Back from Ecuador

Although I returned back from Ecuador almost 3 weeks already I'm only just now getting settled back in. It won't last long as Canelo and I will return to Ecuador in December. I am happy to say that we had a wonderful summer with an absolutely delightful group of students. We set up a small scale medicinal mushroom cultivation and inaugurated a year-round volunteer program. We raised 2 greenhouses where we are growing vegetable starts to give to families participating in the Wellness Project, (one of the volunteer programs). I am looking forward to next summers' program and starting to schedule classes. We are working with Yoga Mendocino to do a Service Learning Yoga Retreat and  Spanish language course for the end of June 2012. We will be offering our 4th Service Learning course with Amazon Mycorenewal Project. If you are interested in teaching a course with CFI in Ecuador or in California please contact us! 
 

MendoDragon Blog

Cloud Forest Institute and the MendoDragon Community
cordially request your presence at the

Anderson Valley Mad Hatter's
High Tea

entertainment by
Blushin' Roulette's
Girls Night Out
The Ukeholic's
Honeydew

Sunday, November 13, 1-5 pm

Anderson Valley Grange in Philo

Everyone encouraged to wear your Zaniest Hat

Suggested donation $15-$20 at the door (sliding scale, no one turned away)
Admittance includes, tea, coffee, hot cider, plus sweet and savory dainties

Proceeds will go to purchase a wood chipper available for use by local food producers
call 895-3243 for more info

Service Learning

CFI provides students with exciting Service Learning opportunities in Ecuador and California. Learn about mycoremediation and work on experiments with the Amazon Mycorenewal Project. Learn about permaculture and organic agriculture while supporting community wellness projects in Mindo Ecuador. In California support ecovillage development at the MendoDragon Community while learning and applying permaculture design.

Mycorenwal update

The Amazon Mycorenewal Project investigates how mushrooms can be used to help clean up the massive oil pollution that contaminates many regions around the world, especially the Ecuadorian Amazon. Mycorenewal is a new technique that has been proven successful in the lab, but limited studies have been done on its real-world applications.
 
Many people are unaware that the largest land-based oil spill in the world is located in the Sucumbios province of the Ecuadorian Amazon region. Since the 1960s, Texaco and other oil companies have intentionally dumped petroleum waste products, failed to uphold safety regulations, and ignored degraded pipelines that spring leaks on a weekly basis. As a result, it is estimated that 18.5 billion gallons of oil now contaminates this biodiverse and ecologically unique area. Local communities are very well organized and are working for legal justice, addressing the resulting public health crisis, and fighting to prevent further spills. The Amazon Defense Coalition is leading a multi-billion dollar lawsuit against Chevron-Texaco for remediation funding to clean up their community. AMP is directed and coordinated by local leaders.