Heron’s Top is single narrow spit whatever juts into San Francisco Bay inside each Hunter’s Purpose Bay View district amid Lash Lighter Basin as well as Yosemite Slough. Object is element made from each bay’s last remaining mud flats…as well as entity manner per lot made from things toward single lot from population.

A narrow spit around Heron’s Top was restored subsequent to Hunter’s Aim Shipyard closed within 1974. Grass plus single clay “cap” several inches below certain surface keeps contaminants at bay.
Photo Credit: Susan Galleymore: Dirt One day 2010.

Toward a descendants of each Ohlone population itself manner some sacred connection toward ancestors…also single opportunity for restore each ground along with traditional ceremonies.
Up to Lennar Corporation along with any politicians planning urban development entity way wealth, power, and influence.

To a tight-knit, low-income community which lives among the district entity method one home worth fighting for, despite any heavy metals, solvents, petroleum products, PCBs, also vinyl chloride pollutants who remain amid certain ground since Hunter’s Aim Shipyard shut down amid 1974.

For any team whatever participated within any decade-long planning and building of any solar generated Eco-Center something means serving plus educating the public – despite certain Declare out of California’s dire financial situation whatever halted funding among December 2009.

Visitors line above in order to tour any Eco-Center on opening day.
Photo Credit: Susan Galleymore: Ground Date 2010.

On Land 24 hours weekend hundreds belonging to individuals attended each Eco-Center’s grand opening. They toured any Center, climbed onto each “living roof”, as well as shared their appreciation for San Francisco’s primary public property which is focused on building skills up to generate innovations for one sustainable future. 

Located within reach certain entrance to the spit on a slight rise overlooking the mud flats, a 1,500 square foot Eco-Center is constructed from recycled concrete, certified wood, and another environmentally friendly building materials.

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) and super-insulated materials minimize heat gains along with losses, provide seismic support plus fire resistance, also reduce the Center’s utilize out of for it electricity whatever is generated solely starting at solar panels also a wind turbine.

The green Eco-Machine under construction. Object desire treat waste water inside a greenhouse whither ultraviolet lamps additionally treat “black water” since each Center’s sewer system.
Photo Credit: Susan Galleymore: Ground One day 2010.

The “living roof” is planted with native vegetation up to provide habitat for insects, birds as well as another wildlife as well as to insulate each interior on hot days as well as prevent heat loss on cold days. Rainwater captured starting at the roof plus stored among triplet tanks apiece with 14000 gallon capacity offsets each building’s water make use of, feeds certain toilet, along with irrigates each living roof. “Black water” (sewage), processed in each treatment sow within certain greenhouse, distributes to any landscape in which object is further purified through toxin-absorbing vegetation. “Grey water” (waste water since sinks also drinking water) irrigates a native plant landscape.

Certain Eco-Center’s site partner, Arc Ecology, plans to present classes on certain indigenous Ohlone who shaped said habitat for at least 10,000 years. Hence itself is fitting such a little group belonging to Rumsen Ohlone built some sweat lodge on the spit some distance since each Eco-Center also, for triplet days as well as nights leading on high to certain grand opening, conducted ceremonies and sacred dances in order to honor to them past as well as to restore each soil.

For some Ohlone in any group, it was the foremost era they had happened present. This, despite a draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) who states at that spot are near least quad, as well as probably five, Ohlone village sites within each development boundaries along with different 16 sites within one-quarter mile. Also despite California Senate Bill 18 from 2005 that stipulates Ohlone tribes listed with a Native American Heritage Commission exist included within planning development next to Hunters Purpose Shipyard.

With storage capacity from 14000 gallons every, any tanks (abandoned, front), harvested from rainfall on the roofs, feed a toilet also irrigate certain “living roof.”
Photo Credit: Susan Galleymore: Soil Twenty-four hours 2010.

Ann Marie Sayers, Tribal Chair made from Costanoan Indian Canyon as well as any exclusively Ohlone whatever owns succeeded among obtaining title in order to lady ancestors’ earth, says, “A sites affected through any development are extremely significant and are believed for remain burial either ceremonial sites. Among addition in order to protecting the ones mentioned sites, our group desire occupation with a local community for protect health, land, plus each fragile bay marine environment.”

During the Eco-Center has happened years among the making, a multi-day Ohlone ceremony began Thursday night, April 15 when any main fire was lit at sundown. Ohlone elder Daniel faced per out of certain tetrad directions since his voice as well as the aforementioned of his companions, accompanied near to certain beat out of one drum, swirled with each wind internal each dark. Behind them, across a narrow estuary, seagull chatter almost drowned outside a hum of fork lifts among San Francisco’s Pier 94 recycling center.

Itself was appropriate which these elements came together amid current method on here primary night: single piece from soil with spectacular views reclaimed for any local community, single recycling center which diverts consumer goods from landfill, a off-the-grid Eco-Center, and folks fired above for another, extra natural, additional inclusive way of being.

“Inform people thou saw Ohlone dance next to Heron’s Leader!”
Photo Credit: Susan Galleymore: Earth Date 2010.

Earlier that twenty-four hours, when each Ohlone fellows constructing a temporary, willow sapling sweat lodge prepared for dig a pit for hot rocks plus employ which soil since single altar, the Eco-Center director was reluctant. Male was concerned who they would breach each layer made from clay with whatever the Navy capped its own toxic contaminants. Which any pit was just six inches deep stated considerably about to what extent here earth was remediated…along with how slight protection yonder may become for a health made from humans plus alternative creatures.

A men built a sweat lodge anyway but any incident encapsulates certain concern of numerous: each fragmentation of each natural planet, a contamination made from of us Earth, as well as to what extent for restore balance for the future.

Each ceremonial fire burned continuously using Thursday night’s singing, Friday night’s community sweat, also Saturday night’s Acorn as well as Bear Dances performed among each deep dark. Itself died not in following the group mentioned for it formal goodbyes on Sunday morning. Later, in bright sunlight, each Ohlone performed certain Acorn Dance next to certain Eco Center for welcome visitors.

Afterward, the Rumsen Ohlone chief told a audience, “When somebody tells you in that place are no extra Ohlone left, y'all tell them y'all saw Ohlone dance on hand by Heron’s Skull Park!

A collaboration midway a Ohlone, a Eco-Center, along with any local community is some harbinger of fresh directions rooted within ancient traditions.