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:
