A Community Effort at the Domes
The Dynamic Davis Domes Community is at it again! They held a work party on Sunday, April 3rd, that reminded us all of what is so great about Davis. Lots of community members coming together to eat, listen to music, laugh, and strengthen a wonderful aspect of our community, the domes.
Dome #5
Approximately 50 people participated in projects to better the domes. There were 2 projects focused on making land suitable for production, 2 projects to maintain land already in production, a workshop focusing on the resident chickens, a cob bench-making workshop, and a workshop about how to be an effective, media-involved activist. There were families, students, passers-by, and senior members of the community all taking part in the event. According to domes resident, Lauren Cockrell, one of the greatest accomplishments of the day was the clearing and planting of a 15 by 10 ft. space completed by a group of 10 in an hour. Ms. Cockrell said, “I feel like I’m living at the domes in a really precious moment where everyone is really cherishing what we have and working hard to ensure that we continue to have it, it is cool to be a part of a community where everyone is really grateful.”
This was an opportunity for people who love the domes and want the domes to continue, to take tangible action to preserve the student run community and resource. It was a concrete step on the way to show student housing that the domes are a great resource that the students and greater Davis community cherish.
The domes community is preparing to submit a business plan the student housing outlining their plans for the future. They intend to do everything in their power to keep the domes alive and well. The domes community is also becoming a part of some classes offered by the university, students are doing projects on the threatened community and the Education for Sustainable Living Program involves an aspect of resource repurposing that is going on at the domes.
Sunday’s event demonstrated the importance the domes community has in Davis. It is a resource and a wonderful example of cooperative living. Save the Domes!
With the state budget what it is, I can’t understand how these students feel the University should invest so much money in a project for under 30 students when they are forced to lay off their employees to meet budgetary needs. Yeah in an idealic world they should be kept, but it’s just not realistic given the financial siatuation of the state. It’s a lot easier to find a new place to live than it is a job nowadays.
The domes community is a resource for A LOT more than just 30 students. It leads educational workshops, provides a community space to take part in, and is an excellent example of cooperative, sustainable living, to the rest of the community. And speaking of budget issues, the domes is ALSO one of the only low-cost student housing options, good for students in this economy.