Transition US :: February 2011 e-newsletter

"Homesteading" is all the buzz lately, and increasingly we are seeing it emerge as powerful way of creating community resilience. We can't help but recognize the parallels and intersections between the Transition movement and the growing trend towards urban homesteading, especially now, with the 'Food Movement' becoming a measurable environmental force. 

We would invite all those interested and/or engaged in homesteading to consider exploring ways of bringing the Transition model to their communities. Just by making others in your area aware of what you are doing, literally in your own back yard, will go a long way towards bringing a new world to life. 

Transition Youth in Action! - Transition Youth/YES! in Northfield, MN are leading the way in raising awareness in their community through fun and engaging events and projects, with a view to the future. (read more)

Time Exchange - Finding ways of dealing with the current economic crisis proves to be a challenge for so many people. Transition San Fernando Valley decided to come up with a solution and created an alternative economy group in September 2010 called the San Fernando Valley Time Exchange. (read more)

Snapshot: Transition across the Country - Building the "January Roundup of What's Happening in the World of Transiton" pulled together by Helen and Rob over at Transition Culture, here are some highlights of what's keeping Transition Initiatives busy across the US...(read more)

Save the date - we're taking the challenge national!

We're thrilled to be helping out with the 350 Home & Garden Challenge this year to take this initiative national! Last May Transition Initiatives and other community groups across Sonoma County, California, mobilized to plant what ended up being over 600 projects!

• Consider one of the four challenge areas: Food, Water, Energy and Community
• Download the 350 Challenge Overview (PDF) with project ideas to learn more
• Share it with your friends!
• Sign up as a Community Organizer

> Watch the video of last year's 350 Garden Challenge

Farmer and the Horse
Synopsis: From award-winning journalist Jared Flesher a film that digs into difficult questions about sustainability, self-sufficiency, and why we do the work we do.    Flesher’s film goes beyond the usual platitudes of smiling organic farmers talking about the good life. Farming is hard work—especially if you don’t use  a tractor. (Read  Rob Hopkins's review on Transition Culture)

Bag it: is your life too plastic?
Synopsis: An average guy makes a resolution to stop using plastic bags at the grocery store. Little does he know that this simple decision will change his life completely. He comes to the conclusion that our consumptive use of plastic has finally caught up to us, and looks at what we can do about it. This film examines the impact of plastics on the environment, marine animals and human health. (Being screened by Transition Culver City, CA / check out the film website for resources for outreach & education)

Transition Network News

Diversity: Check out the Transition Network Diversity January Newsletter: A collection of diversity news, what it means and discussion how to become more inclusive. 

Markets: Have you been approached by organizations wanting to market via your networks? See some interestingreflections on Transition as a market.

The Transition Handbook: The sequel to the Transition Handbook now has a name! ‘The Transition Companion: making your community more resilient in uncertain times’ Stay tuned formore opportunities to contribute to the book.

How-to Guide: And, for those who may have missed it, this is worth including again: Transition Support Scotland produced a really good booklet called ‘How to organise a Regional Gathering’.  Download it here.
 

Post Carbon Institute Update

Transition US Partner | visit www.postcarbon.org for more articles, reports and news

Political upheaval around the world in response to rising food and energy prices is showing more than ever why economic growth is over. February saw the release of Chapter 3 of Richard Heinberg's upcoming book The End of Growth. Read How Markets May Respond to Resource Scarcity: The Goldilocks Syndromeand catch previous downloads here.

Also, check out the latest download—Culture and Behavior: Remapping Relationships: Humans in Nature —from the Post Carbon Reader.