200 sq. feet is a lot more room than what it sounds, so the counter space is ample and beautifully positioned. To one side of the kitchen is a built in cob table and benches. The view from the window by the table is peaceful. I love my kitchen. There is a wood burning stove, and many people like to come and sit in the belly of this womb and share their lives.
The structure to the North of the kitchen is my bedroom, my sanctuary. It is painted with a beautiful lavendar alis. The mica sparkles and glitters and the straw in the paint gives off a rustic feel. The room is simple. There is my bed with a canopy/mosquito netting covering it. My bedding is white. The floor is adobe and is coated with linseed oil. The wall to the North has no windows, but the wall facing south is covered with windows collecting the heat of the day. There is a trombe wall that also really does its part in collecting heat, storing it, then releasing it at night. There is earth colored rug covering the center of my sanctuary, and in the middle of it, a pillow. This is where I pray. Where I journey. Where I grow.
The structure to the East of the kitchen is my bathroom/whimsy room. It is East because I like to greet the Dawn with an open heart. I want to see the sun rising as I'm soaking in my tub . . . . especially in the summer. Bathed in the golden sunlight. What a blessing.
The structure to the South of the kitchen is the living room. It is where my friends and family will enter. It will have built in seats all around and tons of pillows. There will be candles and photos and good books to read. The floor, also adobe, will be covered in rugs. Mostly, though, it will be filled with light and laughter.
More to come . . .
What I saw was this:
Five round structures about 196 sq. ft. each. There are four in each direction and one in the middle. They are connected by walkways and trellises with big, fat tomatoes growing on them. There's also ivy, which grows on top of the trellises. In fact, it thrives there.
The center structure is the kitchen. There are windows covering the south wall and green things are growing on shelves, soaking up the sun. The kitchen exudes warmth and love and light. It is a light earth color with vigas going across. 200 sq. feet is a lot more room than what it sounds, so the counter space is ample and beautifully positioned. To one side of the kitchen is a built in cob table and benches. The view from the window by the table is peaceful. I love my kitchen. There is a wood burning stove, and many people like to come and sit in the belly of this womb and share their lives.
The structure to the North of the kitchen is my bedroom, my sanctuary. It is painted with a beautiful lavendar alis. The mica sparkles and glitters and the straw in the paint gives off a rustic feel. The room is simple. There is my bed with a canopy/mosquito netting covering it. My bedding is white. The floor is adobe and is coated with linseed oil. The wall to the North has no windows, but the wall facing south is covered with windows collecting the heat of the day. There is a trombe wall that also really does its part in collecting heat, storing it, then releasing it at night. There is earth colored rug covering the center of my sanctuary, and in the middle of it, a pillow. This is where I pray. Where I journey. Where I grow.
The structure to the East of the kitchen is my bathroom/whimsy room. It is East because I like to greet the Dawn with an open heart. I want to see the sun rising as I'm soaking in my tub . . . . especially in the summer. Bathed in the golden sunlight. What a blessing.
The structure to the South of the kitchen is the living room. It is where my friends and family will enter. It will have built in seats all around and tons of pillows. There will be candles and photos and good books to read. The floor, also adobe, will be covered in rugs. Mostly, though, it will be filled with light and laughter.
More to come . . .
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
I Heart Cob
I can still remember the day I discovered cob. It was a kinda rainy day in Austin and I was at BookPeople, my favorite bookstore. I wandered into the building/architecture section of the store, and somehow stumbled upon Becky Bee's book. I was instantly, and I mean instantly, enchanted. You know those moments, those instances of sudden knowing, almost being able to feel something changing inside of you? Well, I had one of those moments that day. I settled into a comfy chair and sat there for hours reading the book from cover to cover. Later, when I got home, I told my mom and stepdad that I was going to build a house of mud, and then I showed them pictures from Ms. Bee's book. They smiled indulgently and kinda laughed this little laugh. I know they were thinking I'd outgrow this crazy idea, but now, eleven years later, I am still just at fascinated as that first day.
Reasons Why I LOVE Cob
It's organic
It's moldable
The colors
Breathable
You can make gnome houses out of it
It's like play-doh
You stomp on it with barefeet
It's fun!
It's funky and different
It makes sense
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