If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed.

We’ve heard some great things about the phenomenal success of Earth Day two weekends ago. I’m curious, did anyone see other developers there? I ask because we’re going to be at the Whole Earth Festival coming up, and I’m wondering whether or not we’ll see other developers there.

Honestly, I hope there are a few others– that would be a good sign of healthy changes for the region– although I have to admit to some strong doubts. While “sustainability” and “green building” are definitely getting a lot of attention in the national industry organizations (NAHB and ULI, both of which have annual green-building conferences), despite this groundswell, we’ve only come across one other local residential developer (Treasure Homes) with a truly green-built project (Fallen Leaf). This has to change if we’re going to see healthy, livable communities in the future.

LJUrban’s mission to make cities better has multiple expressions, one of which is doing whatever we can to be a catalyst of change within the industry. Local developer, Sotiris Kolokotronis, showed Sacramento the potential of urban infill and downtown residential development before anyone else would risk it. We want to do the same with eco-urban development.

So, I’m also guessing (hoping) that, if we do stand alone this year at the Whole Earth Festival, this won’t be the case in future years, as green building hits the tipping point in the next year or so. Let’s all hope that’s true. And actually, if LJUrban fulfills its mission successfully, there should be more developers tuning into this kind of opportunity in the upcoming years.

Anyways, we’re planning to be there Friday and Saturday with a booth, lots of eco-urban handouts, information on our projects, eco-urban fortune cookies, and, of course, our company car.

Date and Time
Friday, May 11th: 12:00pm - 10:00pm
Saturday, May 12th: 9:00am - 10:00pm
Sunday, May 13th: 9:00am - 6:00pm

Location: UCDavis Quad

Mission Statement
The mission of the Whole Earth Festival is to envision and create a community driven festival of education, music, and art. We will ensure that as little ‘waste’ as possible is generated during this festival. We will cultivate amazing organic produce grown in the WEF garden into tasty, nutritional meals to feed volunteers, staff, & performers, while making it both yummy and educational. Frugality and ecological sustainability come hand in hand, as we educate and engage the festival goers, we are careful with the resources we create and consume. We will rely on each other more and rely on corporations and oil less, by carpooling and sharing our homes. Most importantly, we want to create a safe, educational, and inspiring environment not simply just for the three days we set up on the Quad. We want to develop a conscious community that will go out into the world after the festival and encourage the values that we hold dear. We are all equal participants in the conscious creation that is the Whole Earth Festival.

If you go, do drop by and say “Hi.” We’re a pretty friendly group.

Jason