Solar Living Institute

The Saturday after Thanksgiving Mom, David, Charlie drove up to the Solar Living Institute in Hopland, California. Hopland is located north on Highway 101 just before Ukiah. We rode up in our Ford Escape Hybrid which seemed to fit in with the spirt of things.

The name "Solar Living Institute" is really misleading. They do so much more they, they generate power from Wind, the have their own water well, pond with fish, they grow their own food, the buildings are made from straw and mud, the bathroom doors are made from recycled prescription pill bottles, they have flushless urinals. There is really so much to learn from there. Their focus really seems to be leaving a small footprint on the earth.

We took the tour at 3:00 and were rewarded not only with a good tour and some great information, but you could buy their book called "Solar Living Source Book" for only $20.00, while inside their store the cost was $35.00. This book has 640 large pages filled with great information.

We had a really good time. I think I'd like to go back again, and perhaps stop at a winery and plan to have lunch at the local brew pub.