Introduction to "Transition Towns"

[eyesoftheworld]

HI all - if you have not heard of Transition Towns, here is a short interview with the founder. Started in 2006 as a way to address the energy descent we are
in, as well as organizing and tapping on to peoples' talents, T.T. is global now and doing good work. It offers a forum for discussion and action.
Please check out this interview, posted from Alter-Net.
http://www.alternet.org/environment/think-new-economy-possible-meet-man-already-making-it-happen?page=0%2C0&akid=11050.205329.1NrvWn&rd=1&src=newsletter911567&t=3

I was a part of Village Vancouver while in B.C. Canada and learned a lot and gave a lot. It was wonderful! Looking for the T.T. in Australia next!

 

[herondancer]

Even though this guy is motivated by the whole global warming bit, it's still a neat project he's got going. Networking on a town-wide scale is awesome. I like the fact that he give guidance on how to analyze each community so the solutions they find are tailored for them. What works in a Boston neighborhood might not suit a Texas community. It would be great to hear more about your Village Vancouver experience.

 

[eyesoftheworld]

HI Herondancer -
I was in Village Vancouver - Main Street neighborhood. There were 22 villages within V.V. Each sub-village is meant to be accessible by foot, or bike Our Main St group did gardening for food sessions, how to can, how to maintain your bike, pot lucks, seed sharing and the lessons on how to do that, we had a seed library people could add to or borrow from. We tried to keep track of which seeds worked the best.
There was a lot of financial education going on as well as the obvious, environmental awareness raising. I had met Nicole Foss (http://theautomaticearth.com) after reading her blog for years and got her invited to speak to the entire V.V. community. It started a way more informed and practical conversation about global finance and it's machinations.
This is a very vibrant idea and is finding a huge response worldwide. Canada and Australia and New Zealand seem to be ahead of the curve.
Here are some of the items we covered last year:

Send us your sweet garden pics! Summer recap Earthwalks Vancouver FREE Intro to Permaculture Day Aug 26 Rural-Urban Permaculture Design Certificate Woodland Community Garden in full bloom Popular Ecological Economics courses return this fall City Commons makes places in Vancouver Vancouver home to North America's largest food orchard Intro to Beekeeping course in West Van Exhibit: The history (and possible future) of small scale farming Harvest Festival and Vegetable Contest at Frog Hollow Growing the Transition Movement locally, building relationships with other Transition Initiatives around the world, and forging connections and partnerships with over one hundred local community groups and organizations. Holding several hundred workshops, gatherings and other events and playing a leading role in helping thousands acquire new skills. Our upcoming Transition School (now in its' 5th year) at Langara College's Sustainable Communities Summer School features over a dozen offerings, including Balcony and Container Gardening, Bee Keeping, Co-ops Work!, Creating a Village in a City, Emergency Preparedness, Food Systems, Introduction to the Transition Movement, Local Currencies, Pathways to Ecological Sustainability, Permaculture Design, and Starting a Community Garden. Widespread recognition as a leader in the sustainable food movement in Vancouver including strong support for the establishment and development of broad and inclusive Neighbourhood Food Networks, creating Beekeeping, Seed Saving, Gardening and Backyard Chicken Networks, initiating work on a Community Food Resiliency Plan (FED-AP), promoting urban farming and other forms of urban agricluture, including collaborative and community gardens and food forests, coming together on hundreds of occasions to celebrate food and build community, and much more. Playing a leading role in building stronger connections between neighbours and creating healthier and more resilient communities through the formation of several neighbourhood Transition Villages in Vancouver, as well as working to establish new Transition initiatives across the region, such as Village Burnaby, Village North Shore, and Village Surrey. Actively promoting Permaculture as a great way to build more sustainable communities. Working to create vibrant local economies and greater community connectivity and self-reliance, and more energy reduction and less dependence on fossil fuels through numerous projects and activities, including Meetups, Community Activist Gatherings, Demonstration Transition Neighbourhood Villages at fairs and festivals, a Community Currency initiative, Emergency Preparedness groups, a Plastic Recycling Depot and a Food Scraps Drop Spot Composting program, Transition Trade Initiatives and Social Enterprises, a Right Livelihood Project, Macy Monday's, a Permaculture Village, two day Transition Training Workshops, bicycle maintenance parties and other undertakings.