Added JULY 30TH, 2009
Newsletter, issue 1, July 2009
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Get Your STI T-Shirts! STI T-Shirts featuring a great logo by Eric Keller are now on sale! They are unbleached or-ganic cotton with the mission statement on the back. Call Suzan Fiskin (265.9828) or Gaea Swinford (255.7046) to get yours now. Show your support. The shirts are $13 w/tax. XXL is $14.
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Added JUNE 15TH, 2009
Whidbey Ecollaborative
A non-profit educational organization with the mission of contributing to our society’s transition to a sustainable culture through Green-jobs-training, community-based education, and the incubation of sustainability-oriented organizations and businesses.
Added MAY 30TH, 2009
Brilliant Commencement Address at the University of Portland
Healing or Stealing (pdf) by visionary Paul Hawken
When I was invited to give this speech, I was asked if I could give a simple short talk that was
“direct, naked, taut, honest, passionate, lean, shivering, startling, and graceful.” No pressure there.
Come celebrate National Trails Day, Saturday, June 6th!
Several advocates for non-motorized trails are gathering on National Trails Day, Saturday, June 6, at the Pend d’Oreille Winery and out on the trails.
Exhibits, information and refreshments will be on the lawn of the winery from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. followed by an afternoon of outdoor activities, including a native plant walk along the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail, trail maintenance with the U.S. Forest Service on Gold Hill, an easy bike ride on the Sagle to Sandpoint trail, and a moonlight hike with views of the Scotchman Peaks.
Learn about summer hiking opportunities, local trail planning efforts, Schweitzer Mountain’s new mountain bike trail, Leave No Trace practices from the Backcountry Horseman, the Ice Age Floods and more. Participants include Idaho Conservation League, Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, Friends of the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail, the Native Plant Society, Bonner County Trails Advisory Group, Backcountry Horsemen, Pend Oreille Pedalers, U.S. Forest Service, Friends of the Mickinnick Trail and more.
For a complete list of activities and participants, go to www.pobtrail.org , www.scotchmanpeaks.org or www.wildidaho.org.
Added MAY 14TH, 2009
National press coverage that Transition has been getting in the US recently.
- New York Times Magazine: Green Issue
The End Is Near! (Yay!) by Jon Mooallem, April 19, 2009 - Elle magazine
Do Worry Be Happy by Lisa Chase, May 1, 2009 - Common Ground Magazine
Life After Oil by Rachel Dowd, April 2009
Watch a video clip and ….read moreUnderstanding Women: Unlock the Mystery
- is for Men, Women and Couples who want to understand the differences between men and women and how it affects communication with each other. This is the second part and it is not required to have seen the first part…..read more (pdf)
Added FEBRUARY 27TH, 2009
Converting Lawns to Edible Landscapes
Presentation by John Hastings at All Seasons on Saturday, March 7th at 10 AM.
Northwest Building Efficiency Conference
The agenda for this conference in Coeur d’Alene on March 24 & 25 is now available…..read more (pdf)
Added FEBRUARY 20TH, 2009
No Furnaces but Heat Aplenty in ‘Passive Houses’
By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL
Article from the series “The Energy Challenge” in the New York Times
DARMSTADT, Germany — From the outside, there is nothing unusual about the stylish new gray and orange row houses in the Kranichstein District, with wreaths on the doors and Christmas lights twinkling through a freezing drizzle. But these houses are part of a revolution in building design: There are no drafts, no cold tile floors, no snuggling under blankets until the furnace kicks in. There is, in fact, no furnace…..read more
Workforce Summit in Sandpoint
Registration is open for the upcoming Workforce Summit in Sandpoint on March 3rd and 4th. A flyer is with the registration information is available under “What’s News” at www.labor.idaho.gov.
Added FEBRUARY 17TH, 2009
Build a House from a Tree
TIMBER FRAMING – The Hand Tool Approach
Experience the romance of hand tools and learn the ancient craft of traditional timber framing in a spectacular setting with an acclaimed craftsman, here in Sandpoint….read more
Stone Soup Luncheon
Yes, we can . . .take action to end poverty in Bonner County. Please attend the stone soup luncheon to discover how you can help!… read more
Yes, They Could. So They Did.
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
In New Delhi, it was refreshing to meet idealistic young people who are not waiting for governments to act, but are starting their own projects and driving innovation….read more
Understanding Women: Unlock the Mystery
This is for anyone who wants to understand why women do what they do – how they think, act, speak and listen….read more (pdf, 1.3 MB)
Low Flows, Hot Trout
Decades of data and observations point to a clear conclusion: the Clark Fork River is experiencing a very real shift in climate….read more
The Transition Movement comes to America
Peak Moment TV recently taped a conversation with Jennifer Gray of Transition US. It’s a very good introduction to Transition. You can view it online at www.peakmoment.tv (video), and www.globalpublicmedia.com (audio and video). Feel free to forward the links, and help spread the message of Transition.
Added FEBRUARY 16TH, 2009
Bees
The 3 “KEY” animals that are recommended for EVERY biodynamic farm are earthworms (just provide them the food & a good environment and they will come & multiply on their own) Cows (one or more depending on the size of the farm) Bees (2 or more hives depending on the size of the farm).
This spring William and I are buying some bees. I recommend everyone that is thinking of the possibility of bees get some. We have joined the local beekeepers club (free) and will be buying the bees this weekend for delivery in April. If anyone else would like to buy bees there are several ways to purchase them however most of the bees get sold out in February. Our bee club is buying packages of bees for about $70, as a group and anyone else is welcome to join in to get a discounted price. We are also arranging a group trip to Montana to purchase bee equipment (hive boxes, frames etc…. if anyone would like to share in this please contact Lisa at 265- 0512 or shockwaves@aceweb.com.
Added SEPTEMBER 18th, 2008
Escape From Suburbia – Move screening<
The following are the collected suggestions, thoughts, notes and comments from the participants of the activity following the screening of the movie “Escape From Suburbia”, that showed on September 18th at the Sandpoint Library:
One Thing I Can Do:
- Create fuel from waste oil
- Try to convince others to become more eco-friendly
- Ride my bike for my method of transportation (especially locally)
- Use lawn space to grow food
- Learn about and experience electric vehicles
- Keep a garden, improve a garden and share produce
- Help educate the community on Peak Oil and Climate Change
- Bring my own bags to the grocery store
- Compost and actively garden
- Hang clothes out to dry rather than wasting water and electricity with a washing machine
- Grow my own food
- Live a sustainable lifestyle as much as possible
One Thing The Community Can Do:
- Build more bike paths
- Anaerobic digestion
- Expand the availability of locally grown food (larger and more frequent Farmer’s Markets)
- More community gardens
- Improve our recycling habits and infrastructure
- Improve our existing community garden
- Create public transportation systems or aid smaller organizations in achieving that goal
- Come together and dream together
- Support local agriculture as opposed to foods grown outside the community
- Elect proactive and progressive government officials
- Grant space for a CSA
- Try to influence the community to become more eco friendly through setting the example yourself
- Recycle glass and reduce the use of glass
- Attempt to open the eyes of more individuals in the community as to the seriousness of both Peak Oil and Climate Change
One Thing The Government Can Do:
- Spend money one local development and not on things abroad
- Improve tax incentives for using alternative energy
- Not stand in my way
- Realize that this issue is real and here to stay, no matter how unpleasant it is
- Be more open to eco friendly ideas
- Stop using propaganda (such as Alaskan reserve drilling) to try to convince the public that everything is actually OK
- Get real about alternative energy
- Re-zone with more emphasis on environmental sustainability
- Stop turning agricultural land into subdivisions (and “Escape Suburbia”)
- Encourage honest dialogue to facilitate the finding of solutions
- Pass new legislation supporting sustainability
- Encourage and permit home based work (so we can work and live in the SAME place)
- Anaerobic digestion
- Halt the taking of money and “gifts” by legislators from pro fossil fuel/nuclear lobbyists (in fact, it would be wise to do away with lobbyists in general)
One Other Thought:
- Find others who are not aware of these pressing issues and engage in dialogue with them
- Make education and healthcare free and available to all
- Explore more ways to use non-timber forest products
- Grow veggies! Drive less, cycle more
- Think of sustainable communities within a regional context
- Be as knowledgeable and influential as possible in regards to sustainability
- It will take all of us doing what we love most (and know is right) to create an incredible world
- Embrace the inevitable change
- Create a positive attitude towards the sustainable movement and environmental change
- The local level is the critical starting point for any sustainable movements. Sandpoint is the perfect community to start in
- Population is increasing far too rapidly
- Work towards peace. Save lives and resources for creative and constructive applications which benefit humanity and our planet in a sustainable way
- No bypass
- Hope is good
- We live in a great community!
- Keep moving forward
One Comment
One Thing The Gov’t Can Do: Move beyond the pressure exerted by big Oil lobbyists, and take a clear and sober look as to the growing energy and enviornmental problems this country (and the whole world for that matter) face!