Here is more from the April 2007 Lane County Relocalization Conference:
GROUP REPORTS (suggestions from plenary included and overlaps noted)
FOOD
* Expand the school garden project.
* Work on initiatives with the city (also suggested by the Energy Group).
* Have Saturday Market open 7 days a week, marketing the produce of local folks.
* Use Lost Valley[Education Center, in Dexter] as a resource.
* Have places in the country where city folks can grow food (also suggested by the Localized Economy Group).
* Explore biodynamic gardening.
* Make decisions based on the needs of soil organisms.
* Replace the concept of GNP (gross national product) with the concept of "Gross National Happiness." (Changing the measure of a successful society was also discussed in the Localized Economy Group.)
* Garden for the good of your soul (care of the soul was also mentioned by the Community and Culture Group).
* From plenary: replace lawns with gardens.
LOCAL ECONOMY
* Create a bioregional marketing directory,
* Form farm work brigades (city folks working on farms), using sustainable transport and moveable shelter and cooking and washing facilities.
* Certify and label products according to localization criteria.
* Begin to re-envision a local ethnobotany with the advice of Native elders.
* Create relocalized processing infrastructure, including that needed for food preservation.
* Develop multiple local sources of credit.
* From plenary: create a localization debit card, with a portion from each sale financing relocalization projects.
ENERGY
* Create an education-information office that would encourage decreased consumption of energy and alternative transportation, provide support for alternative energy projects and grant writing, and showcase models of alternative energy like biogas and cellulosic ethanol.
* Advocate politically for alternative energy at the state level, and create a community-supported energy project involving a local utility at the city level.
* Send delegations to countries where alternative energy models have matured (communication with the people of other countries was also mentioned in the Localized Economy Group).
* Have a "living building" that's a net exporter of resources as a model.
* Convene ongoing energy group meetings in the community (a signup sheet for ongoing meetings was passed around in the Localized Economy Group).
TRANSPORTATION AND LAND USE
* Appreciate the complexity of our society, and be careful not to alienate groups and individuals.
* Create dense enough residential areas to support mass transit.
* Democratize green building.
* Develop an inventory or catalog of models already in the community that are attractive in terms of both planning and energy use. Involve local architects and builders in this process.
COMMUNITY AND CULTURE
* Use neighborhood organizations, each of which already has a city-funded newsletter, as organizing units to educate and coordinate.
* Approach religious groups, which also have easily contacted communities.
* Network groups.
* Actually do things in addition to disseminating information.
* Train organizers in appropriate communication and meeting-running processes.
* We each need to check our motivation, and make it as positive as possible. Use meditation to create a positive inner space.
* From plenary: create times and places for people to be exposed to relocalization ideas in a fun, relaxed atmosphere.
* From plenary: use art and music to spread the message.
* From plenary: create or use an already existing website (like that of the Eugene outpost of the Postcarbon Institute) to which people can go to check out relocalization ideas and see models.
***************************************************************************
Eugene and Oregon's first relocalization gathering took place April 27th and 28th. Titled the Lane County Relocalization Conference, the event began on Friday eve the 27th with two keynote addresses, then went all day Saturday with panels, open discussions and plenary session to put all the ideas together.
Relocalization is an idea emerging from concerns about the durability of the globalized economy given trends relating to climate change and uncertain dependability of oil and natural gas. The conference also included a good deal of attention on cultural aspects of relocalization. The core of relocalizing is taking care of more of our needs closer to home.
Friday night, Daniel Lerch of the Post Carbon Institute in Portland started off explaining how fragile oil supplies are becoming. Trends are showing petroleum availability is not keeping up with demand, prices are increasing and oil producing areas are increasingly attracting political instability. The upshot being that dramatically reducing dependence on oil is an urgent need and a growing number of cities are creating task forces and strategies to make plans for reducing oil dependence.
Jan Spencer gave the second key note. His talk covered a good deal of ground relating to culture change saying that the globalized economic system was “severely in the way” of the kind of peaceful and ecological world many people would like to see. He described a variety of attributes of a relocalized Eugene including elements of land use, energy, local food and economics, many already in place. A key part of this relocalizing would be developing a culture of cohesion where popular civic goals, driven by a higher level of ethical values and ideals would be served by an economy that was local, green and accountable in its business practices.
Saturday's all day session contained 5 different topical tracks- land use/transportation, energy, food, economics and culture. Attendees included Mayor Kitty Piercy, Councilman Alan Zelenka and County Commissioner Pete Sorenson, as well as representatives from a number of local non profits and LTD, our county public transit service.
Discussions were animated with panelists and attendees bringing a wide range of experiences and perspectives to the conversations. One panel was surveyed being asked who felt our future could be dramatically different in terms our every day life within 5 to 10 years and virtually all raised their hands.
A great deal of practical information was shared relating to local food security, renewable energy, economics, land use and culture. Visions were described as well existing models already proven to be effective in relocalizing such as the school garden project, suburban renewal, cooperative living, bio gas and local currencies.
The final plenary session brought all the participants together with representatives from each topic sharing overviews of the days discussions. There were a number of plans suggested with participant support to develop action plans such as a web based inventory of existing models in land use, energy, food, economics and community organizations relating to relocalization. Another plan is a bio-regional directory for green businesses, another for expanding urban agriculture and better connecting urban people with rural agriculture.
There are a number of post Conference events and gatherings planned. You can also call 686 6761 or visit www.suburbanpermaculture.org for a calendar.
******************************************************************
Global challenges demand local integrated solutions!
Climate change, resource scarcity, an unsustainable global economy and an eroding environment are urgent and interrelated issues requiring creative responses now.
Please join together with other local concerned citizens and Lane County planners for an exciting, culture-changing opportunity for strategizing a greener future at
THE 2007 LANE COUNTY RELOCALIZATION CONFERENCE
Opening Plenary and keynotes: Friday, Apr. 27th, 7 pm(doors open at 6:30)
First Christian Church • 1166 Oak St., Eugene
Special Guest Speaker: Daniel Lerch, from the Post Carbon Institute & author of upcoming book release: Planning For Energy and Climate Uncertainty: A Guide for Local Governments. See www.postcarboncities.net for more info.
Keynote address by Jan Spencer, Eugene Culture Change advocate and author of Global Trends–Local Choices: "A Culture of Cohesion" see www.suburbanpermaculture.org
Suggested donation $5 to $25 covers both Friday and Saturday,
includes lunch on Saturday
Saturday April 28th, 8:30-6 pm
Friendly Street Church of God • 2290 Friendly St, Eugene(changed from EWEB)
PLEASE NOTE THAT SMOKING AND ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE NOT PERMITTED AT FRIENDLY ST. CHURCH
8:30 Saturday, doors open
9:00 Morning Plenary- Welcome, Explanation and scope of the day
9:30-11:30 Panel’s discussions. Same topics restart as facilitated open discussions at 1 PM
List of Panels and panelists:
Localized Economy Panel
Ravi Logan - Moderator, Cascadia Commonwealth Institute
Don Schneider - Elkdream Farm, Pleasant Hill Progressives
Aleta Miller - Community Economist
Jason Schreiner - Cascadia Commonwealth Institute
Cary Thompson - Helios Resource Network
Energy Panel
Energy - Will Klausmeier, Ph.D.- LCC Biofuels Instructor-moderator
Ian Hill - Sequential Biofuels - localized vegetable oil & biodiesel production
Jon Colligan - LCC student talks about miniplant processing cafeteria oil
David Dickson- Biofuel Connection - Brief intro to vegetable oil fuel
Warren Weisman - Residential and community biogas
Roger Ebbage - LCC - Solar energy and green building design, wind energy
Bill Welch - EWEB - Incentives for small scale generators
Food Panel
Megan Kemple- School Garden Program
Harry MacCormack- Sunbow Farm, Corvallis
Krishna Khalsa- Food Co-Operative Organizer
Kate Perle or Kevin Jones- Full Circle Community Farm
Kelly Hoell- Good Company
John Sundquist- Moderator- Rivers Turn Farm
Culture Panel
Cristo Brehm- East Blair Housing Co-op
Kitty Piercy- Mayor, City of Eugene
Katie Geiser- Garfield Intersection Repair Project
Megan Hinkel- Non Violent Communication and Peace Activist
Kim Kirschbaum- Lost Valley Educational Center
Mel Bankoff-Moderator- Community Developer
Land Use Panel
Josh Bruce- Rainbow Valley Construction
Daniel Lerch- Post Carbon Institute, Portland
Pete Sorenson- Lane County Commissioner
Tom Schwetz- Lane Transit District public transit
City of Eugene invited
Jan Spencer- Eugene Permaculture Guild-Moderator
11:30 Lunch: music and mingle
Special guest Jan Lundberg of Culture Change, plays guitar, "Have a Global Warming Day"
1:00 Morning's topics continue as open round table facilitated discussion, please share what you know!
3:00 - Plenary- Reports from the topical groups
4:00 - Call to Action. 'What comes next' facilitated by Ravi Logan
5:30 Close of the Conference
Childcare will be available Saturday.
Comments
May 2nd, 2008
Re: Notes from 2007 Lane County Relocalization Conference
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May 2nd, 2008
Re: Notes from 2007 Lane County Relocalization Conference
Rudy, thanks for the note on Steve Leppold's energy exporting home. I would like to encourage others to look into options for energy exporting from their homes, when possible. There is a lot of activity in the local community and surrounding areas, including things like the Sustainable Corvallis Challenge. Together with Energy Tax Credits from the State and Federal, as well as EWEB, local individuals have opportunities they're never seen before - and may never see again.
My apologies for a blatant commercial plug, but the following is offered as a way to allow more people to do what Steve Leppold has done. My company offers a SolarCommunity program that links neighbors together using a 'solar coalition technique'. A self-appointed neighborhood ambassador invites people to a local meeting and when enough of them sign-up we offer a proposal with group savings for professionally installed solar on their homes. Some programs are actually leases and Power Purchase Agreements with little or no money up front. Additionally, we offer employee-tied programs for commercial clients whereby the kilowatt production of a commercial facility and interested employees homes can be combined for a discount - again, with options that include a PPA and no up-front money.
If the Post-Eugene Community is interested, I would be more than happy to present a slide show at a meeting of their choice and provide beverages. There's nothing to lose and the whole world to gain. This is all about getting more hands on deck, not political, not as a grab-the-money and go, profit opportunity. My wife and I are Eugene residents who intend to be here for the duration and this is one more way for us to get involved and become part of the local fabric. I apologize again for the commercial overtones of this email, but it's really about 'making a difference' and this is the best way I can contribute.
Sincerely,
JD Howell
Eugene, OR
JD Howell | Sales Consultant | SolarCity | Cell: (541) 743-1441 | Fax: (541) 306-3016 | jdhowell@ | www.solarcity.com
Contractor's ID: OR CCB: 180498
Ps - Cut20.com is our personal site with link to our blog...
GROUP REPORTS (suggestions from plenary included and overlaps noted)
FOOD
* Expand the school garden project.
* Work on initiatives with the city (also suggested by the Energy Group).
* Have Saturday Market open 7 days a week, marketing the produce of local folks.
* Use Lost Valley[Education Center, in Dexter] as a resource.
* Have places in the country where city folks can grow food (also suggested by the Localized Economy Group).
* Explore biodynamic gardening.
* Make decisions based on the needs of soil organisms.
* Replace the concept of GNP (gross national product) with the concept of "Gross National Happiness." (Changing the measure of a successful society was also discussed in the Localized Economy Group.)
* Garden for the good of your soul (care of the soul was also mentioned by the Community and Culture Group).
* From plenary: replace lawns with gardens.
LOCAL ECONOMY
* Create a bioregional marketing directory,
* Form farm work brigades (city folks working on farms), using sustainable transport and moveable shelter and cooking and washing facilities.
* Certify and label products according to localization criteria.
* Begin to re-envision a local ethnobotany with the advice of Native elders.
* Create relocalized processing infrastructure, including that needed for food preservation.
* Develop multiple local sources of credit.
* From plenary: create a localization debit card, with a portion from each sale financing relocalization projects.
ENERGY
* Create an education-information office that would encourage decreased consumption of energy and alternative transportation, provide support for alternative energy projects and grant writing, and showcase models of alternative energy like biogas and cellulosic ethanol.
* Advocate politically for alternative energy at the state level, and create a community-supported energy project involving a local utility at the city level.
* Send delegations to countries where alternative energy models have matured (communication with the people of other countries was also mentioned in the Localized Economy Group).
* Have a "living building" that's a net exporter of resources as a model.
* Convene ongoing energy group meetings in the community (a signup sheet for ongoing meetings was passed around in the Localized Economy Group).
TRANSPORTATION AND LAND USE
* Appreciate the complexity of our society, and be careful not to alienate groups and individuals.
* Create dense enough residential areas to support mass transit.
* Democratize green building.
* Develop an inventory or catalog of models already in the community that are attractive in terms of both planning and energy use. Involve local architects and builders in this process.
COMMUNITY AND CULTURE
* Use neighborhood organizations, each of which already has a city-funded newsletter, as organizing units to educate and coordinate.
* Approach religious groups, which also have easily contacted communities.
* Network groups.
* Actually do things in addition to disseminating information.
* Train organizers in appropriate communication and meeting-running processes.
* We each need to check our motivation, and make it as positive as possible. Use meditation to create a positive inner space.
* From plenary: create times and places for people to be exposed to relocalization ideas in a fun, relaxed atmosphere.
* From plenary: use art and music to spread the message.
* From plenary: create or use an already existing website (like that of the Eugene outpost of the Postcarbon Institute) to which people can go to check out relocalization ideas and see models.
***************************************************************************
Eugene and Oregon's first relocalization gathering took place April 27th and 28th. Titled the Lane County Relocalization Conference, the event began on Friday eve the 27th with two keynote addresses, then went all day Saturday with panels, open discussions and plenary session to put all the ideas together.
Relocalization is an idea emerging from concerns about the durability of the globalized economy given trends relating to climate change and uncertain dependability of oil and natural gas. The conference also included a good deal of attention on cultural aspects of relocalization. The core of relocalizing is taking care of more of our needs closer to home.
Friday night, Daniel Lerch of the Post Carbon Institute in Portland started off explaining how fragile oil supplies are becoming. Trends are showing petroleum availability is not keeping up with demand, prices are increasing and oil producing areas are increasingly attracting political instability. The upshot being that dramatically reducing dependence on oil is an urgent need and a growing number of cities are creating task forces and strategies to make plans for reducing oil dependence.
Jan Spencer gave the second key note. His talk covered a good deal of ground relating to culture change saying that the globalized economic system was “severely in the way” of the kind of peaceful and ecological world many people would like to see. He described a variety of attributes of a relocalized Eugene including elements of land use, energy, local food and economics, many already in place. A key part of this relocalizing would be developing a culture of cohesion where popular civic goals, driven by a higher level of ethical values and ideals would be served by an economy that was local, green and accountable in its business practices.
Saturday's all day session contained 5 different topical tracks- land use/transportation, energy, food, economics and culture. Attendees included Mayor Kitty Piercy, Councilman Alan Zelenka and County Commissioner Pete Sorenson, as well as representatives from a number of local non profits and LTD, our county public transit service.
Discussions were animated with panelists and attendees bringing a wide range of experiences and perspectives to the conversations. One panel was surveyed being asked who felt our future could be dramatically different in terms our every day life within 5 to 10 years and virtually all raised their hands.
A great deal of practical information was shared relating to local food security, renewable energy, economics, land use and culture. Visions were described as well existing models already proven to be effective in relocalizing such as the school garden project, suburban renewal, cooperative living, bio gas and local currencies.
The final plenary session brought all the participants together with representatives from each topic sharing overviews of the days discussions. There were a number of plans suggested with participant support to develop action plans such as a web based inventory of existing models in land use, energy, food, economics and community organizations relating to relocalization. Another plan is a bio-regional directory for green businesses, another for expanding urban agriculture and better connecting urban people with rural agriculture.
There are a number of post Conference events and gatherings planned. You can also call 686 6761 or visit www.suburbanpermaculture.org for a calendar.
******************************************************************
Global challenges demand local integrated solutions!
Climate change, resource scarcity, an unsustainable global economy and an eroding environment are urgent and interrelated issues requiring creative responses now.
Please join together with other local concerned citizens and Lane County planners for an exciting, culture-changing opportunity for strategizing a greener future at
THE 2007 LANE COUNTY RELOCALIZATION CONFERENCE
Opening Plenary and keynotes: Friday, Apr. 27th, 7 pm(doors open at 6:30)
First Christian Church • 1166 Oak St., Eugene
Special Guest Speaker: Daniel Lerch, from the Post Carbon Institute & author of upcoming book release: Planning For Energy and Climate Uncertainty: A Guide for Local Governments. See www.postcarboncities.net for more info.
Keynote address by Jan Spencer, Eugene Culture Change advocate and author of Global Trends–Local Choices: "A Culture of Cohesion" see www.suburbanpermaculture.org
Suggested donation $5 to $25 covers both Friday and Saturday,
includes lunch on Saturday
Saturday April 28th, 8:30-6 pm
Friendly Street Church of God • 2290 Friendly St, Eugene(changed from EWEB)
PLEASE NOTE THAT SMOKING AND ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE NOT PERMITTED AT FRIENDLY ST. CHURCH
8:30 Saturday, doors open
9:00 Morning Plenary- Welcome, Explanation and scope of the day
9:30-11:30 Panel’s discussions. Same topics restart as facilitated open discussions at 1 PM
List of Panels and panelists:
Localized Economy Panel
Ravi Logan - Moderator, Cascadia Commonwealth Institute
Don Schneider - Elkdream Farm, Pleasant Hill Progressives
Aleta Miller - Community Economist
Jason Schreiner - Cascadia Commonwealth Institute
Cary Thompson - Helios Resource Network
Energy Panel
Energy - Will Klausmeier, Ph.D.- LCC Biofuels Instructor-moderator
Ian Hill - Sequential Biofuels - localized vegetable oil & biodiesel production
Jon Colligan - LCC student talks about miniplant processing cafeteria oil
David Dickson- Biofuel Connection - Brief intro to vegetable oil fuel
Warren Weisman - Residential and community biogas
Roger Ebbage - LCC - Solar energy and green building design, wind energy
Bill Welch - EWEB - Incentives for small scale generators
Food Panel
Megan Kemple- School Garden Program
Harry MacCormack- Sunbow Farm, Corvallis
Krishna Khalsa- Food Co-Operative Organizer
Kate Perle or Kevin Jones- Full Circle Community Farm
Kelly Hoell- Good Company
John Sundquist- Moderator- Rivers Turn Farm
Culture Panel
Cristo Brehm- East Blair Housing Co-op
Kitty Piercy- Mayor, City of Eugene
Katie Geiser- Garfield Intersection Repair Project
Megan Hinkel- Non Violent Communication and Peace Activist
Kim Kirschbaum- Lost Valley Educational Center
Mel Bankoff-Moderator- Community Developer
Land Use Panel
Josh Bruce- Rainbow Valley Construction
Daniel Lerch- Post Carbon Institute, Portland
Pete Sorenson- Lane County Commissioner
Tom Schwetz- Lane Transit District public transit
City of Eugene invited
Jan Spencer- Eugene Permaculture Guild-Moderator
11:30 Lunch: music and mingle
Special guest Jan Lundberg of Culture Change, plays guitar, "Have a Global Warming Day"
1:00 Morning's topics continue as open round table facilitated discussion, please share what you know!
3:00 - Plenary- Reports from the topical groups
4:00 - Call to Action. 'What comes next' facilitated by Ravi Logan
5:30 Close of the Conference
Childcare will be available Saturday.
You are subscribed to Post Carbon Eugene, Oregon group mailing list.
To view this group on the web, visit The Post Carbon Eugene, Oregon Home Page
To Unsubscribe from this list visit your My Subscription page for the group
To view this group on the web, visit The Post Carbon Eugene, Oregon Home Page
To Unsubscribe from this list visit your My Subscription page for the group
May 2nd, 2008
Re: Notes from 2007 Lane County Relocalization Conference
Saturday, May 3, Growing Local
EWEB Community Room 1:30
Growing Local: Feeding the Willamette Valley Through Peak Oil and Climate
Change
A Presentation on strategies for the conversoin of agricultural and urban
land to organic food production. Climate Change/Peak Oil Coalition
May 12, Permaculture Guild Second Monday Soire'
www.eugenepermacultureguild.org
A wonderful evening of socializing and learning
745 W 10th, call Bryna for more info 345 1586
6:30- Mix and Mingle; 7:00 Short Presentation;
7:30- Show and Tell- Tell us whats good news; 8:00- Circular Think Tank- Have a challenge? Others may be able to help
Wednesday, May 14, Growing Food Closer to Home
Amazon Community Center, 2700 Hilyard St. 7 PM
Program by Amazon Neighborhood Association will feature a panel to discuss a variety of ways to increase food production in the neighborhood. At Home, City Community Gardens, Community Supported Agriculture
Saturday, May 17, Eat Here Now- Urban Food Production
Its Realy Local!
First Methodist Church, by the old library 6:30-9
Mix and Mingle, Potluck, Program, Desert. $5
Program- The Context of Urban Food Production plus short reviews from representatives of six Eugene urban food initiatives. School Garden Project, A Faith Community Perspective; Huerto de la Familia; Urban to Farm Connection; City of Eugene Community Gardens; Permaculture, Victory Gardens. For more info, call 284 7920
Saturday, May 24, Perma Jam II
Saturday, Noon to 4; 212 Benjamin near Horn and River Road cost $10, low income free. Bike please.
An intense Primer on Suburban Permaculture-
12:30 Reclaiming automobile space; 1:00 Passive Solar Design; 1:30 Grass to Garden/chickens/ micro climates/food hedge; 2:00 Extend the Growing Season; 2:30 Permaculture in the N'Hood; 3:00 Food Storage/solar drying; 3:30 Rainwater Catchment/ water features. Share what you know more info, directions, more on suburban permaculture- www.suburbanpermaculture.org
May 2nd, 2008
Re: Notes from 2007 Lane County Relocalization Conference
Saturday, May 3, Growing Local
EWEB Community Room 1:30
Growing Local: Feeding the Willamette Valley Through Peak Oil and Climate
Change
A Presentation on strategies for the conversoin of agricultural and urban
land to organic food production. Climate Change/Peak Oil Coalition
May 12, Permaculture Guild Second Monday Soire'
www.eugenepermacultureguild.org
A wonderful evening of socializing and learning
745 W 10th, call Bryna for more info 345 1586
6:30- Mix and Mingle; 7:00 Short Presentation;
7:30- Show and Tell- Tell us whats good news; 8:00- Circular Think Tank- Have a challenge? Others may be able to help
Wednesday, May 14, Growing Food Closer to Home
Amazon Community Center, 2700 Hilyard St. 7 PM
Program by Amazon Neighborhood Association will feature a panel to discuss a variety of ways to increase food production in the neighborhood. At Home, City Community Gardens, Community Supported Agriculture
Saturday, May 17, Eat Here Now- Urban Food Production
Its Realy Local!
First Methodist Church, by the old library 6:30-9
Mix and Mingle, Potluck, Program, Desert. $5
Program- The Context of Urban Food Production plus short reviews from representatives of six Eugene urban food initiatives. School Garden Project, A Faith Community Perspective; Huerto de la Familia; Urban to Farm Connection; City of Eugene Community Gardens; Permaculture, Victory Gardens. For more info, call 284 7920
Saturday, May 24, Perma Jam II
Saturday, Noon to 4; 212 Benjamin near Horn and River Road cost $10, low income free. Bike please.
An intense Primer on Suburban Permaculture-
12:30 Reclaiming automobile space; 1:00 Passive Solar Design; 1:30 Grass to Garden/chickens/ micro climates/food hedge; 2:00 Extend the Growing Season; 2:30 Permaculture in the N'Hood; 3:00 Food Storage/solar drying; 3:30 Rainwater Catchment/ water features. Share what you know more info, directions, more on suburban permaculture- www.suburbanpermaculture.org
You are subscribed to Post Carbon Eugene, Oregon group mailing list.
To view this group on the web, visit The Post Carbon Eugene, Oregon Home Page
To Unsubscribe from this list visit your My Subscription page for the group
May 2nd, 2008
Re: Notes from 2007 Lane County Relocalization Conference
You are subscribed to Post Carbon Eugene, Oregon group mailing list.
To view this group on the web, visit The Post Carbon Eugene, Oregon Home Page
To Unsubscribe from this list visit your My Subscription page for the group