D's Dream

Dylan Cag is organizing this fundraiser.

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Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture

My name is Dylan Cag. My family call me “D”! Welcome to my campaign to raise funds for my Dream; To learn sustainable building practices from the best; To apply that knowledge, living a life of true freedom by example; And to share this empowering gift with the world.

How you can help

1. Click the Donate button! Anything at all is appreciated. Really if I break it down, all I need is one small donation of $5 or so by 800 friends. That’s doable! That’s a cup of coffee these days! Can you spare the cost of a cup of coffee to support this dream and this technology?

2. Help spread the word!

Lots more info below....

Why?

~ When I close my eyes and ask; How would I like best to make use of all the amazing skills and abilities and passions and talents I have been gifted with; How could I best give back to the world that has been so good to me? When I open my eyes in the morning, what would I look forward to doing, what would make my heart sing, and put a bounce in my step? – And the answer is; This.

What are Earthships?

~ I love to create, and build and shape things with my hands and have always dreamed of spaces for people to thrive in, be it homes or communities. The size, shape, material and colour of things interests me greatly, and are extremely powerful tools for wellness. Earthships aren’t designed to meet someone's concept of a cheap as possible building code, they are living breathing integrative conscientious machines for wellness. In short, the most integrative model of sustainability that I can find anywhere in the world. The Biotecture Institute has been developing them for over 40 years. They are tried tested and true. There are over 2000 of them around the world in all extreme climates.

~ Earthships are named so because like a ship out at sea, they are completely self sustaining, harnessing the power of its surroundings.They are diverse in size ranging from large castles and mansions to tiny house survival models. They are built mainly from recycled and indigenous materials, have their own electricity, water, sewage and food and heating/cooling. And they are absolutely beautiful!!!

~ From a purely financial point of view they are smart; There are no heat bills; There is no endless chopping or buying wood to get through the winter. There is no dependency on crazy water systems that are a terrible waste of municipal resources; No electricity bills; No grocery bills. Basically once built you are free.

~ I want to eat well. Having access to great tasting fresh healthy nutrient and mineral dense produce is a HUGE priority. I want to do it smart! My home has a very harsh, cold (but oh so rugged raw and beautiful) climate. And I don’t get people trying to grow outside here, It’s an insane amount of work. And not possible in the winter. I want to find a system for growing that passes the sick nanny test (can’t bend, lift, or shovel!). From what I have gathered so far, Earthships use the grey water to super-juice plants and help make them pest resistant and super easy care for. Just how easy, I am very eager to learn.

Food produced in the Earthship Visitors Center. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture

~ I figure if I am this inspired by Earthships, others could be as well. And I can very much see myself being a part of other builds and creating meaningful work and space for conscientious people. Too many people are sick and overworked and hardly have time to contemplate their lives because they are stuck in survival mode. I want to help reduce the stress of society on those willing to make a conscious leap so that they can find more time and energy to let their light shine. If I could help even a few people what a wonderful contribution that would be. And maybe, if I live long enough I can help more than a few.

A “tiny home” Earthship with a lofted bed. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture

Don’t take my word for it... More about Earthship Academy

“I think this is a perfect formula for making a shot heard round the world”
– The Architect behind 40 years of Earthship evolution, Michael Reynolds

“Its fantastic! A conscious out look on how to build reliably and sustainably – You can apply it to any situation. It’s hands on. And you can do it yourself.

“Everything - My favourite part is EVERYTHING!"

“I would certainly encourage anyone who’s interested and thinks that this is something they want to pursue – ABSOLUTELY pursue it

“Get the word out to people, because a lot of people don’t realise, just don’t know what’s going on in the world and they’re not aware of stuff like this at all, and if they were, then they would definitely be inspired by it as well.”

“I feel there’s a pressing need for change in the world when it comes to things like shelter...This is raw here, and that’s what we need. We need that raw stuff. Not that watered down approach to life. We need a raw approach to life. Be in touch with the natural forces. To have that sense of self-reliance, self sufficiency! That’s basically freedom! ...It’s the real deal out here. It’s an honour to be out here.

“My own water, my own electricity, my own food, and build the house with less money. This is all we need, and now we can share it. It’s a treasure.”

- Quotes by Biotecture Academy Students collected from an interview by Anne Temple

Video
Live Free Thanks for Sharing - Earthships
https://youtu.be/9cUSgtUDw5Q

Trip Expenses and Details

I already have my air fair paid for. My pool team won a round trip to Vegas in August to play in the World Championships, which blew my mind because it’s so close to my dream in New Mexico that I had promised myself that if we won I would find a way there. I never really believed that I would be so blessed and so lucky! Thank you team! The next step was to apply to the Biotecture Earthship Academy. I found out I was accepted just last week! I have also managed to pay for my deposit on the program and my accommodations in Taos totalling $950 US. So now here I am, asking the world for help getting the rest of the way.

Most of my trip willl be spent studying in Taos for a one month intensive session beginning this Sept 1st. However, as fortune would have it, there is about a week and a half from the day I finish the world pool championships till I start in Taos, and what just happens to be on the way from Vegas to Taos?! The world renowned sustainable community named Arcosanti. Earthships are individual buildings but Arco is an entire community designed by the brilliant Paolo Soleri. My sister (an architectural and interior designer) studied there and made many friends, and has always encouraged me to go. Again, seemingly meant to be, the plan is to stay in Arco and learn what I can from this community before heading to Taos.

Budget

$150 Travel: Vegas – Arcosanti, Arizona (bus)
$333 Accommodations: Arcosanti (cheapest $30/day x 11)
$150 Travel: Arcosanti – Taos New Mexico (bus)
$0 Accommodations: Taos (cheapest) $450 (paid)
$250 Transportation: Taos (1 month car rental split 4 ways)
$1350 Food & water: Aug 21- Sept 29 ($30/day x 40days)
$2000 Tuition: Earthship Academy Sept 2016 Session $2500 - $500 (paid)
$100 Tools/Materials

$4333 Total US Dollars
$5583 Total Can Dollars

Earthship Academy Logo – Courtesy Earthship Biotecture

Earthship Academy Students Learning, Building and Cooperating - Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture

How do I want to take what I learn at the Academy back to my world?

What don’t I want to do would be more like the question!

In no particular order;

~ Invite my father to work with me. He studied architecture and gave it all up to take a practical job to support me and my mom and later my sister. But always he would dream about building in the ground. We would go on hikes and he would say “Look! There’s a great spot!”. I learned a lot about building from my Dad, and I know if I started building Earthships he would come on board. He just needs someone to take the lead and I can do that for him and so many!

My Dad, Frank “Be cool” Cag. Photo courtesy the Cag family

~ Build large phoenix type models in Earthship communities for growing as much produce as possible there by creating an opportunity for a ‘farmer’s market’ where neighbors can work together to trade or sell produce

~ Build an Earthship in Eastport next to the beautiful sandy beaches and cliffs for my parents. My sister will buy our current home in order to finance this. They deserve a break. They are such good people. They struggle so hard financially but don’t know how to break free.

Joyful couple Frank and Jo, taking a rare local vacation out in nature. Photo courtesy the Cag family

~ Build a Waldorf School

~ Build a retreat center out under the stars next to the ocean where I can share and celebrate Yoga and Wellness.

~ Build a Galley for one of the Best Raw Food Restaurants in the world – “I love it Raw!”

~ Build a survival model so that I can survive and then show people how to do it themselves. Like me, most people don’t need much. Less is more.

~ Build an Artist’s Studio Retreat next to my Parents Earthship so that people from all over the world can come be inspired by this beautiful place.

~ Once the process has been streamlined I know I will bring youth onboard. There are all kinds of people looking for alternatives to the mainstream educational system and job description. I know I could offer a great way for youth to come together and feel empowered in their lives buy learning how to build Earthships. I was very useful at 15, and have had the pleasure of working with other youth even younger and more capable. God knows how many of these things I could have built by now if I’d been shown how too back then.

~ Create a giant attention getting beautiful functional, sculpture/tower in the heart of a beautiful downtown St. John’s. Its purpose is to inform and awaken and inspire people. Get them talking about Earthships. Create dialogue. Beautiful photo opps. A visitor center of sorts. It incorporates the glass bricks and mosaic tile technique flooding the interior with coloured light. At the top is a windmill made of tons of smaller windmills (painted by children in an outreach initiative) that harness power (that is then donated to a chosen charity, which might circulate?). There is also a waterfall (from collected water recycled) inside plummeting to a pool where people can make a wish (throw a donation towards making an Earthship build for a chosen charity?), (perhaps this can run a turbine as well?). It is inspired by and called Bob Dylan’s famous song “Blowing in the Wind”.

Stunning Earthship interior. Photo Credit: Earthship Biotecture

~ I envision creating a round table/team for support. Perhaps volunteer to start but ideally there would be resources to pay people eventually. I got really tired of feeling like if I left a project in film or theatre, it would fall apart. So I want to incorporate what I have learned about wellness and balance into this round table. Everyone’s skills are doubled. If life happens, which it will, then people don’t feel so stressed, one can take that three month trip they need or go care for their loved one, or do whatever it is that people feel they need to do without the added stress of thinking they are jeopardizing their careers or other people’s livelihoods. It is a realistic, human schedule. Each person has someone else in their profession to talk shop with and bounce ideas off of. discuss things with. I will need lawyers, and outreach workers, contractors of all kinds, creative minds, co-coordinators (like my mom), designers (like my sister), secretaries, botanists, biotects (architects jumped ship), people who can see the big picture and help write proposals to find financial funding/assistance (the province spends millions sending tires away every year, there must be a way to tap into that etc). People to go to trade shows and find clients who want to build conscientiously, people who love being in the media, etc. It will always morph and grow and change, such is the nature of life. But so is this; “When getting it done, takes more than one, there’s no limitation with – co-operation!”

Final thoughts

~The application of knowledge in action is said to be true wisdom. I have learned that conscientious living is the path to true freedom. And so I am working to line up my actions with my philosophies. This is the next step.

~ I feel I have so much to offer. Like my life has given me a particular set of experiences that culminate in tandem so that I can understand and communicate and share the nature and importance of the Earthships with society. I am eager and ready for this. I have made no other obligations, I am completely free. I can think of nothing I would rather do.

~ Love and light to each and everyone of you! Do what makes you shine! Know that we all have it with in us and the more we share it the more we inspire it and the more like wildfire it catches on!

~ Thank you!

With Out Wax,
Miss Dylan Cag