A rural retreat center where meaningful events inform creative lives...Dedicated to sustainability...A place where innovation can flourish...We invite you to enjoy the space!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Winter Solstice 2011

WINTER SOLSTICE AT THE KALYX CENTER

Hi Folks! We're celebrating the beginning of astronomical winter on the day of the solstice...Making the shortest day of the year longer by adding a huge bonfire after dark.

When – Thursday, Dec. 22
Where – The Kalyx Center, of course
What time – about 6:30 potluck, 7:30 bonfire
What to bring –
Food to share
Music
Friends
Humor

We'll have the wood stove warming the house to keep folks comfy.

If you get lost or just want more information, call Bill Taylor at
217 649-9085.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

SUMMER SOLSTICE AT THE KALYX CENTER


Hi Folks! We're celebrating the beginning of astronomical summer on the day of the solstice...Making the longest day of the year even longer by adding a huge bonfire after dark.


When – Tuesday, June 21st

Where – The Kalyx Center, of course

What time – about 6:30 potluck, 9:30 bonfire (It gets dark late.)

What to bring –

Food to share

Music

Friends

Humor

Bug repellent

Long pants and shoes if you want to hike around


The soil is fairly dry and stable for parking along the lane up to the Kalyx Center. We request that you park along that lane, rather than on the side of 1300 North Rd.


The Kalyx Center for Sustainability is a non-profit organization which

provides space for creative expression, exploration of innovative ways

of getting things done. It's used for meetings, camp outs, weddings, exhibits,

concerts and retreats. We invite your suggestions for events!


Directions:

Beware -- Mapquest, Googlemaps and some other map sites will get you to the wrong

place. The following Directions are time tested!

From Champaign - Urbana, take Church St, in Champaign westbound onto

I-72. (not I-74)

Exit 166..It's the first exit for Monticello, marked "Market St. - IL

105"

Take Market St./IL 105 through two stop LIGHTS to the first stop SIGN.

(corner of the ugly County Market)

Turn right onto Marion St., and go to the end (a "T" intersection by a

golf course)

Turn left onto Allerton Road, and go about 5 miles, (past

Allerton Park) to another "T"

Turn right onto 1300 North Rd. and look for the Kalyx Center sign

after about 3/4 mile on the right side of the road

Biking directions

Go out of Champaign on Kirby Ave. and continue west until it runs up

to I-72. There, you curve left onto old state route 47, biking through

White Heath, over I-72, then later over it again. At this point you

are on IL 105, heading into Monticello. The rest of the route is the

same as above. This route avoids the high speed traffic of route 10

or the Monticello-Tolono Road, and is also kinda scenic after the end

of Kirby.

Or other HELP!

If you get lost or just want more information, call Bill Taylor at

217-762-9561 or try my cell no. 649-9085, though I may be out of range.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Spring Equinox Bonfire, March 19, 2011

SPRING EQUINOX CELEBRATION AT THE KALYX CENTER


Come on out to the Kalyx Center this Saturday evening for fun, food and a huge bonfire to help celebrate the beginning of Spring! We're celebrating a day early. Spring can't come too soon! This notice is a bit late, so spread the word!!


When:


Saturday, Mar. 19, 2011


potluck starts about 6:00

Huge bonfire will be lit about 9:00


Bring:


Your wonderful self

Friends (please extend this invitation to anyone who might be interested)

Food -- enough to share...we have wood and charcoal grilles, microwaves, other kitchen stuff

Music -- Instruments, CD's, or your voice.

Long pants and shoes for walking around


The soil is fairly dry and stable for parking along the lane up to the Kalyx Center. We request that you park along that lane, rather than on the side of 1300 North Rd.


The Kalyx Center for Sustainability is a non-profit organization which provides space for creative expression, exploration of innovative ways of getting things done, meetings, campouts, weddings, exhibits, concerts and retreats. We invite your suggestions for events!

Directions:

Beware -- Mapquest and some other map sites will get you to the wrong place. The followingDirections are time tested!

From Champaign - Urbana, take Church St, in Champaign westbound onto I-72. (not I-74)Exit 166..It's the first exit for Monticello (marked "Market St. - IL 105")

Take Market St./IL 105 through two stop LIGHTS to the first stop SIGN. (corner of the ugly County Market)


Turn right onto Marion St., and go to the end (a "T" intersection by a golf course)

Turn left onto Allerton Road, and go about 3 miles, then past Allerton Park, to another "T"

Turn right onto 1300 North Rd. and look for the Kalyx Center sign after about 3/4 mile on the right side of the road


Biking directions or other HELP!

If you get lost or just want more information, call Bill Taylor at 217- 649-9085.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

La Voz Lenca Presentation this Sunday

Honduran Solidarity Radio Project Informational Presentation
with musical assistance from Andy Assad

Find out about the huge cooperative effort behind AM radio station La Voz Lenca in La Esperanza, Honduras...

When: This coming Sunday, October 24th, 2:30 p.m.
Where: The Urbana Free Library Auditorium
What: Bill Taylor will be showing a short video about the construction of the station, followed by refreshments.
Sponsored by: The PRIMARY COMMUNICATIONS PROJECT, a locally based, non-profit organization.
La Voz Lenca is a sister station to WRFU, Radio Free Urbana in the Independent Media Center, the IMC, in downtown Urbana

The Voice of the Indigenous Lenca People of Western Honduras. La Voz Lenca is one of only three high power AM radio stations in this hemisphere wholly owned and operated by indigenous people. It presents the Lenca's positions on national and local issues, educates, entertains and advocates for underserved people in its region of service. It was built in 2007 with a massive cooperative effort between the Lencas and international solidarity from community media advocacy supporters in Mexico and right here in Illinois as well as businesses which contributed equipment for the construction. Bill Taylor is heading back to Honduras in a few weeks to help install equipment upgrades.

Come to find out more about the project and to find out how you can get involved!

If you'd like to help out with this event or would like more information, call Bill Taylor at 217 649-9085 or email bill@radiopcp.org. We would greatly appreciate it if you would forward this email to other lists and to any of your contacts who might be interested.

This program is not sponsored by the Urbana Free Library.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

LAST WORK PARTY OF THE YEAR 10/10/10...

LAST WORK PARTY OF THE YEAR 10/10/10...
...And pretty much you last chance to luxuriate in (or at least pick) a plethora of autumn olive berries...Marauding robins will soon be arriving in hordes to deplete the crop.

But anyways...back to the work party...
It's Sunday 10/10/10 Starting at around 9:30 and finishing up around dark. Come out when you can and stay as long as you want! Refreshments and snacks provided, but feel free to bring something to augment our larder.

We've made lots of progress on getting the decrepit windows fixed and painted, so we'll try to get that all finished for winter, plus some of the same work on the house.

One of the first events of spring will be a big concert, needing lots of parking. Little by little, we're clearing out the brush on either side of the road to accommodate lots of diagonal parking...and building huge bonfires in the process.

There's lots of cleaning and other maintenance projects to get ready for winter and for ever!
All skill levels needed! You can even acquire some new skills along the way, and it doesn't you cost a thing!

Call Bill at 217 649-9085 for more info

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Fall Equinox this Saturday

AUTUMNAL EQUINOX CELEBRATION AT THE KALYX CENTER

Come on out to the Kalyx Center this Saturday evening for fun, food and a huge bonfire to help celebrate the beginning of fall! We're celebrating a few days early this Fall due to the crunch of lots of events later in the month and because the actual equinox falls in the middle of the week, and this notice is a bit late, so spread the word!!


When:

Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010

potluck starts about 6:00
Huge bonfire will be lit about 9:00

Bring:

Your wonderful self
Friends (please extend this invitation to anyone who might be interested)
Food -- enough to share...we have wood and charcoal grilles, microwaves, other kitchen stuff
Music -- Instruments, CD's, or your voice.
long pants and shoes for walking around


** The peak of the Autumn Olive season is right now. They’re all over the Kalyx Center land. They’re invasive, but also their berries are very good for your health. Check out this link (with thanks to Shameem Rakha.)
http://www.psa-rising.com/eatingwell/wild-foods/autumnolive.htm
If you’d like to pick lots of berries, come out early on Saturday afternoon. They’re free and healthful!

**Mark your calendar -- Urbana Country Dancers will be sponsoring two consecutive nights of fast-moving fall dance with live bands and callers at the Kalyx Barn on Friday and Saturday., October 1st and 2nd.


The Kalyx Center for Sustainability is a non-profit organization which
provides space for creative expression, exploration of innovative ways
of getting things done, meetings, campouts, weddings, exhibits,
concerts and retreats. We invite your suggestions for events!



Directions:

Beware -- Mapquest and some other map sites will get you to the wrong place. The following
Directions are time tested!

From Champaign - Urbana, take Church St, in Champaign westbound onto I-72. (not I-74)
Exit 166..It's the first exit for Monticello (marked "Market St. - IL 105")

Take Market St./IL 105 through two stop LIGHTS to the first stop SIGN. (corner of the ugly County Market)

Turn right onto Marion St., and go to the end (a "T" intersection by a golf course)

Turn left onto Allerton Road, and go about 3 miles, then past Allerton Park, to another "T"

Turn right onto 1300 North Rd. and look for the Kalyx Center sign after about 3/4 mile on the right side of the road


Biking directions or other HELP!

If you get lost or just want more information, call Bill Taylor at 217- 649-9085.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Spiffing up and bountiful harvests

Come on out to a Work Day to get the old barn ready for a thick and fast
succession of cool public events! (watch for upcoming postings)

Sunday, Sept. 12th 9a.m. till dark (Come out any time in there and stay as long as you want.)

We'll be finishing up on painting the barn trim, cleaning up everything for a rapid succession of public events, and doing some bonfire building and creating more space for parking in the process. People with special skills in carpentry, plumbing and painting should let us know in advance, so your skills can be well used. Don't worry if you haven't done things like this before...We'll find a niche for you. We'll provide some snacks and music to keep everyone happy!

Also on Sunday the 12th,

Bonfire Preparedness

There's the classic battle between invading autumn olive and honeysuckle
bushes and space for parking. Heroic warriors wielding laser sabres
(well, machetes and saws) will receive a victory trophy in form of a giant
spire of flame -- the bonfire for the Fall Equinox Celebration on Sat. the 18th (in which, admittedly, everyone can share).

And also, Autumn Olive Harvest and Massacree Festival

So autumn olive is this cool shrub which has lots of red berries
that are very beneficial -- Have anti-occidants and other cool stuff for
healthy bodies -- It's like you eat them and shzam, instant wellness! But
there's kind of a drawback too -- They were promoted a lot by
the Soil Conservation Service years back to rebuild soil -- which they do
for sure -- but, um, there's this other thing -- They just take over!
Make millions of seeds which the birds plant all over -- accch,
invasion!! So why not have a party to pick lots of those berries to
make muffins and juice and compotes, but also cut the shrubs to build a
huge bonfire! (Don't worry -- no danger of wiping out this crop.)
So you can come out and pick all the berries that you want for
free even, and maybe help build a huge, beautiful bonfire as well!
How cool is that?

If you want to take part in the harvest, or the massacree, it's all happening on Sunday the 12th of September as part of the work party