Dear All,

I hope you're interested in the following information about the upcoming

BUILD HERE NOW 2001.  We would appreciate your sharing it with anyone else

you think might want to attend.  Please note that the "early-bird" deadline

for registration is May 1st.

  -- best regards, Catherine Wanek, Editor, The Last Straw Journal

The third annual BUILD HERE NOW Natural Building and Permaculture

Convergence is happening June 10-17, 2001 at the Lama Foundation in Taos

County, New Mexico; once again co-sponsored by The Last Straw Journal, The

Lama Foundation, and The Permaculture Institute.

For photo galleries, articles, and other information about Build Here Now

past and upcoming, see http://www.strawhomes.com/build/here/now.html

A printable registration form is available at

Lama Foundation is situated on 105 acres of high alpine forest in northern

New Mexico, altitude 8600 feet. The land is regenerating in the wake of the

7000-acre 1996 Hondo Fire. Convergence participants are welcome to join in

Lama's daily schedule of early morning silent meditation or yoga, afternoon

classes and evening activities such as dances of universal peace, singing,

chanting, and other forms of spiritual practice.

Featured Topics include:

Natural Building

*  Designing and Building a Healthy Home

*  Passive Solar Design

*  Sustainable Timber Harvesting

*  Timber Framing

*  Straw Bale Wall Building

*  Cob Construction

*  Straw-clay Infill

*  Earthbag and Rubble Trench Foundation

*  Earthen Plasters & Floors

*  Living Roofs

Permaculture

*  Permaculture Principles and Practices

*  Watershed Management and French Drains

*  Fire Ecology, Erosion Control, and Forest Restoration

*  Archetype Design

*  Native Medicinal Herbs

*  Chicken Tractors

*  Road and Path Design

*  Urban Permaculture

Appropriate Technology

*  Cistern Building

*  Photovoltaic Electric Systems

*  Composting Toilets

*  Designing Biological Waste Treatment Systems

*  Blacksmithing and Toolmaking

Community

*  Eco-village Design

*  Communication Skills and Mediation

*  Community Building

And others yet unconfirmed

Schedule of events - The Convergence will begin June 10 with registration

from 3-5 PM, dinner at 6 PM and evening greetings and orientation at 7:30

PM. Days will be filled through June 17 with concurrent workshops in

natural building, permaculture, appropriate technology, and community

building. Afternoon field trips to Taos Pueblo and local natural building

sites are planned for midweek.

Lodging options - At Lama yurt and tent with beds can accommodate 20 (bring

your own bedding or sleeping bag); RV and tent sites for 100 campers.

Hotels are available in Taos and Questa (at additional cost).

Cost - Before May 1, 2001, $425; after May 1, $495. Children 5-16 half

price (childcare not provided). Cost includes three vegetarian meals per

day and on-site lodging.

Travel information - The Albuquerque airport is 3 hours from the site.

Carpooling and shuttle service will be available. For more info contact the

Lama Foundation at (505) 586-1269 or see http://www.lamafoundation.org

A printable registration form is available at

Name/s:___________________________________________________

        Total # adults___ Total # children___

Affiliation:__________________________________________________

Address:___________________________________________________

  __________________________________________________________

Phone:________________ Fax:_________________ Email:_______________

Visa/Mastercard #:____________________ Exp Date:____

Amount:______Signature:__________________________ Check#:____

Please register me for the convergence, I have included my deposit of 50%

of the total cost. A $25 processing fee will be withheld on all refund

requests. During the three weeks prior to the Convergence the entire

deposit is non-refundable.

To request a work exchange/partial scholarship (limited availability, so

act quickly), email <rick@lamafoundation.org>

___ Please send information about area motels, as I prefer not to camp at

the site

___ Please send information about carpooling

NOTE: Charge card payments may be phoned to (505) 586-1269... faxed to

(505)586-1964... or surface-mailed (make checks payable to Lama Foundation) to:

Attn: Build Here Now 2001

Lama Foundation

P.O. Box 240

San Cristobal NM 87564

USA

* The Last Straw, the international journal of straw bale and natural

building, provides up-to-date information on construction techniques,

projects, research/testing/code issues, resources, other information and

inspiration written by and about those who design, build, research and live

in natural buildings. An educational non-profit organization, The Last

Straw Journal promotes ecologically-conscious choices about the way we live

and build. http://www.strawhomes.com

* The Permaculture Institute empowers people to care for the Earth and its

inhabitants. Through permaculture education we seek to catalyze the

development of healthy, regenerative partnerships - with nature, our

communities, our families and ourselves. Permaculture provides a critical

foundation to facilitate healthy relationships by: 1) encouraging people to

view the world as a web of partnerships; 2) promoting an ethic that

supports personal and planetary health; 3) introducing skills, tools,

techniques, and a decision-making process for taking regenerative action.

* The Lama Foundation is a spiritual community and educational center

dedicated to the awakening of consciousness, respect for spiritual practice

in all traditions, service and stewardship of the land.  Perhaps best known

as the place where Ram Dass wrote his seminal book Be Here Now, Lama serves

as a "meeting of the ways," and teaches the oneness of all paths. Each

summer a series of retreats are held and many join the Lama community to

experience a life-style rich in spiritual practice and personal growth

through service to others. http://www.lamafoundation.org

Feel free to distribute this announcement to interested parties,

appropriate email groups, and any service calendars that list these sorts

of things.