70's Gold 1971-1975

Dazed and Confused Intro

The 70's ! When you think of the first part of the decade what comes to mind? For me it's the best era of musical history.  Heavy Metal rocked the speakers of hot muscle cars like the 1971 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda, or in the case of the Dazed and Confused intro, a 1970 Pontiac GTO, aka The Judge.  The Vietnam War heavily influenced socio-politics in North America, finally ending with the Fall of Saigon in 1975. 1973 also saw the height of the oil crisis due to the OAPEC oil embargoes. The decade as been coined by historians as the "pivot of change" in world history. Massive genocides, the Watergate Scandal, breakthroughs in space exploration, and even the first episode of "The Price is Right!"
 Rock and Heavy Metal music at the time were a reflection of the civil unrest about the socio-politics of the era. People were becoming more politically aware, and more active. The early part of the decade bore witness to advances in civil rights legislation, banning biological warfare, and massive leaps forward in the television broadcast industry.

Come take a ride in my "Muscle Car Time-machine" as we lay rubber through the early 70's!

1971

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'71 was an awesome year in Muscle Cars, with the debut of the Dodge Challenger R/T Hemi, packing a 383cid Magnum v8. Only 71 426 Hemi Challenger R/T's were ever made. This is one of the most iconic muscle cars ever made. 

The '71 Ford Boss 351 Fastback Mustang was a wild beast, hiding a massive 429cid big block V8. 

Plymouth's '71 Hemi 'Cuda was the king of the road with a massive 426 cid big block Hemi v8. 

Let's check out some billboard hot singles.

The number 1 song of the year was "Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night, followed by Rod Stewart's "Maggie May". Two more of my personal favourite hits from '71 are "Brown Sugar" by the Rolling Stones which placed 18th overall, and Canadian Gordon Lightfoot's "If you could read my mind" at 38.

1971 also saw the formation of The Eagles, Foghat, Manfred Man's Earth Band, Queen, and Wings. That year Davey Jones left the Monkeys and the band broke up.

On March 16th the 13th Grammy Awards were presented and aired live on TV for the first time.

On April 6 The Rolling Stones announce their new contract with Atlantic Records. Shortly after on May 12th Mick Jagger married Bianca de Macias in France where the band was located at the time.

Tragedy rocked the musical world on July 3 when Jim Morrison was found dead in a bath tub in Paris.

The Fillmore East closed on June 27 in New York, and the Fillmore West closed shortly after on the 4th of July in San Francisco.

Led Zepplin released their fourth studio album, officially untitled "Led Zepplin IV", which would become the best selling album in 1972, the bands biggest selling album, and the fourth most sold album in the world.

On December 4 in Montreaux, Switzerland the Montreaux Casino catches fire during a Frank Zappa performance after a fan fires a flare gun into the rafters. Deep Purple, who were set to record the next day at the Casino and watched the fire from across Lake Geneva. The transpiring events were captured in their song "Smoke on the Water", released in 1972.

Anne Wilson joined Heart that year, moving to Vancouver, BC and would later be regarded on of the best female vocalists in Rock history. In 2006 Hit Parader magazine lister her as one of the "Top Heavy Metal Vocalisis of All Time."

What was going on in the Socio-Political climate at the time?

Most notably, the horrors of the Bangladesh Genocide during the nine-month Bangledesh Liberation War. Pakistany Military and Militia forces killed between 300,000 to 3,000,000 people and raped between 200,000 and 400,000 Bangledeshi women in a systematic campaign of genocidal rape. This was known as Operation Searchlight.






The Vietnam War waged on under President Nixon's Administration. In 1971 the Pentagon Papers were leaked to The New York Times, outlining a series of public deceptions about the true top-secret history of the United State's involvement in Vietnam.










On Jan 2 a ban on the advertising of cigarettes on the radio and television goes into effect in the United States. The monumental Sit-Com "All in the Family" debuts on CBS starring Archie Bunker. This was also the era of the "Mary Tyler Moore" show, which aired from 1970 - 1977. These shows gave comic relief to a nation that needed some humours distraction from all of the killing and violence going on in the world at that time.

Appollo 14 lifts off on the third successful lunar landing mission. The shuttle lifted off from the moon on January 31 and landed back on Earth February 9. On that same day, Satchel Page became the first Negro League baseball player to be voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

On March 8, 1971, Madison Square Garden in New York hosted what was later dubbed "The Fight of the Century". "Smokin'" Joe Frazier (26-0, 23KO's) defeats Muhamed Ali (31-0, 25 KO's) in a full 15 round championship distance, winning by unanimous decision by the judges.

1972

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The number one hit single for 1972 was Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face."
Don McLean's classic 'American Pie" came in 3rd. Notable singles from the hot 100 include Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" at number 11, and Canadian Neil Young's "Heart of Gold" in the number 17 spot, and The Mood Blues in 32nd with "Nights in White Satin".

This was also the year that saw the formation of ABBA, Alabama, Devo, Steely Dan, Stix, and Van Halen.This was also the year that saw the disbandment of Creedence Clearwater Revival and The Velvet Underground. The old was moving on and the new generation of artists were really mixing up music at the time.

On May 2, the Stone Crows lead guitarist Les Harvey is electrocuted on stage in Wales by a poorly connected microphone. He dies hours later in the Hospital.

On January 20, Pink Floyd debuted Dark Side of the Moon, releasing it later in 1973.

May 8, Billy Preston becomes the first Rock performer to headline Radio City Music Hall in New York. A giant leap for Rock music.

August 5, Aerosmith signs to Columbia Records.


1972 Socio-Politics

January 5, President Nixon orders the development of a space shuttle program. This would go on to be a unifying force bringing Americans together in the "space race" against the Russians.

On January 21, the first ever Star Trek Convention was held in New York.

January 24, A Japanese soldier Soichi Yokoi is discovered in Guam after 28 years in the jungle.

Colour Television sales surpass sales of Black and White Televisions.

February 3 - 13, Sapporo, Japan hosts the 1972 Winter Olympics. Subsequently, the 1972 Summer Olympics ware held in Munich, Germany. Eleven Israeli athletes are murdered by the Arabian terrorist group Black September in the Munich Massacre


February 4, Mariner 9 sends pictures as it orbits Mars.

February 13, Led Zeppelin are not aloud to depart their plane in Singapore because of their long hair, resulting in the cancellation of their concert.

The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson was moved from New York City to NBC studios in Burbank, California. Only recently in February of 2014 did it move back to the east coast.

Ireland, January 30, the Bloody Sunday massacre witnesses 26 civil rights protesters and bystanders gunned down by British Soldiers. U2 wrote a song about it.



February 15, 1972 marks the day that the United States granted federal Copyright protection to sound recordings. This is a pivotal step forward in the recording industry.

March 19, India and Bangledesh sign a friendship treaty.

March 22, the U.S. Congress votes yes to the proposed women's rights legislation, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).

March 24, Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather debuts in US cinemas, becoming the second greatest film in American cinema behind Citizen Kane. It dominates the box office for the year. The days of good old wholesome entertainment were giving way to grittier, more true-to-life films. The dirty underside of America was starting to be acknowleged.

April 10, the US Government and the Soviet Union join some 70 nations in signing the Biological Weapons Convention, banning biological warfare.

April 16, NASA launches Appolo 16 for a lunar landing.

April 27, the Burundian Genocide begins, killing more than 500,000 Hutus.

May 26, the Magnavox Odyssey video game system is first introduced, marking the beginning of the video game era.





June 17, five White House operatives are arrested for burglarizing the offices of the Democratic National Committee. The is knows as the Watergate Scandal, in which Nixon made his famous "I am not a crook" speech. This lead to the resignation of President Richard Nixon on August 9, 1974.

On June 28, President Nixon announces that no new draftees will be sent to Vietnam. The presidential election is to be held in the fall.

July 21, 1972 marks the date of Bloody Friday in Belfast when the Irish Republican Army detonated 26 bombs over a one hour time-span, killing 11 and injured 130.

September 5, the first episode of The Price is Right airs on CBS by Bob Barker.

October 1, Alex Comfort publishes his best selling manual, The Joy of Sex, marking a new era in the sexual revolution of the Americas.


On November 7, Richard Nixon is reelected as President of the United States of America.

1973

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The billboard top hit for 1973 was "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" by Tony Orlando and Dawn. Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly with His Song" was 3rd, Billy Paul sang "Me and Mrs. Jones" in 15 place. Stevie Wonder's "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" was 16th, and "Superstition" took the 26th spot.

1973 saw the formation of AC/DC. Period. Okay, Okay, other bands also came together that year; Winnipeg's Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Bad Company, Cheap Trick, KC and the Sunshine Band, Quiet Riot, and The Sugar Hill Gang. The year also saw the demise of The Byrds, and The Doors.

Miller Brewing Company also introduced the first light beer, Miller Light.


January 5, Aerosmith release their debut self-titled album.

January 9, Mick Jagger's Japanesse visa application is rejected for a 1969 drug charge, forcing the cancellation of their Japanese stop on their Pacific Tour. On January 18, The Stones would raise over $350,000 for support following a devastating earthquake in Nicaragua that destroyed the capital city, Managua. On May 9, Mick Jagger would add $150,000 of his personal money to the relief fund.

January 14, Elvis Presley's Aloha from Hawaii is broadcast to over 40 countries worldwide via Satellite Television. (*note the technology change as television's popularity and quality continues to improve.) The broadcast has more viewers than the Apollo lunar landing.


January 30, Kiss perform for the first time at the Coventry Club in Queens, New York.

March 1, the highly anticipated release of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. The album logs an all-time record of 741 weeks on the Billboard 200, and is one of the best selling albums of all-time.  click play on video --->




March 6, US Immigration cancels John Lennon's visa five days after granting it.

March 8, Sir Paul McCartney is fined £100 for growing marijuana outside his Scottish farm.

On April 16, McCartney's first solo television special, James Paul McCartney aired on ABC.

March 24 Lou Reed is bitten on the ass by a fan during a concert in Buffalo, New York.

On July 3, David Bowie retires his Ziggy Stardust persona in front of a shocked crowd at the Hammersmith Odeon, ending his British tour.

July 13, Queen releases their debut album.

August 6, Stevie Wonder is in a major car accident outside Durham, North Carolina, and spends 4 days in a coma.

September 11, Art Garfunkel releases his first solo album after 17 years as an musician.

September 23, the legendary Roxy Theatre opens in West Hollywood, California. Here's a clip of Frank Zappa (who played the Montreaux Casino the night it burnt down in 1971), live in concert at the Roxy in 1973, full concert here.


October 17, the 1973 Oil Crisis causes shortages of vinyl needed to press records. Limited quantities of albums were released or delayed during this period of time. This was a major threat to the industry, however tape technology was quickly approaching.
November 1, Kiss signs with newly formed Casablanca Records.

December 3, CBGB music club opens in Manhattan, New York. "CBGB" stands for Country, Bluegrass, and Blues, although the club would play legendary host to the who's who of punk rock and new wave bands like the Misfits, the Ramones, the B52's and Joan Jett. Hardcore acts in the 80's included Agnostic Front, Gorilla Biscuits, and Sick of It All.





Socio-Political 1973

January 15, President Nixon announces the suspension of offensive action in North Vietnam, citing progress in peace negotiations.  On January 20, Nixon is inaugurated for his second term as President. 

On January 27 the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War ends with the signing of the Paris Peace Accords.  February 11, the first of the American Prisoners of War are released in Vietnam. March 29, the last U.S. soldier is withdrawn from Vietnam.

January 22, "Spittin' Joe Frazier is defeated by George Forman in the boxing heavyweight world
championships.


February 6, Construction of the CN Tower in Toronto, ON begins.








February 27, The American Indian Movement seizes occupation at Wounded Knee, South Dakota. Oglala Lakota Sioux take a stand agains the american federal government's persistent failure to honour it's treaties. This is a monumental move by the AIM, empowering Native American peoples to stand up for their treaty rights. The 71 day occupation ends in surrender on May 8.

March 23, James W McCord, Jr. submits a letter to Judge John Sirica in the Watergate Scandal. McCord admits to having been pressured to remain silent during the investigation. Former Attorney General John Mitchell is named as "overall boss" of the scandal. On July 16, Alexander Butterfield informs the US Senate Watergate Committee that President Nixon had secretly recorded conversations that were potentially incriminating.

April 3, the first handheld mobile phone call is made by Motorola in New York City. Yes, in 1973!

April 4, the World Trade Centre is officially opened in New York City.

May 14, the United States launches Skylab, their first space station. March 25th, Skylab 2 is launched to repair launch damages to Skylab.

March 23rd marks the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

June 4, the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) is patented.

June 16, United States President,  Nixon begins a series of talks with Soviet Czar Leonid Brezhnev.

July 1, the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is founded as part of the War on Drugs.

August 5, Black September members open fire in an airport in Athens, Greece, killing 3 and injuring 55.

August 15, the United States' bombing of Cambodia ends after a 12 year campaign.

On November 7 the U.S. Congress overrides President Nixon's veto of the War Powers Resolution, which limits presidential power to wage war without congressional approval. The people's faith in President Nixon was at this point wearing very thin.

November 17, President Nixon gives his famous "I am not a crook" speech.

November 21, An 18.5 minute gap is revealed in one of the White House taped recordings during the Watergate Scandal.

December 6, Gerald Ford is sworn in as Vice President of the United States of America.

December 15, the American Psychiatric Association removes homosexuality from its DSM-II list. This is a fundamental moment in the Gay Rights Movement. (Now the LGBT social movement.)

December 28, the Endangered Species Act is passed.

At this point in time, more and more legislation was beginning to be introduced that represented equal rights, and protective laws for the environment including emissions laws due to the OAPEC embargo.
In October of 1973 members of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) formed an oil embargo. The price of oil inflated from $3 per barrel to $12 per barrel, or a 400% increase in pricing. Production was also cut, drastically reducing the amount of exports.
The embargo was in response to the United States' in evolvement in the Yom Kippur War on October 6 of that year. The USA had supplied israelies with arms to defend against a militant attack by Egypt and Syria. The embargo was carried out against North America, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
The embargo created a recession, slowing economic output (GDP). In North America, sales of more fuel-efficient Japanese automobiles rose dramatically as the gas-guzzling big-block Muscle cars began to become extinct. Emissions legislation was introduced, and the national speed limit was set to 55 mph in an effort to improve fuel efficiency.
Socio-political sentiments about government oppression and collusion were reflected by the angst of the growing Metal and Punk Rock scenes. People were getting pissed and it was showing. I personally see the American Indian Movement earlier on in February as being a large contributor to civil empowerment. People were seeing that they really could create political awareness.
The united states' oil production had peaked in 1970, with a decline in domestic supply, heightening dependance on Arabian petroleum exports.
The events thereon in are still being felt by the economic world. Following the embargo, U. S. stock markets went into the worst crash since the great depression. Massive inflation on account of interest rates as high as 20% on home mortgages spurned what has now become the real-estate crisis. The embargo would last until March 17, 1974. By December of the same year, the stock market crash would also come to a finish.
During this time, a great shift in global wealth and power began to take place. Lines were drawn between OAPEC countries and those countries supporting relations with the United States such as Israel. To this day the majority of clashes between the western world and the Middle-East have been spurned by the war for oil.

1974

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Barbara Streisand took the number one spot for the year with "The Way We Were". "Seasons in the Sun" was the second biggest hit that year by Terry Jacks. Grand Funk Railroad's "The Loco-Motion" came in sixth, and Kool and the Gang's "Jungle Boogie" was the twelfth hottest single for 1974. Funk and disco were in, thanks to an influx of psychedelic drug use and the Hippy generation's free spiritedness following the return of soldiers from Vietnam.


1974 was the year that Blondie, The Ramones, and the Toronto Symphany Orchestra were formed. It also saw the dismemberment of The Moody Blues and Jefferson Airplane.

Sadly, this was the last production year for the majority of the Muscle and Pony cars like the Mustang, the Camero, and the Charger. It was the end of an era that would see enthusiasts baby and preserve their beauties which can be seen to this day at Show n' Shines all over North America.

January 3, Bob Dylan kicks off his first tour since 1966.

January 17, Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell releases "Court and Spark", her most monumental work.

February 18, Kiss release their self-titled album.

February 20, Sonny and Cher divorce.

April 16, Queen plays their first North American gig in Denver, Colorado.

April 25, Pam Morrison, Jim Morrison's widow, is found dead from an apparent heroin overdose.

June 5, Patti Smith records "Hey Joe", which is arguably goes on to be the first punk rock single.

July 29, Neil Peart joins Rush. 



August 17, The Ramones make their CBGB debut.

October 5, AC/DC performs with Bon Scott on vocals for the fist time.

December 31, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham join Fleetwood Mac.

Socio-Political 1974

January 16, Ethiopia begins a Civil War.

February 8, the crew of Skylab 4 return to Earth after a record 84 days in orbit.

April, 1974, the world population reaches an estimated 4 billion people. 

June 26, the first ever UPC is scanned on a piece of Wrigley's gum in a supermarket in Ohio.

August 8, Richard Nixon announces his resignation following the Watergate Scandal. 

December 30, The last World War II Japanese soldier, Teruo Nakamura surrenders in Indonesia after 34 years of service in the Imperial Japanese Army.

The 1973-74 Stock Market Crash lasted for 699 days between January 11, 1973 and December 6, 1974. During that time, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost over 45% of it's value. The London Stock Exchange's FT30 lost 73% of it's value. By 1974 inflation had risen from 3.4% to 12.3%. Interest rates soared, and to this day we are seeing the affects of high-interest mortgages and sub-prime loans that were inflated during the 1980's.

Faith in America's principle institutions; her government and her economy, was beginning to crumble. 

1975

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Funk music, New Age, and songs about freedom continued to dominate the charts in 1975, with Captain & Tennille taking the number one song of the year, "Love Will Keep Us Together" . Glen Campbell's "Rhinestone Cowboy" was the number two song, and Elton John took the third place for the year with "Philadelphia Freedom". The Eagles rounded out the number ten spot with "One of These Nights". Carl Douglas' hit "Kung Fu Fighting" kicked ass into the 15th spot, and the Doobie Brothers' "Black Water" made 16th.

There was an uplifting social sentiment as Nixon's era and Vietnam came to an end, it was time to party in America!

In 1975 was the birthdate for bands like the Sex Pistols, Iron Maiden, and Motorhead all got their start, fuelled by the oppressive political events of the previous years. This was also the year that one of my favourite bands came together, The Talking Heads! In the same year, The Guess Who broke up to later reform in 1977.

On January 2 the New York City U.S. District Court ruled that John Lennon and his lawyers have access to the Department of Immigration files pertaining to his deportation case in which his freshly granted visa was revoked five days later. On October 7, John Lennon's 1972 deportation order is overturned by the New York Court of Appeals. He is allowed to stay in the United States.

January 8, Three Led Zeppelin concerts to be held at Madison Square Garden sell out in a record four hours.

March 2, Los Angeles Police randomly pull over a vehicle that happens to contain Paul McCartney and his wife, Linda, who was arrested for having between 6 and 8 ounces of marijuana in her purse.

May 1, The Rolling Stones promote their forthcoming North American tour, playing "Brown Sugar" from a flatbed truck on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Epic!

June 20, the newly formed Talking Heads perform their first gig at CBGB in New York.

August 9, the Bee Gees release "Jive Talkin" and make an international comeback when it makes #1 and goes platinum.

September 15, Pink Floyd releases "Wish You Were Here," their ninth album.

November 21, "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen goes number one, and remains for 9 weeks.

December 10, John Denver's "Rocky Mountain Christmas" airs on ABC television.

December 24, the first issue of Punk Magazine is printed. Lou Reed (R.I.P.) is featured on the cover.

December 25, Iron Maiden is formed.


Political and Social 1975

March 8, 1975 was dubbed International Women's Year. It is now celebrated annually.

January, the Altair 8800 is released, leading the microcomputer revolution.

January 1, John N Mitchell, H.R. Haldeman, and John Ehrlichman are found guilty of the Watergate cover-up.

January 6, Wheel of Fortune premiers on NBC.

April 4, Bill Gates and Paul Allen found Microsoft in Albuquerque, new Mexico.

September 5 and 22, President Gerald Ford survives two assassination attempt in California; one in Sacramento and one in San Francisco.

October 1, Muhammad Ali defeats Joe Frazier in a boxing match in the Phillippines known as the Thrilla in Manila.

October 11, Saturday Night Live airs it's first episode o NBC with George Carlin as it's first host.

November 15, the "Group of 6" or G-6 industrialized nations is formed.

Summary

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The socio-political situations of the early part of the 70's contributed to the societal angst that brought about changes in Environmental, Civil Liberty, and Equal Rights legislation. Political power was decentralized, and special interest groups throughout America began rallying for rights and legislation. New Age, Punk, and Heavy Metal music grew in popularity as a result of the civil unrest that the public was tired of shouldering.

By the middle part of the decade, many of the Socio-Political issues were coming to an end. Soldiers had been disbanded from Vietnam, Nixon had been ousted following the Watergate Scandal, and the country had begun to recover from the 1973-1974 stock market crash.



Modern Pioneering on the Canadian Prairie

For years his name has come up in conversations. Topics like sustainability and heritage gardening have become regionally synonymous with his name. In a world that is far too dependant on fossil fuels, there are a few key individuals throughout Manitoba who are creating a change in the way that we live. David Neufeld is living by example, and he’s more than willing to share. The Neufeld farm, Room To Grow has evolved  into a bit of a mecca for sustainable living information and development.

Neufeld is a Boissevain area local. He grew up on the land, and that’s where the “seeds” of sustainability began to germinate. Located in the Turtle Mountains is Room To Grow, a sustainable living farm that focuses on a natural lifestyle as well as sharing ideas and information about respectful food growing and economic fairness. The farm consists of two family homes, a guesthouse, a pond-house, a greenhouse, and an outdoor garden on a one hundred and sixty acre property. 

The purpose of Room To Grow is to live, use, and make a living on the land while respecting and adding to the diverse wildness of the surrounding area. 

Neufeld and his partner Magdalene (Maggie) Andres have travelled the world extensively, and spent 8 years living in South Africa while working for the Mennonite Central Committee. During their time with the MCC, they had their four children. A combination of life in Africa and a one-year family road trip throughout Central and North American has created a very strong family bond. As the children have grown older, they have begun to take a greater interest in life on the farm. The family has witnessed the strain that the global population is putting on the ecological world. Their travels have provided them with a wealth of insight.

From day one, the property's development was focused. Solar panels were recycled from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and capacitated energy into recycled car batteries. There was enough natural energy to run a radio, lights, water pump, and even a clothes washing machine. The fascination with the fact that people can survive off of natural sources of energy quickly prompted Neufeld and his family to source a Whisper 1000 wind turbine from Duluth, Ontario. It was affixed to a recycled, seventy foot FM radio tower found in nearby Boissevain. Bear in mind that all of this development began in 1991, and at that time information and resources were scarce to say the least. 

David Neufeld showing off
 his homemade maple syrup

Early development of the property was unhindered by any kind of zoning or building permits. The property falls outside of Boissevain’s jurisdiction, and so no permit is required. Room To Grow is allowed to evolve naturally as does the surrounding landscape. The guesthouse was constructed over a five year period from straw bales and plaster.

"Sustainable building is very much an art, and one that works best with materials that can be found locally", says Neufeld. 

Building with straw, for example is a great option for life on the prairies, however; areas like Vancouver island are far too humid and result in rotting. On the coast, wood chips are plentiful and offer the moisture protection which straw cannot provide. 

At the Room To Grow farm, time notably seems to slow to a more natural pace. The family's approach to the development of the property is very meticulous, and yet elegant in it’s simplicity. Less truly is more.  His kitchen table also doubles as an office in the main house, which is built from an old church. 

There is a sparkle in his eye as he tours his property, littered with tangible examples of sustainable buildings. David Neufeld is a man of vision. His greenhouse business is now thriving. With the knowledge that has accumulated in the local area, the community continues to grow. Neufeld’s pioneer days have created a ripple effect throughout the the province. Sustainable, off-grid housing is increasingly becoming a lifestyle option as people become more globally aware. The price of land continues to escalate throughout Canada, making the financial viability of sustainable options a wholesome alternative for home ownership. People are seeking his knowledge. 

Neufeld proudly smiles as he looks out over the pond from the future vantage point of his retirement home. An Earth Ship constructed of rammed-earth tires, straw bales, and plaster is a project on the near horizon. South facing, the ship will capture the morning light against her adjoined greenhouse. Solar panels positioned to her aft will capture the nourishing sun’s energy thus sustaining power through an endless voyage of sunrises and sunsets. As the surrounding land evolves at the pace of life, so too does the Neufeld’s way of living.

A visit to the Room To Grow farm is a life experience that is hard to forget. Neufeld's pioneering spirit, and the fruits of his hard labour are very inspiring. Anyone interested in living off-grid, building sustainably, and organic gardening would be well advised to learn by example from David Neufeld and his wonderful family.

~ Scotty Gwyer

Building a sustainable, eco-friendly house in 10 easy steps.

Everyone knows the story of the three little pigs; the wolf comes and blows down the house made of sticks, and the house made of straw... Well this is the real world!   And, believe it or not, you can build with sticks and straw, all sealed with clay-plaster. No amount of huffing and puffing is going to blow down one of these bad boys, that's for sure!

The rural setting on the Canadian prairie is home to thousands upon thousands of acres of farm land. Wetland potholes heavily populate the prairies, creating pockets of both forest and pond. There is a deep connection to the land, borne over generations of farmers staking a living by nature's bounty. There is an inherent respect for mother nature. Survival in years past was largely dependent upon bountiful harvests of grains, vegetables, fruit, and livestock. A mutual relationship of survival existed between the farmers and their land. This bond is very similar to the harmonic relationship between Native Americans and nature. In fact, early anglo-saxon settlers built homes out of sod.

The new generation of home-owners is more environmentally aware of the side affects that our way of living has had and will have on our environment. We understand that in order to survive, we must mutually support the land that supports our basic survival needs; food, water, clothing. The responsible management of those resources is up to us, and as consumers, we must make better choices regarding fossil fuels, organic foods, and our carbon footprint. 

Want to reconnect with the land? Live on it! In fact, live in it!

Regionally, we have all of the supplies necessary; thin boreal trees, an over abundance of straw, and varying kinds of clay. As a kid growing up we did A LOT of fort building... by instinct. Why you ask? Because it's basic survival. For hundreds of thousands of years our survival was based on the food, clothing, and shelter provided by the land.

Don't you worry, old uncle Scotter has a little list to help you build your dream organic home!

1. Find your own little piece of paradise, a plot of land with a high point to ensure against flooding. Look for an abundance of trees, and of course, a breath-taking view. If you develop farther outside of townships you will see less red tape under any housing inspector's jurisdiction.

2. Clear the trees from the build site, and store them in a dry place. These will be the frame for your new home. 

3. Source square straw bales locally. Be sure to find nice dry bales, preferably not too freshly bound so that they have had a chance to settle. Keep these in a dry place, elevated off of the ground when not in use for building.

4. Level the land where you are planning to develop your dream home. A solid, packed foundation is crucial to the long-term stability of the floor and walls. I would suggest having the plot professionally packed using earth compactors. Cover the packed foundation with vapour barrier, followed by boards, then bales, and then boards again. This will act as a sub-floor. Earthen flooring overtop is the final stage of the entire building process.

5. Frame the home using the logs collected during the excavation of the build site. This includes framing for windows, doorways, stair wells, and support pillars. 

6. Stack the bales in an interlocking pattern, offsetting each layer by a half a bale. This is the strongest form of stacking. Be certain to cram extra straw into the crux between bale corners. The insulation R factor of bales is very high, close to 40r. For life on the prairie, this is an essential level of insulation given our winters. 

7. As an option, steel wire can be used to wrap the walls making them straighter and stronger. For myself personally, I like the little imperfections. As an added note, the walls end up being approximately 18 inches deep, providing more than enough support for the roofing to be added once the walls are complete.

8. Now it's time to complete the ceiling. Plastered walls and the flooring can come later, but the important thing to do is roof the building to keep things dry. A first layer of logs and some plaster on the top side provide the lower support and aesthetics for the interior. On top of the ceiling boards, lay more bales to insulate the ceiling.

9. Experiment with different local clays to create a tacky plaster. I would suggest consulting a local mason to determine the right mix of ingredients. Spread the mixed clay-plaster liberally over the bales on the ceiling first, followed by all of the walls inside and out, forming a seamless seal against moisture around all of the bales. This is why it was so important to pack the excavation site before laying any flooring or plaster. Lay a thin layer of soil to even the plaster and then cover the roof with vapour barrier.



Cover the vapour barrier with a layer of soil and sew to thick-rooting grasses and plants. This looks absolutely beautiful, and is very well insulated from both weather and noise.

10. Cover the floor boards liberally with a mixture of clay, sand, and straw. Level and pack the flooring until it is hard and smooth to the touch. Lastly, seal the flooring with natural oils and waxes.

Hydronics Tubing

Earthen Floors

As an added bonus, before laying down the clay flooring, run hydronics tubing everywhere. Warm, natural earth flooring feels amazing underfoot! An attached greenhouse is a great place to run the hydronics heating coils so that they collect a maximum of radiant solar heat. 

Lastly, sit back and enjoy! You have just made a building entirely out of locally sustainable materials, and any non-organic building supplies are recyclable. 

In and out with a snap at the Brandon Regional Health Centre

Security had to be called this morning at the Brandon Regional Health Centre due to an altercation over parking in front of the main entrance. Two women reportedly got into an argument when one woman approached the other who was carrying coffee to her car from the Tim Horton's coffee shop in the hospital. The confrontation, which occurred in the circular patient drop-off area, escalated quickly to the point that Security had to separate the two individuals who were on the verge of a physical altercation. 

Although there is designated parking on the Brandon Regional Health Centre grounds for Tim Horton's customers, the woman carrying her coffee was parked in the designated 10 minute patient drop-off zone. At the time there were open spaces in the Tim Horton's parking zone. The woman who confronted the cafe patron later confided that she was dropping off her ailing father who requires considerable help with mobility. 

The Tim Horton's coffee shop in the hospital is one of a small handful of coffee shops in the east end of Brandon. In order to accommodate patrons as well as patient drop-off the hospital has designated the circular area as a patient-drop off zone, and the parking just north of the patient drop-off zone is designated Tim Horton's parking.  

"I saw that the area was marked as a patient drop off zone, and this woman was parked where she shouldn't have been. I asked her if she could read, and things kind of escalated from there," said the woman who was dropping off her father. The cafe customer has declined to comment. 

When asked about the parking issue, the Brandon Regional Health Authority issed the following public statement; “The Brandon Regional Health Authority recognizes the need to accommodate parking for hospital as well as Tim Horton’s patrons. We would ask the public at this time to respect the parking zones as they are marked. The designated patient drop-off zone is meant to service those patients who have difficulties with mobility and require to-the-door transportation.”

The future of social media

Where is social media going? A technology that is still rapidly evolving is taking over the world of media. Fueled by the increase of Cellular usage, and a changing demographic is changing what news we digest, how we digest it, and when. In order to keep with the times, media-based companies such as local radio and tv stations need to adapt their social media to keep up with the trend.

The new generation consumes more audio and video media as compared to 10 years ago. This trent will only increase as time moves forward.

In order to captivate our audience, we have to address them on multiple platforms. The ability to interact with the media source is a big change in the industry. Consumers of media can taylor what news they hear, when they hear it, and can feedback on what they have seen, read, or heard. Contests and promotions as well can be more captivating and draw readers in by engaging them more, and the more engaged that they are, the more attached they become to whatever they are interacting with. It creates a relationship between the consumer and the source.

Real-time reporting and timely news updates are also crucial to news and entertainment promotion. If things aren't reported on the day of their happening, they become old news. Writers and editors will have to be vigilant for errors and fact finding in their posts, because less time is spent polishing the finished product and errors are more likely to go through because fewer people preview the stories before they are released.

Media has worldwide reach, and this will help news sources to become more content-specific, offering a deeper level of reporting on subjects that are of an informed nature to their followers.

Technology-wise, continued improvements in consumer convenience and changes in the way we interface with that technology will change as well. I can see more hands-free use and voice recognition, and more predictive software and content.

I for one am looking forward to the changing market to see what unfolds. Small producers are more capable of competing with larger sources thanks to the timeliness and reach of social media. It's going to be anybody's game!

Romantic Analog Distant Digital

I'm going to put this out there. I'm going to be 36 this year. In my time I have seen a myriad of technologies come and go. The older I get, the more I become a stickler for tradition. I hope you brought your swimsuit, because we are diving in deep on this one.

The year was 1978. Muscle Cars. Queen, Rush, David Bowie. Golden times. This was also the year that I was born on a hot July morning. It was still the era of record players and 8 tracks. VHS hadn't been introduced yet, TVs weighed A TON, and computers were still the size of a room. That was the scene. Analog. The recording industry was a big deal because there was no Internet. Music and TV were the biggest two forms of entertainment on the continent. The cost associated with producing media in those days created a high standard for production. Thousands of dollars worth of tape were used to record the best quality audio at the time. Performers had to be good, very very good. 

There are arguments for and against the costs of production. By today's standards, anyone can create an album for a fraction of the cost, with readily available and relatively affordable equipment. This makes it easier for artists to establish themselves; however, on the other side of the coin there are more artists to compete with for exposure. Knowledge and education is easily available to help produce high quality production. And, that's part of the problem. Anybody can produce media, there is no standard for content quality. Multiple retakes can easily be done digitally, post production can do wonders that it never could do before.

Don't get me wrong, all of this wonderful technology makes the true masters' work sound even more amazing! There is just a lot more rough for the diamonds to be hidden in.

What is so romantic about analog technology? In my mind, there are two blaring examples; film cameras and records. What does it all boil down to? The relationship between the artist and the medium.

Photography is latin for painting with light. The technology for capturing a certain amount of light over a certain amount of time on film and using chemical reactions to both store that light and transform photo-sensitive paper to reveal an image is a physical and chemical process. Quite honestly, a brilliant process. It is also an art form. It requires timing, technique, and a special touch to create unique images of high quality.

Digital SLR cameras do a wonderful job of mimicking the actions of an analog film camera. Users can set f/stop, shutter speed, and even simulate film speed (ISO). Digital technology has surpassed film quality in terms of clarity; megapixels for both capture and print. Yes this is true. Hundreds to thousands of images can be stored on a single memory card. Photos can be instantly reviewed; whereby a photographer had to wait a week to have photos developed when I was a kid. Today's film photographers are pretty much limited to personal darkrooms for doing their exposure and print work.

When I was a kid, you had to be skilled at predicting what a picture would look like. There was no shoot and adjust and reshoot. Touch, experience, and confidence, were key ingredients. This lead to a bond between the photographer and their equipment. There was a mutual understanding of how each played an integral role in the creation of the final product. That bond is what I like to call romance.

The special touch in art is what gives it feeling. It's the romance behind the process, the journey not the destination. As a shooter who has spent an equal amount of time on both SLR cameras and digital cameras, I can say that there is a distance from my digital equipment, a coldness that was not there with the physical act of film photography.

I feel the same way about music as I do for photography. Records will always sound the best, to my ears anyways. We hear all kinds of noise in the background while we go throughout our days. We hear it, it's there, but we don't listen to it. It just kind-of drowns into the mix. But, it is always there. That same noise is in the background on records. The imperfections make it sound almost live. The technology of engraving records, and precision playback pitch is quite fascinating. Records are the oldest form of musical recording and yet have transcended so many other forms as the audiophile's choice of medium.

It's the sense of attachment. The record is a physically real thing. We can see it physically rotating as it plays. We know that whatever is making that noise is a physical interaction. To our ears, things that make noise are tangible, real, moving. We connect with these tangible things both emotionally and physically. We bond.

In the days of the record, there was a physical attachment to the music that created such amazing emotions. There was a primal urge that was satisfied by collating at the record shop to hunt for the next experience in the form of a cassette or record. These elements are not present in modern digital music. We simply don't get electronically attached the way we do to physical things.

Vinyl music appeals to more of the five senses. It has a distinct smell, it can be touched as well as watched as it plays. The record art was an expression of what was to be heard inside. The lyrics slips and liner art were a mystery to the shopper. All of these factors created a different level of bond to the music.

Call me a romantic, but analog technology was a true art form. It was an interaction between the artist and the medium as in the case of film photography. It was an interaction between the listener and the record as it played that created attachment to the songs I loved. That feeling is distant in the digital world.  The old fashioned stickler in me is still inspired as an artist by the romance of a familiar dance with a familiar old partner.

If you can't find a job, make one!

How would I earn a living using my education, an internet connection, my recently acquired MacBook Pro Retina (DAAAMMMN!!), and some audio/video equipment?

Lets visit two scenarios, one in my past and one in my near future;

From 2004 - 2009 I had my own skateboard and snowboard sales business, Scotty Gwyer Agency. I established my accounts and maintained them by doing in-store product demonstrations, and attending bi-annual sales conferences in Vancouver called the Know?Show (yes that's spelled correctly). The show consisted of the who's who of the Action Sports Industry. My booth was always right across from the Red Dragons both where Sluggo would give me "the nod" every time I did the show. (for those not in the know, Rob "Sluggo" Boyce is a pillar of Canadian skate and snowboard history.)

Lets just say that those years were the best years of my life, years that I dreamed of as a kid. It didn't come easy and I put in some hard work to gain the credibility and reputation to be a sales rep for some very respected brands. Dekline Shoes, Toy Machine, Flip, Innes, and Ifound clothing were my lines, all very legitimate rider-focused companies. My territory was Western Canada, from Manitoba to BC, and the Territories. Logistically I just couldn't make the northern trips feasible based on their small market sales. 

The Know?Show was a blur of sales presentations, entertainment, and booze schmoozing about Vancouver's beautiful Gastown area. Being a savvy marketing kind of guy, I wanted my brands to stand out in the minds and memories of my accounts. I preferred to do my sales presentation on my way to Vancouver from Manitoba and back so that my products would be easier to remember outside of the barrage of products (and I mean thousands) that purchasers have to choose from at the show. Yes, I know, pretty clever. The products in question were samples of the coming season's designs, with purchasers pre-booking their orders for delivery six months later. The distribution companies would then order direct from the brands and distribute the product in either the spring or fall fashion seasons. I worked as an independent agent for Ultimate Skateboard Distribution and Ifound directly. I was living life six months ahead of the trends, hanging with the coolest shops, meeting pros, and living a dream!

Here's what I always wanted to do, and what I could do again, should I reopen my agency. (hmmmmmmm...)

I always wanted to have my products and sales presentations available digitally. I envisioned a business to business site for my accounts to check out any kind of product information. What I would do with my media productions skills is my sales presentations product by product, clothing sample by clothing sample, shoe by shoe. Under each sales presentation video would be corresponding information about the product, and more importantly, a Add to Prebook button. Customer accounts would be able to prebook stock through the warehouse for the upcoming season's fashions. 

Not only would I be able to better service accounts that were out of my travel range, but my accounts would have 24-7 access to do their orders direct through a virtual digital catalogue on my website. I would still do my sales visits and presentations where I could, but all booking would be done electronically instead of via excel sheets and catalogues. Sales presentations could even be done via FaceTime for remote accounts. My agency would have had better service, more convenient ordering, and ultimately better sales 

What I plan to do in the future ties into, and draws from my experience in the past. My passion is snowboarding. It's what I want to do, and I want it to take me all over the world fulfilling my other passion, video. I grew up, and to this day, watch skateboard and snowboard videos on a daily basis. Lets add in the tools to make things happen as a snowboard filmer. 

1. Dedication; spending most of your life away from home, late nights editing, and harsh conditions (both for your body and your equipment). You have to love the shit out of it!

2. Connections; riders, talent, couches to sleep on, local guides, secret stashes.

3. Equipment; high end DSLR for stills, high end HD cameras, GoPros, quad copters, lenses, lighting, MacBook pro, hard drives, snowmobile, snowboard, outerwear, truck, passport, etc.

4. Industry Knowledge and Sponsors; brands, distributors, and media companies willing to send you to shoot locations or fund your films.

5. Stamina; getting to and from locations, as well as shovelling, and long hours are physically and mentally demanding.

6. "The Eye"; for shooting and editing. Some people have it, and some people don't.

These are all elements that I either have or am building upon. The nature of the snowboard media industry is changing. When I was a kid, video parts would be released once a year. Now video parts are released weekly, even daily. Live event coverage has grown dramatically as have the number of events. In all of this I hear opportunity. When you create art for a living, it doesn't feel like work, it's a new adventure with every edit, every shot, every location and every rider. I see the world through unique eyes and I want to share what I see with the snowboard community. Scotty Gwyer Agency still lives, but it has evolved into the truer essence of riding, capturing the purity of the moment.