Apr 18: "Sustainable Underground" book talk

Join Big Idea and the Shadbush Collective for a reading and discussion with Stephen Hren, author of Tales from the Sustainable Underground:  A Wild Journey with People Who Care More About the Planet than the Law.

Activists striving for any type of social change often find themselves operating on the fringes of legal and social norms. Many experience difficulties when their innovative ideas run afoul of antiquated laws and regulations that favor a big business energy- and material-intensive approach. Tales From the Sustainable Underground is packed with the stories of just some of these pioneers—who care more for the planet than the rules—whether they're engaged in natural building, permaculture, community development, or ecologically based art. Ride along and meet courageous and inspiring individuals such as:

• Solar guru Ed Eaton
• Radical urban permaculturists Scott Kellogg and Stacy Pettigrew
• Artist, eco-architect, and intuitive builder Matt Bua

Equally entertaining and informative, the profiles in this highly original book provide a unique lens through which to view deeper questions about the societal structures that are preventing us from attaining a more sustainable world. By examining such issues as the nature of property rights and the function of art in society, the author raises profound questions about how our social attitudes and mores have contributed to our current destructive paradigm.
Tales From the Sustainable Underground is a must-read for sustainability activists in any field, or for anyone who wants to learn about more radical forms of sustainability activities in an entertaining way.


Stephen Hren is a restoration carpenter, builder, and teacher who specializes in sustainable design and passive and active solar heating technologies. He is co-author of The Carbon-Free Home and A Solar Buyer's Guide for the Home and Office.


7-9 p.m. at the Big Idea Bookstore and Cafe, 4812 Liberty Ave, Pgh 15224 (412-687-4323), thebigidea@gmail.com .