PEACE & SUSTAINABILITY

Shakori Hills has been committed to practicing and promoting environmental sustainability since its inception. Look around and see composting and recycling bins, solar electric panels, local foods, tractors powered by renewable biodiesel, water conservation and preservation of woodlands. Shakori Hills is rededicating itself to working with our community to strategize paths forward for this movement. Shakori Hills is working to be a part of the solution and we are welcoming all to contribute.  The Sustainability Pavilion is the center of this practice. Here we offer a series of demonstrations and discussions where you can learn more and meet local leaders in this movement. 

The Buzz about Honey Bees!

Come by the Ask a Beekeeper tent where you can talk with local beekeepers from Chatham and surrounding counties, watch honey bees at work in an observation hive, get a feel for beekeeping equipment, learn about area resources and have a taste of local honey. Bring your questions, queries and curiosities! We’ve got answers! Open daily from 11am - 6pm, by the Sustainability Pavillion

Wild Spring Walkabout

Enjoy the beauty and wildness of Nature with Shakori Hills’ neighbor and organic farmer, Leif Diamant, as we explore and experience some of the wild and cultivated bounty of Spring. We’ll wander from Shakori Hills to Leif’s homestead, meet some asses and wild animals, sample edible and medicinal wild plants, and taste the bounty of Leif’s organic garden. Come along on this popular walk to experience greater knowledge and deeper intimacy with Nature. Meet at the Bridge by Healing Arts, Friday 12pm, and return by 2pm.

Solar Power to the People

Ed Witkin of Carrboro Solar Works will lead an interactive discussion and hands-on workshop about the use of solar electricity (PV) and how it can be incorporated into our homes, business, farms, RVs and anywhere else the sun shines. We will discuss solar energy technology and how to improve home PV systems to achieve the greatest energy savings as well as local, state, national and global trends in PV systems. Friday 1:30pm 

Creative Art—The Future You Want to See

You’re concerned about climate change and have adapted your practices to tread more lightly on the planet. What’s next? With decades of experience leading University Sustainability Programs, Cindy Shea and Amy Parsons-White will conduct a brief interactive discussion of current trends and promising solutions to climate change. Participants will then create a visual depiction of the future they foresee or desire. No art skills necessary. There will be photos and text to use and embellish in any way you’d like. Friday 3pm

Mushroom Identification Ramble

Join Laura Stewart, owner of Haw River Mushrooms and a certified Mushroom Forager, for a walk to spot some of the fungal life on Shakori Hills grounds. Depending on what the rains bring us, we can hope to find oyster mushrooms, turkey tail, jelly fungi, and some cool myco-heterotrophs (more on that in class). “Its our belief that mushroom gardens should be as common in North Carolina as the tomato garden.”  As we walk, Laura will discuss growing mushrooms and how to select mushroom species that work best for outdoor production in North Carolina. Friday 4pm

Food Preservation

We preserve that which we value. Pierre Lauffer, with over 30 years’ experience in environmental health and science, will lead a group discussion on the historical and philosophical aspects of food preservation. Open dialogue will touch upon the various techniques and strategies for preserving our food and why it is important to maintain food preservation techniques as part of a general path toward sustainable living. Saturday 9:30am 

Green Building Design Alchemy

There really isn’t a green building system that’s adapted to affordable, healthy and energy-efficient homes for NC’s humid summers and winters cold enough to require twice the heating energy as our summer AC. Michael Chandler of Chandler Design-Build will lead an interactive discussion of what it takes for “Affordable Energy-Efficient Home Building System” in NC. He will review some strategies that work and how our current building codes and practices have already anticipated that challenge. “It’s not what you don’t know, but what you think you know that just ain’t so.” —Dr Joe Lstiburek  Saturday 11am

Nature Spirituality and Sacred Ecology; Nature as Teacher, Healer and Beloved

Nature is our Home and Wildness is our Roots. Nature is the source of many religions and spiritualities. Leif Diamant, licensed psychotherapist, organic small-scale farmer, ordained interfaith minister and lifetime naturalist, will facilitate deepening our intimacy with Nature. We will discuss and practice processes and behaviors that can expand our relationship with Nature as a source for peace, well-being, creativity, wisdom, compassion, spirituality and love. Saturday 12pm

Use of Sustainable Fibers in the Fabric Industry 

Arlo Estill is the Founder of Hempsmith Clothing Company. Arlo is on a mission to drive the fabrics industry toward a more local and “people-friendly” way. He is working to bring hemp home and restore NC textile production. Arlo will lead us through an interactive discussion on the role of the locally produced fibers, how the industry could contribute to sustainability and its contribution to the economy in a global fashion industry. Saturday 1pm

Transforming Trauma: The Role of Psychedelics in Healing PTSD 

Join Matt Zemon, MSc, the author of Psychedelics for Everyone and Beyond the Trip, in an interactive discussion exploring the therapeutic potential of psychedelics in treating PTSD and trauma. This session explores the latest scientific research and real-world applications, highlighting how these powerful substances can be harnessed for profound emotional healing. Attendees will gain insights into the practical aspects of psychedelics, and engage in a interactive conversation about its transformative impact on mental health and well-being. Saturday 3pm

Trauma Awareness Circle with Kim Jordan 

As our community gathers, we show up with a variety and various degrees of unresolved trauma. It’s always our goal at Shakori Hills to offer a safe place to come together with care. In this spirit, we invite you to the sustainability tent’s first Trauma-Awareness Circle. This supportive, educational event provides an opportunity to learn about different types of trauma. You can also discover many resources for healing, some of which are free, and we’ll practice simple nervous system calming techniques that you can add to your self-care toolkit. With over 18 years of professional and personal experience in trauma recovery, Kim Jordan with Climate Conscious Coaching has a profound belief in trauma therapy and trauma awareness for creating a more just, harmonious world Saturday 4pm