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Juggling Fire in the Jungle: My Journey of Thirty Years in a Sustainable Community Experiment
"To live cohesively is almost a fantasy and we ought to know it starts with humbling our egos." NAHKO BEAR, Medicine for the People This book chronicles the first thirty years of an unintentional community of bohemian jugglers who homestead a remote jungle oasis on the Big Island of Hawai'i. The author was the founder of the Village Green Society, Hawaii’s Volcano Circus and the Hawaii Sustainable Community Alliance. He also directed a renowned youth circus program that morphed into a uniquely crafted community center, hosting a school, a farmers market, performance arts workshops and shows, neighborhood events and even a church. At its peak over forty adults and children resided at Bellyacres and with its energy, food, economic, and organizational structure, it was described as one of the most sustainable ecovillages in the world. Graham Ellis has been acknowledged by Hawai’i’s Governor plus state and county officials, as well as the people of Puna, for being an innovative community builder, circus ringleader, and champion of sustainabiity. In this age of alarming climate change cutting-edge social experiments like this -- whether ‘artistic ecovillage’ or ‘anarchistic egovillage’ -- offer lessons about how to survive -- and even thrive -- collectively. Readers who study and improve upon community developments like Bellyacres will be better prepared to create changes we all wish to see in the world.
Kindle Edition
Published December 9, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 19, 2019
Imagine if you will, a group of fun loving circus artists from all over the world, coming together to create a jungle oasis on a tropical island. Sounds dreamy, but the harsh realities of this social experiment and quest for sustainability will leave you winded. As a reader, I felt joy, anger, hope, and crushing despair; but this is a legacy that needs to be read.
Told in an authentic voice by the founder, visionary, and steward of this could-be heaven on earth, this is a true account of the first 30 years of “Bellyacres”. With a colorful cast of characters who have tool box nicknames such as Volt Meter, Screw Driver, and Skill Saw, and many photos, illustrations, maps, and video links within the book, this story comes alive right before your eyes.
From humble beginnings (a makeshift tarp-tent kitchen in a dense rainforest), Bellyacres evolves through this journey into the most successful eco-village in the world, but not without fires to juggle and intense challenges along the way. Our cast of bohemian jugglers go up against lava eruptions, vindictive neighbours, rigid enforcement of unsustainable laws and regulations, a jungle that never sleeps, and a tremendous amount of other immense obstacles. In our modern culture that values materialism over sustainability and individualism over community, managing the energy, food, financial, and organizational needs of a community striving for sustainability is a monumental task.
Ellis offers honest advice based on trial and error and first hand experience, which is built in throughout the story and summarized near the end.
This book will enthral readers with adventure, horrify with unfortunate and true tales of injustice, and inspire with the righteous work that has been done. Bellyacres and the associated organizations that have sprouted from this seed, including Hawai’i’s Volcano Circus and the Seaview Performing Arts Center for Education has positively impacted countless lives.
This is a story that matters, about living a life that matters; not only for oneself, but for community, our Earth, and its future children.
Told in an authentic voice by the founder, visionary, and steward of this could-be heaven on earth, this is a true account of the first 30 years of “Bellyacres”. With a colorful cast of characters who have tool box nicknames such as Volt Meter, Screw Driver, and Skill Saw, and many photos, illustrations, maps, and video links within the book, this story comes alive right before your eyes.
From humble beginnings (a makeshift tarp-tent kitchen in a dense rainforest), Bellyacres evolves through this journey into the most successful eco-village in the world, but not without fires to juggle and intense challenges along the way. Our cast of bohemian jugglers go up against lava eruptions, vindictive neighbours, rigid enforcement of unsustainable laws and regulations, a jungle that never sleeps, and a tremendous amount of other immense obstacles. In our modern culture that values materialism over sustainability and individualism over community, managing the energy, food, financial, and organizational needs of a community striving for sustainability is a monumental task.
Ellis offers honest advice based on trial and error and first hand experience, which is built in throughout the story and summarized near the end.
This book will enthral readers with adventure, horrify with unfortunate and true tales of injustice, and inspire with the righteous work that has been done. Bellyacres and the associated organizations that have sprouted from this seed, including Hawai’i’s Volcano Circus and the Seaview Performing Arts Center for Education has positively impacted countless lives.
This is a story that matters, about living a life that matters; not only for oneself, but for community, our Earth, and its future children.
October 30, 2019
A review from George Douvris
Juggling Fire in the Jungle is a book of deep reflections written by my friend Graham Ellis who is not only a world class professional juggler of balls and other objects but also has been keeping balance and harmony throughout his rich life filled with adventures, challenges, pitfalls as well as his many well deserved accolades. He morphed past the rough edges and now his book provides a first hand view that is a transparent and engaging memoir which serves as an insiders view into the realities of building a sustainable community. Whether in a jungle located in a remote Pacific island or anywhere else on the planet, these experiences are applicable and essential lessons for anyone or groups interested in both building similar communities from the ground up and/or in maintaining their depth of continuity.
Like many other of his friends on the Big Island, our family looked at Graham and his lovely wife Dena and their family as an inspiration to the community through his not stop and dedicated community service, while always ready, willing and able to help anyone in need while still being positive, humble, clearheaded and with humor and grace. But what amazes me in reading this book is how many problems Graham had to endure and still be able to keep on keeping on. Graham Ellis is a true hero on many levels that not only he has juggled with but with zen harmony of being present in every moment while not dropping any of these beautiful twirling gems of his life.
Juggling Fire in the Jungle is a book of deep reflections written by my friend Graham Ellis who is not only a world class professional juggler of balls and other objects but also has been keeping balance and harmony throughout his rich life filled with adventures, challenges, pitfalls as well as his many well deserved accolades. He morphed past the rough edges and now his book provides a first hand view that is a transparent and engaging memoir which serves as an insiders view into the realities of building a sustainable community. Whether in a jungle located in a remote Pacific island or anywhere else on the planet, these experiences are applicable and essential lessons for anyone or groups interested in both building similar communities from the ground up and/or in maintaining their depth of continuity.
Like many other of his friends on the Big Island, our family looked at Graham and his lovely wife Dena and their family as an inspiration to the community through his not stop and dedicated community service, while always ready, willing and able to help anyone in need while still being positive, humble, clearheaded and with humor and grace. But what amazes me in reading this book is how many problems Graham had to endure and still be able to keep on keeping on. Graham Ellis is a true hero on many levels that not only he has juggled with but with zen harmony of being present in every moment while not dropping any of these beautiful twirling gems of his life.
November 25, 2019
Not for everyone
Personally I found this book fascinating. I know Graham and some of the other people involved. I visited the site in the early years and attended several of the annual juggling events organized by Graham and others. I would not recommend it to anyone who doesn’t either (1) have some connection with the events here and want to know more about what happened, or (2) have a serious interest in sustainable living in a jungle setting or cooperative group living.
Personally I found this book fascinating. I know Graham and some of the other people involved. I visited the site in the early years and attended several of the annual juggling events organized by Graham and others. I would not recommend it to anyone who doesn’t either (1) have some connection with the events here and want to know more about what happened, or (2) have a serious interest in sustainable living in a jungle setting or cooperative group living.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews