With a mission to educate and inspire action for responsible community living,The Center for Sustainable Living is a trade school, demonstration project and community center for sustainable living education.
Project Goals
Through cooperative contributions of time and energy, people living in a rural setting can produce a sustainable community that encourages self-reliant, harmonious and responsible interaction among people of all ages and interests. Young men and women can achieve a renewed sense of purpose and commitment through their own learning, experience and labors.
To achieve this goal, The Center for Sustainable Living proposes to offer a wide range of educational and skills training related to the broad field of sustainable living and environmental preservation. The Center will conduct a series of workshops, classes, tours, apprenticeships, and volunteer activities related to sustainable living, including:
- water harvesting,
- land conservation,
- solar energy and biodiesel production,
- affordable green building,
- composting and community gardening,
- waste recycling, and
- brush clearing for fire prevention.
The Center also proposes to expand general public awareness about the benefits of renewable energy, water conservation, and sound architectural, engineering, and agricultural practices.
To promote self-reliant, harmonious and responsible interactions within the community, the program will offer training in:
- responsible conflict resolution techniques;
- job training and employment relationships;
- communication and problem-solving skills;
- effective access to appropriate private and governmental resources.
Additional programs will be developed over time.
The Project Participants
Eagle Pines Academy is a §501(c)3 educational organization located just north of Texas State Highway 71 about halfway between Bastrop and Smithville. The facility is situated on approximately 120 acres of beautiful wilderness land in the Lost Pines Region of Bastrop County.
The Center for Sustainable Living represents a cooperative commitment between Woodside Trails Wilderness Experience, Inc., a §501(c)3 educational organization, its lessee, Eagle Pines Academy, and Responsible Community Design International, Inc., d/b/a “EcoQuest,” which has dedicated its resources and energy to the success of the project.
Opportunities exist for more support. Tax deductible donations are welcome to aid our work with the young adults and for the project materials needed to accomplish the tasks before us. Send your donation to the following address or for your convenience, you may use the donate button to efficiently and safely donate through PayPal with a credit card.
For more information, contact Bebe Gaines or call 512-237-4602. You may also write
Eagle Pines Academy
P.O. Box 999
Smithville, TX 78957