Climate Action nonprofit recognizes Earth Dragon Natural Building’s project
By Debora Gordon for Ashland.news
Southern Oregon Climate Action Now launched its premier Green Business Recognition ceremony on Thursday, June 12, with a “green ribbon cutting” at a four-plex built out of straw bales on Wightman Street in Ashland.
Lydia Doleman of Earth Dragon Natural Building said the company’s project was “to install the first multifamily straw bale building in Oregon.”
“It’s got tons of unique features, and we partnered with the California Straw Bale Association to host a series of work parties in order to get the very labor intensive aspect of this building done,” Doleman said. “They broke ground in November 2023 and finished last summer.”
Liam Clark, a graduating senior at Southern Oregon University, as an inter-disciplinary studies major with three certificates in sustainability leadership, social justice and an environmental science certification, worked as an intern with SOCAN executive director Daniel Scotton to launch the project.
“I needed an internship for my senior year. I started reaching out to all of those in the realm of social justice, but my real passion is sustainability and climate justice,” Clark said. “I reached out to different organizations in the area. Daniel was one of the few that got back to me, and we met a few months ago. When he brought up the idea of making a green sustainability certification, I jumped on that because sustainable business is something that I’m passionate about.”
Clark also thanked the Mt. Ashland Ski Area, The Crown Jewel, Medford Food Co-op, the Rogue Valley Metaphysical Library, Ashland Streng Studio, and ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum for their participation in the sustainable business certification pilot program.
“We had weekly meetings about what we what we would get done each week and built this from there,” he added. “Today, for me, is really the launch of the six or seven other businesses that had also signed up with us. We want to say ‘thank you’ for all the work you’ve been doing in the community and for participating in our certification.”
“This certification is a way of recognizing small businesses in Southern Oregon for the sustainability work they have been doing. It’s not easy being a small business in today’s political and economic climate,” Clark said. “The way these businesses and many others in Ashland have been able to build a more sustainable and healthy community is inspiring to me as someone who will work in business sustainability.”
Doleman then explained the building of the four-plex, saying straw can be used as a way to mitigate climate change and “creating healthy, happy and affordable homes for people.”
The full rollout of the Green Business Recognition will be this fall.
Scotton encourages everyone to be climate conscious with their votes, by buying local and by talking about the issues.
“As long as you’re doing something, you’re doing the right thing,” he said.
Debora Gordon is a writer, artist, educator and non-violence activist who moved to Ashland from Oakland, California. Email her at debora.ashlandnews@gmail.com.
June 15: Corrected spelling of Liam Clark’s name in a photo caption.
