Upcoming Events at OMfield:
Updated May 18, 2012
• Creating the Labyrinth of Choice Workshop - with LEN
• Native Skills Workshops - throughout the Summer
• In-Forming a Medicine Wheel
• Summer Solstice Fire Circle - Wednesday, June 20
• Native Plant Walk - coming in June!
Spring Sustainable Building Projects: April 19 - May 13
Kenny Quinn, master Earthship builder from Taos, New Mexico, returns as lead-volunteer for the Spring sustainable building projects and workshops.
We are building a dome roof for the Earth Temple so that acoustics will be at full potential for sound healing and overall connectivity. The circle, which is at the heart of the Temple, is the most ancient and primal of all shapes, something found everywhere in Nature and within ourselves; it is a means of unifying any consciousness that seems separate prior to entering this sacred space.
Also, fundraising continues to help fund the Earth Temple, construct a greenhouse out of recycled materials, and acquire and install batteries and electrical components for the wind turbine, amongst many other projects. If you wish to show your support in a monetary way, please click here to make a secure donation — no amount is ever too small! If you wish to volunteer your time, while receiving hands-on experience in alternative building and permaculture or simply want to come by for a visit or an upcoming event send us an email: awakening@omfield.org.
Our heart felt thanks to all who have participated in and contributed to OMfield in support of a healthier community and planet!
Earth Temple
The OMfield community is intentionally co-creating a bi-directional vortex of amplified healing in this sacred space for Mother Earth and all of her children – an Earth Temple (pictured above). The inward vortex draws positive energy (prana, chi, pure vibration) into and through the Temple simultaneously as the outward vortex draws out negative energy (toxins and polluted vibrations held within humans and the Earth). This structure represents the birth of the fifth element on this Earth — ether (akasha) — to be deliberately channeled, forming a portal of perfect (Christ) consciousness. The Temple will function similarly to a water structuring unit, which combines sacred geometric patterning with a bi-directional swirl to add energy, potentiality, and bioavailability to water while relieving it of its impurities and toxicity. The Earth Temple will purify and heal the water that is contained within our bodies: blood, organs, tissue, bone etc. This will have a profound effect on the human body since we are mostly composed of water despite appearing solid, and will catalyze the activation of our higher selves by awakening dormant DNA hidden deep within.
2011 Recap:
The 2011 sustainable community building projects were a great success! Averaging over 6 volunteers per day, including nearly 30 students from the Heart of Oregon's Youth Build, Americorps, and Clean Energy Service Corps programs. This tremendous response from the local community allowed us to literally get "tons" accomplished (over 30 tons of rammed Earth filling more than 1,000 Earthbags). Check out the slide show above to see what is possible when people from all walks of life selflessly unite for a greater cause — a healthier planet.
The Eco-Pod: OMfield Kitchen
Serving as the primary power source for OMfield, the Eco-Pod generates its own power via solar photovoltaic panels and a wind turbine, storing this energy in a battery bank. It also collects rain and snow water from the metal roof storing it in a cistern. This "free" water is pumped into the kitchen via solar power and runs through a small in-line water structuring unit that comes out of the faucet pure, structured and great tasting. The Pod passively heats itself through all-glass South face windows allowing sunlight to the reach the mass of the floor and walls throughout the day and release this heat as the temperature drops throughout the evening and into the night in Winter. In Summer, the median temperature of the Earth combines with the near-constant temperature of the massively thick straw walls, (that don’t get direct sunlight because of the raised angle of the Sun) allowing the structure to cool itself during the day.
This may be the first structure of its kind because of the variety of sustainable building concepts that are all being incorporated into a single building — recycled tires, straw bale, and Earthbags. Reclaimed from a local tire landfill, the tires are used for the sub-floor and foundation below ground level. They are packed with used cardboard and then filled with dirt from the excavation. A sledge hammer pounds repeatedly on the tire until it turns into an Earth-rammed rubber brick weighing nearly 400 pounds (http://earthship.org/).
Bamboo poles lock the bales in place and prevent any shifting. Each tire has a fastened strap around it to compress the bales so that they become load-bearing walls. This eliminates the need for traditional post and beam methodology without compromising safety or performance.
Earthbags are used along a retaining wall and on the South front face. The same principle applies to this method as with the tires — forcing as much dirt as possible into a thin sleeve of plastic/poly so that it forms a thick, snake like tube. Once tamped, this too becomes like a brick and provides a similar thermal mass for energy storage through passive solar productivity.
The “Green” Guest Cabin
This structure allows OMfield to begin providing full-time housing for its volunteers. The cabin generates its own power via solar photovoltaic panels and uses a composting toilet, thus conserving significant amounts of water and energy. The ceiling is constructed from “beetle kill” dead wood and it is heated by an energy-star wood-burning stove and a large South facing window on sunny days. All of the wood that is used for burning is gathered from the old growth forest in and around OMfield land and is already dead, thereby slowly decomposing and releasing carbon into the atmosphere. The net carbon effect of burning is close to neutral since we are simply accelerating the process that Nature began years ago.
All of these structures and the people who created and enjoy them form a complimentary community, an Eco-Village, and a sustainable system that is balanced, harmonious, and in alignment with Nature.
Stay tuned for more photos and updates. Check out the calendar page for construction/creation schedule and volunteer opportunities. We would love to have you join us.
A special thanks to all of the wonderful volunteers for their selfless service!
For more information on similar sustainable building concepts check out these websites:
http://earthship.org/
http://www.strawbale.com/straw-bale-house
http://terrasante.org/
