Regenerative Living Intensive: Building Homes, Growing Food, and Eliminating Waste Through Regenerative Design
Temple of Roots Regenerative Living Intensive
Building Homes, Growing Food, and Eliminating Waste Through Regenerative Design
Hosted by Temple of Roots, a 508(c)(1)(A) Nature-Based Ministry
Join us for a unique hands-on weekend in the Sabine River bottomlands of East Texas where participants will learn practical skills for building resilient homes, growing food, recycling waste streams, and designing regenerative systems that work with nature.
This is not a conference.
This is a working intensive where participants will learn directly from experienced builders, inventors, and permaculture practitioners while helping construct real-world demonstration projects.
Our Mission
Temple of Roots believes that caring for the Earth is a sacred responsibility.
Through education, stewardship, and community, we seek to restore right relationship between people, land, and spirit.
This gathering is designed to reconnect participants with practical skills that increase self-reliance, reduce waste, regenerate ecosystems, and strengthen communities.
Featured Instructors
Dave Pennington
Inventor, Builder, Technical Writer, and Sustainability Educator
Dave is known for his work with:
EPIC (Expanded Polystyrene Infused Cement)
Alternative construction systems
EPS recycling technologies
Aquaponics
Biochar production
Practical sustainability solutions
Dave's workshops focus on turning waste materials into valuable resources while creating durable, affordable infrastructure.
John Bush
Permaculture Designer Certified Through the Permaculture Research Institute
John specializes in:
Permaculture design
Zero-waste systems
Ecological land development
Regenerative homesteading
Sustainable community design
John's focus is helping participants understand how nature creates abundance without waste and how those principles can be applied to modern homes, farms, businesses, and communities.
Workshop Topics
EPIC Construction
(Expanded Polystyrene Infused Cement)
Learn how discarded foam can become a valuable building material.
Topics may include:
How EPIC is made
Mixing techniques
Structural applications
Insulation benefits
Building walls and structures with EPIC
Cost-saving and sustainability advantages
EPIC Concrete
Hands-on demonstrations covering:
Foam grinders
Collection methods
Bagging systems
Material preparation
Turning waste styrofoam into useful products
Aquaponics
Build and understand simple food-production systems that combine fish and plants into a productive ecosystem.
Topics include:
System design
Water circulation
Fish and plant selection
Home-scale implementation
Biochar and Charcoal
Learn:
Biochar production
Charcoal making methods
Soil improvement
Carbon sequestration
Water filtration applications
Zero Waste by Design
A Permaculture Approach to Regenerative Living
One of permaculture's foundational principles is that there is no waste in nature.
Participants will explore how waste streams can become resources through intelligent design.
Using EPIC as a real-world example, we will examine how discarded polystyrene can become a useful building material rather than landfill waste. The same principles will then be applied to food production, water systems, soil fertility, and homestead design.
Key concepts include:
Every output can become an input
Waste is often a design flaw
Nature cycles resources continuously
Stacking functions increases resilience
The most sustainable resource is often the one already available
Introduction to Permaculture
Topics may include:
Ethics and principles of permaculture
Reading the landscape
Water harvesting concepts
Zone and sector planning
Designing productive ecosystems
Integrating housing, food, water, energy, and ecology
Location
A private 14-acre property in the Sabine River bottomlands of East Texas featuring:
Natural spring water
Primitive camping
Forest and open land
Demonstration projects
Outdoor classroom spaces
Participants should expect a rustic and immersive learning environment.
Food & Accommodations
Primitive camping is included.
Catered meals will be provided throughout the event.
Participants should bring:
Tent, hammock, or camping setup
Work clothes
Gloves
Boots
Notebook
Water bottle
Flashlight
Registration
Standard Tuition
$444
Bitcoin Stewardship Rate
$222
Participants paying with Bitcoin receive a discounted stewardship rate.
Space is limited to maintain a hands-on learning experience.
Who Should Attend?
Homesteaders
Builders
Farmers
Permaculture practitioners
Sustainability advocates
Tiny house builders
Landowners
Off-grid enthusiasts
Community organizers
Anyone interested in resilient living
Hosted By
Temple of Roots
A 508(c)(1)(A) Nature-Based Ministry
Restoring right relationship between people, land, and spirit through education, stewardship, ecological regeneration, and community.
Event Motto
Turn Waste Into Homes.
Turn Water Into Food.
Turn Knowledge Into Freedom.