#creating solarpunk community

[solarpunkpresentspodcast]

In 2023, the inaugural Solarpunk Conference was held in virtual space, bringing together over 150 attendees, 18 presenters, and creating a palpable sense of the solarpunk community. This episode, Ariel chats with conference organizers Charles Valsechi, Lindsay Jane, and Kees Schuller about the genesis of the conference, the inspiration for its theme, as well as a little preview of what they are hoping to see at the 2024 Solarpunk Conference: Rays of Resilience.

You can go to https://www.solarpunkconference.com/ to check out The Solarpunk Conference, access The Solarpunk Conference Journal, and buy tickets. You can also check out the channel  @solarpunkconference  on YouTube for recordings of last year’s presentations, and stop by Lindsay Jane's channel  @TheSolarpunkScene  for more solarpunky content!

[cascadianights]

Friend's birthday party this weekend: Plum Butter, Chamomile and lavender tea, sunflowers from the garden

Friends recovering from COVID and busy teaching: Plum butter, bowl full of herbs, Chamomile, sunflowers, veggies from the garden

Friend running out of food stamps w 2 weeks left: Plum butter, squash, tomatoes, potatoes and beans from garden and more food from my gleaning group

If you have a garden you have food, if you have food you can help people & you always have something to share

[snailsthatdocrafts]

theres this foot traffic worn path on the side of the road that i use to walk to campus. im highly debating doing some mild landscaping and tidying so its a little safer. im worried id get in trouble w the townhouses next to it, bc like they put up no trespassing signs that they have no legal grounds to put up (which is why the college students have to use the side of yhe road anyways :( ) . but like surely if it looks like im just picking up trash they wont be rude?? idk we shall see. will give it a shot and update later.

[thrivingisthegoal]

Golf Courses ARE Being Converted

The Solarpunk "fantasy" that so many of us tout as a dream vision, converting golf courses into ecological wonderlands, is being implemented across the USA according to this NYT article!

The article covers courses in Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, Colorado, and New York that are being bought and turned into habitat and hiking trails.

The article goes more into detail about how sand traps are being turned into sand boxes for kids, endangered local species are being planted, rocks for owl habitat are being installed, and that as these courses become wilder, they are creating more areas for biodiversity to thrive.

Most of the courses in transition are being bought by Local Land Trusts. Apparently the supply of golf courses in the USA is way over the demand, and many have been shut down since the early 2000s. While many are bought up and paved over, land Trusts have been able to buy several and turn them into what the communities want: public areas for people and wildlife. It does make a point to say that not every hold course location lends itself well to habitat for animals (but that doesn't mean it wouldn't make great housing!)

So lets be excited by the fact that people we don't even know about are working on the solutions we love to see! Turning a private space that needs thousands of gallons of water and fertilizer into an ecologically oriented public space is the future I want to see! I can say when I used to work in water conservation, we were getting a lot of clients that were golf courses that were interested in cutting their resource input, and they ended up planting a lot of natives! So even the golf courses that still operate could be making an effort.

So what I'd encourage you to do is see if there's any land or community trusts in your area, and see if you can get involved! Maybe even look into how to start one in your community! Through land trusts it's not always golf course conversions, but community gardens, solar fields, disaster adaptation, or low cost housing! (Here's a link to the first locator I found, but that doesn't mean if something isn't on here it doesn't exist in your area, do some digging!)

[auntieashleydark]

So You Want to be Solarpunk?

If your neighborhood has a vacant lot, get some neighbors together and turn it into a community garden.

Organize a block party.

Create a maker space enabling folks to repair, repurpose, and swap their old stuff.

Organize a bunch of plant-savvy neighbors to help folks convert their yards from resource hungry yuppie lawns into something sustainable that fits the local biome.

Get a few friends together and clean up the trash on the streets. Make sure to recycle.

Set up Little Free Libraries and Little Free Pantries.

Get tool-savvy neighbors together to help folks with needed household repairs and upgrades.

The punk in solarpunk is about resistance to the alienation and consumer culture that makes our communities unsustainable and our environments toxic.

[cognitivejustice]

Rotterdam's Solarpunk Aesthetic manifests in floating new neighbourhood

The Spoorweghaven community, designed by Danish maritime architects MAST, presents a vivid vision for the future. With over a hundred low-cost apartments, commercial spaces, and a recreational harbor, this floating development is more than an engineering feat—it is a celebration of Scandinavian ingenuity and urban adaptability.

In a country where water and land have always danced a delicate waltz, this project proposes a new choreography—one where homes, public spaces, and even gardens gently float above the ground. The design respects the Dutch tradition of living with water, yet speaks with a distinctly Nordic sensibility, favoring clean lines, communal zones, and a seamless connection to nature.

MAST collaborated with the Scottish company Biomatrix to create over 900 square meters of floating reed beds that encircle the perimeter of the site. These reeds do more than beautify the edge—they cleanse the harbor water, attract birds and fish, and bring a soft, living border to the modular forms. The buildings themselves are constructed off-site and then towed into position, a method that minimizes disturbance and celebrates the logic of Scandinavian prefab traditions.

The sense of community is gently woven into every aspect of the development. Shared green spaces and walkways become informal meeting points, while the continuous blue ribbon of navigable water invites both residents and visitors to experience the city from an entirely new vantage. The architecture does not impose, but rather settles in lightly and thoughtfully, making space for both human and non-human life.

[noeysnowy]

I finished up my solarpunk pearl design!!! I had a lot of fun with it tihi

Have som nerdy info:

So all her tech is powered by solar panels, she charges her batteries throughout the day and changes them whenever she needs.

The tech in her boots and elytra is some form of hover tech, i got a suggestion from the discord that it could be balls of air like from avatar! And i find that idea really cool. Whatever it is it gives her the ability to fly.

When she isnt using her elytra she hovers over the ground because her boots are always on, she can fly very small distances with the boots but she needs the elytra for long distance trips.

The “headphones” on her head have radio technology that let her communicate over long distances and they can create a visor that analyse the environment around her.

The screens on her arm bracers help control her farms, watering, planting, harvesting ex.

Oh and Im planning on finishing up a sketch of her in a slightly modified postal pearl outfit! :D

[ladychaos]

Hi lovelies! I'm not gonna lie, I'm super proud of this build. I think Moonwood Mill is a perfect location for solarpunk builds, so I decided to create a settlement there for the Moonwood Collective. I hope you'll like the video and the build!

Take care and stay safe. 💜

Arcadia Haven [CC-FREE]

Many years ago, after witnessing the devastation caused by greed and selfishness in society, Kristopher Volkov decided to establish a settlement in Moonwood Mill for werewolves who share his ideals of community, empathy, and sustainability. Along the way, he met his wife, Raima, and together they founded the Moonwood Collective. Here, they welcome any werewolf who feels lost, encouraging them to open their minds to new ways of feeling and being in the world.

NOTE: There is a weird bug affecting the windows located in the basement. I think it's because the basement is situated under a pond. The window frames will occasionally become misaligned, but after some time, they return to their normal positions. I've tested the lot without any mods in my game and the problem still occurred. Hopefully, it will be fixed soon (one can only hope).

AVAILABLE IN MY GALLERY

Origin ID: LadyChaosWorlds

Arcadia Haven: [X]

Volkov Family: [X]

Zhu Family: [X]

Wattara-Baer Family [X]

🟣 I was inspired by a beautiful illustration titled "Airship Respite" by Nolan Jolson.

📁 TRAY FILES :  DOWNLOAD (PATREON, FREE)

📁 WANT TO DOWNLOAD THE HOUSEHOLDS? [X] [X] [X]

Don’t forget to activate bb.moveobjects before downloading the lot on build mode (not from the map).

💟 Please don’t re-upload. Please don’t share without credit.💟 If you enjoy my content, consider becoming a Patron or donating a ko-fi! It would help me a lot. 💜

[solarpunkbiologist]

How to Solarpunk-up your workplace in 3 simple steps.

A guide for the hopeful.

🌞🌻🌞🌍🌏🌎🌞🌻🌞🌍🌏🌎🌞🌻🌞🌍🌏🌎🌞🌻🌞

Step 1:

Build your idea, and get creative. What type of people exist in your workplace? What would lift their spirits? What would be useful? For what do you have space? Are there areas of improvement?

💡: Community garden, give and take cabinet, library, space for art, one man's trash is another man's treasure-bin (for single use items turned reusable i.a. lab equipment or other disposable items), figure out how to lessen energy consumption, ask to adjust the cafeteria food into having plant-based options, or completely plant-based, organize events, etc.

Step 2:

Work out the logistics of your plan. Who do you need to ask permission for? Talk to your coworkers, do they agree with your idea? Do your coworkers want to help you, or add onto your idea? How long will this idea take? Make a plan of action. Figure out if you can add your idea into your work schedule or if it's a volunteer project. If there is no space in your company's building, is there a way you can organize something in a public place or at your own residence?

Step 3:

Create! Make flyers or stickers telling your company and coworkers about your fun new project. Make people enthusiastic. Let people know that anyone can make anything possible as long as they set their mind to it.

And remember:

When you want to change the world, you don't ask for permission.

See also: Ways to Solarpunk-up your neighborhood

[solarpunkpresentspodcast]

The YouTube upload of Season Two Episode Five is here!

On today’s episode, Ariel talks to Lindsay Jane of The Solarpunk Scene where she showcases her solarpunk life in Toronto, as well as shining a spotlight on solarpunk projects locally and internationally. Lindsay tells us about how she discovered solarpunk and the ways that she lives a solarpunk life in the city - both the upsides (gardens! architecture! effective transit!) and the downsides (sky-high rent, expensive food, difficulty cultivating outdoor gardens). She also emphasizes the importance of getting involved in your local community and politics as a city-dweller, and lets listeners in on the behind-the-scenes inspiration for The Solarpunk Scene: tune in to learn more!

[eatthesunshootthemoon]

Prop art for Project Fish. Some things you'd typically see at a Li-Luan port.

These props are inspired by things you'd normally see at urban areas within south-asian communities.

I dug deep into what’s been inspiring me to create art for Ormauk recently, and a lot of it has been my relationship with nature as an adult, but especially more so when I was a kid. I grew up a short walk away from the beach. The town that I lived in was outside of the city, but you couldn’t really classify it as suburbia. There were empty plots of land filled with guinea grass growing taller than us kids. Unfinished foundations of houses that sat undisturbed for most of my life; overgrown and abandoned. There was a small pasture for cows behind my house where frogs croaked their hymns when rain fell and created ponds. Overhead cables and graffitied electrical transformers had a specific vibe that I just don't see where I live now.

I wanted to show my version of solarpunk, and it finally clicked with me how I can achieve this; by mixing those snapshots of my childhood with thematically designed technology that fit that south-asian culture I’m trying to emulate. A bit of what exists now and what could exist.

[apas-95]

i feel the essence of the pornographic is a world which exists inconsistently and improbably for the sake of creating a given scenario, a given sensation. from the horny scifi universe where evolution somehow deigned to create an ecosystem built off of harvesting cum, to the torture-porn world of unrealistic grittyness and a revelry in suffering which would speak against the desperate conditions that supposedly bring it about. it's the same sense as that in which disco elysium's narration describes its fishing village as being 'almost *pornographically* poor'. something that defies reality to bend purely to acting as fuel for given fantasy, with all other concerns abandoned. something meant not to be taken as communication between author and audience, but applied by the audience to themselves. anyway solarpunk is porn for people who want to believe there's a way out other than through

[lunarpunkwonder]

LunarPunk 🌙

Lunarpunk is Solarpunk for the night dwellers. Similar philosophy and movement but with a darker, bioluminescent, celestial aesthetic. With a focus on Community, Sustainability, Reducing Light Pollution, growing Native Flora and creating a livable and thriving home for the night dwelling Fauna (nocturnal animals, insects, and people too), and obviously, don't forget the Punk.

Lunarpunk is a very new and slowly growing subgenre and community, please continue to add new ideas, add to the conversation of sustainability, do research in your own area about the local flora and fauna, what you can do to help reduce light pollution, even if it's just coming from your home, how to be more energy efficient, how to reduce waste, save money on electricity, see if you can switch your lights to LEDs, speak with your neighbors about switching as well.

Any little bit counts.

[solar-sunnyside-up]

So I feel kind of weird sending this because I'm not really involved in the solarpunk community outside of "lurking" and doing stuff on my own in the spirit of solarpunk kind of, BUT I want to say thanks for including sewing and knitting/crochet stuff in your posts.

I was watching a video about the big 4 pattern companies drama and the person making the video was talking about how pretty soon we're going to get an AI that will make patterns for you based off your measurements and indie pattern makers will be done for, and then after that we'll get an AI that will teach you how to sew and all the crafting discords and sew along videos will be done for, and then after that we'll get robot/ai combos that can make a custom garment for you based on your measurements and fabric choices and the "utilitarian need for sewing your own garments will be gone". I was so very sad and wanted to shout that there's so many people who genuinely want to keep the art and skill of sewing alive and they won't use AI for that. That the idea of "if you don't use AI you're crippling yourself, let's be real here" is not universal and that for some people it's a love letter to those before us and it's a means of creating joy.

I started to write a comment under the video and stopped because I realized that this person, along with all the other commenters, wouldn't really understand where I'm coming from. They would say I'm in the minority and that we need to prepare for a future where no one sews unless they think it's some kind of cute hobby (like bread making I guess?). But it brings me a lot of hope and joy to see communities like solarpunk communities that really value things like learning to sew, repair, upcycle, knit/crochet, embroider and things like that.

So thank you!

Hell yea fiber arts are truely magic and deserve to be recognized!!

Also boooooo to AI, nothing ai could ever do would hold up a light to the way humans make things. Not just in a "it's got a soul" type way either, like in a "We problem solve better then aby machine ever good" way. I truely hope we see a return to honoring arts like this again without attempting to purely mass produce them.

I'm glad you feel heard and welcomed!

[cognitivejustice]

Agroecology—a science, practice, and movement that seeks social, political, economic, and environmental sustainability in the global food system—is gaining momentum in the U.S., according to a new Dartmouth-led commentary in Nature Food. As the co-authors report, the approach requires coordination among scientists, farmers, and activists.

"Agroecology is different, as it strives to achieve both ecological and social sustainability of food systems without sacrificing one for the other. We cannot save biodiversity and ecosystem integrity without also preserving farmer livelihoods and ensuring that the food systems we create provide food that is culturally relevant to local communities, and not simply meeting a calorie quota," says Ong.

Supporters of agroecology say the U.S. food system is dominated by industrial agriculture, which is characterized by monoculture production, reliance on agrochemicals like pesticides and fertilizers, and advanced technology and machinery that depend heavily on fossil fuels.

Prior research has found that challenges facing global food systems—which include food insecurity, public health crises, biodiversity loss, and climate change—are perpetuated in part by the U.S. food system and the political influence of its big players.

//Granny's comment: Agroecology is solarpunk AF

[mossybee-exe]

Solaprunk Worldbuilding 1 - Eco-Cities

I've been working on worldbuilding a solarpunk setting for a slice of life story I'm writing and thought I'd share some of my ideas to maybe inspire other people!

In this world there is no government, no rules, no pressures or bad people. Just society working together after a global crash. A second chance to do things right this time.

(Mind the spelling mistakes)

Although far and few in between, big cities and towns still exist in this universe. However, they've all worked hard to keep it as eco-friendly as possible and still choose to live alongside and work with nature rather than fight it.

Trash and recyclingcans can now be found almost everywhere, giving no one an excuse to litter. Community composters are also a thing.

Skyscrapers, now skeletons of the old world, are draped in thick ivy vine walls, native flowering vines, moss panels, and vertical hydroponics that wrap around the metal and glass bones. These help regulate temperature, absorb CO2, and create habitats fors birds and insects.

Former office buildings and shopping centers like malls have been repurposed into shared living spaces, community markets, workshops, and event areas. Floors have open walls and breeze tunnels to reduce reliance on cooling systems. Those can be shut during colder months.

In taller districts, tree houses extend from reclaimed buildings, blending organically with planted rooftop forests. Rope bridges and wind-activated elevators made if recycled parts help people travel between vertical spaces.

Cities are completely walkable and don't require transportation. Streets are narrow and shaded with plant canopies. Most paved areas are soft permeable cobblestone or moss-tile paths that allow rain to soak through instead of pooling or flooding.

Painted murals double as maps - bold, hand-painted designs show landmarks, walking trails, tram routes, and local art projects. Updated regularly by volunteers.

Giant sculpted trees or mushrooms function ad rainwater collectors, solar lanterns, or even mist sprayers during hot days. Children often climb on them or gather nearby to play. They can also provide shade.

Metal "bike trees" hold dozens if free-to-use bikes, all maintained by volunteers. Bikes come in all colors and sizes, some decorated with flowers or art to reflect the community's personality.

Solar Trams glide quietly on narrow tracks. They're sleek but not flashy, designed with recycled metals and glass. Inside, seats are made from reclaimed wood, each with a small solar lamp or charging port. Solar Buses work in a similar fashion.

Public Plazas now have eco-escalators that are powered by pedaling like on a bike.

Interactive screens at intersections and stops show local events, weather and climate, community votes or messages, and tutorial videos on composting, repair, herbal medicine, or art-making. Digital marketing and advertisements are no more.

Most people carry small, solar-powered devices that have replaced phones called "Data Stones" - slate-like digital notebooks that sync to the city's mesh network. People use them for Journaling, mapping, music, or community messaging, but never for mindless scrolling. Digital use is intentional, not addictive.

The internet exists, but it's localized. Instead of one global net, each town or city has a mesh intranet. Communities upload and share stories, tech guides, magazines, songs, and documentaries- all accessible for free.

At every city node is a "Commons Booth"-a repurposed phone booth now used for small trades, gifts, or lost-and-found. You might find a hand-knit hat, seeds, poems in a bottle, hand-bound journals, or a small bag if dried herbs for tea.

Public parks host weekly workshops: mushroom log inoculation, fixing Guardianers, upcycling old tech, dyeing fabrics with natural materials, and crafting musical instruments from trash.

Fireflies are protected and welcomed into urban life with dedicated "nightlight gardens"- small glowing sanctuaries that bloom under moonlight (usually a mix of regular and bioluminescent plants). People sit quietly here, reading or singing. Festivals are celebrated not with fireworks, but light dances, candlelit parades, or bioluminescent art. It's also a romantic place for a date.

Children and adults alike use "Learning Loops"- open-air circles of benches and tree stumps near gardens and community spaces where mentors teach based on skills, not age. There's no formal school system. Learning is woven into life.

On a certain day each month, citizens volunteer to teach something for free-sailing knots, solar repair, compost chemistry, storytelling, mediation, bird language. The city slows down that day. It's treated like a holiday.

In addition to tire-posted Little Libraries (where people can take a book and leave one in it's place), entire alleys have been converted into "Book Gardens"- free libraries under pergolas or vines, surrounded by reading hammocks and native wildflowers.

Local businesses and shops are still a thing, but are not kept up by money. Money has no use in this world anymore. Businesses upkeep it themselves and will happily trade their wares for something in return. For example, a bakery can trade a cake for something in return like a jar of jam or something else. It's like that everywhere.

Citizens enjoy solar-charged cooking stoves, clean water from centralized purification systems, access to upcycled tech, 3D-printed tools, and digital artist hubs.

Markets overflow with herbs, handmade instruments, mushroom leathers, fermented goods, and hand-bound books from across the region. Some city dwellers specialize in creating high-tech eco-dafe goods to trade with the countryside.

Most people live in co-housing clusters or share entire floors of old skyscrapers converted into lush indoor gardens and social spaces. They might not know everyone, but each block has caretakers and community gatherings.

They're alive with creativity and innovation. Mural projects, street musicians using windows instruments powered by movement, and holographic poetry displays powered by pedals or solar generators.

With more people comes more variety in skills. It's common to find classes in herbalism, robotics, or solar carpentry happening daily in public courtyards.

The ideas are free to use for whatever you want or use for inspiration! All I ask is that you CREDIT ME! And feel free to send me an ask on more details to this lovely world :)