Saturday, July 24th, 2021, Albany, New York

A one-day hands-on and in-person immersive training in ecological tools and technologies for socio-environmental justice. Building resilient and equitable communities through regenerative urban design.

Topics Include:

• Urban ecosystem justice – Equity in the urban soil, water, waste, and air commons
• Urban agriculture and food sovereignty
• Community-based bioremediation – de-toxifying soils
• Waste to soil – composting food wastes with animals, worms, and microbes
• Rainwater harvesting
• Perennial food forests and urban agroforestry
• Artificial floating islands for water purification
• Chickens and microlivestock
• Bioshelters, greenhouses, and season extension
• Aquaponics – fish and plant integration
• Biocultural diversity: honeybees, silkworms, and pollinators
• Urban climate resilience
• Mushroom cultivation
• Ecoliteracy and youth eco-justice education
• Autonomous energy – wind, solar, and biogas in the city

What: Using the integrated sustainability features of the Radix Center, we will explore methods for building ecological regenerative, just, and equitable urban socio-environmental systems. Our exploration will be engaged and hands-on, giving attendees the opportunity to touch, smell, and taste the multiple food, water, waste, and energy systems we have on site. Special focus is put on the concept of “urban ecosystem justice” and the importance of re-centering the social pillar of sustainability. This includes being explicit about how issues of access, fairness, race, and class apply to soils, water, air, and biodiversity.

Where: The Radix Sustainability Systems Intensive will be held at the Radix Ecological Sustainability Center at 153 Grand Street in Albany, New York. We are close to both Amtrak and Greyhound stations, and on street parking is plentiful.

When: Saturday, July 24th, 2021, 9AM to 5PM

Who: This training is open to anyone and everyone interested in building just sustainabilities in their communities. While the emphasis is on urban systems, many of the systems can be easily transferred to suburban and rural spaces. The class is designed for adults, however mature and interested youth may attend as well.

Fee: The cost of the training is sliding scale, $100 to $200. Diversity scholarships are available for people of color – please email sk @ radixcenter. org for more details about this option.

Details: We will be working and learning primarily outdoors for the entire day – as it is likely to be hot and humid, please dress accordingly and bring a water bottle. The class will be held rain or shine, so please bring rain gear/umbrellas if needed. There are few local restaurants or eateries and our lunch break will be short, so please bring a packed lunch.

Health and Safety: While we hope that vaccines will become widely available by summer, due to the rapidly changing and uncertain nature of the coronavirus pandemic, at this time we will require mask wearing and social distancing during the training. For this reason, we will cap attendance at twenty people to ensure there is adequate space for six foot distancing between people. The majority of the training is planned to take place outdoors. If we are forced to move indoors on account of weather, we will maintain social distancing in a well-ventilated structure.

Registration: As spaces are extremely limited and expected to fill quickly, it is recommended that you register early so to ensure your space in the class. Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/radix-sustainability-systems-intensive-tickets-135920354439

Teacher bio: The Radix Sustainability Systems Intensive will be taught primarily by Scott Kellogg. Other guest speakers’ bios will be posted as they are confirmed.

Scott is a co-founder of the Radix Center and has worked as its Educational Director since 2009, operating in a similar role at the Rhizome Collective in Austin, Texas from 2000-2009. Scott has been responsible for designing and maintaining many of the sustainability systems at both locations, integrating food, water, waste, energy, and biodiversity systems into educational curriculum. He is the co-author of “Toolbox for Sustainable City Living: A Do-It-Ourselves Guide” (South End Press, 2008) and the forthcoming “Urban Ecosystem Justice” (Routledge, 2022). Scott has a Ph.D. in Science and Technology Studies from Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Masters in Environmental Science and Policy from Johns Hopkins.  He teaches in the Masters in Environmental Education and Citizen Science programs at Bard College and Urban Policy at SUNY Albany’s Masters in Regional Planning program.  Scott is chair of Urban Agriculture for Albany’s Sustainability Advisory Committee.

Please email sk @ radixcenter. org with any further questions