Vinyasa Flow Yogafit Yoga on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 PM at 1317 East Carson Street, the home of Schwartz Living Market with Kim Massie and What is this project at 1317 East Carson Street?

What are we doing, what is the project at 1317 East Carson Street about?

I'd like to ask you that question. What are you doing? How do you see the world? How do you see yourself? How would you like to engage in this cultural transformational process?

What are the phases of the process, how does the founder of the Transition Town process, Rob Hopkins, describe Transition Town,  the movement from Peak Oil to Resilience? What is Permaculture, why bother? What is Somatic Movement Education, and how do we infuse ourselves and others with its glorious essence? What is the Living Building Challenge? All of these processes, and much more, are part of the seeds sprouting at 1317 East Carson Street, the home of Schwartz Living Market.

Yes, all of these things are questions that I think about and act on, on a daily basis. What else do I do on a daily basis? I meditate, exercise and juice greens and sprouts, love my family, and pray! What do you do? What is your passion? When I drive along the road from my suburban home to the South Side of Pittsburgh, I put on XM radio station 68, ethereal calming music, SPA Radio to be exact. But tonight, Tuesday, September 3, was anything but that with Kim Massie's BLACK YOGA class, in South Side among the Tatoo Parlors, the Bars, the cool shops, and on a block that has maintained its non commercial ambience for a very, very long time....

Join some Alternative Action On East Carson Street! Black Yoga at 1317 East Carson Street on Tuesdays from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM with Kim Massie.

So, it's a Yoga class......This is Black Yoga....When Kimmee called saying she'd like to offer 'Black Yoga', I, like many others asked her, 'What is Black Yoga?!' She told me it is the same yoga she teaches at a few other studios in the Pittsburgh region, Vinyasa Flow Yoga, but with different music. Oh, did I have an attitude about that. I said, o.k., we can try it, and then I looked at her website and cringed. Some of the language, from my perspective was not acceptable. So, was I discriminating against a culture? I opened my mind and gave it a try...

My experience tonight, Tuesday, September 3, 2013, the first Tuesday Black Yoga Class at Schwartz Living Market was an amazing experience. The music is the key. The music, by INNerVation is Drone....

I thought to myself, what the heck am I doing taking a Yoga class tonight? You see, I had cranked my back out of whack a few weeks ago and really thought I needed to see a Chiropractor.

But, as one of the owners of the building at 1317 East Carson Street, I knew I needed to be at that first class to see and experience just what Black Yoga is.

It was incredible. I asked Kim before the class if it was o.k. for me to not necessarily do what everyone else in the class was doing. She said, "Sure." That's part of the point. The point being not to worry about what you look like, how you are doing. Just be there, and be.... Hey that is what Yoga is all about anyway. Being, at all times in your life walk, not just when you take the class.... is Yoga.

As I am professionally trained in Ballet, the idea of not following the teacher the whole time and the teacher really, truly being o.k. with that was close to a first. Well, for me not really, as I am also a certified Somatic Movement Educator from the School for Body Mind Movement, www.bodymindmovement.org and I have been now in loads and loads of classes that do not require exact following of the class, but I know this is not a mainstream concept. Or...maybe it is, just not in the circles I've been part of!

So for the first half of the class I just laid there and wished someone would turn off the music. Then I suddenly started doing the poses. With the WARRIOR pose, I started ROCKing. I am the woman warrior I've been waiting for. And that drone music really got me GOING!

The pain in my back is much less. Like I said...amazing. The best part is that I did just what I was able to do. I worked within my elastic barrier, a term I learned from local Pittsburgh Yogi Sheila Caffrey many moons ago. I'm not sure if she coined the term, but I've sure used it for many years in my profession when I describe and recommend to folks how to do their work, in this case exercise, in the case of my profession, vision therapy.

I will facilitate a Vision Gym the second and third Saturdays in October, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Come learn about what a developmental optometrist is, what vision therapy is all about, and experience some expansion of your vision! Go to the Schwartz Living Market Facebook page for details and this blog as we get closer to October.

Today is Monday, September 9, and I was practicing some Yoga poses outside in the magnificent sunshine at our home.  The pain in my back is long gone. And I noticed the sound of the drone of the crickets. The sounds of nature are varied and often 'white' noise. Or is that drone a 'black' noise? What is Black Yoga? Tomorrow is September 10, the second Tuesday in September. Join the class tomorrow evening between 6:30 and 7:30 PM and every Tuesday evening! You will surely be surprised. We are excited about the idea of folks experiencing Yoga that might not otherwise. Join the class, invite a friend or two, too! Black Yoga classes Tuesday evenings between 6:30 and 7:30 PM, 1317 East Carson Street, Free parking behind the market across Bingham. Bring a mat if you have one...

Let us know your thoughts and let's try something new...together!

And back to the original question...what is this project about? And what does this all literally have to do with the word Deconstruction? Hey, that will be the subject of a future blog, and in the meantime, it is food for thought! Come join us when we are open, every Saturday between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM at 1317 East Carson Street, eat some wonderful food and drink some amazing juices, meet some wonderfully diverse people, and we will learn and plan it all out together!

Free parking behind the market across Bingham Street!

Elisa Beck :)
Developmental Optometrist
Renaissance Womyn :)
Join Schwartz Living Market on Facebook!

The Muscle Behind the Renovation of Schwartz Living Market

Well here they are, David and Frank, the folks that are doing the real physical work of the renovation. Below is David standing in the space that will become a handicapped accessible bathroom. We intend to keep the brick wall exposed, but geez, those wires need work! David is an amazing man and is bringing incredible healing energy with him every day. Our project is truly blessed to have him.

This is Frank standing in the space that is to become the second bathroom. Frank is a master carpenter and painter, and we are thrilled he is working with us. Still lots of deconstruction needed here. The historical panopticon that is above this space will be stabilized this coming week and then the work will continue on the interior bathroom space. We have considered the idea of composting toilets, but for now we will be using toilets that use less water per flush. Our understanding is that the Living Building project in Frick Park may have gotten approval for composting toilets. Stay tuned, for when we know the details, we will pass them along to you so you can integrate all we know without re-inventing the wheel and starting from square one...If you are on Facebook, go to and join the new Facebook page called Living Building Challenge Collaborative --Pittsburgh to learn more about the Living Building Challenge and to see why we are so intrigued with it!

We intend to open the market doors very soon. The focus for the next few weeks will be the bathroom renovation. We are practically down to the bones of the building in the area where the bathrooms are. Working within the context of the Living Building Challenge is a real eye opener. We are mindfully thinking about where each item that is deconstructed will go once it leaves the space. We are also in the process of figuring out where we will be sourcing materials and for that matter, everything that comes into the building. The process will be somewhat gradual so we don't go completely crazy! This is Darrell, Permaculture Designer, Author of Bioshelter Market Garden: A Permaculture Farm, and chief Contractor and Builder for the project at Schwartz Market. A genius in our midst. We are truly blessed with our entire energetic work force.

Here's David during bathroom deconstruction discovering and examining a bottle that was in the wall! He noticed the interesting sun design and was so excited!

Frank examining the bottle too. Yup, it's a whiskey bottle!

Several layers of flooring were deconstructed in the bathrooms. Frank and David found a penny dated around 1946 with the first layer of linoleum flooring. It's interesting to note that a new flooring product that is fine to use for the Living Building Challenge is called Marmoleum. Marmoleum is a natural, non-toxic product. The flooring layer found just above the linoleum was vinyl, a material that has a very toxic manufacturing process. A penny dated 1951 was found with that layer of flooring! Thanks workers that put that flooring down for letting us know when by placing pennies.

Darrell and Tony Albrecht, Architect, examining the space that will be two bathrooms in a few weeks!

Thanks all of you and the many others that are making this dream into a reality! Elisa Beck :)

May the Schwartz Be With You!

Here are some highlights from the July 5, 2012 preview market party event at 1317 East Carson Street, soon to be re-opening as Schwartz Living Market! So, someone this past Thursday evening told me if we name the project right, they'll be there shopping. Or was it, if we name a drink after "May the Schwartz Be With You", they'll buy one? How about May the Schwartz Be With You Wheat Grass Juice Shots?!!!

Arlene is Morris Schwartz's granddaughter, and there I am too.  Sarah Ann Schwartz, may she rest in peace, Morris's daughter, and Arlene and Stan's Aunt, was deaf.  I am signing, I love you. Arlene and I are standing in front of Jenna West's Schwartz Living Market display. Jenna has designed our logo, cards, and brochure and there will be more design work coming!

What an amazing evening, this past July 5, 2012, was! Some folks asked why the  @#$% were we having a party when it was renovation and reconstruction we need to be doing? And what will it be? The newly invented Schwartz Market as Schwartz Living Market? What will BE there? So many questions and so few clear answers! So, now you know how this project has been going. We are doing it...ALL... and all at once! We love it and enjoy it, and it can be simply maddening, at times, to do it all. The clarity is coming. It is all developing. Slow development it's called. Hour by hour. Day by Day. And then we sit back, lay back, and in our case, stand tall, and contemplate. And revel in our creation!

Laura, Rachel, Elisa and Stan, and who is that other guy next to Stan? Anyone know him?! 

Stan and Arlene's grandfather was Morris Schwartz. Morris came over to the United States from Hungary in the early part of the century and established Schwartz Market in Pittsburgh's historic South Side. We honor the legacy of Morris Scwartz and his wife Helen Schwartz. I understand they were two amazing, energetic, family and community oriented individuals.

The Schwartz Living Market is to be the engine for green growth for the overall Living Building project we are slowly and mindfully developing. What is a Living Building? Go to the Phipps Conservatory website to check out the almost open Living Building project right here in our own town of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Or go to the www.ilbi.org website to read about the details. We are working towards meeting the Living Building Challenge of an existing historic structure. A feat that has not yet been accomplished in this world yet, at least not that I know of. Exciting? You betcha! Why a party? We needed a party just about now!

Thanks SO much to all of you that vended and that participated at our preview market party on July 5, 2012. Below are a few highlights and we will blog with more details in the next days and weeks. The evening was truly fantabulous! Thanks so much to every individual and every family and every vendor. The evening showed us that the space is just perfect as a market space. I was so overwhelmed by the sweet wonderful energy the surrounded us the whole time! I wished the evening had been about three hours longer so I had had time to speak to each individual vendor for at least 15 minutes. I did not make it to each of the booths and did not even realize some of the vendors were there. I sincerely apologize for that from the bottom of my heart. Life and experience teaches so many important lessons, and I feel blessed to be part of all of this!

Thanks for being there and selling your books Patty Lemer, Executive Director of Developmental Delay Resources, and teaching us about Envisioning a Bright Future and selling your books. Thanks Jonothan for the delicious vegetarian food you prepared that will be part of our Transition Kitchen and to your family for being there too.

Thanks Jamie Glover of Global Lovin' one of our permanent vendors, for being there in our five foot deep prototype vendor booth. Your responsibly imported beautiful clothing from Thailand is just magnificent! Who is that standing with you and who is that shopping? Thank you both too!

Thanks Councilman Bill Peduto, and Jim McCue, and Sheila Collins, and that other handsome guy in the photo, for being there!

Dave, Hazel, Bob and Arlene

Thanks Dad for being there. You got to meet Hazel, who is older than you at 101! You were the patriarch and matriarch of the evening. You could feel young at 100 years and 9 months! Bob and Arlene, thank you too for being supportive of this project. Bob worked supplying tea to the Schwartz Market for many years. Both he and his Mom, Hazel have been family friend forever and are now retired, but not tired! We were so lucky Arlene joined us from California!

Incredible original hand painted T-shirts by Thrice Great Apparel

Thanks Miguel Sague, another of the permanent vendors, for your authentic Native American treasures. 

Darrell Frey of Three Sisters Farm and author of the book Bioshelter Market Garden: A Permaculture Farm,  is doing the Permaculture Site Design for the project for 1317 East Carson Street along with Elizabeth Lynch and Tara Alexander. All three of these amazing individuals have been involved in the planning and implementation of this project.

Liz and Jenna in the construction zone!

Thanks Three Sisters Farm and Liz and Darrell for all you are doing!

Thanks Tony Albrect for being the chief architect on the project and explaining to others what this project is all about and for understanding this process!

Thanks Ji, and an extra special thanks to Chad, for organizing the vendors and so much more for this evening and way beyond! 

Laura and Adira, Morris Schwartz's great-grandaughters, are chatting while others watch me take their photo from the Soap Box. The Soap Box 52 will be featured in the market for you to stand up and speak your truth! Non-profits are being offered a vendor booth for between one and three weeks on Saturdays only, for the first year of operation at no charge.

A special thanks to the Pennsylvania Resources Council for supplying the composting and recycling receptacles so this could be a zero waste event and to the Albert of Zerofossil for teaching us about wonderful alternatives to fossil fuels.

 I will go on and on in the next blog to continue to thank all of you that I have not yet mentioned.
Enjoy the photos and keep following this blog for project updates. We project opening by very late summer and with all of your help, we will continue to exceed everyone's expectations!

For more details and if you'd like to vend in the space at 1317 East Carson Street in the new Schwartz Living Market, please contact Pam Barroso at:

pjs787@gmail.com

Elisa Beck:)
http://1317eastcarson.blogspot.com
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Re-Activating Schwartz Market

Poster from Sustainable Pittsburgh

Copy and paste this link http://postgazette.com/pg/11312/1188257-294-0.stm and read the article inside the front page of today's Pittsburgh Post Gazette! When folks ask what we are planning for the market over the next months, it's the article to refer to! We are actively soliciting vendors for our space in Schwartz Market. Interested in incubating your sustainable/regenerative food business with real goods? Do you have an existing small food business that you'd like to expand? Contact Debbie Maier Jacknin at 412.427.5500 or debo1960@aol.com

Deconstruction at 1317 East Carson Street

Where are we in this project at 1317 East Carson Street the home of Schwartz Market, and What's Next? What are all of our roles in this transition to our new culture, our new, and possibly different way of being?

What is Deconstruction? I learned the word a few Sundays ago when visiting the site of Transformazium in North Braddock, PA. Demolition, "Demo" for short, is the term used in the construction industry and really any industry that works with changing a building from its existing form to something other.

Demolition in an old building often involves removing existing fixtures and walls, down to the studs at times, disposing of the materials in a dumpster headed to a landfill, and then installing new things in the place of what was removed.

Deconstruction, or "Unbuilding", or "Green Deconstruction" is a new way of thinking about this process, at least for me and for those taking the Transformazium tour a few Sundays ago. That tour really got me thinking.  I thank Pam Barroso, a fellow Sustainable Monroevillian for letting me know about the event, which was in collabortion with a current art exhibit the Miller Gallery at Carnegie Mellon University.

Four women that live and work in Braddock formed Transormazium. The project is focusing on Deconstruction of a formerly condemned church that they bought in their neighborhood. Their original intention was to put in a community/ commerical kitchen and more. As they started to look at the church and the lot across the street from bottom to top, and inside out and deeply consider what they were doing, they wound up spending a lot of time on the process of undoing the existing structure of the building. As they slowly considered every piece of everything they were dealing with, they realized they were engaging with community in a special way. a real way. An every day way. They often find themselves explaining what they are doing because they are doing it slowly and mindfully. They are thinking about what they are doing and considering the idea of Cradle To Cradle.

So back to E. Carson Street, and where are we in what we are doing? We are in the process of implementing a short term plan so our family can retain ownership of the building. We need to make sure the building is occupied by paying tenants in short order. We are looking for tenants to rent booths similar to what the Pittsburgh Public Market in Pittsburgh's Strip district has done. Please contact us by replying to this blog or e-mailing elisabeck@aol.com if you are interested in occupying the space. Implementing the short term plan, we intend to open the market space by March 1, 2011. How does that fit into the long term vision that you've read glimpses of earlier in this blog site? As we work towards the Living Building Challnge, we will meet LEED EB and LEED EBOM, I think it's called. The OM stands for Operations and Management... Yesterday we moved aside some ceiling tiles and peeked behind them to see some beautiful tin ceiling tiles, with lots of lead paint flaking off of them. We are getting bids to remove and remediate asbestos floor tiles and lead paint throughout the building. With each step we are considering the ideas of deconstruction rather than demolition. We are paying attention to our health, the health of those that will be doing the work, and the health of those that will be occupying the building in the future.

Deconstruction, the word itself is so much softer and less harsh. We need to be differently as we move through this process.

Brad Hochberg of Energreen revealing what is above that drop ceiling. Thanks Brad!