Another good discussion on May 1. Thank you Chela and Dave for the space! Maui Booksellers is an invaluable resource! If you live on Maui, Go there, talk story, buy a book, support our community! Then come join us there on Monday, June 5, 5:00 p.m. Several familiar faces, and a couple new ones. A sustainable construction contractor from California - Mitchel at eco-struction http://www.eco-struction.com/ - dropped in, which guided our discussion toward materials and techniques that might apply well here on Maui. The conversation was wide-ranging. Much of it focussed on bamboo, rammed earth, and cinder. We focussed as much as possible on ideas that could be locally supported. A new voice asked about expertise in developing a community garden. She has begun to investigate an interesting lot in Wailuku. We discussed and researched some local resources. We found a County resource that [on paper] appears to be ready to help develop community gardens, at least on public lands. see: http://www.co.maui.hi.us/departments/Parks/ Wouldn't it be great to see community gardens sprout around the island. We wandered briefly into a discussion about intentional communities and co-housing. On a broader sense we wondered what zoning obstacles there might be, and how they could be addressed. As the group scattered I wondered if we should try to set some structure or goals for the group. At least one regular thought that the free-flow style was healthy and welcoming, and feared that a narrower guided discussion might chase off participants who weren't interested in our chosen topics. Another wondered if those with busy lives might be scared off by scattered discussions. We will continue without greater structure. We discussed working on community education, and the idea of getting onto the local public access cable station with a program, or PSAs. Discussion continued over dinner. Aloha, Ben