Detroit As A Portal!

The Brand New Evolve Detroit, We're Back!

2009-11-06T16:49:00.001-05:00

“Economy is the basis of society. When the economy is stable, society develops. The ideal economy combines the spiritual and the material, and the best commodities to trade in are sincerity and love." ~Morihei Ueshiba

The most striking about modern industry is that it requires so much and accomplishes so little. Modern industry seems to be inefficient to a degree that surpasses one's ordinary powers of imagination. Its inefficiency therefore remains unnoticed. ~E. F. Schumacher

Greetings Detroit and all who grace us here!
It has been far too long since we've sent out a proper Evolve Detroit. We are so thankful for everyone's support as we continue our personal transition and evolution. We're also thankful for the great many subscribers who have recently joined us here, welcome! The interest and attention paid to our work help to inspire us to keep moving forward. Our gratitude cannot be overstated.

A Little Update
After being "displaced" without a proper home for the last six months we're pleased to be settling into an apartment in N. Corktown. Through this rather tumultuous period we've learned a great deal about ourselves and have been blessed by support and assistance from numerous amazing people. We're also blessed that our son, Aya Eden, has such a happy disposition. He loves our new space and is crawling, in record time, from one end of it to the other. As we create our first "real" home together we are pleased and honored to recreate Detroit Evolution and to rededicate ourselves to it's mission.

Though we haven't been publishing Evolve Detroit on a regular basis we've continued to present our monthly community movie series, Detroit Abides and have been working with our many partners in and around the city. The Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit Conference was a great success and extremely inspirational. Angela assisted in organizing and preparing healthy raw and vegan options for lunch at the conference and I was honored to share a presentation on the Transition Movement. We also returned to the place where we met, Irene's Myomassology Institute, for their annual Holistic Palooza and offered two standing room only kitchen classes and a presentation on Transition and green lifestyle changes. It was wonderful to meet many new people and reconnect with those we haven't seen in some time. Huge thanks to you all!

A New Look, New Features & New Classes!
We're pleased to present this redesigned Evolve Detroit and encourage you to check out our two new features, Vegan and Raw Foods Recipes and Connect and Collaborate. The months of November and December and the rise of the holiday season inspire us to once again cry out "Local-lujah" and to share events, classes and information that will help us all to buy local and crafted gifts and to share healthy alternatives with our friends, family and community. We're excited to feature an hilarious and inspirational movie, What Would Jesus Buy?, this month at Detroit Abides. Angela will share two DIY Vegan Holiday Classes and we encourage everyone to join us for our Stop Shopping Live Raw Yoga Music Brunch on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Rather than partaking in the shopping frenzy, consider joining us for a breath centered yoga session with live music by Dixon's Violin that will be followed a healthy and tasty Raw Foods Brunch! Our last Yoga Music Brunch was a huge success and we are honored to offer another session.

We've even included some incredible December events and are working on more that we'll share in our next post. Again, we are so thankful for your continued support. Please help us to grow by sharing this Evolve Detroit with others in your community! We hope to see you out and about in the coming weeks and, as always, we send our blessing to you and yours.

In Health, Joy and Liberation,
Gregg for Angela, Aya Eden & Detroit Evolution

Evolve Detroit is published as needed by Detroit Evolution and is dedicated to Health, Joy & Liberation.

In This Issue:
Greetings & Update
Events & Classes
NEW features!
Vegan & Raw Recipes
Connect & Collaborate

Our Community Is Growing! Subscribers this week: 1065

Please share Evolve Detroit and encourage your friends, family and community to subscribe.

For more information please contact:
Detroit Evolution
http://detroitevolution.com
313.316.1411
info@detroitevolution.com

Visit TRANSITION MICHIGAN

Detroit Evolution

evolvedetroit

evolvedetroit Consider taking a break to read the new Evolve Detroit http://ping.fm/x5C5u WWJB? Raw Foods Yoga Brunch & new classes! Plz RT about 1 hour ago reply

evolvedetroit Tonight: Vic Chesnutt with members of Silver Mt. Zion and Fugazi http://ping.fm/o5VIq 2 hours ago reply

evolvedetroit A Friday gift from Angela's Kitchen: This Vegan Shepherd's Pie was so tasty yesterday! http://ping.fm/D6WbN plz RT 6 hours ago reply

evolvedetroit Appreciating this mode of being more than any I've worn. Some may think tailoring is needed, but even these rips & tears somehow seem right 10 hours ago reply

Join the conversation

Detroit Evolution also offer

Private Kitchen Classes
Personal Chef Service
Catering for any sized event
Nutritional Counseling
Private Yoga & Meditation Instruction
Massage & Bodywork Sessions
Sustainability Workshops
Motivational Presentations

Please contact info@detroitevolution.com or call 313.316.1411 for a personalized quote or our hourly rates.

We actively pursue trade/bartering and will gladly offer a sliding scale for those in need.

Please help us Evolve!
Now that we have settled into our new home in N. Corktown we are once again expanding our offerings and events. If you have found value in our work, whether through a tasty hand-crafted lunch, a meaningful yoga class, or one of our awareness raising movie nights, please consider helping us to offset the cost of our offerings. By doing so you'll assist us to lay the foundation for the next phase of our work.

Weekly Events:

Sundays: Evolutionary Yoga with Gregg
Every Sunday, 2-3pm - $15 Walk-in
NOTE: Your first week of classes at Practice Yoga are FREE!
Location: Practice Yoga
20792 Mack Ave, Grosse Pointe Woods 48236
The Evolution continues with this weekly yoga offering. Gregg is honored to connect with the long time Detroit Evolution supporters at Practice Yoga to offer these Sunday classes. Sessions with Gregg place emphasis on the breath and the expansion of consciousness rather than the perfection of form. Come out and join us this and every Sunday!

November Events:

Sewing Seeds Humane Education Workshop
Saturday, November 7th 8:30am–5pm (with lunch break) $30
Location: The Detroit Zoological Society
8450 W. 10 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48067
THERE IS STILL SPACE AVAILABLE! This Sowing Seeds Workshop is designed to train educators to effectively teach others to think critically and creatively about social justice, environmental ethics, and animal protection, and how to broaden your students' understanding of the ways in which their choices affect themselves, other people, other species, and the Earth. The registration fee for this workshop is $30. To register, contact: education@detroitzoo.org or 248.541.5717 Ext. 3800 (Registration includes a light breakfast and lunch (both vegan) and a copy of The Power and Promise of Humane Education by Zoe Weil.)

Detroit Abides! Community Movie Night in Eastern Market
This Months Free Movie: What Would Jesus Buy?
Wednesday, November 18th 7-9pm
Location: Eastern Market's Heated Shed 5
Shed 5 is located at the corner of Russell and Alfred St.
We are pleased to continue our monthly movie series with a very special screening of our friend Reverend Billy's inspirational documentary What Would Jesus Buy? Rev Billy will be celebrating his run for Mayor of NYC so he'll be unable to join us for this screening, but he'll be with us in spirit as we exorcize the demons of credit debt and big box shopping! We will also discuss the importance of supporting local business and growing resilient local economies in the city of Detroit. Please bring a friend, a chair and a blanket as we gather together to enjoy this hilarious and enlightening film. Please view the trailer.

Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit, Detroit Evolution, and Eastern Market Corporation come together on the third Wednesday of every month to present Detroit Abides, A Free Sustainability Gathering in Eastern Market's Shed 5. The event features a movie on a sustainable topic, explores the topic at the local level through discussion and support from regional groups and businesses, and creates a space to meet like-minded people from all walks of life & grow an active, healthy community.

November Vegan
DIY Holiday Class
Saturday, November 21th Noon-3pm $20
Location: The Detroit Flyhouse in Eastern Market
In the FD Loft Building - 3434 Russell St. Loft #302

The Holiday season is a wonderful time to share healthy options with family, friends, coworkers and our community. Angela will share and prepare a special holiday menu including an appetizer, side, main dish, and dessert. Rather than purchase a processed tofu-turkey from Oregon, learn to make a moist and incredibly tasty one in your own kitchen! At the end of class we'll have a sampling of all the dishes and answer any questions you may have about making healthy versions of your family's traditional dishes.

November 21st is a huge day for Holiday DIY Crafting in Detroit as the Detroit Urban Craft Fair will be held at the Majestic Theater. Angela is pleased to offer this as an early class so we will all have plenty of time to attend the DUCF & get some holiday shopping done.

To register for our
November Vegan
DIY Holiday Class
please email Angela or call 313.316.1411

You can also register through Paypal
(Please note the $2.50 fee per paypal transaction)

To register for our
Live Raw Yoga Music Brunch please email Gregg or call 313.316.1411

You can also register through Paypal
(Please note the $2.50 fee per paypal transaction)

Stop Shopping!
Practice Yoga & Eat Raw Instead
The Return of Live Raw Yoga Music Brunch
Friday, November 27th 9:30am-Noon $35
Location: The Detroit Flyhouse in Eastern Market
In the FD Loft Building - 3434 Russell St. Loft #302

Boycott Big Box shopping and all of it's ills, from selling products made with child labor to the active destruction of resilient local economies! Instead, come together and share a 75 minute Evolutionary Yoga session led by Gregg Newsom. This breath centered flowing practice will benefit those new to yoga and seasoned veterans.

Our session will feature Live Music from Dixon’s Violin. Described as cosmic gypsy, electronic romanticism and interstellar whalesong, Dixon’s mesmerizing electric violin will provide the perfect accompaniment to our focused breath and movement.

After our session we’ll enjoy a local and organic Raw Food Brunch prepared by Angela Newsom. Experience the benefits of Raw Foods and how they assist to balance the body and mind. Over Brunch we’ll share in a Satsang (open discussion) on the benefits of a healthy and humane diet to our practice on and off the mat.

Save the Date for these December Events:

Detroit Abides! Community Movie Night in Eastern Market
This Months Free Movie: TBA
Special Date! Wednesday, December 9th 7-9pm
Location: Eastern Market's Heated Shed 5
Shed 5 is located at the corner of Russell and Alfred St.

December Vegan
DIY Holiday Class
Saturday, December 12th 1-3pm $20
Location: The Detroit Flyhouse in Eastern Market
In the FD Loft Building - 3434 Russell St. Loft #302

To register for our
December Vegan
DIY Holiday Class
please email Angela or call 313.316.1411

You can also register through Paypal
(Please note the $2.50 fee per paypal transaction)

MOCAD and the Model D Speaker Series present
Green Initiatives Detroit!
PRESENTATION and DISCUSSION
Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 6PM - FREE
Location: MOCAD 4454 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
This evening, organized by MOCAD and Model D Media, will feature several innovative projects and organizations working in Detroit for a Greener today! Some of the individuals and organizations involved will be the Green Garage, Detroit Evolution and landscape architect Jeff Klein's Classic Landscaping company, among others.

FAMILY DAY: Paper Gardens and Raw Food?!?
Sunday, December 20, 2009 from 12PM to 4PM - FREE
Location: MOCAD 4454 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
A family day dedicated to creating a garden inside the brick walls of MOCAD. Children can use raw food, such as potatoes and mushrooms, to create prints. They can learn how to make mosaics using rice & beans. Knowledgeable volunteers will show how to make origami animals and flowers. There will also be live demonstrations by the good people at the Detroit Evolution Lab for kids and their parents on methods of preparation and the health benefits of raw foods.

Save the Date: January 2010!

New Years Day Detroit Evolution Celebration
Featuring a festive and transformative Live Raw Yoga Music Brunch
Friday, January 1st 9:30am-Noon $40
Location: The Detroit Flyhouse in Eastern Market
In the FD Loft Building - 3434 Russell St. Loft #302, Detroit 48207

Angela is honored to share two of her favorite holiday recipes. We are going to include recipes in upcoming Evolve Detroit. We would appreciate your feedback and healthy success stories. For more information or to learn about our Healthy Holiday Catering please email angela@detroitevolution.com

Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms
We’ve had many requests for this dish lately so we thought we’d repost it. It’s definitely a favorite amongst our family and friends, even those who are not health conscious.

Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms – makes 2 dozen
This dish is a hit at any party … make sure to set a few aside for yourself because there won’t be any left! You can also use the filling for a tasty spinach and artichoke dip served with crusty bread or crackers.

1½ lbs. baby portabella mushrooms, stems pulled
1 tbs. olive oil
1 red pepper, finely diced for garnish

For the Filling:
6 c. baby spinach leaves, chopped
1 c. artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
½ red onion, small dice
2-3 tbs. olive oil
Juice of one lemon
1 tbs. brown rice vinegar
2 tsp. oregano

1 c. water
Juice of 1 lemon
4-5 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp. sea salt
3 c. raw cashews or macadamia nuts

Preheat oven to 350˚. Set the mushrooms stem side up in a shallow baking dish that’s lightly coated with olive oil. Set aside.

Combine the spinach through oregano in a medium bowl, tossing well to combine. Set aside.

Mince the garlic in the bottom of the blender, add the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth. Add more water if necessary, but you want the mixture to be thick and creamy. This is your “cheese”. Add it to the spinach mixture and toss well.

Spoon a heaping serving into each mushroom, making a mound on top. Place mushrooms back into the dish.

Bake at 350˚ for 15-20 minutes.

Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms by Angela Newsom, Detroit Evolution is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

Go Nutty Chocolate-Caramel Layer Bars
I just attended a vegan/raw food potluck in celebration of a dear friend who was in town visiting from California. He is an amazing raw food chef and although he was the guest of honor, he threw down and made an incredible spread of raw treats. One of the desserts he made reminded me of this recipe I came up with a while back, inspired by the raw pecan pie from Café Gratitude’s book, I Am Grateful.

Go Nutty Chocolate-Caramel Layer Bars – makes one 8x8 square dish
The name says it all! These bars are an excellent introduction to raw foods for those skeptics in your life … one bite and they’ll be sold!

For the nutty layer:
2 c. raw walnuts
1 c. raw hazelnuts
½ c. agave nectar or dates, pitted and chopped
Dash of sea salt

For the caramel layer:
2 c. raw pecans
½ c. agave nectar
½ c. almond or hemp milk
1½ tsp. yacon syrup
1 tsp. vanilla extract
½ tsp. sea salt

For the chocolate layer:
1 c. raw cashews
1¼ c. almond or hemp milk
¼ -½ c. raw cacao powder (can also use carob or cocoa powder)
¼ c. agave nectar
½ tsp. vanilla
Pinch of sea salt
1 tbs. lecithin powder (found at health food stores in supplement section)
½ c. coconut butter

To prepare the nutty layer:
Grind the walnuts and hazelnuts in a food processor until finely ground. Add agave and sea salt and process until you have a smooth, sticky consistency - adding more agave nectar or dates to achieve this if necessary. Press mixture into an 8x8 square pan. Chill in the freezer or fridge while preparing the rest.

To prepare the caramel layer:
Grind the pecans in a food processor until finely ground. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until you reach a smooth consistency, adding more milk if necessary.

Spread the caramel sauce over the nut layer and chill again while preparing the chocolate layer.

To prepare the chocolate layer:
Blend the cashews through sea salt in a blender until smooth. Add lecithin and coconut butter and blend again. Spread this mixture on top of the caramel layer. Refrigerate for an hour or so. Cut into squares and serve.

Go Nutty Chocolate-Caramel Layer Bars by Angela Newsom, Detroit Evolution is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

Detroit Evolution
Press & Reviews

Detroit Evolution
proudly uses

Materials for
Personal Evolution

Bring Transition
to Detroit

Please Support These Incredible & Important
Events, Organizations and Businesses.

US Social Forum
Detroit, June 22-26, 2010
The US Social Forum is a movement building process. It is not a conference but it is a space to come up with the peoples’ solutions to the economic and ecological crisis. The USSF is the next most important step in our struggle to build a powerful multi-racial, multi-sectoral, inter-generational, diverse, inclusive, internationalist movement that transforms this country, and changes history. We must declare what we want our world to look like and we must start planning the path to get there. The USSF provides spaces to learn from each other’s experiences and struggles, share our analysis of the problems our communities face, build relationships, and align with our international brothers and sisters to strategize how to reclaim our world.

The purpose of the USSF is to effectively and affirmatively articulate the values and strategies of a growing and vibrant movement for justice in the United States. Those who build towards and participate in the USSF are no longer interested in simply stating what social justice movements “stand-against,” rather we see ourselves as part of new movements that reach beyond national borders, that practice democracy at all levels, and understand that neo-liberalism abroad and here in the US is not the solution. The USSF provides a first major step towards such articulation of what we stand for.

The 4th annual Detroit Urban Craft Fair
When: Saturday, November 21, 2009, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: The Majestic Theatre, 4140 Woodward Ave, Detroit
Admission: Free, all ages

The 4th annual Detroit Urban Craft Fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009 at the Majestic Theatre in Detroit.
The fair, Michigan’s largest indie craft fair, is entering its fourth year with the same commitment to DIY community that made it a must-attend event the past 3 years. Over 50 Michigan and national DIY crafters have been selected to showcase their unique work in the market.

For more info DUCF, check out www.detroiturbancraftfair.com or e-mail info@detroiturbancraftfair.com

Evolve Detroit Content by Detroit Evolution is licensed
under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

Inspiring Morning Message from Bill McKibben 350.org

2009-10-24T06:54:00.005-04:00

Please join Detroit Evolution at Irene's Myomassology Institute's Holistic Palooza today as we offer our own contribution to and celebration of the 350 movement. The entire incredible event is FREE!

Angela will share two awesome Vegan classes; "Low Fat Tasty Meals" at 2pm and "Fast & Easy Meat Substitutes" at 4pm. I'll offer up "Be Green(er): Everyday tips to fly in the face of Climate Change, Peak Oil & Economic Crisis" at 5pm. We hope to see and share with you today!

In Health, Joy & Liberation,
~Gregg

Here's an Inspiring Morning Message from Bill McKibben:

****************************
Friends,

I can hardly believe my eyes.

16 hours ago, citizens in New Zealand gathered before dawn next to a wind turbine on a mountaintop. As local elders said prayers to bless the global event, banners and signs were held high to to greet the planet's first rays of sunlight on this most incredible of days.

As the sun continues across the planet we've been receiving photos and video of rallies in Ethiopia, bike rides in Wellington, SCUBA divers in Australia, organizers planting 350 trees in Thailand, hundreds of students marching in India and Nepal and Mongolia. And we're getting reports from 350.org offices around the world that the phones are ringing off the hook with calls from the media who want to cover the story.

The day is just beginning and already it's larger, more powerful, and so much more beautiful than I ever could have imagined. I've been a writer my entire life and yet words truly cannot describe what you have accomplished already. To truly grasp today, please stay tuned to our website as more and more photos come in from across the planet, and especially our evolving photo slideshow.

And the best news of all? The day has just begun!

Bill

P.S. Have a photo to contribute? Just send a decent-quality picture to photos@350.org and make the subject "City, Country" and make sure that the body of the e-mail contains a description of the photo, any necessary photographer credits, and any other information you think we'll need. So many thanks.

You should join us on Facebook by becoming a fan of our page at facebook.com/350org and follow us on twitter by visiting twitter.com/350

To join our list (maybe a friend forwarded you this e-mail) visit www.350.org/signup

350.org needs your help! To support our work, donate securely online at 350.org/donate

350.org is an international grassroots campaign that aims to mobilize a global climate movement united by a common call to action. By spreading an understanding of the science and a shared vision for a fair policy, we will ensure that the world creates bold and equitable solutions to the climate crisis. 350.org is an independent and not-for-profit project.

What is 350? 350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Scientists measure carbon dioxide in "parts per million" (ppm), so 350ppm is the number humanity needs to get below as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change. To get there, we need a different kind of PPM-a "people powered movement" that is made of people like you in every corner of the planet.

Detriot Evolution at MOCAD in December!

2009-10-23T15:25:00.003-04:00

We're honored to be a part of these events at MOCAD! http://www.mocadetroit.org/upcomingevents.html PRESENTATION and DISCUSSION: Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 6PM MOCAD and the Model D Speaker Series present Green Initiatives Detroit! Admission: Free This evening, organized by MOCAD and Model D Media, will feature several innovative projects and organizations working in Detroit for a Greener today! Some of the individuals and organizations involved will be the Green Garage, Detroit Evolution and landscape architect Jeff Klein's Classic Landscaping company, among others. Please return for additional information on this event. For more information visit the websites of Classic Landscaping Detroit Evolution The Green Garage

FAMILY DAY: Sunday, December 20, 2009 from 12PM to 4PM Paper Gardens and Raw Food?!? Admission: Free A family day dedicated to creating a garden inside the brick walls of MOCAD. Children can use raw food, such as potatoes and mushrooms, to create prints. They can learn how to make mosaics using rice & beans. Knowledgeable volunteers will show how to make origami animals and flowers. There will also be live demonstrations by the good people at the Detroit Evolution for kids and their parents on methods of preparation and the health benefits of raw foods. For more information on the Detroit Evolution visit their website.

Burroughs on Seven Souls

2009-10-06T00:19:00.000-04:00

The ancient Egyptians postulated seven souls, Top soul, and the first to leave at the moment of death, is Ren, the Secret Name. This corresponds to my Director, He directs the film of your life from conception to death. The Secret Name is the title of your film. When you die, that's where Ren came in.

Second soul, and second one off the sinking ship, is Sekem: Energy, Power, Light The Director gives the orders, Sekem presses the right buttons.

Number three is Khu, the Guardian Angel. He, she, or it is third man out . . . depicted as flying away across a full moon, a bird with luminous wings and head of light. Sort of thing you might see on a screen in an Indian restaurant in Panama. The Khu is responsible for the subject and can be injured in his defense- but not permanently, since the first three souls are eternal. They go back to Heaven for another vessel. The four remaining souls must take their chances with the subject in the Land of the Dead.

Number four is Ba, the heart, often treacherous. This is a hawk's body with your face on it, shrunk down to the size of a fist. Many a hero has been brought down, like Samson, by a perfidious Ba.

Number five is Ka, the Double, most closely associated with the subject. The Ka, which usually reaches adolescence at the time of bodily death, is the only reliable guide through the Land of the Dead to the western Lands.

Number six is Khaibit, the Shadow, Memory, your whole past conditioning from this and other lives.

Number seven is Sekhu, the Remains

October's Detroit Abides - Transition Movie Night

2009-09-30T06:53:00.004-04:00

October's Detroit Abides, A Free Transition Movie Night
Wednesday, October 21st, 7 - 9 pm
in Eastern Market's Shed 5

This month's topic: The Detroit Public School System

Please Note: As we move into Fall weather please remember to bring a sweater, blanket and friends to stay warm. Though Shed 5 is enclosed and heated, it is a large space that can be drafty.

This month we are honored to share the feature length documentary, Our School, a film transcends the spatial abyss which is Detroit, to interweave the experience of going to high school for one day, dawn till nightfall, in the city.

Please view the Trailer!

Our School is a ninety minute documentary that uses cinema-verite to create a visceral experience as students and staff navigate the halls and streets of Detroit, interweaving the struggles and successes of teenage life within the urban school system. The camera follows students and staff for one day, from the courtroom to a school for young mothers, from a closing school to one newly refurbished. This film presents the connections, differences and contradictions of a single day in Detroit public high schools. It was created to seat the viewer inside the classroom amongst the students and staff experiencing the urban educational crisis. Shot over the past four years during Detroit Public Schoolʼs closure of 96 schools, the film depicts the uncertainty surrounding the future of education, and what it will look like.

Following the film we will discuss and share our thoughts on the film and the current state of DPS.

Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit, Detroit Evolution, and Eastern Market Corporation come together on the third Wednesday of every month to present Detroit Abides, A Free Transition Movie Night in Eastern Market's Shed 5. The event features a movie on a sustainable topic, explores the topic at the local level through discussion and support from regional groups and businesses, and creates a space to meet like-minded people from all walks of life & grow an active, healthy community.

For this casual event, please bring a comfortable seat. Shed 5 is located at the corner of Russell and Alfred St. Parking is available in the lot adjacent to the Shed.

For more information or to get involved call Detroit Evolution at 313.316.1411

September Detroit Abides: Two Bioneers Plenaries

2009-09-04T09:46:00.004-04:00

Detroit Abides: Free Monthly Movie on Sustainable Topics
Wednesday, September 16th, 7-9pm
Eastern Market's Shed 5
http://www.detroitevolution.com/detroitabides.html

In anticipation of this year's Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit Conference (October 16-18 at Marygrove College), we are pleased to share two moving plenaries from the 2007 conference. Please join us, learn more about Bioneers and register for this years conference. http://www.glbd.org/

Toward a Green Growth Alliance: Birthing a New Politics
It is the chief moral obligation of our time to build a green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty. The activist and founder of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Van Jones, urges us to carry our spiritual, cultural and economic movements into the electoral arena to transform politics and forge a green "New Deal" coalition so that kids who are now prison fodder will help create a zero-pollution economy, harvest the sun and heal the land instead.

Local Living Economies: Green, Fair and Fun 
The fabled entrepreneur and activist Judy Wicks tells her story of moving beyond responsible business practices to working cooperatively with other entrepreneurs and citizens to build whole economies based on love of nature and community.

About Detroit Abides: 
Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit, Detroit Evolution, and Eastern Market Corporation come together on the third Wednesday of every month to present Detroit Abides, A Free Sustainability Gathering in Eastern Market's Shed 5. The event features a movie on a sustainable topic, explores the topic at the local level through discussion and support from regional groups and businesses, and creates a space to meet like-minded people from all walks of life & grow an active, healthy community. For this casual event, please bring a comfortable seat. Shed 5 is located at the corner of Russell and Alfred St. Parking is available in the lot adjacent to the Shed. For more information or to get involved call Detroit Evolution at 313.316.1411 http://www.detroitevolution.com/detroitabides.html

New Evolve Detroit: Listen to WDET 2:30pm Today! Detroit Abides on Local Economies Tonight!

2009-08-19T13:20:00.001-04:00

August 19th, 2009

“I have no doubt that it is possible to give a new direction to technological development, a direction that shall lead it back to the real needs of man, and that also means: to the actual size of man. Man is small, and, therefore, small is beautiful.” ~ E. F. Schumacher

Greetings Detroit and all who grace us here!
We hope that this finds you all well. Our lives continue to ebb and flow and though we are sometimes a bit weary we're keeping the dream alive. This week we're joyfully celebrating Aya 6th month here! It is hard to believe how quickly time seems to be moving, but at the same time it seems as though we have lived a few lifetimes. We are changing, adapting & learning everyday and so thankful for our baby boy.

This Evolve Detroit serves to remind you of tonight's Detroit Abides. It is hard to believe that we've been sharing a movie in Eastern Market every month for over a year now and this evening is certainly one not to miss. We're honored to screen Michigan filmmaker Chris Bedford's COMING HOME E.F. Schumacher and the Reinvention of the Local Economy and are pleased to share that Chris will be joining us for our discussion as well! We'll also be joined by Jerry Belanger, one of the originators of Detroit's local currency, Detroit Cheers. In addition to celebrating the work of E.F. Schumacher, we'll explore the potential of expanding the use and strength of local currencies by fostering connections to urban agriculture and local markets. If you are unfamiliar with Schumacher's work, I've included what I consider to be a stunning meditative film from 1978, E F Schumacher: On the Edge of the Forest. Even if it is a busy day, I recommend giving yourself the opportunity to watch the first 5 minutes of this film. Angela and I have found it extremely inspiring.

Subscribers this week: 999!
Please share Evolve Detroit and encourage your friends and family to subscribe. Follow us on twitter & facebook!

Aya Eden & Angela at the Heidelberg Street Garden, July 2009

for more information or to register for classes please contact:
Detroit Evolution
http://detroitevolution.com
313.316.1411
info@detroitevolution.com

This just in: Chris Bedford and I will be on WDET's Detroit Today around 2:30pm this afternoon. You can listen to a live stream of the program on WDET's site.

We also encourage you to join us on Saturday from 3-5pm for the first of our DIY Staples series. This important class, Recipes to Reduce Plastics, will help you to make your own staple items like ketchup, mayo, dressings and others that we tend to purchase over and over. You'll also be able to purchase local produce to make these recipes and avoid health hazards like high fructose corn syrup. The class is offered on a $20 - $10 sliding scale and will be held at the Detroit Flyhouse in Eastern Market. We're very pleased with this new direction for Detroit Evolution's food education classes and hope that you'll support our work by registering with Angela at angela@detroitevolution.com or calling 313.316.1411. Space is limited for this one so please contact us today!

Gratitude
As always we want to thank everyone who has helped us out along the way! This week we offer special Gratitude to our dear friend Lisa Forzley for assisting us so much. We also want to thank everyone who joined us for our first LIVE RAW YOGA MUSIC BRUNCH last Saturday! This was an incredible event that we hope to recreate on a monthly basis at locations throughout Michigan. Please look for the next one and let us know if you would like us to bring this to your community!

We look forward to seeing you all out and about in the coming weeks! Our blessings to you and yours.

In Health, Joy and Liberation,
Gregg for Angela, Aya & Detroit Evolution

Weekly Events:

Wednesdays: SEED Wayne Farmers Market
Every Wednesday, 11am-4pm
Location: Wayne State Campus on Cass Ave
We keep fresh picked veggies all week by supplementing our Eastern Market Saturdays with SEED Wayne Farmers Market on Wednesdays. Your body absorbs more nutrients from fresh food. To assist in this, you can shorten the shelf life of your produce by buying less more frequently. Try to keep your carbon footprint down by biking or walking when you increase the frequency of your produce runs.

NEW! - Sundays: Evolutionary Yoga with Gregg
Every Sunday, 2-3pm - $15 Walk-in
NOTE: Your first week of classes at Practice Yoga are FREE!
Location: Practice Yoga
20792 Mack Ave, Grosse Pointe Woods 48236
The Evolution continues with our first weekly post-laboratory yoga offering. Gregg is honored to connect with the long time Detroit Evolution supporters at Practice Yoga to offer these Sunday classes. These Evolutionary Yoga sessions place emphasis on the breath and the expansion of consciousness rather than the perfection of form. Come out and join us this and every Sunday!

August Events:

Detroit Abides - FREE Transition Movie in Eastern Market
TONIGHT! - Wednesday, August 19th - 7-9pm
Location: Eastern Market’s Shed 5
We’ll screen Michigan filmmaker Chris Bedford’s Coming Home: E.F. Schumacher & the Reinvention of the Local Economy and discuss Local Currency movements. Join us on the 3rd Wed of every month for this FREE event.

DIY Staples: Recipes to Reduce Plastics
Saturday, August 22nd - 3-5pm
Location: Detroit Flyhouse
Stop spending money on store bought staple items like nut milks, condiments & dressings. Learn how easy it is to make your own, reduce your plastic use and improve your health while you’re at it. Sliding Scale $10-$20 with RSVP to Angela at 313.316.1411 or angela@detroitevolution.com required!

Look for our September offering soon & plan to join us for the Harvest Dinner!

2009 EARTHWORKS HARVEST DINNER
Join the Capuchin Soup Kitchen’s Earthworks Urban Farm, for our second annual Harvest Dinner Saturday, September 12, to celebrate working together for food justice for all.

5 pm - A social hour in the garden with light appetizers and garden tours given by members of Earthworks’ Youth Farm Stand program.

6 pm - Dinner of local SE Michigan foods. The dinner will be comprised of dishes made from recipes submitted by several of our great community partners. The event features a conversation with long-time Detroit activist, Grace Lee Boggs.

Tickets are $15 - $100 (sliding scale). We invite you to sponsor a ticket, for $25, for those in our community who would otherwise be unable to attend.

The event will be hosted at Gleaners Food Bank, a longtime partner of the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, 2131 Beaufait, Detroit, MI 48207.

Dress is casual.

To reserve your seat at the table, print and mail in the registration form to 1264 Meldrum, Detroit, MI 48207 by September 4. Please write checks to “Capuchin Soup Kitchen” with the number of tickets and “Harvest Dinner” noted in the memo line.

Questions? Contact Lisa at earthworks@cskdetroit.org or call 313-579-2100 ext 204.
More details can be found at the Earthworks site

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	Bring the Transition to Detroit	Further Inspiration & Information

Tonight's Detroit Abides, join filmmaker Chris Bedford & celebrate EF Schumacher!

2009-08-19T11:24:00.002-04:00

Wednesday, August 19th, 7 - 9 pm
in Eastern Market's Shed 5

This month's FREE movie:
COMING HOME E.F. Schumacher and the Reinvention of the Local Economy

Afterward, we'll discuss the concepts presented in the film and their potential in Detroit. We're pleased that filmmaker Chris Bedford & The originators of Detroit's local currency, Detroit Cheers, will join us for our discussion.

In 1973, British economist E.F. Schumacher wrote “Small is Beautiful – Economics as if People Mattered”, – a book that offered a vision of an economy driven by a desire for harmony, not greed; an economy based on community and ecological values, not global financial derivatives. In the 1970s, “Small is Beautiful” helped launch a back-to-the-land movement that is the ancestor to the Local Food Revolution of today.

For the last three decades, the E.F. Schumacher Society has transformed Schumacher’s ideas into a series of practical innovations – reinventing much of the local economy of Great Barrington, Massachusetts and southern Berkshire County in the process.

Chris Bedford’s film, COMING HOME: E.F. Schumacher and the Reinvention of the Local Economy tells the story of the Society’s remarkable work that includes founding of the nation’s first CSA, economic development based on Community Land Trusts, and the creation of the nation’s most successful local currency – BerkShares.

Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit, Detroit Evolution, and Eastern Market Corporation come together on the third Wednesday of every month to present Detroit Abides, A Free Sustainability Gathering in Eastern Market's Shed 5. The event features a movie on a sustainable topic, explores the topic at the local level through discussion and support from regional groups and businesses, and creates a space to meet like-minded people from all walks of life & grow an active, healthy community.

For this casual event, please bring a comfortable seat. Shed 5 is located at the corner of Russell and Alfred St. Parking is available in the lot adjacent to the Shed.

On the third Wednesday of every month DETROIT ABIDES screens a movie on a sustainable topic, explores the topic at the local level through discussion and support from regional groups and businesses, and creates a space to meet like-minded people from all walks of life & grow an active, healthy community.

For more information or to get involved call Detroit Evolution at 313.316.1411

Live Raw Yoga Music Brunch this Saturday

2009-08-12T16:50:00.006-04:00

This event is receiving a great deal of attention and spaces are filling up quickly. Below, you'll find all the pertinent details including the Raw Foods Brunch menu! Please confirm your space with an email to gregg@detroitevolution.com and I'll send you a confirmation letter with payment details. Thanks! ~Gregg

LIVE RAW YOGA MUSIC BRUNCH
Saturday, August 15th 10am-1pm
at the Detroit Flyhouse, Loft 302 in the FD Lofts.
http://www.detroitflyhouse.com/

We will share a 75 minute Evolutionary Yoga session led by Gregg Newsom. This breath centered flowing practice will benefit those new to yoga and seasoned veterans.

Our session will feature Live Music from Dixon’s Violin. Described as cosmic gypsy, electronic romanticism and interstellar whalesong, Dixon’s mesmerizing electric violin will provide the perfect accompaniment to our focused breath and movement. http://www.myspace.com/dixonsviolin

After our session we’ll enjoy a local and organic Raw Food Brunch prepared by Angela Newsom. Experience the benefits of Raw Foods and how they assist to balance the body and mind. Over Brunch we’ll share in a Satsang (open discussion) on the benefits of a healthy and humane diet to our practice on and off the mat.

Brunch will include a delicious Spanish Breakfast Scramble made with Sunflower Seeds, Almonds, Macadamia nuts, Bell Peppers, Onions and Portabella Mushrooms topped with garden fresh Salsa. This tasty Scramble will be served with Zucchini Flax-Pumpkin Toast, a Marinated Kale Salad with Cucumber, Red Onion, Patty Pan Squash, Avocado, Sunflower Sprouts and Tahini-Dill Dressing, and a sweet Pineapple Waldorf Salad with Apple, Celery, Walnuts, and creamy Cashew Sauce. We'll also enjoy Stawberry-Banana Smoothies and Sesame Mylk.

PLEASE REGISTER TODAY!
This is a Detroit Evolution Zero Waste event. Space is limited. Register by calling Detroit Evolution at 313.316.1411 or emailing gregg@detroitevolution.com

Today's Evolutionary Yoga Playlist, join us at 2pm!

2009-08-09T12:13:00.004-04:00

2-pm at Practice Yoga in Grosse Pte we'll journey together. I'm quite pleased with the flow and look forward to sharing this session with you! In Health, Joy & Liberation, ~Gregg

Russill Paul - Asato Ma (A Chant to Direct Your Energy)
23 Skidoo - G-2 Contemplation
Fennesz - The Colour Of Three
Amma - Jai Ganesha Jai Ekadanth
Coil - Summer Substructures
Russill Paul - Gayatri (Being Illuminated By Sacred Sounds)
Crash Worship - Dance with the Birdwoman
Dreamseed And River Freedom - Afternoon Dreaming
Jonathan Goldman - Wings of the Heart, Heart

Evolve Detroit - Yoga with Gregg Returns & LIVE RAW YOGA MUSIC BRUNCH

2009-08-06T08:28:00.002-04:00

August 5th, 2009

“Home is a name, a word, it is a strong one; stronger than magician ever spoke, or spirit ever answered to, in the strongest conjuration.”
~Charles Dickens

“There is a magic in that little world, home; it is a mystic circle that surrounds comforts and virtues never known beyond its hallowed limits”
~Robert Southey

Greetings Detroit and all who grace us here!
August already? The world seems to be going as fast as Aya is growing! As always we thank you for keeping up with Detroit Evolution and our work. We have a great number of new offerings this month and are honored to be able to share them with you here. If you know anyone who would be interested or inspired by Evolve Detroit please share and spread the word.

August Events
We are refining our work and our mission and we feel as though this shines through in our August offerings. You'll find all the details below, but we're particularly excited about the re-emergence of weekly Evolutionary Yoga with Gregg at Practice Yoga in Grosse Pointe on Sundays, our first ever LIVE RAW YOGA MUSIC BRUNCH on the 15th, and our DIY Staples: Recipes to Reduce Plastics class at the end of the month. As many regular readers know, Detroit Evolution has been going through many changes and we're joyfully struggling to keep this project going. Please consider assisting us by signing up for these classes and sharing them with others who would benefit and enjoy them. As always, we are so thankful for your support.

Below our events, please check out the first of our Transition Tips and the opportunity for you to take action to stop proposed Inhumane Animal "Welfare" Legislation in Michigan.

The Evolve Detroit Update is a weekly, or as needed, publication produced by Detroit Evolution and dedicated to Health, Joy and Liberation.

Subscribers this week: 989
Please share Evolve Detroit and encourage your friends and family to subscribe. Follow us on twitter & facebook!

Aya Eden & Angela at the Heidelberg Street Garden, July 2009

for more information or to register for classes please contact:
Detroit Evolution
http://detroitevolution.com
313.316.1411
info@detroitevolution.com

Where in the world are Gregg, Angela & Aya?
Though we are a bit road weary and seriously looking for a permanent home we are all in good spirits. A few weeks ago we left the Zen Center and since we've been rooming with a good friend. We are actively searching for an inexpensive rental in the city and are continuing our search for a house to purchase as a low cost LEED Certification project. Detroit Evolution events and our work will carry on throughout this extended transition. We've moved four times since Aya was born 5 months ago (already?) and though it has been the most challenging time of our lives, our dedication to each other, to our work and the incredible support from our community have carried us through. Thank you all for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.

We hope to see you out at the SEED Wayne Wednesday Market today and about in the coming weeks. As always we send our blessings to you and yours.

In Health, Joy and Liberation,
Gregg for Angela, Aya & Detroit Evolution

NEW! - Sundays: Evolutionary Yoga with Gregg
Every Sunday, 2-3pm - $15 Walk-in
Location: Practice Yoga
20792 Mack Ave, Grosse Pointe Woods 48236
The Evolution continues with our first weekly post-laboratory yoga offering. Gregg is honored to connect with the long time Detroit Evolution supporters at Practice Yoga to offer these Sunday classes. These Evolutionary Yoga sessions place emphasis on the breath and the expansion of consciousness rather than the perfection of form. Come out and join us this and every Sunday!

August Events:

DiffiCult Movie & Music Mondays
This month's feature: Alejandro Jodorowsky's Sante Sangre
Monday, August 10 - 8pm - Midnight, $5 or whatever
Location: Division St. Gallery (Yellow Building Next to Burt's on Russell, Alley Entrance)
We're not certain if this will happen once or twice a month, but either way please join us for the debut of this exciting event. DiffiCult Mondays will showcase challenging films and music that inspire and provoke. We're honored to begin this series with a rare Japanese remastered version of Sante Sangre. Jodorowsky's films are hyper-symbolic and reach rarely located visual and energetic depths.

LIVE RAW YOGA MUSIC BRUNCH
Saturday, August 15th - 10am-1pm, $35
Location: Detroit Flyhouse
We will share a 75 minute Evolutionary Yoga session led by Gregg Newsom. This breath centered flowing practice will benefit those new to yoga and seasoned veterans.
Our session will feature Live Music from Dixion’s Violin. Described as cosmic gypsy, electronic romanticism and interstellar whalesong, Dixion’s mesmerizing electric violin will provide the perfect accompaniment to our focused breath and movement.
http://www.myspace.com/dixonsviolin
After our session, we’ll enjoy a local and organic Raw Food Brunch prepared by Angela Newsom. Experience the benefits of Raw Foods and how they assist to balance the body and mind. Over Brunch we’ll share in a Satsang (open discussion) on the benefits of a healthy and humane diet to our practice on and off the mat.
This is a Detroit Evolution Zero Waste event. Space is limited and prepayment is required. Register with Gregg at 313.316.1411 or gregg@detroitevolution.com

Freezing & Dehydrating Workshop
Tuesday, August 18th - 6-8pm
Location: Chapel Hill Baptist Church
5000 Joy Rd. Detroit.
Angela will share recipes for low-tech dehydration as part of this class. $3 for Garden Resource Program members or $5 for non-members.

Detroit Abides - FREE Transition Movie in Eastern Market
This Month's Topic: Local Currency
Wednesday, August 19th - 7-9pm
Location: Eastern Market’s Shed 5
We’ll screen Michigan filmmaker Chris Bedford’s Coming Home: E.F. Schumacher & the Reinvention of the Local Economy and discuss Local Currency movements. We are very excited to be joined by some of the folks who initiated Detroit's local script, Detroit Cheers. Please save the date and pass the word on this month's event. Join us on the 3rd Wed of every month for this FREE event.

Take Action to Stop the Proposed Inhumane Animal "Welfare" Legislation!

A package of bills recently introduced (HB 5127, HB 5228, SB 654, and SB 655) into Michigan Legislature would put factory farms in charge of regulating themselves. H.B. 5128/S.B. 654 would give a council dominated by agribusiness the ability to enact welfare standards for animals on factory farms. H.B. 5127/S.B. 655 go even farther, by granting the Department of Agriculture the sole authority to regulate farm animal health and welfare. H.B. 5127/S.B. 655 also require that the Department adopt current industry standards—many of which are extremely cruel such as keeping veal calves continuously tethered and crated and crowding egg-laying hens in cages so small they can’t even extend their wings. These bills also prohibit cities and counties from enacting local ordinances regarding farm animal welfare. This means no legislator could ever introduce a bill to improve conditions for animals on factory farms. Power would be taken from Michigan citizens so we would not even be able to run a ballot initiative on the issue in the future.

Please take action TODAY! The House Agriculture Committee has already voted 7 -1 to send both bills to the full House.

Associated Press article from July 30th stating the bills are being pushed forward to the full House: http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/07/michigan_house_panel_passes_an.html

Current status of the aforementioned bills: http://www.hsus.org/legislation_laws/state_legislation/state-legislation-list.html?state=michigan

Form Letters (please personalize!!):
Farm Sanctuary –
https://secure2.convio.net/fsi/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=303
Humane Society of the United States –
https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3418

Find your state senator at www.senate.mi.gov. Find your state representative at http://www.house.mi.gov/find_a_rep.asp.

Contact senate and house leadership asking them to oppose the bills.

Senator Mike Bishop
Senate Majority Leader
P.O. Box 30036
Lansing, MI 48909-7536
517-373-2417
Fax: 517-373-2694
Webform: http://www.senate.michigan.gov/ima_form.asp?name=COMMENT12&form_path=e:/webforms/rep

Senator Mike Prusi
Senate Minority Leader
P.O. Box 30036
Lansing, MI 48909-7536
517-373-7840
Fax: 517-373-3932
senMPrusi@senate.mi.gov

Representative Andy Dillon
Speaker of the House
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514
888-737-3455
Fax: 517-373-5976
andydillon@house.mi.gov

Kevin Elsenheimer
Minority Leader
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48933
517-373-0829
Fax: 517-373-1841
kevinelsenheimer@house.mi.gov

Contact Governor Granholm, and ask her to veto the bills, if passed:
Governor Jennifer Granholm
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, MI 48909
517-373-3400
Fax: 517-335-6863
Webform: http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-21995-65331--,00.html

Please help keep Detroit Evolution Up and Running!	Detroit Evolution proudly uses	Materials for Personal Evolution
	Bring the Transition to Detroit	Further Inspiration & Information

The New Detroit Evolution Logo

2009-07-24T20:58:00.003-04:00

We've taken the experiment out of the Laboratory & into the streets!

Detroit Evolution
Promoting the Healthy, Sustainable & Soulful Relocalization of Detroit
http://detroitevolution.com

313.316.1411

Spread The Evolution!

Evolve Detroit: Free Movie tonight in Shed 5, Raw Foods Fundamentals this Sat

2009-07-15T07:44:00.002-04:00

take it easy on your eyes and see Evolve Detroit as it was intended to be seen.

July 15th, 2009

Great things are done when men and mountains meet.
~William Blake

Greetings Detroit and all who grace us here!
For those of you who are new or maybe just getting to actually read one of these, thank you for finding us and lending us your eyes and your time. We encourage you to look at Evolve Detroit as an opportunity to take a break, learn something new, or you can feel free to simply check our event listings and move along.

If you have a few minutes to take it all in, give yourself permission to relax a bit while you do so. Grab a tall glass of water to enjoy while you read and take a few deep breaths to shift your focus. We strive to put our heart into our work and find that it truly resonates with those to take a moment to receive it in kind. We really appreciate your time and your attention, no matter how near or far.

Gratitude
We want to thank everyone who has been working with Bill Wilson of Midwest Permaculture on his upcoming South East Michigan tour (details are below). We are honored to work on meaningful projects like this with others who inspire us. Please come out and join us at one of these events across SE Michigan.

We also want to take a moment to thank Alan Scheurman for the support he's provided us as a partner and friend. Alan practically carried "The Lab" single handedly as we celebrated Aya's birth and began our adaptation to parenthood. He also fostered new creative alliances with musicians and artists throughout the city and provided a beautiful soundtrack for countless hours at the old Lab. As Detroit Evolution lets go of "The Lab" to focus upon Sustainability & Health/Food Education, Angela and I will again "take the reigns" and move forward. We are looking forward to continuing our work with Alan on the Transition Movement and future Detroit Evolution events. Simply put, we wouldn't be here if it were not for Alan's insight and kindness. In Lak'esh.

Evolve Detroit is a weekly, or as needed, publication produced by Detroit Evolution and dedicated to Health, Joy and Liberation.

Subscribers this week: 970
Please share Evolve Detroit and encourage your friends and family to subscribe. Follow us on twitter & facebook!

Angela, Aya & Gregg at Faith Farm, June 2009

for more information or to register for classes please contact:
Detroit Evolution
http://detroitevolution.com
313.316.1411
info@detroitevolution.com

Zen Questions
We've had a great many questions about our new home and what it's like living and working with the monks at the Zen Center. For the past few weeks, we've been assisting around the center as a work exchange for our space in the Residency. Though we are excited to learn from and share with our new friends at the center, we're not taking over the Cafe, we're not converts, and that's certainly not expected. Angela and I are moving forward with Detroit Evolution as we continue to learn and grow. We're currently seeking a small home with a bit of land in the city and planning Detroit Evolution events, classes and workshops across the region.

Please make sure to check out the details of Bill's Intro to Permaculture Tour, tonight's Detroit Abides movie, A Convenient Truth, and our upcoming Raw Food's Fundamentals class this Saturday!

We hope to see you out and about around the city or the market this week. Our blessings to you and yours!

In Health, Joy and Liberation,
Gregg for Angela, Aya & Detroit Evolution

WEEKLY EVENTS:

Wednesdays: SEED Wayne Farmers Market
Every Wednesday, 11am-4pm
Location: Wayne State Campus on Cass Ave
We keep fresh picked veggies all week by supplementing our Eastern Market Saturdays with SEED Wayne Farmers Market on Wednesdays. Your body absorbs more nutrients from fresh food. To assist in this, you can shorten the shelf life of your produce by buying less more frequently. Also, think about using a bike or walking when you increase the frequency of your produce runs. This will help keep your carbon footprint down.

EVENT HORIZON:

Detroit Abides, A Monthly Sustainability Gathering
This month's movie: A Convenient Truth
TONIGHT! Wednesday July 15, 7-9pm - FREE!
Location: Eastern Market's Shed 5
A Convenient Truth: Urban Solutions from Curitiba, Brazil is an informative, inspirational documentary aimed at sharing ideas to provoke environment-friendly and cost-effective changes in cities worldwide. The documentary focuses on innovations in transportation, recycling, social benefits including affordable housing, seasonal parks, and the processes that transformed Curitiba into one of the most livable cities in the world. Cities should be a solution not a problem for human beings. The city of Curitiba has demonstrated for the past 40 years how to transform problems into cost-effective solutions that can be applied in most cities around the world. Please read more about this month's Detroit Abides and spread the word!

Everyday Raw: The Fundamentals of a Raw-Vegan Diet
Saturday, July 18, 2-5pm - $50
Location: The Detroit Flyhouse
NOW is the perfect time to begin your transition to a raw vegan lifestyle! Angela will show you how to successfully incorporate more raw foods into your diet by sharing basic techniques and tips meant to inspire and empower. Learn how to blend, sprout and dehydrate with confidence! (Don't fret if you don't have all of the fancy equipment and gadgets, we always try to have a low-tech option available with each recipe.) Angela will also share her own personal journey to healing physically, mentally and emotionally through diet and how you can also learn how to tune into your body and unleash it's incredible healing capabilities.
REGISTER TODAY! CALL 313.316.1411

DUST & ILLUSIONS; a history of Burning Man
Special screenings in Detroit, July 17/18th
July 17th 5pm (Artist Village) The film starts at 6:00pm.
July 18th 3:30pm & 5:30pm (Artist Village) The film starts at 3:30pm & 5:30pm.
July 18th 10:30pm (Theater Bizarre) The film starts at 10:30pm.
Please view the trailer and purchase tickets online!
Dust & Illusions looks at 30 years of history of Burning Man all the way back to the late 1970s deep into the origins of the event. Through 21 interviewees the film presents the philosophies that fueled the creation of the festival, and its evolution from a small gathering of friends to the largest “counter-cultural” event in North America. It offers a new perspective of the meaning of the event, and questions whether its organizers are more concerned about making sure the show is ready when the gate opens or if they still truly engage in building a community and fostering art.

Introduction to Permaculture
with Bill Wilson of Midwest Permaculture
Wednesday, July 22, 6:30-9:30pm - $20 (all donations accepted)
Location: Marygrove College, Liberal Arts Building
Detroit Evolution is pleased to assist with this 4-city speaking tour for Bill Wilson, co-founder of Midwest Permaculture. Wilson will travel throughout the region next week to deliver his 3-Hour Introduction to Permaculture with a special focus on urban and suburban landscapes. He will present in Ann Arbor 7/21, Detroit 7/22, Flint 7/23 and Ypsilanti 7/24 beginning each evening at 6:30 and ending by 9:30. Wilson has developed a clear, inspirational, pragmatic and concise explanation of what permaculture is and how it can successfully address problems of local food security, global climate change, and living abundantly in economically uncertain times. During the seminar Bill Wilson will share pictures and descriptions of some exciting examples of how permaculture design is transforming the possibilities before us.

Some of the successes explored will be:

A permaculturist who has learned to grow bananas and figs in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado
A new permaculture greenhouse that produces food all year round with 90% renewable energy, allowing the grower to provide fresh food to local consumers and restaurants in January as well as July
A village that uses its common green areas to raise crops for community income, use and enjoyment
A farmer who makes a better living on his 9 acres, growing fresh organic food than his neighbors do on their 2000 acre conventional farms
Laurie's permaculture yard in Peoria where she now has over 300 useful plants that require no planting, fertilizing and little weeding
Growing 25 pounds of potatoes from a single vertical box, on an abandoned lot, in the city of Chicago
Growing sweet potatoes and 12 other vegetables right on top of concrete

Please save the date and join us for one of these exciting evenings. We're going to try to "table" at each city on the tour so please look for the Detroit Evolution sign and introduce yourself.

Please help keep Detroit Evolution Up and Running!

Detroit Evolution
proudly uses

Materials for Personal Evolution

July Detroit Abides: A Convenient Truth

2009-07-07T15:07:00.001-04:00

Detroit Abides, A Monthly Sustainability Gathering
This month's movie:
A Convenient Truth: Urban Solutions from Curitiba, Brazil
Wednesday July 15, 7-9pm - FREE!
Location: Eastern Market's Shed 5

Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit, Detroit Evolution Laboratory, and Eastern Market Corporation come together on the third Wednesday of every month to present Detroit Abides, A Free Sustainability Gathering in Eastern Market's Shed 5. The event features a movie on a sustainable topic, explores the topic at the local level through discussion and support from regional groups and businesses, and creates a space to meet like-minded people from all walks of life & grow an active, healthy community.

A Convenient Truth: Urban Solutions from Curitiba, Brazil is an informative, inspirational documentary aimed at sharing ideas to provoke environment-friendly and cost-effective changes in cities worldwide. The documentary focuses on innovations in transportation, recycling, social benefits including affordable housing, seasonal parks, and the processes that transformed Curitiba into one of the most livable cities in the world.

View the Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swQTTG3NcYY

Cities should be a solution not a problem for human beings. The city of Curitiba has demonstrated for the past 40 years how to transform problems into cost-effective solutions that can be applied in most cities around the world.

For this casual event, please bring a comfortable seat. Shed 5 is located at the corner of Russell and Alfred St. Parking is available in the lot adjacent to the Shed.

For more information or to get involved call “the Lab” 313.316.1411

New Class! Everyday Raw: The Fundamentals of a Raw-Vegan Diet

2009-07-07T12:19:00.006-04:00

Everyday Raw: The Fundamentals of a Raw-Vegan Diet
Saturday, July 18, 2-5pm - $50
Location: The Detroit Flyhouse in Eastern Market

NOW is the perfect time to begin your transition to a raw vegan lifestyle! Angela will show you how to successfully incorporate more raw foods into your diet by sharing basic techniques and tips meant to inspire and empower. Learn how to blend, sprout and dehydrate with confidence! (Don't fret if you don't have all of the fancy equipment and gadgets, we always try to have a low-tech option available with each recipe.) Angela will also share her own personal journey to healing physically, mentally and emotionally through diet.

Vegan and Raw Food Classes with Angela & Gregg
Our classes are about much more than just food preparation - learn how to reduce waste through composting and recycling, explore sustainability, meet like minded people, and share great food, information and resources. We offer our students a unique experience and an opportunity not only learn, but also to connect with others and realize the importance of food in our lives and the world. The food you choose to eat can change the world! Space in these intimate classes is limited and full payment is required to register. Please call 313.316.1411 or email info@detroitevolution.com to arrange payment.

Detroit Evolution promotes Active, Aware, Healthy and Sustainable Vegan and Raw Food Lifestyles in the city. We offer classes and workshops on Vegan and Raw Food, Yoga, Meditation, Shamanism, and Body Awareness. We also offer Bodywork, Nutritional Counseling and Sustainable Lifestyle Training. We provide "green" sustainable Vegan and Raw Food Catering for any sized event.

Anti-Incineration, Pro-Recycling Action - THURSDAY!

2009-06-17T05:06:00.002-04:00

"What you burn you cannot earn” -- This was one of Mayor Bing’s campaign slogans and many people voted for him because he said this, let’s hold him to it!

What: The GDRRA* meeting
When: Thursday, June 18, 2:30pm
Where: Finance Department Conference Room, COLEMAN A YOUNG MUNICIPAL CENTER

*Greater Detroit Resource Recovery Authority - Board of directors that oversees the incinerator and are appointed by Mayor Bing

The Anti-incineration/pro-recycling rally Tuesday was a huge success with many people attending, and major media and press picking up the story. The next call to action is Thurs, June 18, 2:30pm at the GDRRA meeting. At this meeting GDRRA (the Mayor) will release the new plan for waste disposal in the city of Detroit, incineration or recycling. We will have the answer on Thursday.

Please come and show your support and keep the phone calls and emails going to the Mayor’s office with your concerns.

Mayor’s office phone: (313) 224-3400
Mayor’s office fax: (313)224-4433
Mayor’s office email: dave.bing@detroitmi.gov iojeda@detroitmi.gov

In 2008 City Council adopted the New Business Model for Detroit Solid Waste to:

* Stop burning over 2,000 tons of trash each day by July l, 2009
* Begin citywide curbside recycling & recovering materials for reuse
* Create new jobs & opportunities to attract green industries— a number of companies are interested in doing business here using Detroit’s captured waste

Urge Mayor Bing to take these steps by July 1, 2009:

* End burning Detroit trash; no agreements for incineration after June 30, 2009
* Create more jobs and make Detroit a healthier city
* Full transparency of all waste contracts

Call or write:
Mayor Dave Bing 313-224-3400
Dave.Bing@detroitmi.gov
Charles Beckham: cbeckham@detroitmi.gov

Evolve Detroit - Anti Incineration, Pro Recycling Action TODAY!

2009-06-16T05:44:00.005-04:00

Good Day Detroit and all those who grace us here,
Welcome to a short "Anti Incineration, Pro Recycling" Evolve Detroit. I'm putting together a full Evolve Detroit as we speak, but we needed to get this important information out this morning.

Before we get into the details, I want to thank all of our new subscribers for joining us and have to express our deepest gratitude for the outpouring of support we've received in the past two weeks. Though our decision to "decentralize" the Lab was difficult, we all feel as though a great weight has been lifted. Taking the Lab on the road has already provided us a great many opportunities to establish new partnerships and to look at our purpose and mission from a different position. We're excited about this transitional phase and look forward to sharing our work throughout the city and region. Thank you all so much for joining us here! It means the world to us.

In Health, Joy and Liberation,
Gregg

Take one step today to make Detroit a cleaner, healthier, safer city.
Help the children of Detroit breathe free.

Anti Incineration, Pro Recycling Action - Call TODAY and join us at the rally!
If you live, work or play in or around the city of Detroit please use the info below to contact Mayor Bing's office TODAY. You can also join Angela, Aya and I at noon in front of the Spirit of Detroit for an important rally that we hope will inspire Mayor Bing to shut down the incinerator.

Anti Incineration, Pro Recycling Rally
When: TODAY, Tuesday June 16th 11am-1pm
Where: Spirit of Detroit Statue on the corner of Woodward and Jefferson

Mayor Bing, through the Greater Detroit Resource Recovery Authority (GDRRA) will release his decision on the future of our trash on June 17th. Since his election, he has withheld his position on use of the incinerator for Detroit's solid waste. This is cause of great concern as the decision can impact the City for up to 20 years.

This is a critical moment for any concerned citizen of the Detroit area to speak out against incineration and show support for recycling. This moment gives Mayor Bing a wonderful opportunity to move Detroit forward: to improve air quality, Create jobs with the materials recovered in recycling and to reduce costs of solid waste management for now and the years ahead. As he said during the mayoral campaign, "what you burn cannot earn." LETS HOLD HIM TO IT!

The Mayor’s position will be evident on June 17th. Join others to speak up for a cleaner, healthier, greener Detroit.

Please email, call and fax your opinions and concerns TODAY!
Mayor’s office phone: (313) 224-3400
Mayor’s office fax: (313)224-4433
Mayor’s office email: iojeda@detroitmi.gov and ojedai@detroitmi.gov

Yoga Today, BBQ & Bonfire Send-Off Tonight!

2009-06-06T06:55:00.004-04:00

Greetings Detroit and all who grace us here!
It looks like it is going to be a beautiful day here in Detroit.

I want to thank everyone for their outpourings of support over the past few days. We are so blessed by the wonderful and diverse community that has come together around the Lab. We are excited to leverage this transition to grow our community and expand our work throughout the city and region. All of the letters of encouragement have assisted us to realize many potentials and have already opened a few doors. Again, we are so grateful for you all!

Today is our last day of classes at the Lab's space in Eastern Market. I want to invite you all to join us for these special classes and for a barbecue and bonfire in the evening.

At 10 am Shelley Smith will lead class and I'll send off the Lab with the class at noon.

At 5pm we'll gather behind the Lab for a celebratory vegan barbecue & potluck that will eventually turn into a bonfire. If you'd like to join the potluck, just bring a dish to pass. We'll have a "veggie only" grill available if you'd like to bring something to throw on.

At sunset, we'll light the bonfire behind the Lab. We've heard rumor that some of the Sun Ships crew will be bringing out instruments. We encourage you to bring your bells, voices, gongs, flutes, hand drums, etc to raise a lovely noise and launch the Lab into its next phase.

Please be mindful of traffic as the Wings game is this evening. It starts at 8pm.

I also want to share that we'll be sharing our story and our new plans for the Lab on WDET's Detroit Today on Monday. I believe we'll be on air around 2:30. If you'd like to hear more about our transition please tune in.

We thank you all again for your support and look forward to seeing many of you around the city!

In Health, Joy and Liberation!
Gregg

Lab Press Release, Please Forward

2009-06-04T15:54:00.003-04:00

June 4, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News Media Contact:
Gregg Newsom
(313) 316-1411
gregg@detroitevolution.com

DETROIT EVOLUTION LABORATORY MOVES TO EXPAND
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, SERVICES

DETROIT, Mich., June 4 — The Detroit Evolution Laboratory is positioning itself to expand its community partnerships and services with its announced move from its space on Gratiot Avenue in Eastern Market.

Gregg and Angela Newsom started the Lab two years ago as a community space intended to foster awareness of the connections between health and sustainable "green" lifestyles. The Lab, known for its diverse holistic services including vegan and raw food kitchen classes and catering, yoga, and health and sustainability workshops, has also become a major hub for community discussion and activism around mind-body health and sustainable models of development.

“Moving from the space on Gratiot Avenue was a difficult decision,” said Lab co-owner Gregg Newsom. “But this provides us the opportunity to grow relationships and continue our work in new and exciting ways. We see this as the beginning of new growth for the Lab, and Detroit.”

The Lab will continue to present a diverse array of services, including Leslie Blackburn's Sacred Geometry classes at the Detroit Flyhouse in the FD lofts June 9, 16, & 23 and the popular Detroit Abides free film series with the screening of “The Greening of Southie” on June 17 in Eastern Market’s Shed 5. Additional upcoming events include a vegan “Backyard BBQ” class and Angela and Gregg's new workshop on greening relationships called "Sustainable Love"

“But this is just the beginning,” said co-owner Angela Newsom. “Another reason for the move was to realize our vision of creating a space to showcase sustainable living. We are working towards that goal, and several others.”

New projects underway include a revamped Web site, new kitchen classes, workshops and events throughout the city and region. The new website - Evolve Detroit, an Urban Transition Fieldbook - will document the Lab's work in the greater context of Detroit community development, Permaculture and the Transition Movement. Detroit Evolution Laboratory will continue to work with partners Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit and Eastern Market Corporation and will soon announce new partnerships, events and services for the metro area.

“We invite everyone to get involved as we move into this next chapter of our growth,” Gregg said. “There’s tremendous possibility to create change in Detroit; and we hope to work with as many people as possible to make that change happen in a constructive, sustainable and healthy way.”

For more information about the Detroit Evolution Laboratory, please visit detroitevolution.com, follow @evolvedetroit on Twitter, join the Lab's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/group.php?gid=8279450767 or call 313.316.1411

About Detroit Evolution Laboratory: Detroit Evolution Laboratory facilitates and promotes the exploration of healthy & sustainable tools, techniques and concepts that empower individuals and communities. Informed and inspired by Permaculture, the Transition Movement and Eastern, Western, and Indigenous explorations of Consciousness Expansion, we actively promote that an Urban-Agrarian, Sustainable, and Soulful lifestyle will facilitate Detroit’s survival and its future success as a relocalized city. Detroit Evolution Laboratory’s focus is wide and favors radical creativity, exploring and sharing diverse aspects of culture from food & art to yoga & music. The Lab promotes other individuals, organizations, and businesses with complementary missions and goals for Detroit through active participation in projects and events throughout the city.

The Lab Closes a Door...

2009-06-02T21:35:00.000-04:00

take it easy on your eyes and see Evolve Detroit as it was intended to be seen.

June 2nd, 2009
(The Moon Waxes Gibbous)

I share the belief of many of my contemporaries that the spiritual crisis pervading all spheres of Western industrial society can be remedied only by a change in our world view. We shall have to shift from the materialistic, dualistic belief that people and their environment are separate, toward a new consciousness of an all-encompassing reality, which embraces the experiencing ego, a reality in which people feel their oneness with animate nature and all of creation. - Dr. Albert Hofmann

"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." -Max Planck

When an old culture is dying, the new is created by a few people who are not afraid to be insecure. - Rudolf Bahro

Evolve Detroit is a weekly, or as needed, publication produced by the Detroit Evolution Laboratory and dedicated to Health, Joy and Liberation.

Subscribers this week: 922!
Please share Evolve Detroit and encourage your friends and family to subscribe.

Detroit Evolution Laboratory
Angela Newsom
Gregg Newsom
Alan Scheurman
313.316.1411

Greetings Detroit and all who grace us here,
Welcome to another Evolve Detroit. Due to the importance of the information we must share today I encourage you to take a break and lend your attention. Though I'm facebook and twitter addled, this special Evolve Detroit requests a heartfelt exposition and engagement that are part and parcel of the Sustainable lifestyle we're exploring at the Lab. Slowing down so that we can truly engage the multitude of information being collected by our senses promotes the awareness of the vital role we play in the world around us. As stated, there is a great deal to share, so I'll sincerely thank you for slowing down to take this in and get on with it.

The Transit of Detroit Evolution Laboratory
In June of 2007, when Angela and I opened Detroit Evolution Laboratory we had no idea that it would blossom forth in this manner. From the start we decided to dedicate ourselves completely to the Lab's development and it became an expression of our talents and vision. With diverse offerings, a strange name and a sincerely expressed dedication to health, joy and liberation for the people of Detroit, Angela and I ventured into unknown territory. We fully integrated work and life by living in the Lab and utilizing it as a showcase for our lifestyle. We shared our personal stories of transformation and continued to change and evolve in front of everyone visiting our unique space in Eastern Market and reading Evolve Detroit.

We've shared many milestones with our community. Many of you have witnessed our transformation into activists and vegans, our marriage, pregnancy and the birth of our son Aya. The past two years have been a whirlwind, but throughout we've been graced by support from an incredibly diverse and dedicated community. We decided early on that as a socially conscious business we would encourage our community to take ownership in the Lab. We are grateful that so many incredible people stepped up to meet that call. For the past two years, Angela and I have constantly been amazed by the wonderful people that have come into our lives through the Lab. We wouldn't be here today if it were not for the staunch dedication of our supporters.

With all that stated, it pains me to share that last Friday, Angela, Alan and I made the tough decision to free Detroit Evolution Laboratory from the space that we all know and love. Though the Lab is truly turning into a dynamic entity and will continue to evolve, we're not bringing in enough business to continue to support the physical space. As we gladly share, the Lab is a labor of love that has been kept afloat over the past two years by generous assistance from others, long hours and intense work and continual selling off of personal belongings. Though we've had many struggles upon this path, we've also experienced a heartfelt joy that is hard to properly express. We've appreciated every minute of it.

We've also been aware of the discrepancies between our current location and the Lab's mission for quite sometime. As we deepen our understanding of sustainability and our awareness of the infinite cycles of life we've naturally been drawn towards projects and technologies that aren't feasible (or easily funded) in a leased space. We've known that this shift would come for quite some time and making this announcement and letting go of the space will lift some our burdens and inspire us to take action and move forward.

Though we are saddened, this gives us the opportunity to recreate the Lab and truly process and integrate many of the lessons we've learned along the way. We've been moving at such a breakneck speed to try to keep the doors open that we've been too busy to enjoy the blessings that are our labor. By letting go of the doors all together and decentralizing Detroit Evolution Laboratory we will continue to share our offerings at locations and events across the city and region. As we lay the foundations for a long term sustainable home for the Lab, we intend to grow awareness of our mission through funded outreach and by doubling our efforts in viral culture-jamming.

The Lab Moves Forward
We want to invite you all, new and veteran Lab supporters alike, to visit the Lab this week. This transition comes at a time when we are celebrating the Lab's second anniversary by rolling out our new web site, Evolve Detroit, An Urban Transition Fieldbook. We're also announcing new kitchen classes, workshops and events throughout the city and region.

We'll continue with yoga at the Service Street space through the rest of the week. Saturday, Shelley will teach at 10 am and I'll teach our final yoga class at noon. We invite you to celebrate with us Saturday evening with an informal gathering on Service Street. I'll post with details as we put them together.

I also want to mention that Detroit Evolution Laboratory will be presenting Leslie Blackburn's Sacred Geometry Classes at the Detroit Flyhouse in the FD Lofts. The 2 part Introduction to Sacred Geometry will be held on Tuesday June 9th & 16th from 7:30-9:30pm. The cost for both dates is $35, or $28 if you went to the Lab's Sacred Geometry Dinner and Discuss. Leslie's Sri Yantra class will be at 7:30pm on Tuesday the 23rd and is $20 or $16 if you attended the Dinner and Discuss. Pre-registration is required. Please sign up by emailing Leslie or calling 313.269.6719. Space is limited in these classes and they will sell out so sign up today!

This month's Detroit Abides will screen The Greening of Southie on June 17th at 7pm in Eastern Market's Shed 5. Save the date, it's FREE!

We're So Thankful for all of you!
On behalf of Angela, Aya, Alan and the entire Lab crew, I want to sincerely thank you for your support, near or far. We have been so blessed by the attention you have paid our work and we look forward to growing and evolving with you in this new phase. We look forward to seeing many of you this week and, as always, we send our blessings to you and yours.

In Health, Joy and Liberation
Gregg Newsom

Gregg & Angela's son Aya Eden, 3 Months

"What is Sacred Geometry?" Dinner and Discuss

2009-05-28T12:05:00.005-04:00

"What is Sacred Geometry?" Dinner and Discuss
Sunday, May 31, 4-5pm
FREE or $10 for a Healthy Vegan Meal prepared by Angela

Sacred Geometry is the language of creation; its principles are all around us - in our bodies, plants, crystalline structure, ancient architecture, art, musical scales and more. Join Leslie at the Lab to get a sample of what Sacred Geometry is all about, see inspiring examples, ask questions and eat some delicious vegan food in an informal setting. The Lab will be offering an incredible organic and local menu for $10 a plate - Curried Brown Rice-Quinoa Pilaf with Steamed Asparagus and Grilled Tofu and 'Grown in Detroit' Spring Greens topped with Sunflower Sprouts, Avocado and Sesame Ginger Miso dressing. Please RSVP at 313.316.1411 as soon as possible to reserve your spot and plate at this fun and informative event. Note: Dinner purchase is not required to participate in Leslie's FREE presentation.

About the Instructor: Leslie Blackburn, MS, is an accomplished and gifted engineer, artist, yogini, sacred sexual healer and transformational guide. Through a successful technical career beginning in 1993, Leslie honed managerial, presentation and speaking skills. Integrating these with her creativity and passion for the spiritual path led to the creation of One Space, LLC, a conscious teaching/learning community and an avenue for the sharing of her art. Her artwork incorporates the principles of Sacred Geometry and balance and is a flowing exploration of the inner self as well as the power and beauty of the human form. Through her exploration and practice of sacred sexuality/Tantra, she has experienced deep healing and release on a personal level and is called to share this path of potential with others. Leslie’s personal path and work has been the integration of the ever-unfolding feminine in body and psyche with masculine direction and purpose- Love in action!

Detroit Evolution Laboratory is a unique space in historic Eastern Market. The Lab is designed to facilitate and promote the exploration of healthy & sustainable tools, techniques and concepts that empower individuals and communities.

we offer
* yoga, meditation, & awareness workshops
* vegan & raw foods kitchen classes
* massage, bodywork & intuitive/energetic therapies
* evolutionary art & live music
* vegan & raw food catering
* community-building events

Informed and inspired by Permaculture, the Transition Movement and Eastern, Western, and Indigenous explorations of Consciousness Expansion, we actively promote that an Urban-Agrarian, Sustainable, and Soulful lifestyle will facilitate Detroit’s survival and its future success as a relocalized city. Detroit Evolution Laboratory’s focus is wide and favors radical creativity, exploring and sharing diverse aspects of culture from food & art to yoga & music. The Lab promotes other individuals, organizations, and businesses with complementary missions and goals for Detroit through active participation in projects and events throughout the city.

Featured in Hour Detroit Magazine, Model D, The Metrotimes, Fox 2 News, and awarded “best vegetarian” in WDIV’s 2008 4 the Best, Detroit Evolution Laboratory has been recognized as a community-based, healthy, refreshing and relaxing gathering place for the people of Detroit. The “Lab” is located at 1434 Gratiot Ave #1 near the SE corner of Gratiot and Russell St. At this time, the Lab is open during classes, events, or by appointment. For more information on the work of Detroit Evolution Laboratory please visit detroitevolution.com or call 313.316.1411

Zen Center, Sweet Zen Center

2009-05-25T07:03:00.007-04:00

Though I worked on some Lab business yesterday, we ended up settling in a little more deeply at the Zen Center. I had a few rooms to paint before we could really begin to unpack, so all of our belongings were stored in another room on our floor. With the Lab schedule what it is and our focus on Aya, it's been a very slow process. I am constantly amazed at my own level of patience these days. Decades of ritual, yoga and meditation are paying off as we navigate these new waters. Please don't get me wrong, I've lost it just as many times as the next new dad. I'm just pleased with the somewhat intuitive coping tools that I've picked up upon my path.

I finished painting last weekend, so we took advantage of our "day off" and actually moved into our new home proper. Though our "stuff" has increased with Aya we still don't have much, so it's not your typical move. We had afternoon guests so it only took us a relaxed morning to settle in to the point where it looked somewhat presentable.

We have three rooms here to work with and due to our minimalism it's a great deal more space than we need. As Aya grows and begins to move about I think that will change quickly. We need to figure out the window treatments, get a few more plants and let our living here a bit iron out any kinks, but we're more settled in than we have been since we left the Lab and it feels good.

I'm pretty happy with the layout and arrangement so far. I studied Feng Shui some time ago, and while I'm in no way advanced, I understand the flow of energy in space. Speaking of energy, both the Zen Center and The Lab are two of the most energetically clean (neutral might be the best term) places that I have ever been in. Of course, at the Lab our puja, yoga, and the intention of our work assist in keeping that balance. In a similar manner, yet with a more experienced focus, the Monks here at the Zen Center create that balance through their extremely disciplined work.

Based on my recent activity, it appears that being more grounded assists me in finding the time to post to Detroit As A Portal with more than the mandatory Lab updates. It is my intention to return to a more personal feel with Evolve Detroit, the Lab's newsletter, and frequent blogging moves me in that direction. I think the aspect of Evolve Detroit I miss the most is the gratitude section. We strive to express the sincere depth of our gratitude when people join us for classes or help us out with the Lab. We'll be bringing back the Gratitude section first as we have so many people to publicly recognize for their support. Thank you all, we have been so blessed by your attention!

While I'm on about settling, I have to say that I'm impressed with Hamtramck. Of course, we are living in our own personal vision of grace at the Zen Center, so it could be said that we're a little "in the world but not of it." We've taken a few short walks with Aya and yesterday got to visit the meditation garden across the street for the first time, so we're really just beginning to tune into the city around us.

Growing up in and around Detroit, I'm familiar with most nooks and crannies of the city and burbs, but I never spent too much time in Hamtramck. Somehow my old bands would get gigs at Lilys or Paychecks or there was a period of time when our crew frequented Smalls. Really, my familiarity with Hamtramck was through bar/club culture, so my gaze never really turned off the main drag or saw the city in the light of day. After being here 3 weeks, it appears to be an amazing place.

Many here know about my love of church bells. One of my favorite things to do at the Lab was to sit and write on Sunday mornings while the bells from the four local churches rang out towards the heavens. The Zen Center is near a mosque so here we have beautiful calls to prayer throughout the day. It is incredible to hear them coming in through the window, both Angela and I pause, smile and tune into them throughout the day. I love that Aya has been hearing them as well. Since his birth, I've been encouraging his awareness of the location of the sun, particularly at Sunrise, Noon, Sunset and if we're up Midnight. I'm a firm believer that awareness of Lunar and Solar cycles fosters a deeper connection to the earth and each other.

The adhān, are just one of the multitude of cultural manifestations in Hamtramck. There is, of course, the founding Polish and Eastern European population, amid the more recent additions of Indian, Pakistani, and other Middle Eastern cultures. I enjoy being able to walk through the streets in my lungi (a traditional skirt worn by men in India) and fitting in as much as a white guy can. :) Of course, the services in Hamtramck are extensive compared to what we have been used to in Eastern Market. There's a post office at the end of the block, a great deal of retail even though we don't shop unless mandatory, and there are a few Indian and Middle Eastern places who have been very accommodating with our Veganism. It's a cursory impression to be sure, but Hamtramck has a certain charm that I know we'll enjoy while we are here.

Our next stop? Well, we're looking for a small home with some land around Mt Elliot, so a little east of the Market. More motion towards developing strong roots. That seems to be the call of the day for many of us. We are going to enjoy our time at the Zen Center until we find the perfect spot though. Even more patience is required it would seem!

In Health Joy and Liberation,
Gregg

No Yoga on Monday! - Thanks for Vegan Indian

2009-05-23T12:37:00.004-04:00

Wow, the Market is busy this morning! We're about to venture into the sheds again as we forgot to pick up Tamari from Living Zen Organics. We've got a few chores this afternoon and then we're actually going to attempt to take a day off!

Alan is heading over to the Heidelburg Garden to drop our compost and water some of the hot crops we just planted. There isn't much land behind the Lab on Service Street. Though we've had the soil tested and its good to go, there's a ton of semi traffic right next to the beds so we're going to plant flowering rather than edible plants here on the street. Due to this we went looking for another garden to get involved with. We honored to join and learn a great deal from our friends from SEED Wayne as we help with this 2 lot project at McDougal & Heidelburg. We'll be having work days and are putting together a program where you can volunteer at the garden in exchange for classes at the Lab! If you're interested in helping out with this please drop me a line.

Vegan Indian was wonderful last night! We are so grateful to everyone who came out. These classes help keep the Lab up and running and your support means everything to us. We had a great group of people and everyone was thrilled with the food. Ryan Gates set the mood for dinner with beautiful music. Afterward, we watched Ashtanga, NY together and I reminisced about Guruji a bit. It was another incredible Lab event. And the good news? We're going to expand our cross-legged classes and continue them in June and beyond. In fact, all of our June classes will be posted here soon. We're going to put the final touches on the schedule this weekend... there goes that day off! :)

Please enjoy the weekend in Detroit!
Blessings to you and yours!
~Gregg

Detroit Abides, Locked Out of FB, Yoga Tonight!

2009-05-21T08:34:00.004-04:00

I'm going to sit down and attempt a personal post. Amazing I know.

Aya is here next to me, he's a ball of energy to be sure. I actually had to strap him in his swing this morning for the first time as he's kicking up a storm. He just sits there with a huge smile kicking away. If we could harness that energy we'd be set!

I want to thank everyone who came out to Detroit Abides last night. FLOW is quite a powerful film. If you missed it last night you can watch the full movie on google. To connect to other Detroiters concerned about water visit Michigan Welfare Rights Org. They have a link to the current petition that was passed around last night.

We're meeting with Eastern Market and Great Lakes Bioneers, Detroit this morning to expand Detroit Abides and set our movie screening schedule for the next few months. If anyone would like to get involved with this incredible event, we always could use assistance and muscle to set up and tear down. As always, you can get me at gregg@detroitevolution.com

Speaking of communication, I've been locked out of Facebook so if you would like to send me something please use old fashioned email. I think I needed a FB break anyway, so it is good, but it might throw a kink into our communication. Someone mentioned something about mercury being in retrograde. I'm not big on that kind of talk, but will acknowledge a certain tendency for technology to turn against me in relation to mercury.

Ok, I'm off to this Detroit Abides meeting and then I have a Bioneers Planning Committee meeting this afternoon. Looking forward to yoga this evening and our Vegan Indian class tomorrow night! Shanti.

Free Form Folk, Oms, Sing Alongs, & Psychedelic Pop Tonight!

2009-05-16T08:32:00.003-04:00

Join us at the Detroit Evolution Laboratory for a night of free form folk, oms, sing alongs, and psychedelic pop.

Joshua Allen and the Plague of Frogs
http://myspace.com/mechanicalorder

Experimental Psych/Folk with Angelic Vocals and Found Sounds. Drawn Out OMs and Atmospheric Chattering for Experiential Listeners.

Body Holographic
http://myspace.com/bodyholographic

Woodbridge Psych Sisters play Minimalist Rock on the Positive Tip.

Jeff Jablonski
http://myspace.com/jeffjablon

Transcendent Guitar and Heart Centered Vocals. Meditative and Free.

$5 Suggested Donation