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The Citizen, 2006-06-01, Page 10Trying his hand Shane Snell fills in the crack on a newly-constructed papercrete block wall, part of an addition to a home in Deming, New Mexico. Papercrete is used for filling cracks and also for plastering the sides later on, much like stucco. He was helping on the project and learning the methodology. (Photo submitted) Graduation On May 18, 2006, Jenna Fischer successfully completed the Veterinary Technician Program with honours at Ridgetown College, Ridgetown. She has accepted a position with Mitchell Veterinary Clinic, Mitchell. Congratulations Jenna, . we are very proud of you. Love, Mom, Dad, Brett, Laura and Tyson, Clint and Trisha, Chad and Kristen. GRADUATION William Andrew Southgate of Walton, fiancé of Tara Carpenter and son of Helen Southgate of Seaforth and the late Bill Southgate recently graduated from Fanshawe College completing his apprenticeship in Auto Body Collision Damage Repair Technician. During his first semester he received the top student award and the Tom Haggerty Memorial Award. Andrew recently participated in the 17th Annual Technological Skills Canada Competition in Kitchener and was awarded the bronze medallion for the province of Ontario in his field. He is employed with McNeil Auto Body in Brussels. Congratulations from your family on your achievements. cm' m'uns • AT TE-EM FARM! F 1. c ar oellill riell s Celebrating 25 Years in 2006 Home of Distinctive Annuals! A Wonderful Line of Premium Selected Plants Even though June has arrived, we are still dedicated to bringing you, our loyal, and new customers the quality and selection you deserve for your gardens. We have Gorgeous hanging baskets and wall bags, premium quality geraniums, wave petunias in many colours, perennials and Nursery stock, water plants and much more! SPEND AN HOUR OR SPEND THE DAYI Now Ready - Asparagus and Rhubarb Home of Ted's Tasty Tomatoes! Pol 77688 Orchard Line, R.R.1 Bayfield HOURS— Mon-Fri 8-8 Sat. - Sun 9-6 RETAIL & WHOLESALE PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 2006. Tour o eco--villages a journey o discovery - what they are doing impresses me. Even failure is important learning, so I may not have been 100 per cent impressed, but I wouldn't have wanted to leave any of it behind." Snell said that most of those he spoke with were candid in admitting that this kind of move is something society might not be ready for yet. "It's a struggle getting change to happen and people to live together amicably. You need to develop skills Continued on page 11 On the way Bruce Penfound and Shane Snell stand in front of their rig prior to departing from Snell's parents' home south of Blyth, Nov. 26. The next day a powerful snowstorm hit the area, giving the pair "more motivation to head south towards the warm climate of Alabama. (Photo submitted) without war and with a deep connection to nature." Through his research he discovered a "global network" of eco-villages. "There are hundreds around the earth, people who have come together to co-exist." Snell explained that while the idea may conjure up images of hippies and communes or cults, the reality is closer to the lifestyle of pioneers. "Every little place had a post office, a blacksmith shop. People shared their talents. I think if we get back to that we will find more meaning." Believing the global economy now is not sustainable, Snell said the eco-villages thrive on the context of responsibility to the bio-sphere. "They are growing organically, using wind power and solar power. They are doing everything they can to create a sustainable lifestyle." An excellent resource for learning more about which communities he wanted to visit was the Federation of Intentional Communities. "Eco- villages are part of that. But while all eco-villages are intentional communities, not all intentional communities are eco-villages." Snell explains that the intentional communities form for a variety of reasons. For example it could be a group of seniors wanting to live close together for security and a By Bonnie dropp Citizen editor Like a lot of people these days, Shane Snell feels as if society may have made a few wrong turns., Unlike most of the others, however; the Blyth-area man decided to try and do something about it. • . "I call my journey an exploration and investigation into how people can live in greater harmony with one another on an intimate level. That's community. The other part is how to do this without impacting the environment as negatively as we've done." How the 37-year-old decided to achieve this was by travelling to visit eco-villages and sustainable living environs across the United States over the course of two years. Having divided the trip into three parts he recently returned from the first, and is set to embark on the second this month. It was a journey of self- development that led to the adventure, said Snell. Having worked in the grocery business for 20 years, he had begun to get• tired and fell out of love with the lifestyle. "I wanted to start learning about all the- issues facing our world. I wondered if people could live closely together and get along, school." He and a friend, Bruce Penfound of Auburn, set out Nov. 26 and headed south to GeOrgia. His travelling companion came on board after hearing about Snell's project. "He called out of the blue and said he'd heard about the trip I was planning and was interested." The pair travelled by diesel pickup, that was purchased specifically for the trip. A system was fashioned so that the vehicle could be fueled by burning waste vegetable oil. "We collected it along the way from Chinese buffet places and used it as often as possible," which was about 40 per cent. The truck also served as accommodation. "With the solar panels in the camper we- could stay in a parking lot." The places they visited were diverse. Many were farming related, some were fully-built communities. People shared the cost of land. One place charged a $35 a month fee and the property tax was $400 a year. "There was a lot of co-housing or pedestrian complexes where they share things." Snell also visited learning centres. "They have•set up their homes and entire land to be a showcase, then invited people to come and take courses on everything from growing shitaake mushrooms to building straw bale structures." Visiting the southern part of the States first, Snell noticed that they seem to be somewhat behind in catching on. "There are cities there the size of Stratford that don't even have recycling. I couldn't imagine this going on in the 21st century." However, the lessons he brought home from the various eco-villages he toured has been inspiring. "It's amazing the things we did find. I cherish what we saw and it helped me tremendously." For example in Florida he saw a full-fledged eco-farm. The house was self-sufficient for power by the sun with even the cooking done by solar oven. 4,71.4 feeling of family. Or it could be a :'We are going to have to learn to live- religious community. locally. That's easiest on our Snell used the directory to locate environme'it, easiest on our health. eco-villages, which were the focus If Toronto can't have their garbage of his expedition. He also did shipped out and their food shipped in research from a website and using a 'what are they going to do? Cities combination of the two came up need to be renovated to be truly with a number of places that sustainable. Eighty per cent of the attracted him. "I have so much to people are living in eight big cities. I learn. How do they buy the land, can't see taking that very far into the what kind of building codes did they future." have to follow, the practical and Finding the answers may not be technical stuff involved. All sorts of easy. Snell visited 20 projects and things from composting to recycling. said he doesn't think he saw the level It's an incredible learning experience of sustainability in any of them that that you can't possibly get from any he would call complete. "However, Having seen such incredible efforts made to create working and living relationships that minimize the impact on the environment, Snell was pleased to see on his April 18 return, the wind .turbines that had been erected in the county. "Huron maybe is moving along." Noting that Canada ranks poorly in environmental programs, Snell expresses his frustration. "We have ; the greatest gift of natural resources, yet we mistreat them." As one person trying to find a way to address that problem, Snell plans to leave June 12 for his second jaunt, this time a tour of eco-villages in the eastern part of the U.S. "They are much further along in terms of these projects. I will be visiting 42 in just 20 weeks. It's a hectic schedule and I think it's going to be really a test of my will." The final trip will be of the north- west next year. His weblog is ecotourofnorthamerica.blogspot.co m and he invites people to follow along on his trip. He can be e-mailed at shadesofreason@hotrnail.com When he completes his travels, Snell hopes to share his broadened horizons with as many people as will listen. The first step, however, will be to come back to this area and share his experiences. "I want to throw the information to people and get their minds working on this." It's something he feels is very important because the world as it stands can't stand us much longer.