2007 Extended Workshops at the Fair

Homebrew Wind Power Workshop Attendees will build a 10' diameter wind turbine from scratch. There will be two sessions each day (total of 4 sessions). We encourage people to sign up for all 4 sessions if they want hands on experience with every process involved. We'll start out on Saturday morning with magnets, copper wire and lumber. Tasks will include fabricating the alternator, carving blades and final assembly/testing. We'll cover every aspect of the construction except for welding and metal work (that's too loud/dangerous for this fair) At the end we hope to finish the machine and donate it to the silent auction. Dan Bartmann and the other folks from otherpower.com all live off grid west of Fort Collins Colorado. Their workshop is completely wind powered with homebuilt machines. They've been building wind turbines for several years. This is the 4th year they've given the 'homebrew wind turbine workshop' at the RSLF. They've also done a more intensive workshop for the MREA and volunteered help at Hugh Piggotts workshops for SEI. Times & Cost: Saturday & Sunday 10:00 to 12:30 & 2:30 to 5:00 Each session is limited to six participants Fee is 25 per workshop session

Strawbale Structure Construction Workshop One of the original workshop presenters at the Sustainable Living Fair, Curtis Scheib, owner of EcoEnergy Builders, returns to lead participants "hammer and nail" through building a straw bale structure. The first workshop teaches the framing of the structure, preparing the bales, basics of load bearing vs. non-load bearing structures, and setting and pinning the bales. The second workshop will continue where the first left off by teaching the construction techniques used during strawbale home building. The third workshop will shift to prepare the structure for stucco plaster, including wrapping the walls to retain the exterior coat. The fourth workshop will finish the structure with a stucco plaster coat. Times & Cost: Saturday & Sunday 10:00 to 12:00 & 3:00 to 5:00 Each session is limited to twelve participants Fee is $25 per workshop session

Powered by Grease: Converting a Stock Diesel Engine to Run on Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) Prepare for this hands-on workshop that will guide you though the basics of converting a diesel engine to run on straight vegetable oil (SVO) with the flip of a switch. We will cover the stock function of the diesel fuel system and its transformation to SVO compatible. The "how to" of basic wiring of relay and switches and finding a power source for your wiring. And the importance of filtering oil to a proper fuel state by sock filtering and testing for water. This workshop is designed for the beginner to the professional mechanic who's interested in SVO conversions in diesel automobiles. Times & Cost: Saturday & Sunday 1:00 Each session is limited to eight participants Fee is $25 per workshop session

Cordwood 101 This 3-hour special workshop has a 90-minute classroom session covering the basic considerations of cordwood masonry, including types of wood, wood prep, the different styles of construction and cordwood "special effects." A 90-minute hands-on demonstration covers mixing and placing mortar, setting log-ends, insulating the wall and pointing. Instructed by Rob Roy, who has been director of Earthwood Building School in West Chazy, NY since 1981. Rob has written 13 books in the green and alternative building fields, including works on cordwood masonry, earth sheltered housing, sauna, mortgage freedom, building stone circle and timber framing for the rest of us. Times & Cost: Sunday 11:00 am - 2:00 pm the session is limited to twelve participants fee is $40 per workshop session

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 15

1:00 -2:00 Co-op America's Wood Wise Program Frank Locantore, Co-op America	3:00-4:00 EM Research; Effective and Efficient All Around the World Matthew Wood, Sustainable Community Development
4:00-5:00 Sustainable Landscapes for Northern Colorado Jim Tolstrup, High Plains Environmental Center

11:00-12:00 41% Efficiency from Solar Farming? It's a Coming Reality Clyde Feyre, Smart Power Inc.	1:00-2:00 Yurts: Big Life, Small Footprint Becky Kemery, Author of Yurts: Living in the Round
3:00-4:00 Toyota Hybrid 101 Ron Lewis, Pederson Toyota	4:00-5:00 Change Your Fuel: Change the World Josh Tickell, Author of Biodiesel America

11:00-12:00 Reduce, Reuse, ReSource: What is Deconstruction? Kendol Gustafson, ReSource Fort Collins	1:00-2:00 Natural & Green Building Kari Bremer, Natural and Green Design
3:00-4:00 Earth Sheltered Houses and Living Roofs Rob Roy, Earthwood Building School	4:00-5:00 Alternatives to Photovoltaic Solar: Thermal Solar and Wind Power For Your Residence Ben Friesen, Mile Hi Solar

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 16

11:00-12:00 Detox, Restore, and Revive Keri Brown, ND	1:00-2:00 Grass Fed - A Sustainable Model for Livestock Production Kevin Fulton, Fulton Farms
3:00-4:00 The Next Generation of Biofuels Feed Stocks and Processes Justin Bzdek, Blue Sun Biodiesel

11:00-12:00 Solar Site Analysis Jeff Tobe, Solar Energy International	1:00-2:00 Homeowner Workshop: Improving Comfort, Energy Efficiency and Air Quality in Existing Homes Doug Swartz, City of Fort Collins Utilities and Mark Shadowen, Comfort by Design
3:00-4:00 How to be Balanced and Diversified using Socially Responsible Investments Laura Arbury, Edward Jones	4:00-5:00 A Face on Fair Trade Jane Snyder, Ten Thousand Villages

11:00-12:00 Electric Bikes: A Fun Solution to Americas Health, Energy and Environmental Problems Jim Turner of OptiBikes	1:00-2:00 What You Need to Know about Carbon Offsets Ted Rose of Renewable Choice Energy
3:00-4:00 What is LEED Anyway Brian Dunbar and Josie Plaut, Institute for the Built Environment	4:00-5:00 Developing Green Professionals: Careers and Opportunities in the New Economy Carl Hammerdorfer, The Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise Program at CSU

Demonstrations at the Fair
These are ongoing demonstrations and discussion, so feel free to stop by any of these booths and meet the people who are keeping these skills alive!

Eat Local Grow Local
Join leading experts in the field of "good" food and learn how to shop local and support your community farms while filling your belly with quality foods.

Sustaining Community Craftsmanship
Have a deep and abiding interest in quality craftsmanship and the creative process? Get involved at the National Center For Craftsmanship Tent and learn new skills and techniques from accomplished craftspeople, artisans, and artists.

Hands on Demonstration of Timber Techniques
Join Kari Bremer, designer/builder and natural building educator, for a hands-on demonstration of sustainable building techniques using local timber. This is the follow up hands-on component of Kari's Natural & Green Building workshop on Saturday from 1-2pm in the Green Workshop Tent. Get inspired, and learn some building techniques for your next project.

Connecting Sustainable Living and Art
Share stories and see examples of art made with renewable energy and recycled materials from the following local artists:

→ Bonnie Antich of Canyon Spirit Gallery, pottery
→ Beth Rulli of Indian Paintbrush Studio, reclaimed glass art

©2000-2009 Rocky Mountain Sustainable Living Association - 970.224.3247 - info@sustainablelivingassociation.org webdesign by: Design by Price