Gary Michael Foresman

I am working on doing more laundry to landscape installations, at the least, and am having a hard time knowing I'm using PVC and yet I do not like it's toxicities and manufacturing.  I've been looking around and found at least these webpages:
https://www.greenpeace.org/…/polyvinyl-…/pvc-free-solutions/
https://www.motherearthliving.com/home-p…/nh-builders-corner

That give some alternatives, but they don't seem great either because it's still an oil product, heavy and expensive, or the likes.  What systems have you used that I may be able to integrate?
I always wonder if I could use bamboo for piping (not pressurized).  It sounds like ABS is "less bad", so I could PVC until I don't need to pressure aspect of transportation.  Is there much of a "dry creek" design or anything that still keeps it subsurface but transports it towards plants?  Any options are appreciated (and photos).
Thank you

Hey all!
I have been doing this natural building internship and I wanted to give it a shout out.  Although the permaculture workshop is short compared to the 5-month long internship, there is a great amount of resources and learning here that have to do with permaculture.  AND this is one of the few natural building educations where you don't have to pay for it.  You get a place to stay, a $100/mo. food stipend, and do a start-to-finish construction job in 5 months!  I also have not been in a more cohesive household living situation and there are 16 interns in this house!
To get your natural building experience WAY up, work on social permaculture, and get connected with a community that has a great amount of resources for permaculture, gardening, and building, this is impressive.  There is an on-campus garden as well, and many jobs available after the internship with permacultural landscapers, natural building, and continuing with Community Rebuilds.  Applications are available now for 2018 Spring and Fall semesters.

Here is their information:
Community Rebuilds is a Utah-based nonprofit, dedicating to educating young professionals in straw bale construction, while building quality, affordable housing.

Our Natural Building Internship is a 5-month program in which 16 interns are selected to build two straw bale homes from foundation to finish, under the guidance of our building instructors. No experience is necessary, and interns are provided housing and a food stipend. Supplemental experiences include a 3-day permaculture workshop and a solar panel installation workshop.

We are currently recruiting for our Spring & Fall 2018 terms in Moab, UT, running from February 1st through June 30th and July 16th through December 16th. Join us as you learn, serve, and play in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.

For more information, check out these resources:
Website - http://communityrebuilds.org/
Blog - https://communityrebuilds.wordpress.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/communityrebuilds/
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC77CZQYB4rjZlKh8GQnXEQw

This is absolutely incredible to watch.  Just skimmed through the timeline.  Is there a good website or photos series of this property?  Please keep updating!

I am in Seattle (new) and going to South Seattle College that has an orchard (COWS), and I'm wanting to start a club for additional funding and organization.  I'm curious about how to best get these things going and utilizing the resources the college has.  How have things progressed since you've posted this?

I would highly suggest looking into what William McDonough and Michael Braungart are doing and their book "Cradle to Cradle" that includes entire, self-sustaining, waste-free city design.  I am in Seattle and would definitely like to get involved in this movement in this city.  Any connections are welcome!  I'm curious about starting at the city college level (currently going to South Seattle College) and how that can develop permaculture both physically and socially.