Evolve Detroit: Free Movie tonight in Shed 5, Raw Foods Fundamentals this Sat

take it easy on your eyes and see Evolve Detroit as it was intended to be seen.

July 15th, 2009 Great things are done when men and mountains meet. ~William Blake Greetings Detroit and all who grace us here! For those of you who are new or maybe just getting to actually read one of these, thank you for finding us and lending us your eyes and your time. We encourage you to look at Evolve Detroit as an opportunity to take a break, learn something new, or you can feel free to simply check our event listings and move along. If you have a few minutes to take it all in, give yourself permission to relax a bit while you do so. Grab a tall glass of water to enjoy while you read and take a few deep breaths to shift your focus. We strive to put our heart into our work and find that it truly resonates with those to take a moment to receive it in kind. We really appreciate your time and your attention, no matter how near or far. Gratitude We want to thank everyone who has been working with Bill Wilson of Midwest Permaculture on his upcoming South East Michigan tour (details are below). We are honored to work on meaningful projects like this with others who inspire us. Please come out and join us at one of these events across SE Michigan. We also want to take a moment to thank Alan Scheurman for the support he's provided us as a partner and friend. Alan practically carried "The Lab" single handedly as we celebrated Aya's birth and began our adaptation to parenthood. He also fostered new creative alliances with musicians and artists throughout the city and provided a beautiful soundtrack for countless hours at the old Lab. As Detroit Evolution lets go of "The Lab" to focus upon Sustainability & Health/Food Education, Angela and I will again "take the reigns" and move forward. We are looking forward to continuing our work with Alan on the Transition Movement and future Detroit Evolution events. Simply put, we wouldn't be here if it were not for Alan's insight and kindness. In Lak'esh.

Evolve Detroit is a weekly, or as needed, publication produced by Detroit Evolution and dedicated to Health, Joy and Liberation. Subscribers this week: 970 Please share Evolve Detroit and encourage your friends and family to subscribe. Follow us on twitter & facebook! Angela, Aya & Gregg at Faith Farm, June 2009 for more information or to register for classes please contact: Detroit Evolution http://detroitevolution.com 313.316.1411 info@detroitevolution.com

Zen Questions
We've had a great many questions about our new home and what it's like living and working with the monks at the Zen Center. For the past few weeks, we've been assisting around the center as a work exchange for our space in the Residency. Though we are excited to learn from and share with our new friends at the center, we're not taking over the Cafe, we're not converts, and that's certainly not expected. Angela and I are moving forward with Detroit Evolution as we continue to learn and grow. We're currently seeking a small home with a bit of land in the city and planning Detroit Evolution events, classes and workshops across the region.

Please make sure to check out the details of Bill's Intro to Permaculture Tour, tonight's Detroit Abides movie, A Convenient Truth, and our upcoming Raw Food's Fundamentals class this Saturday!

We hope to see you out and about around the city or the market this week. Our blessings to you and yours!

In Health, Joy and Liberation,
Gregg for Angela, Aya & Detroit Evolution

WEEKLY EVENTS:

Wednesdays: SEED Wayne Farmers Market
Every Wednesday, 11am-4pm
Location: Wayne State Campus on Cass Ave
We keep fresh picked veggies all week by supplementing our Eastern Market Saturdays with SEED Wayne Farmers Market on Wednesdays. Your body absorbs more nutrients from fresh food. To assist in this, you can shorten the shelf life of your produce by buying less more frequently. Also, think about using a bike or walking when you increase the frequency of your produce runs. This will help keep your carbon footprint down.

EVENT HORIZON:

Detroit Abides, A Monthly Sustainability Gathering
This month's movie: A Convenient Truth
TONIGHT! Wednesday July 15, 7-9pm - FREE!
Location: Eastern Market's Shed 5
A Convenient Truth: Urban Solutions from Curitiba, Brazil is an informative, inspirational documentary aimed at sharing ideas to provoke environment-friendly and cost-effective changes in cities worldwide. The documentary focuses on innovations in transportation, recycling, social benefits including affordable housing, seasonal parks, and the processes that transformed Curitiba into one of the most livable cities in the world. Cities should be a solution not a problem for human beings. The city of Curitiba has demonstrated for the past 40 years how to transform problems into cost-effective solutions that can be applied in most cities around the world. Please read more about this month's Detroit Abides and spread the word!

Everyday Raw: The Fundamentals of a Raw-Vegan Diet
Saturday, July 18, 2-5pm - $50
Location: The Detroit Flyhouse
NOW is the perfect time to begin your transition to a raw vegan lifestyle! Angela will show you how to successfully incorporate more raw foods into your diet by sharing basic techniques and tips meant to inspire and empower. Learn how to blend, sprout and dehydrate with confidence! (Don't fret if you don't have all of the fancy equipment and gadgets, we always try to have a low-tech option available with each recipe.) Angela will also share her own personal journey to healing physically, mentally and emotionally through diet and how you can also learn how to tune into your body and unleash it's incredible healing capabilities.
REGISTER TODAY! CALL 313.316.1411

DUST & ILLUSIONS; a history of Burning Man
Special screenings in Detroit, July 17/18th
July 17th 5pm (Artist Village) The film starts at 6:00pm.
July 18th 3:30pm & 5:30pm (Artist Village) The film starts at 3:30pm & 5:30pm.
July 18th 10:30pm (Theater Bizarre) The film starts at 10:30pm.
Please view the trailer and purchase tickets online!
Dust & Illusions looks at 30 years of history of Burning Man all the way back to the late 1970s deep into the origins of the event. Through 21 interviewees the film presents the philosophies that fueled the creation of the festival, and its evolution from a small gathering of friends to the largest “counter-cultural” event in North America. It offers a new perspective of the meaning of the event, and questions whether its organizers are more concerned about making sure the show is ready when the gate opens or if they still truly engage in building a community and fostering art.

Introduction to Permaculture
with Bill Wilson of Midwest Permaculture
Wednesday, July 22, 6:30-9:30pm - $20 (all donations accepted)
Location: Marygrove College, Liberal Arts Building
Detroit Evolution is pleased to assist with this 4-city speaking tour for Bill Wilson, co-founder of Midwest Permaculture. Wilson will travel throughout the region next week to deliver his 3-Hour Introduction to Permaculture with a special focus on urban and suburban landscapes. He will present in Ann Arbor 7/21, Detroit 7/22, Flint 7/23 and Ypsilanti 7/24 beginning each evening at 6:30 and ending by 9:30. Wilson has developed a clear, inspirational, pragmatic and concise explanation of what permaculture is and how it can successfully address problems of local food security, global climate change, and living abundantly in economically uncertain times. During the seminar Bill Wilson will share pictures and descriptions of some exciting examples of how permaculture design is transforming the possibilities before us.

Some of the successes explored will be:

• A permaculturist who has learned to grow bananas and figs in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado
• A new permaculture greenhouse that produces food all year round with 90% renewable energy, allowing the grower to provide fresh food to local consumers and restaurants in January as well as July
• A village that uses its common green areas to raise crops for community income, use and enjoyment
• A farmer who makes a better living on his 9 acres, growing fresh organic food than his neighbors do on their 2000 acre conventional farms
• Laurie's permaculture yard in Peoria where she now has over 300 useful plants that require no planting, fertilizing and little weeding
• Growing 25 pounds of potatoes from a single vertical box, on an abandoned lot, in the city of Chicago
• Growing sweet potatoes and 12 other vegetables right on top of concrete

Please save the date and join us for one of these exciting evenings. We're going to try to "table" at each city on the tour so please look for the Detroit Evolution sign and introduce yourself.

Please help keep Detroit Evolution Up and Running!

Detroit Evolution proudly uses

Materials for Personal Evolution

July Detroit Abides: A Convenient Truth

Detroit Abides, A Monthly Sustainability Gathering
This month's movie:
A Convenient Truth: Urban Solutions from Curitiba, Brazil
Wednesday July 15, 7-9pm - FREE!
Location: Eastern Market's Shed 5

Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit, Detroit Evolution Laboratory, and Eastern Market Corporation come together on the third Wednesday of every month to present Detroit Abides, A Free Sustainability Gathering in Eastern Market's Shed 5. The event features a movie on a sustainable topic, explores the topic at the local level through discussion and support from regional groups and businesses, and creates a space to meet like-minded people from all walks of life & grow an active, healthy community.

A Convenient Truth: Urban Solutions from Curitiba, Brazil is an informative, inspirational documentary aimed at sharing ideas to provoke environment-friendly and cost-effective changes in cities worldwide. The documentary focuses on innovations in transportation, recycling, social benefits including affordable housing, seasonal parks, and the processes that transformed Curitiba into one of the most livable cities in the world.

View the Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swQTTG3NcYY

Cities should be a solution not a problem for human beings. The city of Curitiba has demonstrated for the past 40 years how to transform problems into cost-effective solutions that can be applied in most cities around the world.

For this casual event, please bring a comfortable seat. Shed 5 is located at the corner of Russell and Alfred St. Parking is available in the lot adjacent to the Shed.

On the third Wednesday of every month DETROIT ABIDES screens a movie on a sustainable topic, explores the topic at the local level through discussion and support from regional groups and businesses, and creates a space to meet like-minded people from all walks of life & grow an active, healthy community.

For more information or to get involved call “the Lab” 313.316.1411

New Class! Everyday Raw: The Fundamentals of a Raw-Vegan Diet

Everyday Raw: The Fundamentals of a Raw-Vegan Diet
Saturday, July 18, 2-5pm - $50
Location: The Detroit Flyhouse in Eastern Market

NOW is the perfect time to begin your transition to a raw vegan lifestyle! Angela will show you how to successfully incorporate more raw foods into your diet by sharing basic techniques and tips meant to inspire and empower. Learn how to blend, sprout and dehydrate with confidence! (Don't fret if you don't have all of the fancy equipment and gadgets, we always try to have a low-tech option available with each recipe.) Angela will also share her own personal journey to healing physically, mentally and emotionally through diet.

Vegan and Raw Food Classes with Angela & Gregg
Our classes are about much more than just food preparation - learn how to reduce waste through composting and recycling, explore sustainability, meet like minded people, and share great food, information and resources. We offer our students a unique experience and an opportunity not only learn, but also to connect with others and realize the importance of food in our lives and the world. The food you choose to eat can change the world! Space in these intimate classes is limited and full payment is required to register. Please call 313.316.1411 or email info@detroitevolution.com to arrange payment.

Detroit Evolution promotes Active, Aware, Healthy and Sustainable Vegan and Raw Food Lifestyles in the city. We offer classes and workshops on Vegan and Raw Food, Yoga, Meditation, Shamanism, and Body Awareness. We also offer Bodywork, Nutritional Counseling and Sustainable Lifestyle Training. We provide "green" sustainable Vegan and Raw Food Catering for any sized event.

Friday Lunch at The Detroit Zen Center

The Detroit Zen Center is certainly a place apart. We consider ourselves quite blessed to have landed here. As we settle in, I can't help but feel I've been transported to another time and place. At the same time there is an extreme sense of familiarity, not so much with the people (who are wonderful) but with the space itself, both energetically and physically. We've been busy moving our "stuff" about and adapting to working out of different locations, so I've yet to explore this at depth. But even without intentional exploration, I already know the space as one of deep healing, reflection and, I believe for Angela, Aya and I, there are great opportunities for growth and evolution.

I already hinted at an esoteric familiarity, but the physical familiarity and our resonance with the mission and sustainable lifestyle of the monks is quite real and intensely illuminating and validating. Since opening the Lab, Angela and I have been sharing everything we know about fostering personal sustainability with just about everyone we've met. We took our space in Eastern Market as far as we could take a leased loft. In that space we created and promoted efficient and replicable systems for recycling, composting and energy reduction, but we've now found ourselves in a larger and actively evolving project that embraces and expands upon our individual interests and abilities. From purified domestic water systems to the green roof on the traditional walkway that connects the Center’s Residency and the Temple, we're learning new things daily and are constantly inspired.

Tomorrow, Angela and I will be hosting the first of our weekly Friday Lunches at the Zen Center's Living Zen Café & Coop. Of course, Angela feels right at home in the Temple Kitchen. I'm certain the main reason Detroit Evolution has garnered so much attention is the fact that Angela and I perceive the preparation of food as sacred. For the monks here, preparing food serves as training in working, moving meditation, so there's even more in common. If one is mindful and open, I think the atmosphere created by the monks and their training encourage a heightened sense of awareness and inner peace. Angela and I will embrace this energy and intention as Angela prepares some of your favorite "Lab" entrees and exciting new dishes in the coming months.

We're so honored and grateful to have this opportunity to continue to share Angela's talent with you all. We must express our gratitude to Myungju, the Cafe's chef, the entire Zen Center Community, and everyone who as supported us and helped us to arrive here.

The Café has both traditional cross-legged and comfortable western seating and you're welcome to enjoy a quiet meditative lunch or bring a group to share, relax and reflect with. A three-course lunch is $13, with items available a la carte starting at $6. We always envisioned our dream kitchen as a Temple Kitchen and we're thrilled to invite everyone to join us at the Living Zen Café on Fridays. We will be preparing and serving food from 11am - 4pm, and yes, you can visit and order food to take with you. If you elect to join us or pick up food, please bear in mind that the energy and pace in the Café is much more meditative than the intensity of the street. If you're unable to join us tomorrow for lunch, you can enjoy the Temple Kitchen from 11am-4pm Wednesday through Saturday. Beginning next week the Café will be open until 9pm for dinner Thursday through Saturday beginning next week! Please give yourself the opportunity to breathe, to take a moment, and to take it in. It is certainly a place apart and one we believe you’ll appreciate as much as we do.

Please visit the Zen Center web site for contact info and a map or call 313.366.7738

Anti-Incineration, Pro-Recycling Action - THURSDAY!

"What you burn you cannot earn” -- This was one of Mayor Bing’s campaign slogans and many people voted for him because he said this, let’s hold him to it!

What: The GDRRA* meeting
When: Thursday, June 18, 2:30pm
Where: Finance Department Conference Room, COLEMAN A YOUNG MUNICIPAL CENTER

*Greater Detroit Resource Recovery Authority - Board of directors that oversees the incinerator and are appointed by Mayor Bing

The Anti-incineration/pro-recycling rally Tuesday was a huge success with many people attending, and major media and press picking up the story. The next call to action is Thurs, June 18, 2:30pm at the GDRRA meeting. At this meeting GDRRA (the Mayor) will release the new plan for waste disposal in the city of Detroit, incineration or recycling. We will have the answer on Thursday.

Please come and show your support and keep the phone calls and emails going to the Mayor’s office with your concerns.

Mayor’s office phone: (313) 224-3400
Mayor’s office fax: (313)224-4433
Mayor’s office email: dave.bing@detroitmi.gov iojeda@detroitmi.gov

In 2008 City Council adopted the New Business Model for Detroit Solid Waste to:

* Stop burning over 2,000 tons of trash each day by July l, 2009
* Begin citywide curbside recycling & recovering materials for reuse
* Create new jobs & opportunities to attract green industries— a number of companies are interested in doing business here using Detroit’s captured waste

Urge Mayor Bing to take these steps by July 1, 2009:

* End burning Detroit trash; no agreements for incineration after June 30, 2009
* Create more jobs and make Detroit a healthier city
* Full transparency of all waste contracts

Call or write:
Mayor Dave Bing 313-224-3400
Dave.Bing@detroitmi.gov
Charles Beckham: cbeckham@detroitmi.gov

Evolve Detroit - Anti Incineration, Pro Recycling Action TODAY!

Good Day Detroit and all those who grace us here,
Welcome to a short "Anti Incineration, Pro Recycling" Evolve Detroit. I'm putting together a full Evolve Detroit as we speak, but we needed to get this important information out this morning.

Before we get into the details, I want to thank all of our new subscribers for joining us and have to express our deepest gratitude for the outpouring of support we've received in the past two weeks. Though our decision to "decentralize" the Lab was difficult, we all feel as though a great weight has been lifted. Taking the Lab on the road has already provided us a great many opportunities to establish new partnerships and to look at our purpose and mission from a different position. We're excited about this transitional phase and look forward to sharing our work throughout the city and region. Thank you all so much for joining us here! It means the world to us.

In Health, Joy and Liberation,
Gregg

Take one step today to make Detroit a cleaner, healthier, safer city.
Help the children of Detroit breathe free.

Anti Incineration, Pro Recycling Action - Call TODAY and join us at the rally!
If you live, work or play in or around the city of Detroit please use the info below to contact Mayor Bing's office TODAY. You can also join Angela, Aya and I at noon in front of the Spirit of Detroit for an important rally that we hope will inspire Mayor Bing to shut down the incinerator.

Anti Incineration, Pro Recycling Rally
When: TODAY, Tuesday June 16th 11am-1pm
Where: Spirit of Detroit Statue on the corner of Woodward and Jefferson

Mayor Bing, through the Greater Detroit Resource Recovery Authority (GDRRA) will release his decision on the future of our trash on June 17th. Since his election, he has withheld his position on use of the incinerator for Detroit's solid waste. This is cause of great concern as the decision can impact the City for up to 20 years.

This is a critical moment for any concerned citizen of the Detroit area to speak out against incineration and show support for recycling. This moment gives Mayor Bing a wonderful opportunity to move Detroit forward: to improve air quality, Create jobs with the materials recovered in recycling and to reduce costs of solid waste management for now and the years ahead. As he said during the mayoral campaign, "what you burn cannot earn." LETS HOLD HIM TO IT!

The Mayor’s position will be evident on June 17th. Join others to speak up for a cleaner, healthier, greener Detroit.

Please email, call and fax your opinions and concerns TODAY!
Mayor’s office phone: (313) 224-3400
Mayor’s office fax: (313)224-4433
Mayor’s office email: iojeda@detroitmi.gov and ojedai@detroitmi.gov

Yoga Today, BBQ & Bonfire Send-Off Tonight!

Greetings Detroit and all who grace us here!
It looks like it is going to be a beautiful day here in Detroit.

I want to thank everyone for their outpourings of support over the past few days. We are so blessed by the wonderful and diverse community that has come together around the Lab. We are excited to leverage this transition to grow our community and expand our work throughout the city and region. All of the letters of encouragement have assisted us to realize many potentials and have already opened a few doors. Again, we are so grateful for you all!

Today is our last day of classes at the Lab's space in Eastern Market. I want to invite you all to join us for these special classes and for a barbecue and bonfire in the evening.

At 10 am Shelley Smith will lead class and I'll send off the Lab with the class at noon.

At 5pm we'll gather behind the Lab for a celebratory vegan barbecue & potluck that will eventually turn into a bonfire. If you'd like to join the potluck, just bring a dish to pass. We'll have a "veggie only" grill available if you'd like to bring something to throw on.

At sunset, we'll light the bonfire behind the Lab. We've heard rumor that some of the Sun Ships crew will be bringing out instruments. We encourage you to bring your bells, voices, gongs, flutes, hand drums, etc to raise a lovely noise and launch the Lab into its next phase.

Please be mindful of traffic as the Wings game is this evening. It starts at 8pm.

I also want to share that we'll be sharing our story and our new plans for the Lab on WDET's Detroit Today on Monday. I believe we'll be on air around 2:30. If you'd like to hear more about our transition please tune in.

We thank you all again for your support and look forward to seeing many of you around the city!

In Health, Joy and Liberation!
Gregg

Lab Press Release, Please Forward

June 4, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News Media Contact:
Gregg Newsom
(313) 316-1411
gregg@detroitevolution.com

DETROIT EVOLUTION LABORATORY MOVES TO EXPAND
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, SERVICES

DETROIT, Mich., June 4 — The Detroit Evolution Laboratory is positioning itself to expand its community partnerships and services with its announced move from its space on Gratiot Avenue in Eastern Market.

Gregg and Angela Newsom started the Lab two years ago as a community space intended to foster awareness of the connections between health and sustainable "green" lifestyles. The Lab, known for its diverse holistic services including vegan and raw food kitchen classes and catering, yoga, and health and sustainability workshops, has also become a major hub for community discussion and activism around mind-body health and sustainable models of development.

“Moving from the space on Gratiot Avenue was a difficult decision,” said Lab co-owner Gregg Newsom. “But this provides us the opportunity to grow relationships and continue our work in new and exciting ways. We see this as the beginning of new growth for the Lab, and Detroit.”

The Lab will continue to present a diverse array of services, including Leslie Blackburn's Sacred Geometry classes at the Detroit Flyhouse in the FD lofts June 9, 16, & 23 and the popular Detroit Abides free film series with the screening of “The Greening of Southie” on June 17 in Eastern Market’s Shed 5. Additional upcoming events include a vegan “Backyard BBQ” class and Angela and Gregg's new workshop on greening relationships called "Sustainable Love"

“But this is just the beginning,” said co-owner Angela Newsom. “Another reason for the move was to realize our vision of creating a space to showcase sustainable living. We are working towards that goal, and several others.”

New projects underway include a revamped Web site, new kitchen classes, workshops and events throughout the city and region. The new website - Evolve Detroit, an Urban Transition Fieldbook - will document the Lab's work in the greater context of Detroit community development, Permaculture and the Transition Movement. Detroit Evolution Laboratory will continue to work with partners Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit and Eastern Market Corporation and will soon announce new partnerships, events and services for the metro area.

“We invite everyone to get involved as we move into this next chapter of our growth,” Gregg said. “There’s tremendous possibility to create change in Detroit; and we hope to work with as many people as possible to make that change happen in a constructive, sustainable and healthy way.”

For more information about the Detroit Evolution Laboratory, please visit detroitevolution.com, follow @evolvedetroit on Twitter, join the Lab's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/group.php?gid=8279450767 or call 313.316.1411

About Detroit Evolution Laboratory: Detroit Evolution Laboratory facilitates and promotes the exploration of healthy & sustainable tools, techniques and concepts that empower individuals and communities. Informed and inspired by Permaculture, the Transition Movement and Eastern, Western, and Indigenous explorations of Consciousness Expansion, we actively promote that an Urban-Agrarian, Sustainable, and Soulful lifestyle will facilitate Detroit’s survival and its future success as a relocalized city. Detroit Evolution Laboratory’s focus is wide and favors radical creativity, exploring and sharing diverse aspects of culture from food & art to yoga & music. The Lab promotes other individuals, organizations, and businesses with complementary missions and goals for Detroit through active participation in projects and events throughout the city.