The Founders

The Bailsteins
Hal Bailey and Liza Epstein (The Bailsteins) publicly launched
The Illumi-Nation Project in Feb. 2014 in St.Petersburg, FL.
The idea for The I-NP bloomed out of their lifelong passion for community building through joyful, hands-on education and from their life experiences and education related to environmental sustainability, holistic natural physical and mental health practices and expressive arts.
Since 2014, The Bailsteins have conducted several research trips visiting and interviewing members of eco-villages (intentional communities that have the goal of living in ways that have a minimal negative impact on the environment). They are believers in minimal living and have been traveling with and sleeping in their teardrop trailer, designed and built by Hal.
The pair have presented their research at Eckerd College, The Tiny Home Festival, sustainability conferences, and at music and art festivals with their community outreach program, Rising Light.
When they are back in their home base of St. Petersburg, the couple sets up a monthly community collaborative art project at The Blueberry Patch in Gulfport, FL. They have also joined forces for events with local community organizations including Hometeam, The Foundation for Sustainable Families, Everyday Hero Project, Green Peace, Sustainable Urban Agriculture Committee, and The St. Petersburg Timebank.
The Illumi-Nation Project's community outreach program, Rising Light, has organized dozens of hands-on workshops related to holistic natural health practices, communication and conflict resolution skill-building, joyful self-expression, and environmental regeneration.
Eco-Villages
We've Visited:
The Hummingbird Community, Mora, New Mexico,
Emerald Village, Vista, CA
Emerald Earth, Boonville, CA
Kailash Village, Portland, OR
Tryon Farms, Portland, OR
Circle of Children, Blachly, OR
Myakka Earthship, Myakka, FL
The Eco Farm, Plant City, FL
Earth Haven, Black Mountain, NC
Taos Pueblo, Tao, NM
Greater Worlds Community,
Taos, NM
Super Adobe Compound, Moffit, CO
The Haidakhandi Universal Ashram, Crestone, CO
visit our Facebook page and give us "LIKE" to keep up with us!
Sustainable Living Practices
We are in the beginning stages of launching our latest program,
Rising Light Pop-Up Retreats.
These day-retreats that will highlight our community's movement toward environmental consciousness and holistic healing by offering hands-on classes on environmental regeneration, physical, mental, and spiritual wellness.
What's Next?

Community Enrichment
![]() Paint at The Patch |
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![]() Instrument Petting Zoo |
![]() Morning Yoga |
![]() The Illumi-Nation Super Jam LovefestTaken July 12, 2014 at The Illumi-Nation Super Jam Love Fest by Jeff Moellering. |
![]() Learning at The Earthship Fl.jpg |
![]() Youth empowerment.jpg |
![]() Campfire at The Earthship FL.jpg |
![]() Community EnrichmentPhoto taken July 12, 2014 at The Illumi-Nation Super Jam LoveFest by Jeff Moellering. |
![]() Brainstorming at The Earthship FL |
![]() Om CircleTaken July 12, 2014 at The Illumi-Nation Super Jam Love Fest |
![]() Co-Creative CollaborationCollaboration between members of Green Sunshine, Holey Miss Moley and CopE taken July 12, 2014 at The Illumi-Nation Super Jam Love Fest by Jeff Moellering. |
![]() Co-Creative CollaborationCollaboration between members of Come Back Alice and CopE taken July 12, 2014 at The Illumi-Nation Super Jam Love Fest by Jeff Moellering. |