‘Edge Esmeralda’ Village in Healdsburg: What to Know

As we reported in the print issue of the Healdsburg Tribune this week, a monthlong “popup village” called Edge Esmeralda with 150-plus full-time residents and hundreds more short-term visitors is coming to Healdsburg this June. One big question I’ve gotten from readers so far: What exactly will they be DOING here? I’ll try to explain as best I can, from what I know. Participants will be staying in local hotels (or anyplace else they can find to stay) and attending daily talks and salons on far-out topics such as artificial intelligence; “real-world crypto”; health and longevity, including neurotech and biohacking; “hard tech” innovations in areas like geoengineering, nanotech, space exploration and renewable energy; and human organization, including the “evolution of education and parenting” and “new towns and cities.” See their working calendar here. The ultimate goal of these talks being to re-envision the way society and community can work. The in-person aspect is also a way for the global internet tribes invested in these particular futuristic topics to hang out face-to-face for a sustained period; it seems like they’re starved for it. Sonoma County and Healdsburg residents are encouraged to join in as well, at a discounted price of $200 for the full month of programming. (The others are paying more like $2,000 each, plus accommodations.) Tickets are here. These talks, salons and other meetups — plus daily communal meals — will be hosted by local venues like the Raven Theater, the Healdsburg Community Center, the CraftWork co-working space and the Paul Mahder Gallery. Attendees are encouraged to bike and walk the mile-long Foss Creek Pathway along the edge of town as the main mode of transport between their hotels and events. The Edge Esmeralda people are calling our local trail “serendipity lane,” in hopes it will facilitate chance run-ins and friendships. Another big question I’ve gotten: How are the outsiders throwing this event connecting with actual members of Healdsburg community? After speaking to Edge Esmeralda’s two main organizers — Janine Leger and Devon Zuegel, young women with a shared passion for “societal innovation” — what I can tell you is that they’ve been talking to various local orgs (Farm to Pantry, Corazón Healdsburg, etc.) and certain city leaders. And they do seem hungry for more community participation. You can use this form to share your input and ideas with them, or reach out to me and I’ll put you in touch. They’re also trying to build out a “locals track” of talks — something akin to a “Healdsburg week,” where community members on the cutting edge share their knowledge. So, yeah — there are plenty of reasons to be skeptical of this whole experiment, of course. But maybe we can also kind of make it our own? (Source: Healdsburg Tribune & Edge Esmeralda)