Good Night Blog

This blogger site has served me well for over 5 years. I've transferred all the files over to http://detroitevolution.com, sealed up the doors and windows and, after a blatantly nostalgic walk-through, I'm closing this chapter.

There's a great deal documented here. I'm certainly not the same person I was when I returned to Detroit in 2000. This blog, when taken in conjunction with my old Live Journal and the Vitriol Archives (this Wayback Machine version is uber slow), make up the majority of my computer documentation. Up until 2000 I was still active with my hand-written journals.

I find the need to electronically trace and track old links and blogs in order to properly archive my work fascinating. Now that Aya Eden is here I'm a bit more mindful of keeping proper records. Loosing track of these chunks of documentation would stink.

This blog started as my personal and rather egotistical yoga journal and oddly enough turned into something called Detroit As A Portal for Global Transformation. That in and of itself makes me smile.

Thanks to those who have tuned this channel in over the past five years. Please keep up with the story at http://detroitevolution.com

In Health, Joy & Liberation,
~Gregg

Writing & Speaking Out, Alcohol As A Gas, Food Policy Meet

One of my post-USSF resolutions is to begin to use this blog a bit more. There's a great many reasons for this, but the most vital is to get the writing juices going again. For a moment there I was actually calling myself a writer. This wasn't because I simply wanted to, but because I was writing at least 2 hours a day and getting paid (directly and indirectly) by doing so. Aya Eden has blessed us in many ways, but he's been hard on writing as my silence here and through Detroit Evolution easily reveals. You'll probably have to deal with some rather off the cuff posts and half thoughts, but I'll try to post daily. You've been warned! :)

A few things on point today.

Leeann and I sat down and finished up the press release for July's Detroit Abides. We're going to share some of Alcohol Can Be a Gas and then do our best to guide the discussion towards viable do-it-yourself alt energy projects happening in and around Detroit. Look for a facebook event invite to come across your screen soon. Detroit Abides is our free monthly movie night in Eastern Market that we host with the support of Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit and Eastern Market Corporation. It's offered up on the 3rd Wednesday of every month in Shed 5 from 7-9pm. It's a good thing to sit amongst pallets of produce with friends and neighbors to watch a film and talk about our shared future. Please consider joining us this month. Bring a chair!

Speaking of Eastern Market, I'll be there tonight for the monthly Food Policy Council meeting. Another post-USSF resolution is to be more present and open to the important work going in right here in Detroit. As the USSF, I looked to a great many outside resources for missing pieces and for answers to specific questions. Of course, the answers or pieces that most closely fit were coming back at me from Detroit. Most of them coming from our friends, heroes and partners working in urban agriculture. I want to support them and work to co-create an equitable, just and resilient food system in Detroit. I'm attending these monthly meetings to increase my own awareness so I can become more vocal/active about the measures that have to be taken to help facilitate the change that's coming. I'm no expert, but I need to learn more and share what I know and "see" with anyone who will listen at this point.

To this end, Caitlin is going to be teaching this evening's 6:30 People's Yoga session at Spirit of Hope Church. I encourage you to attend tonight as Caitlin teaches an incredible class. Angela and I have been attending her morning classes and benefiting from them greatly. I know that my regular student's bodies will appreciate the changes offered in her sessions. I think that our styles are very complimentary.

To go off a bit, one of the joys and complexities of yoga is that it takes so many forms. I'm well aware that I've spent a great deal of my life hooked on particular and certain forms, but at the same time I must recognize that the most profound changes in my life have occurred in the moments when I've been taken by aberrant and uncertain forms. All this to recommend that folks work with as many different instructors as possible and to try out as many manifestations of yoga as one can find. Oh, and do this throughout your yoga, ahem.. "career." Sure, give into the modes of being that can emerge from yoga, but be flexible. I've been in the Ashtanga mode for about 10 years now, but I always try to open myself to other manifestations. I feel a certain shift happening currently, so my research and practice begins anew, striving to stay open to new forms.

So, that's what happens when I don't edit. Whew, it's going to be rough to hit "publish."

Please consider coming to the Food Policy Council meeting tonight at 5:30p in the Eastern Market office. I'm not sure how many people will be there or how these meetings go, but there's only one way to find out.

One note: Tomorrow is the Bogg's Center USSF Wrap-up and I'll be heading in that direction as well. I'll post the details on that sometime today. It's time to wake the family and get to work.

DETROIT GATHERING FOCUSES ON DIY ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 12, 2010
Contact: Leeann Drees
Phone: 313.316.1411
email: leeann@detroitevolution.com

FREE DETROIT GATHERING FOCUSES ON DIY ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Detroit Abides screens selections from David Blume's Alcohol Can Be a Gas!: Fueling an Ethanol Revolution for the 21st Century on Wednesday, July 21st, 7-9p in Eastern Market's Shed 5

Detroit, Michigan – July 12, 2010 - This month's Detroit Abides event will focus on do-it-yourself alternative energy. Detroit Evolution, Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit, and Eastern Market Corporation are pleased to share selections from David Blume's acclaimed film Alcohol Can Be a Gas!: Fueling an Ethanol Revolution for the 21st Century, followed by a discussion with local innovators who are working to put alternative energies to use today.

As awareness of fossil fuel, carbon footprints, and climate change grows in the city and in the world, many community members are looking for more ecologically friendly, domestically produced sources of energy. David Blume's film, a companion to his book of the same title, examines the possibility of using alcohol fuel as a cleaner, cheaper, and more sustainable alternative to currently available fossil fuels. After viewing selections from the film, attendees will have the opportunity to hear from two local innovators who are working to implement alternative energy systems using alcohol, geothermal, and solar technologies. Our discussion will focus on the viability of such technologies within Detroit.

On Wednesday the 21st, over the course of what is sure to be an informative and interesting evening at Eastern Market, participants will learn about the extraordinary and promising possibilities of alternative sources of energy. In Alcohol Can Be a Gas!, David Blume discusses how to make alcohol from a variety of readily available materials; the process of converting a gasoline engine to E-85 or 100% alcohol for as little as $50; how (and why) to start a community-supported energy co-op; and much more. Immediately following these selections will be a look at real-life, local applications sure to inspire Detroiters who are seeking to power their communities more sustainably.

Since 2008, Eastern Market Corporation, Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit and Detroit Evolution have been partnering to present this FREE Movie Night in Eastern Market. 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 this casual event, attendees should bring a comfortable seat. Shed 5 is located at the corner of Russell and Alfred St. Parking is available in the lots adjacent to the Shed. For more information or to get involved call Detroit Evolution at 313.316.1411.

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About Detroit Evolution - Detroit Evolution promotes the health, joy and liberation of all beings. Dedicated to sustainable practices, we present workshops and community focused events to assist in and inspire the co-creation of a resilient and relocalized Detroit. http://detroitevolution.com

About Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit - Bioneers comprise a network of visionary innovators working to build a sustainable, positive and creative future for the web of life. This year's Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit Conference, held October 15-17 at Marygrove College, will combine local sessions, solutions and events with international innovations. http://www.sustainabledetroit.org/bioneers/

About Eastern Market Corporation - Eastern Market's public market is open on Saturdays from 6:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. For more information, contact 313-833-9300 http://www.detroiteasternmarket.com

Sunday Brunch & FREE Double Feature on Environmental Health

Detroit Evolution
http://detroitevolution.com/index.html
313.316.1411

Greetings Detroit and all who grace us here!
The sun is shining, its finally warm and it's going to be a great weekend in Detroit!

Saturday our friends at Brother Nature Produce are going to offer "mix your own" gourmet Salad Greens at Eastern Market. Make sure to stop by the Grown in Detroit table to pick up other incredible Detroit Local produce too. We're pretty excited about picking up our Garden Resource Program Hot Crops at Earthworks on Saturday! There's also Nsoroma Institute's second annual "So Fresh, So Green" Celebration (details below) and Matrix Theatre's Water Fest 2010.

Sunday the Detroit Tradition of Flower Day unfolds at the Market and we're pleased to help co-create the Corktown Community Kitchen Brunch. Check out this all local menu:

Leek & Garlic Green Quiche w/potato hash crust OR the same great local ingredients in a Potato & Tofu Rumble (vegan), grilled Asparagus drizzled w/an herbed ricotta sauce (dairy or vegan available) served w/Hoop House Greens, Sprouted Grains & Sunflower Shoots - Yum!

The Corktown Community Kitchen's Third Sunday Brunch brings friends and neighbors together to prepare healthy all local/organic food for other friends and neighbors. All are welcome and encouraged to inspire and inform discussions of local resilience, food security and environmental and social justice.

This Sunday, May 16, 11a-2p, Donation-Based $5-15

Third Sunday Brunch
May 16, 11a-2p

Brother Nature Produce
2913 Rosa Parks at Temple
Detroit, MI, 48216

DETAILS: http://detroitevolution.com/cck_brunch.html

Whew! There are great things afoot in Detroit this weekend, and yes, we know these are just a few of the worthwhile goings on.

We also want to mention this month's Detroit Abides as we're looking forward to it and want to share these films with as many as possible. That's right it's a Double Feature! We're pleased to host Director Bill Couzens and screen the film HealthyTown - Detroit. We're also excited to look more deeply at the Environmental Impacts of large-scale Agriculture with a screening of Big River - A King Corn Companion.

Detroit has been alight with discussions of and proposals for large-scale Urban Agriculture projects. In addition to land use, local economic and community engagement concerns, large-scale Agriculture in an urban setting provides us an opportunity to look into the environmental impact of farming. After the screenings we'll discuss the films and share info on local groups working in Environmental Health.

Please join us May 19th at 7pm in Eastern Market's Shed 5
for a FREE Double Feature on Environmental Health.
DETAILS: http://detroitevolution.com/detroitabides.html

Please note the details below about the upcoming Permaculture Workshops with author Toby Hemenway. the Registration Deadline May 18th!

Thank you all! Our blessings to you and yours.
In Health, Joy and Liberation,
Gregg

---Community Events---

"So Fresh, So Green" Celebration at Nsoroma Institute
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Our second annual "So Fresh, So Green" celebration will take place from from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. This celebration of Mother Earth features children's arts and crafts activities, performances, natural food and dry good vendors, a recycling station (for paper, plastic and metal) and two movies: Dirt at 2:30 p.m. and Garbage Dreams at 3:45 p.m. This event is FREE.

Immediately following at 6:00 p.m. will be the Detroit premier of the documentary film, "Watoto wa Mitaani" (Children of the Streets) which follows the lives of five boys living on the streets in Tanzania. This is a unique glimpse into the strengths and challenges of contemporary Africa. A discussion with the filmmaker Michael Stewart will follow. There is a $5.00 admission charge for this film. This is an excellent pre-African Liberation Day activity.

Nsoroma Institute is located at 20045 Joann, Detroit, MI 48205. Call 313.521.0400 for information.

Fireweed Universe-City
Fireweed could use some help this weekend if you are interested

Saturday, May 15, 12 pm at Fireweed
Sunday, May 16, 1 pm at Fireweed and/or Emmanuel

Fireweed is located at 665 W. Brentwood, Detroit, 48203 (Southeast of Woodward and 7 Mile)
Emmanuel Center is located at 18313 John R, Detroit, 48203 (John R between 6 and 7 Mile)

If you are unsure of where we are at, please call (248.561.6224)

Upcoming events from Fireweed:

Mon. 5-17, 2-4 PM
Detroit City Council will host a public hearing on the Consolidated Plan, including Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (NOF) categories.
Location: Auditorium on the 13th Floor of Coleman A. Young Municipal Center

Sun. 5-23, 6-8 PM
Overcoming Illness Naturally
Learn how Camelia Gary naturally:
• Lost 55 lbs
• Overcame mercury toxin
• Copying with thyroid disease and fibromyalgia
• Reversed skin health and gum disease
• And much more
Class is $15 with food samples and lots of priceless information.
Location: Phoenix Café (24918 John R Rd., Hazel Park, MI)
Camelia is a beautiful person who experienced an amazing journey of detoxification to regain her health. If you have any interest in health and delicious food, this is worth experiencing.

Registration Deadline May 18th!!!
Southeastern Michigan Permaculture Guild and Food Gatherers present:
WORKSHOPS WITH AUTHOR TOBY HEMENWAY
Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture, will be in Ann Arbor May 21-22, 2010. For the past six years Gaia’s Garden has been the world’s best-selling book on permaculture, a design approach based on ecology for creating sustainable landscapes, homes, communities, and workplaces. (See reviews at end) Permaculture design consciously recreates the diverse and multi-layered interactions and synergies which make natural systems so efficient, resilient, and bountiful. To learn more about Toby, visit his website: www.patternliteracy.com

Schedule:
May 21 – Free talk and book signing at the Ann Arbor Downtown Library
May 22 – Designing & Installing a Food Forest Workshop* Matthei Botanical Gardens
May 23 – Permaculture Solutions for City & Suburb Workshop* Matthei Botanical Gardens
* Single workshop $115
* Both workshops $195
Some scholarship funds are available.

WORKSHOPS Include lunch and snacks, but you must register by May 18 to reserve lunch. Details about each of these events listed below.

How Permaculture Can Save Humantiy and the Earth, but not Civilization
Friday May 21st, 2010 7:00 -8:30 PM
Downtown Ann Arbor Public Library: Multipurpose Room. Public talk and book signing. FREE
This event will discuss how new fuels and high technology are not the way out of this dilemma. There are ways to live sustainably on the Earth without going back to the Stone Age. What many of them have in common looks a lot like what today is known as permaculture, an ecological design approach based on knowledge gained from nature. Toby's presentation will show us what makes agriculture, and the industrial society that relies on it, fundamentally unsustainable, and how permaculture offers us a better way.

Designing and Installing a Food Forest
Saturday, May 22nd, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., includes lunch


Food forests, or edible forest gardens, are life-filled places that not only provide food for people, but habitat for wildlife, carbon sequestering, biodiversity, natural soil building, beauty and tranquility, and a host of other benefits. This workshop will cover the basics of designing, planting, and maintaining a many-layered woodland garden of fruit and nut trees, perennial and annual vegetables, and flowers. The day-long class will give you both the theory behind food forests and a wealth of practical information, including which plants to use, where to start, and what to expect as your food forest grows.



Permaculture Solutions for City and Suburb

Sunday, May 23rd, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., includes lunch


How does permaculture work in urban and suburban places? Though land may be limited, cities are rich in other resources, especially social capital. This workshop will show how to find, harvest, and integrate the many resources in our cities in sustainable ways, including getting access to land for gardening, creating business guilds and networks, learning the pattern language of the city, creating public space in neighborhoods, and building urban ecovillages. We'll learn how permaculture's principles and design methods apply to the dense, rich environments of our cities, and how to leverage the special opportunities that cities provide.



Register Here 
http://southeasternmichiganpermaculture.ning.com/page/toby-hemenway-workshops

NOTE: Early registration is encouraged to reserve your space and order for meals/ snacks.

Workshop Location:

Matthaei Botanical Gardens

1800 N Dixboro Rd

Ann Arbor, MI 48105

US Social Forum
Detroit, June 22-26, 2010
http://www.ussf2010.org/
The US Social Forum is a movement building process. It is not a conference but it is a space to come up with the peoples’ solutions to the economic and ecological crisis. The USSF is the next most important step in our struggle to build a powerful multi-racial, multi-sectoral, inter-generational, diverse, inclusive, internationalist movement that transforms this country, and changes history. We must declare what we want our world to look like and we must start planning the path to get there. The USSF provides spaces to learn from each other’s experiences and struggles, share our analysis of the problems our communities face, build relationships, and align with our international brothers and sisters to strategize how to reclaim our world.

The purpose of the USSF is to effectively and affirmatively articulate the values and strategies of a growing and vibrant movement for justice in the United States. Those who build towards and participate in the USSF are no longer interested in simply stating what social justice movements “stand-against,” rather we see ourselves as part of new movements that reach beyond national borders, that practice democracy at all levels, and understand that neo-liberalism abroad and here in the US is not the solution. The USSF provides a first major step towards such articulation of what we stand for.

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Detroit Evolution
http://detroitevolution.com
313.316.1411
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Detroit As A Portal
http://www.renegadebodywork.blogspot.com/

Urban Agriculture & Environmental Health In Detroit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2010
Contact: Leeann Drees
Phone: 313.316.1411
email: leeann@detroitevolution.com

DETROIT GATHERING FOCUSES ON URBAN AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

Detroit Abides screens Big River, A King Corn Companion & HealthyTown on Wednesday, May 19th, 7-9p in Eastern Market's Shed 5

Detroit, Michigan - May 3, 2010 - This month's Detroit Abides is a double feature focused on environmental health. Detroit Evolution, Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit, and Eastern Market Corporation are pleased to host director Bill Couzens and screen his film HealthyTown, as well as to look more deeply at the environmental impacts of large-scale agriculture with a screening of Big River: A King Corn Companion.

Detroit has been alight with discussions of and proposals for large-scale urban agriculture projects. “In addition to land use, local economic and community engagement concerns, large-scale agriculture in an urban setting provides us an opportunity to look into the environmental impact of farming” explained Gregg Newsom, one of the event organizers. After the screenings there will be an opportunity for discussion of the films and information on local groups working in environmental health will be shared.

The evening will begin with a showing of HealthyTown, a film exploring efforts to bridge Detroit's gaps in environmental health through prevention. The film features such influential local organizations as Earthworks at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Local Motion Green, Children's Hospital of Michigan, the Kresge Foundation, and Kids Kicking Cancer. Bill Couzens, the film's director, will be present to share his work.

HealthyTown will be followed by Big River, a short follow-up to the Peabody-winning documentary King Corn. Viewers will follow Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis as they investigate the environmental impacts of the acre of corn they planted in Iowa. Traveling from the Midwest to the Gulf of Mexico, the two friends will learn about the effects of pesticide and herbicide use on everything from the distant ocean to cancer patients in their own community.

After the screenings attendees will have an opportunity to discuss the films and their local relevance with event organizers, activists, and HealthyTown director Bill Couzens. Considering all of the recent interest in large-scale urban agriculture in the city, this promises to be a timely and lively conversation.

Since 2008, Eastern Market Corporation, Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit and Detroit Evolution have been partnering to present this FREE Movie Night in Eastern Market. 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 this casual event, attendees should bring a comfortable seat. Shed 5 is located at the corner of Russell and Alfred St. Parking is available in the lots adjacent to the Shed. For more information or to get involved call Detroit Evolution at 313.316.1411

###

About Detroit Evolution - Detroit Evolution is dedicated to the health, joy and liberation of all beings. We're dedicated to sustainable practices and presents workshops on these and other topics to assist in and inspire resilient and relocalized Detroit. http://detroitevolution.com

About Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit - Bioneers comprise a network of visionary innovators working to build a sustainable, positive and creative future for the web of life. This year's Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit Conference, held October 15-17 and Marygrove College, will combine local sessions, solutions and events with international innovations. http://www.sustainabledetroit.org/bioneers/

About Eastern Market Corporation - Eastern Market is open on Saturdays from 6:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. For more information, contact 313-833-9300 http://www.detroiteasternmarket.com

Tommorow's Corktown Community Kitchen Brunch

The Corktown Community Brunch brings friends and neighbors together to prepare healthy all local/organic food for other friends and neighbors

Tomorrow, Sunday, April 18th, 11a-2p
Location: Brother Nature Produce
2913 Rosa Parks - Detroit, Michigan 48216

This Sunday's Menu:
Mediterranean Caponata spooned over toasted Baguette, served with your choice of Eggs or Tofu, Hoop House Greens, Sunshoots and a Cucumber-Mint Yogurt Sauce

Assorted Pickled Delights, Sauerkraut, and Brother Nature's Blood Red Hot Sauce
available at your table for sampling.

Suggested Donation: $5-15

The Fine Line Between Sharing & Casting Judgment

March 1, 2010, NoCo HQ, Detroit - I want to share something of an "official" statement here. Angela and I promote relocalization and the active dismantling of racism. Both request massive lifestyle changes and I'm sharing my exploration of these changes through this blog and all my work. Don't confuse my promotion and exploration of these things as my casting of judgment. I've lived many lifestyles, I know how it goes and I've proved myself human time and time again.

Though I'm very grateful for where I'm at, it would be ludicrous for someone as challenged by their choices as I to judge anyone else. We're all at different places on the path towards a just and sustainable world and, though it is not my desire to soften the message, these little status updates don't offer space for frequent and lengthy disclaimers that would keep everyone in their comfort zone. Maybe that's a good thing.

I look forward to open discussion about relocalization and race. An active discussion of exactly how we can share these things without creating more division should be one aspect of these discussions, but there's a great deal of work to do across the board.

In Health, Joy & Liberation,
Gregg Newsom