The Chrysalis Institute

The Chrysalis Institute is a 501(c)3 non profit corporation located near Mariposa, CA. The Institute, deeply concerned about the global environmental crisis and the unsustainable state of human technological and economic institutions, believes that sustainable change can best be enacted by addressing global needs in the context of local educational, technological and environmental projects.

The Chrysalis Institute seeks to partner with other non-profit and governmental agencies to establish educational projects, nature conservancies and habitat restoration projects. The Institute seeks to foster the creation of new Earth-friendly local business enterprises to help provide sustainable economic growth and employment opportunities to the people of Mariposa County.

In the longer term, the Chrysalis Institute seeks to establish a community educational academy offering hands-on instruction in Earth friendly construction techniques and materials, sustainable energy generation and sustainable organic farming, ranching and waste disposal with the goal of establishing a model that can be replicated in other communities.

We welcome you to explore our site and examine the projects we have underway. The Institute is open to new members who wish to network their skills and strengths to create new economic and social possibilities for our community.

What is Local Sustainability?

Local sustainability... what does it really mean? Is it buying your produce from the local farmers market? Is it shopping in your community rather than the malls? Is it buying from local manufacturers rather than a large corporate distributor? The answer is YES to all of the questions. But we at The Chrysalis Institute believe that local sustainability should go further.

If we all look closer and deeper, we may imagine a networked group of homes or businesses where the energy is not from a large oil-based energy producer over high voltage lines but from locally maintained solar and wind power stations run and operated by members of that networked group. Each group having their own solar and wind power station along with a biological natural waste water treatment plant utilizing bacteria, algae, micro-organisms, numerous species of plants and trees, snails, fish and other living creatures to create an ecosystem that naturally breaks down the waste and feeds on the residue. Water capture/reuse pools that collect water from rain runoff, moisture condensators, naturally filtered used water. Utilizing telecommuting for those that can; placing businesses close enough to walk to rather than drive and establishing a mass transit system using biofuels, electricity and/or hydrogen fuel cell technology, for people that work out of their area.

Is this just "Blue-sky" thinking? Probably. Is it possible? Absolutely. It just takes the will and determination of people that understand the need for change. Below is the major points in local sustainability:

• Food
• Energy
• Water
• Shelter
• Transportation
• Psychology

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Installing an Earthen Floor at Rachel Olivers

Almost Finished

Some of the goals of the Chrysalis Institute are:

· To lessen our dependence on corporations for our everyday needs

· Learn to be more self-sufficient

· To live in an eco-friendly manner

· Learn to use our local resources thereby cutting down on oil based transportation

· Learn to use eco-friendly and economical building material such as Papercrete and Cob to help save our natural resources

· To implement  alternative energy such as solar, wind and BioFuels on a community level

· To explore natural, cultural and spiritual healing practices.