Sky Dragon Centre: Making Possibilities a Reality in Hamilton

Recently, we had the opportunity to visit (and be inspired by) the Sky Dragon Centre in downtown Hamilton. Sky Dragon is a non-profit worker's co-operative that has been up and running since 2004.

Self-described as a "multi-use community centre in downtown Hamilton where people can explore their individual and collective power for change", they "providing environmentally and socially-conscious consumer and life-style alternatives, by strengthening the local economy, by raising awareness of social and ecological issues, and by facilitating direct democratic participation and community activism."

We were able to sit down with one of their members to discuss some of the challenges and successes they faced with creating this dynamic space.





From Kevin we learned about the differences between traditional non-profit organizations and non-profit workers co-operatives, something that we have been discussing in the past few months. It opened our eyes to the possibilities of how enriching and communal (although challenging!) a non-profit co-op model can be.



It was great to see another group of entrepreneurs achieve a similar dream to the one we are trying to create here in Toronto. Through their centre they are able to provide a cafe space, run workshops, host movie and music nights and be a fully engaged and integral part of their community. And although they aren't "off the grid" as we intend to be, they're doing what they can by using Bullfrog Power!



We heart you Sky Dragon! Thanks for your inspiration and paving the way for other great socially and environmentally innovative groups and businesses!

For more information on Sky Dragon and their services, visit www.skydragon.org !

David Suzuki says Vote for About Face!

Okay, he hasn't aaaactually said that yet. But we're sure he will after we get a chance to hang at the Community Power Conference this weekend! Thanks to the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association for believing in and supporting the About Face Collective. Community Power! (Oh don't you love the double meaning?!)

Check out the website for more info. We'll be sure to report back apres conferencing. Hopefully you'll be able to decipher our crazy talk after a weekend of filling our brains with as much sustainable energy info as possible and internet pushing our Aviva entry. It closes Sunday, so vote now here! xo

Vote For Us!

We are running in the Aviva Community Fund for a chance to win funding for our Solar-powered Laundromat and Art Gallery Community space project. Please check out the details and vote for us! Thank you, thank you!

"The New Eco Chic"

Yup, that's us! Or the title of an article on The About Face Collective and Regenesis by Maria Calleja in Alternavox Magazine. Check it out here .

The Dire Consequences of Not Buying Ontario Garlic

Another artist/activist group I am a part of here in the city is The Dupont and Spadina Corner Collective (www.duspa.org). We had been noticing that there is very rarely any local garlic available in grocery stores or even in produce stands in Kensington Market, and we couldn't understand why, since we knew that Ontario farmers definitely grew garlic.

Then, NOW magazine published an article about how China was sneakily getting around the law systems that would allow Ontario garlic growers to have a fair chance in the stores by shipping their garlic to India and elsewhere and then shipping it here. Local growers cannot compete with the low prices that cloves from China are priced at, and so Ontario growers are bumped out of the market and can only sell in local farmers markets most of the time.

To get the word out about local garlic, we produced this quick informational video,(courtesy of Neil Cavalier)!

Garlic: Ontario's Oppressed Herb from Neil Cavalier on Vimeo.

Halloween themed, as NOW IS THE TIME TO PLANT YOUR OWN GARLIC FOR NEXT SEASON!

Enjoy and be informed!

--Natalie

Heart Beat 960 Gallery

I've just spent a lovely evening of music, poetry, food and friends in the basement-turned-fort of Heart Beat 960, one of the latest inspiring entrepreneurial ventures here in Toronto. Thanks to my friend Natalie Logan who works there, I've been introduced to the space and have fallen in love with it, not only aesthetically, but as a business model concept as a whole. Heartbeat is a cooperatively run gallery and event space featuring all locally made products including clothing, music, jewelery and various other local crafty items.

If you are a local artist looking for places to sell your stuff, or if you're looking for a cozy event space to host music or arts nights, I would highly recommend this little gem situated on Queen street west between shaw and ossington.

Contact info:

www.heartbeat960@gmail.com
www.mypsace.com/heartbeat960

I heart you Heartbeat!

Like Art and the Earth?

Of course you do! Otherwise, you probably wouldn't be reading our blog. Perhaps you even sometimes like knowing what day it is (often a challenge for us creative types). Well, here's the opportunity of a lifetime - or at least of the year. Get yourself organized AND have some great art to look at. Make yourself a New Year's resolution and get started with The Yardfolk Calendar from our green designing friends at Squab Studio. Okay, let's be honest you may just end up having some great art to look at, but what the heck; you're supporting Earthroots in the preservation of wilderness, watersheds and wildlife in Ontario. Each calendar features trim-able, frame-able animal portraits by a great lineup of Toronto artists including Tammy Yiu, Danielle Hession, Mahmood Popal and our own Lauren Pirie, all of whom you may have seen exhibiting at our recent Art & Eco Fashion show in the distillery. Look for it at local retailers (list coming soon) in November or get more info from Squab here .