Thank you for becoming a part of the Village Building Convergence, a project bringing human-scale community action to the urban crossroads. Your participation supports the concept that localization of culture, economy and decision-making are the necessary foundations of strong and sustainable neighborhoods. For ten days, VBC7 will transform the urban grid, sparking ecological and societal visions into action, going beyond mere sustainability and into creative, living culture!

Come build with us, to makers and seers, be with us when neighborhoods come outside and into the streets to build and laugh, design and dance, as they remake their worlds. Permaculture, Natural Building, Public Art, Participatory Democracy, Localization of Economy…there will be more simultaneous ecological place-making during this event than ever before! Evening presentations and actions involving brilliant and passionate people, music, food, the world’s largest number of block parties in one day, and that’s just the beginning…

You can view a list of fees here.

Online registration and ticketing is now closed. If you have any questions email Michael at Registration.

You can still get tickets for tonight’s event at the door or at the following stores:

Alberta Coop (NE) Website link

Chance of Rain Cafe (SE) on 32nd Ave at Hawthorne

Ecotrust (NW) Website link

Food Front (NW) Website link

Powell’s Books on Hawthorne (SE) Website link

Proper Eats (N) Website link

If you have never been to the VBC before you might be wondering what happens there and how you can get involved in this unique event. Below is a listing of some of the activities at the VBC and links for more information.

Daytime Activities: Most people show up to participate in the natural building and workshops at sites throughout Portland during the day. The building (click here to view this years sites) and workshops at the VBC are free and no registration is required for those wanting to participate in these activities. The Village Builder Magazine is the guide to VBC happenings including a map, site descriptions, bios of evening presenters and articles. When you register you get a complimentary copy. Maps of the building sites are available at City Repair headquarters located at 2122 SE Division Portland Oregon 97202.

Evening Events: During evenings participants come together as a community to mingle, have dinner, and listen to speakers and live music. Dinners are served from 5-7 pm - the evening program begins at 7pm. The location of the venue is Disjecta located at 230 E Burnside Portland, Oregon 97214.

Participants are encouraged to attend all the evening events, and the VBC offers a considerable discount for those who choose to register for all 10 days. Individual tickets can be purchased for the evening events online, at selected stores in Portland, or at the door of the event.

Housing: Housing is provided through residents of Portland who offer space in their house for VBC participants. You must register to get housing through the VBC. If you wish to share your house with VBC participants or if you have questions about housing you can email housing.

Open-heart registration check-in tables will be open to receive your presence at City Repair Headquarters, 2122 SE Division, from 9am - 5pm starting May 18th, if you are arriving from out of town. Come with your disorientation so we can help place you! If you are coming in after 5pm, please come to the main venue to check in (location TBA). Please note that this applies predominately for those needing housing. If you want to purchase an in-town pass, these can be purchased at CRHQ any time of the day before 5:00pm. Passports will be issued to 5-day and up passholders only.

An orientation will be held Friday the 18th, so please show up at City Repair Headquarters (CRHQ) as early as you can make it. We will be here at 9am, but you can show up at any time during the day. The earlier the better because then you can get your stuff over to your housing and get out to the sites to play. Friday is typically spent getting your bearings straight. Building does not begin until Saturday at 9am.

If you are arriving Saturday the 19th or Sunday the 20th, we will have the same type of orientation, so don’t worry. If you arrive in the middle of the week, someone will always be here to greet you. If you come in after 5:00 pm, please head over to the evening event venue and we will check you in there (location TBA).

Your registration orientation/packet will provide the contact info for your housing host, a passport that enables your entry into the evening event, and a Village Builder (the guide to it ALL). CRHQ will be the place you can consider your home base. We will be open all day to help answer your questions, or if you find yourself lost and confused. If you need someplace to just chill out, our home is open to you. There are phones, computers to access email, bathroom facilities, and a workers owned cafe is two doors down. This is a good place to meet up with people.

If you wish to do worktrade to get into the evening events there are many opportunities to get involved. You can volunteer to help maintain the venue, move people and materials around, help answer visitors’ questions, sell clothes and instructional material, cook and serve the food, and for many other tasks as well! A four hour worktrade shift will get you into the evening event for free. If you have bought a 10-day pass, with or without housing, you are can sign up to do 12 hours of worktrade (3 shifts of 4 hours each) for a $70 discount. If you buy a 1, 3, or 5 day pass, you are welcome to sign up for worktrade to get into additional evenings at the venue.

The best way to sign up for worktrade is to attend our People Power Orientation, on May 10 from 7-8:30pm at City Repair Headquarters (2122 SE Division). If you are an out-of-towner and have bought a 10-day pass and registered for the $70 discount, we will be in touch with you about which shifts we need you to fill. If you are in town and bought a 10 day pass and registered for the $35 discount we will also contact you. Another option for those only in town for the VBC is to show up at City Repair Headquarters during the day or show up at the evening event venue (230 E Burnside) to see if there are shifts available. These shifts are first come, first serve, and there is no guarantee shifts will be available day-of. If you have questions about volunteering or worktrade you can contact our volunteer coordinator Maralena

Many remarkable people participate in the VBC from all over the country. If you would like to share some space in your house during the VBC click here

Questions: Housing