Building with the Trees

Today, we awoke to a feast of left overs: fruit salad, ice cream, brie and bread, and a litre of cola. After making a smoothie with the half melted ice cream, banana, kiwi, and mango. We said our goodbyes to the Hunter Valley and departed to Sydney for our flight to Brisbane. The drive to Crystal Waters was beautiful. The rolling flush green hills are another endless wonder with their valleys and peaks. The road was out due to a flood a couple years ago that has affected many in the valley. After Australia’s decade long drought, the heavy rains were too much for the area. Luckily, Crystal Waters was not drastically damaged due to the rising river, just the watering holes were lost.

Crystal Waters is run by a kind Italian –Swedish gentleman with thick eyebrows and a full beard named Max. As an older (ex-)hippie, I am excited to see how his opinion of the environment and social change has developed into a mature view point. As a young adult, I have a liberal opinion of the duties and opportunities available. So to interact with a person who has seen the pre-globalization of food and housing and the post constructional development of Western society. I am excited to see how he and others in the community are working “to create a more perfect union.”

The Eco-Centre was designed by Max and his assistant to provide optimal efficiency for the climate, hot and humid weather. There are indoor and outdoor facilities for learning and recreation. They have a library of over a thousand books with ranging topics about sustainable construction and “Green” living practices. This trip has been a revelation and connection to my interest in Eco-building. Going back a week while we we’re Sydney at the Botanical Gardens, I meet a woman names Heather who has worked as a Sustainability Manager for 17 years. She just finished working on a building that got the highest Australian ranking for “Green” (a ranking system 1-6 stars, similar to ours). This summer the idea of green contracting enticed me, so I am ecstatic to learn more and perhaps be able to be a part of the field I have dreamed of in a place I love.