Resources (do scroll
down; many of the older resources are very timely)
Also see Permaculture & Other Resrouces
for More Sustainable Living
updated 1/19/12 home
==================================================================================================================================
(posted 1/18/12)
Cohousing Update and Events Calendar:
Senior Cohousing opportunity in Pasadena
Alexandria Levitt is
actively pursuing a site in the South Pasadena area for a senior cohousing
community. If you or someone you know is in the area and wants to help, please
contact Alexandria at:
alm22@earthlink.net
==================================================================================================================================
posted 11/24/11
"The Chicken
has become the mascot of the local food movement" Ben Bock Worldwatch Institute
employ a flock's skill set for insect and rodent control, weed abatement,
fertilizer & compost creation, and as biomass-recyclers. All this, and enjoy
fresh, healthy eggs, that only travel a few feet from your kitchen!
Patricia Foreman/Good Earth Publications Website
http://www.goodearthpublications.com
Chicken Whisperer Backyard Poultry and Sustainable Lifestyles Talk Show
www.chickenwhisperer.net/.
==================================================================================================================================
Posted 9/15/11
About
Farmscape
Farmscape is a start-up bent on making a positive impact on the food system by
growing high-quality homegrown produce in the LA metro area. We do this by
eliminating the effort and complexity required to install or maintain a
productive vegetable garden, providing residents and institutions with the
materials and ongoing support necessary for their garden to flourish.
More
information: http://farmscapegardens.com
==================================================================================================================================
Posted 9/5/11
Getaround:
http://www.getaround.com/
This fascinating idea has taken hold in the San Francisco and San Diego areas.
What are we waiting for in Los Angeles? You can rent your car out to your
neighbors.
Rent cars from real people: Convenient hourly and daily rentals. Browse
all sorts of cars shared by people in your neighborhood. .
Earn money renting your car: Share your car and earn money while you're
not using it. Sharing your car just 15 hours per week can earn you an extra $350
each month.
Every rental includes insurance: Getaround rentals include insurance,
backed by one of America's largest insurance companies. Coverage includes
liability, collision, property damage, and uninsured motorist protection.
Sign up now, and soon, maybe we'll get it in LA. Imagine: we could
get rid of 75% or our cars!
==================================================================================================================================
posted 9/2/11
Life Coach Specializing in the Law of Attraction
==================================================================================================================================
posted 8/24/11
Creating Cohousing. Building Sustainable
Communities by Kathryn
McCamant and Charles Durrett (2011), now
in its third edition.
http://www.newsociety.com/Books/C/Creating-Cohousing
Architects and cohousing facilitators Katie & Chuck were the originators of
cohousing in the U.S. Whether you are thinking of creating cohousing or joining
an existing project, as an owner or a renter, their book will be an invaluable
resource for you.
Jillian Brooks
M.Arch
McCamant & Durrett Architects
241-B Commercial Street
Nevada City, CA 95959
T: 530.265.9980
F: 530.265.4398
Jillian.brooks@cohousingco.com
==================================================================================================================================
Posted 8/24/11
EDUCATION: ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS SPECIALIZING IN SUSTAINABILITY CURRICULUM
I recommend checking out http://www.aashe.org for lists of schools with sustainability initiatives and programs. And I'm happy to support via Living Routes as needed.Daniel Greenberg, Ph.D., Executive Director
Living Routes-Study Abroad in Ecovillages
284 N. Pleasant St, Suite 1, Amherst, MA 01002
Work: (413) 259-0025 Fax: (413) 259-1113
=====================================================================================
Alternative currencies are coming of age.
Find a Time Bank near your neighborhood:
Echo Park, Mar Vista, Long Beach, Pasadena, San Fernando, Long Pine, Santa
Barbara, Oakland,
Other Bay Areas, San Diego, Sonoma County. OR START YOUR OWN!
http://www.echoparktimebank.com/
(Updated 7/4/11)
=====================================================================================
Mobility and the City: Where Most People
Live. This 49 slide inspiring powerpoint presentation by
internationally renowned bicycle and transportation activist Pascal van den
Noort (The Netherlands) is available upon request from CRSP. Pascal gave
this talk to a very enthusiastic audience at LAEV in June 2008, and has given us
permission to share it with others. Contact us at
crsp@igc.org
(updated post 7/4/11)
==================================================================
==================================================================
Go to Green is where you’ll
find a comprehensive list of green-related events taking place in the United
States. This includes anything with a sustainable, eco-friendly,
environmentally-conscious motivation. Lots of L.A. Green events listed.
http://gotogreen.com/los-angeles
This service is not affiliated with any group or organization, and is brought to
you out of the desire to help bring green communities together.
(updated post 7/4/11)
=================================================================================
Project Butterfly
www.projectbutterfly.org
Cross pollinates with other people and organizations actively engaged in
positive transformation. Special events with visionaries, educators,
guides, healers, artists and activists for personal and planetary healing
(posted
7/4/11)
=================================================================================
Six Month
Apprenticeship in Ecological Horticulture beginning April 2012
at
The Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, UC Santa Cruz Farm &
Garden Apprenticeship
Intensive six-month course in organic gardening and small-scale sustainable farming. Although the program does not begin until April 2012, our application deadline is September 30, 2011.
Full-time, 6-month program trains adults in the concepts and practices of
organic gardening and small-scale sustainable farming. The apprenticeship
blends the virtues of experiential learning with traditional classroom studies
on topics that include soil management, composting, pest control, crop planning,
irrigation, farm equipment, and direct marketing techniques. Graduates have
established their own commercial farms and market gardens, run community gardens
for inner city and prison populations, and work on international development
projects. The 39 apprentices each year come from all regions of the US and
abroad, and represent a wide spectrum of ages, backgrounds, and interests. There
are several tuition scholarships available for people of color and/or people
from disadvantaged backgrounds. There is also the Simply Organic Scholarship for
an apprentice with financial need interested in pursuing a career in organic
farming. For further information contact:
Apprenticeship
Information
or
Akiko Minami
aminami@ucsc.edu
(831) 459-2321; FAX (831) 459-2799
=================================================================================
International Permaculture Conference and Convergence (IPC9) proceedings
can be viewed and heard at http://www.ipcon.org
The biannual event was held in Malawai in 2009. Many thanks to Wesley Roe, Margie Bushman, John
Calvert, Mada Siebert and to all presenters and to all those who assisted in the
process of realizing this achievement. Enjoy the updated site.
IPC10 will be held in Jordan during September 2011 (updated
post 7/4/11)
=====================================================================================
=====================================================================================
Green Hive Foundation http://greenhive.org/
Green Hive Foundation is a 501 c 3 not for profit organization for the
advancement of education,
programs and services related to clean technologies, environment, job
development and sustainable
economic development. The Foundation creates original content and partners with
industry experts
to enable educational resources and sustainable best practices to be accessible
on a global scale.
(Updated 7/4/11)
=====================================================================================
New Village Press
www.newvillagepress.org publishes
terrific books on art, community sustainability, and social justice including
such titles as:
-
Awakening Creativity Dandelion School
Blossoms by Lily Yeh
-
Asphalt to Ecosystems Design Ideas for
Schoolyard Transformation by Sharon Danks
-
By Heart Poetry, Prison, and Two Lives
by Judith Tannenbaum, Spoon Jackson
-
What We See Advancing the Observations of
Jane Jacobs by many
-
American Tensions Literature of Identity and
the Search for Social Justice by many
posted 5/5/11
===================================================================================
Antioch University Los Angeles in Culver City
now offers a Masters degree in Urban Sustainability.
Check it out:
http://www.antiochla.edu/news-events/aula-announces-new-ma-urban-sustainability-program
posted 5/5/11
===================================================================================
Resources for
converting your lawn from a water guzzler to the new way of being in our city
:
Lawn Conversion: How-to
tips and guidance to remove your thirsty lawn and exotic plants and create a
beautiful Native Plants Landscape, Organic Vegetable Garden or Xeriscape ..
http://www.ergonica.com/weeding_tips_lawn_conversion.htm
.
( updated 7/4/11)
=====================================================================================
Los Angeles Post Carbon Institute http://www.lapostcarbon.org/ Educating our Los Angeles communities on the issue of peak oil and taking steps to prepare ourselves for the post carbon age. The national Post Carbon Institute provides individuals, communities, businesses, and governments with the resources needed to understand and respond to the interrelated economic, energy, environmental, and equity crises that define the 21st century. We envision a world of resilient communities and re-localized economies that thrive within ecological bounds. Catch the National org here: http://www.postcarbon.org/\ (updated post 7/4/11)
==================================================================
THE ‘REUSE PEOPLE’
http://thereusepeople.org/ bring
affordable building materials and eco-conscious materials recycling to Los
Angeles. Home-owners donate deconstructed housing materials and receive
tax deductible donations.
11017 Sutter Ave. Pacoima, CA 91331 T: 818-897-2798 F:
818-897-2807
For Additional Information:
818-897-2798. (updated
7/4/11)
==================================================================
O2 Treehouse www.O2Treehouse.com
We make custom eco-friendly treehouses and often do builds in
the L.A. area, but we
currently live and work out of the WOOM artist collective in Oakland.
posted 5/5/11
===================================================================================
Transition California: Transitioning
California to Sustainable Models, Systems, & Structures
oin almost 1,400 others in "transitioning" our communities.
http://www.transitiontownsca.org/
posted 5/5/11
===================================================================================
| The Transition Handbook:From Oil Dependency to Oil Resiliency | |
 |
|
|
by Rob
Hopkins. 2008; 240 pages; paperbound This is the book that is inspiring (or making visible, some might say) a whole movement around the world to get our towns and cities ready for life after oil. An excellent resources for neighborhood organizers, sustainability advocates or anyone wanting a glimpse into the future--and support to get there. |
|
| We live in an oil-dependent world, arriving at this level of dependency in a very short space of time by treating petroleum as if it were in infinite supply. Most of us avoid thinking about what happens when oil runs out (or becomes prohibitively expensive), but The Transition Handbook shows how the inevitable and profound changes ahead can have a positive outcome. These changes can lead to the rebirth of local communities that will grow more of their own food, generate their own power, and build their own houses using local materials. They can also encourage the development of local currencies to keep money in the local area. There are now over 30 “transition towns” in the UK, Australia and New Zealand with more joining as the idea takes off. They provide valuable experience and lessons-learned for those of us on this side of the Atlantic. With little proactive thinking at the governmental level, communities are taking matters into their own hands and acting locally. If your town is not a transition town, this upbeat guide offers you the tools for starting the process. | |
Order from the IC.org store: http://store.ic.org/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=418 for discounted price of $21.25 + 1.50 shipping |
|
===================================================================================
More about Composting Toilets (posted 7/1/10)
Peak Moment TV airs a video on my composting toilet! Interested in learning more, watch the video here: http://www.wordpress.peakmoment.tv/conversations/?p=391 ==========================================================================
Articles by
=====================================================================================
Free peach trees
80 Acres of peach trees are available to be dug up and taken for
free.
They are located in the Antelope Valley 15 miles from Rosemond.
For information contact
"Andrew Werner"
<andrewwerner@westerndev.com>,
Spread the word.
(posted 6/1/10)
=====================================================================================
New FreeSkool comes to the Westside
(posted 10/7/09)
The Westside Permies are proud to announce the formation of a new
group called the Westside FreeSkool. The Westside Free Skool is an opportunity
for people of ALL AGES to come together to share knowledge in a non-commercial
setting to strengthen community. We believe education is a way to achieve
equality and freedom. Everybody has something to teach and something to learn.
By stepping out of our traditional teacher/pupil roles, we can strengthen
self-reliance and the DIY (do-it-yourself) ethic. Only by sharing our skills and
talents can we break away from the commodification and hierarchy of society.
Anyone can teach a class in anything they want. WE NEED YOU!!!
The instructor finds a space in house, park, or community center, or gets help
finding a space from people who help with organizing the free skool.
Please post classes you would like to teach or find out what class you would
like to take at
http://westsidepermies.ning.com.
History of FreeSkool
Wikipedia has an interesting opinion
An anarchist free school, sometimes spelled free skool, can be a decentralized
network in which skills, information, and knowledge are shared without hierarchy
or the institutional environment of formal schooling. The open structure of this
type of free school is intended to encourage self-reliance, critical
consciousness, and personal development. These free schools have their roots in
the anarchist Escuela Moderna of Spain in the late 19th and early 20th
centuries. They are, at heart, non-institutional, non-authoritarian, and
counter-cultural. Generally, these are formed at a grassroots level by a group
of individuals acting collectively and autonomously to create educational
opportunities and promote skill-sharing within their communities. These free
schools often operate outside the market economy in favor of a gift economy.
Nevertheless, the meaning of the "free" of free schools is not restricted to
monetary cost, and can refer to an emphasis on free speech and student-centered
education.
For more ideas on classes, check out the East Bay Freeskool, our inspiration.
http://eastbayfreeskool.wikia.com/wiki/East_Bay_Free_Skool_Wiki
Happy Skooling.
=====================================================================================
Social Sustainability.
Dr. Jennifer Foskett visited LA Eco-Village in 2008 and included a lengthy and
moving chapter on us in her just out book with Dr. Laura Mamo,
founders of the nonprofit
Social Green which is dedicated
to enhancing green projects through an understanding of the social and human
elements which shape them. Check it all out at: http://www.socialgreen.org/
Watch for a public talk at LAEV with Jennifer soon. Learn about their new
book, Living Green: Communities that Sustain
(New Society Publishers 2009) at
http://www.newsociety.com/bookid/4039
(posted 7/23/09)
=====================================================================================
Edible gardens can come to your home or
neighborhood. Here are some folks who can come
personalize a workshop for you and your neighbors. using permaculture
principles. We'll keep adding to this list as we hear
about others (posted 3/18/09):
Brad Mowers bdmowers10@yahoo.com
Gives garden workshops (Brad lives at L.A. Eco-Village and works primarily in
the LAEV area and Santa Monica)
George Patton c/o Lara Morrison laraeco@hotmail.com (Lives in the central north San Fernando Valley and works extensively around LAEV)
Darren Butler
allnet@pobox.com (818) 271-0963
www.EcoWorkshops.com (Darren
lives in Topanga, and works throughout the LA area)
Yvonne Savio, Common Ground Garden Program Manager. This program is based
in East Los Angeles
ydsavio@ucdavis.edu 323/260-3407
http://celosangeles.ucdavis.edu/Common_Ground_Garden_Program/
Master Gardener helpline:
mglosangeleshelpline@ucdavis.edu
Tyrone LaFay
tlafay@villagedesign.org 909.802.9177 Tyrone works primarily in the
Claremont-Pomona area
Sean Jennings swjennings@gmail.com Sean works primarily in West LA areas
David Kahn info@sustainablehabitats.org Works primarily in Silverlake, Echo Park, Northeast LA areas
Camille Cimino camillecimino@gmail.com Works area wide
=====================================================================================
Harvesting Rain:
http://www.rainbarrelguide.com/other-resources/ (posted
3/18/09)
=====================================================================================
A Hero in the State Senate: Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach), chair of the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee. See http://la.curbed.com/archives/2009/03/parking_minimums_1.php for a summary of the amazing bill he introduced to the State Senate last week to "reduce traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions by revealing the actual cost of parking and reducing governmental or government-required subsidies for parking." Yeah! And kudos to UCLA Professor Don Shoup who has been such an inspiration for such planning and legislation. (posted 3/6/09)
=====================================================================================
Some helpful resources and
websites for living more sustainably in cities
Also, see
http://www.laecovillage.org/RelatedEvents.html Keep
scrolling, this resource list is long and fun to skim.
There's something
for everyone. (Updated 2/26/09/08)
=====================================================================================
http://www.350.org/
350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit
for carbon dioxide--measured in "Parts Per Million" in our atmosphere. 350
PPM--it's the number humanity needs to get back to as soon as possible to avoid
runaway climate change. Currently, CO2 in the atmosphere
387 ppm. 350.org is a movement you can get involved in to bring awareness
and action to society to get serious about this.
=====================================================================================
Ecovillage Radio. Kakawa Ecovillage <www.kakwaecovillage.com> founder and developer Russ Purvis has started an Ecovillage Radio series, and will be interviewing other Ecovillage founders and activists. Tune in at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Ecovillage-Radio
=====================================================================================
Transition Towns.
You'll be hearing more and more about this in
months to come, so you may as well get a bit of a head start.
Perhaps, even think about how your Neighborhood Council District or whole town
can take giant leaps forward to meet the twin challenges of Global Climate
Change and Peak Oil. More info here:
http://transitiontowns.org/TransitionNetwork/TransitionNetwork or
just google <transition towns> and especially on YouTube.com to learn lots about
this movement.
And see this website for a local LA effort you can join and learn from in the
Westchester community:
http://www.envirochangemakers.org/TTLA.htm
(8/4/08)
==================================================================
Making cities bicycle friendly: http://velomondial.blogspot.com/
www.velomondial.net www.velo.info http://spicycles.velo.info
==================================================================
The 7th International Eco Cities Conference and World Summit Video Presentations. Many of the presentations at this rent San Francisco gathering attended by 100s of people from throughout the world were captured on video. More presentations and slides shows are being uploaded, so check back regularly. http://ecocity.wordpress.com/ (5/23/08)
==================================================================
Solar Hot Water.
http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/WaterHeating/water_heating.htm.
Amazing collection of do-it-yourself solar hot water methods. Lots of
other do-it-yourself renewable energy methods too on the top menu.
(5/21/08)
==================================================================
Green Building & Salvaged Materials Resources
Many thanks to Green Real Estate Specialist Ryan Flegal <ryan@propertymix.com>,
an extraordinary list of LA area resources has been compiled. Write him to
get a copy of the list (310/890-8111). (5/16/08)
==================================================================
Want to try out eco-community in an
easily adaptable space for it?
Ryan Flegal has retrofitted an old light bulb factory in south Los
Angeles across the street from the Firestone Blvd. Blue Line station. Many
quality salvaged materials with many new green materials too. 2 bedrom/2
ba, 2,300 sq. ft plus 4,000 sq. ft roof deck. <ryan@propertymix.com>,
(310/890-8111). (5/16/08)
==================================================================
The Post Carbon Institute <http://www.relocalize.net/group/eugene>
assists communities in the effort to Relocalize and adapt to an energy
constrained world. PCI is an international think, action and education tank with
172(and counting!) community "outposts" in 12 countries offering research,
project tools, education and information to implement proactive strategies to
adapt to an energy constrained world. The development of Post Carbon Institute
came out of concern for the environmental, social, political and economic
ramifications of global over-reliance on cheap energy. (1/26/08)
==================================================================
The Post Carbon Cities program <http://postcarboncities.net//>helps
local governments understand the challenges posed by energy and climate
uncertainty, and provides resources for elected officials, planners, managers
and others to develop plans and responses appropriate to their communities.
(1/26/08)
==================================================================
Ecovillages on www.YouTube.com
Who'd thought it? So many ecovillages to visit, ecovillage founders and
activists to hear from. Check it out. I recommend especially Rob
Boleman from Maitreya Ecovillage in Eugene, Albert Bates from the Ecovillage
Training Center in Tennessee, noted author on ecovillages and intentional
communities Diana Leafe Christianson, Jonathan Dawson of Findhorn Ecovillage in
Scotland,
Brandy Gallagher MacPherson of OUR Ecovillage, and Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage in
Missouri. Oh yes, there's even a couple of cutsy videos from
L.A. Eco-Village. Once you're on
www.youtube.com, just search <ecovillage>, and they'll all come up, or
search the person's name or ecovillage name.
Happy surfing. (1/12/08)
==================================================================
Weekly Cohousing conference calls, open to you... Every Monday
night at 8:00 PST we are having a conference call on co-housing subjects. It
will be professionally facilitated to assure a smooth call. The call is open to
anyone who is interested in co-housing. There will be guest speakers, and
topics each week. The phone number is 1-712-432-2000. The pin number is
09993#. Chime in! 1/12/08
==================================================================
The Fellowship for Intentional Community (FIC) has created a wiki http://wiki.ic.org/;a growing collection of shared knowledge, information, and resources for intentional communities; for those interested in intentional communities, and those interested in creating more community in their lives in whatever form. 1/06/08 And to surf intentional communities, cohousing and ecovillages worldwide, articles, publications, discussions, go to www.ic.org (5/27/08)
==================================================================
Resources for Post Carbon Cities, preparing local governments for energy and
climate uncertainty.
http://postcarboncities.net/ (1/6/08)
==================================================================
A Carfree Homepage.
http://home.earthlink.net/~jakre/carfree/index.html
The bottom line: get rid of it. And lots of really good prose,
statistics, humor, and culture change thinking to help you along if you are
struggling with this issue
or want to help someone else get autofree. (10/23/07)
==================================================================
Assisted Living Intentional Community
Long time CRSP associate Grant Schably and his wife, who is a nurse, have opened
up an assistant living home. They really want this to be a home that can
evolve into an intentional community and be more environmentally sustainable.
If you know someone who may need to be in such a home with these values, please
contact them. Sweet Serenity is located in the Simi Valley. You can
visit their website at <www.aspenhope.com>.
There are also job opportunities at Sweet Serenity.
(10/23/07)
==================================================================
GoinGGreen Productions
specializing in
environmental films & videos
http://www.goinggreenproductions.com/
A half-hour video that delivers eco-living basics to your door. Using humor and down-to-earth examples, GOINGGREEN answers, What can I personally do to help solve the environmental problems facing us today? Narrated by Tony Shalhoub, GOINGGREEN tours the original Eco-Home™ with a group of middle-school kids who see first-hand some simple, inexpensive ways to become more earth-friendly. Guided by eco-pioneer Julia Russell, Founding Director of Eco-Home™ Network, the children discover sun pipes that light up a room without electricity, drought-tolerant, California Friendly® gardening, non-toxic household products, munch on organic apples from one of Julia's 28 fruit trees, compost for the organic garden, get to know what a graywater system is, and make juice from tomatoes they picked right off the vine. They learn, hands-on, how to compost and have fun watching the progress of several serious-looking bugs that Julia describes as a crucial part of the "composting team." The kids ask questions and then come up with some of the answers. GOINGGREEN shows us how we can live earth-friendly lives on a limited budget, even in the middle of a city. Narrated by environmentally aware triple Emmy Award winner Tony Shalhoub (Monk). Running time is 24:20. (10/23/07)
==================================================================
Greenopia is your personal guide to a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.
We’re passionate about helping you make daily
choices to live a greener life. We provide comprehensive lists of local
businesses that offer eco-friendly products and services. Each business is
independently researched by Greenopia and given a leaf award rating based on
the level of organic and sustainable products or services offered. You can
browse our lists of leaf rated businesses for Los Angeles at
http://www.greenopia.com/la/
(10/23/07)
==================================================================
Several New books in 2006-2007 make for good reading and good
resources for finding or being in ecological cooperative communities of various
kinds. Here are a few of the best:
Finding Community:
How to Join an Ecovillage or Intentional Community
by Diana Leafe Christian with foreword by Richard Heinberg (New Society
Publishers, 2007, $25.95).
See Diana's website for more detail and to order:
http://creating-a-life-together.org/
"Open-hearted and hard-headed in equal measure--and with a delicious sense of
humor--Diana takes the reader on a comprehensive tour of the world of
ecovillages and intentional communities. This is the volume for those
exploring the options and willing to learn from those who have already trodden
the path. There could be no better guide on the path of exploring this
lifestyle. -Jonathan Dawson, president Global Ecovillage Network;
author, Ecovillages: New Frontiers for Sustainability.
I was delighted to know that my friend and colleague was writing this book,
and when it arrived I was happy for her and the many inquirers seeking
community whom I talk and write to several times each week. At last, a
one-stop reference I could recommend for all of their questions about exploring
and living in community. However, I did not immediately jump to read the
book: Kind of a "I know what's in it, been there-done that, good to know
it's out and be able to recommend it" attitude. Then, on a recent
cross-country trip with several hours locked away from phones and computers, I
took the book along, knowing I wanted to make a report on it. My seat
partners couldn't understand why I kept bursting out laughing. I
couldn't put the book down. Read it from cover to cover. I've
been living in community at the L.A. Eco-Village for 14 years now and thought I
had seen and heard it all, but Diana's book is full of surprises and delightful
ways of describing just about every conceivable issue in the seeking and
membership process. Look at these chapter headings and if you think you
want to live in community, you'll know that you must get this book. -
Lois Arkin (8/3/07)
|
SECTION 1: AN OVERVIEW OF COMMUNITIES
Chapter 1: Why Community?
Chapter 2: Ten most common fears about joining a community
Chapter 3: Community Living-Day-to-Day (excerpt from Communities Magazine)
Chapter 4: Ecovillages: For Future Generations
Chapter 5: Cohousing Communities
Chapter 6: Urban Communities: group households and housing co-ops
Chapter 7: Rural Homesteading Communities, Conference and Retreat Centers
Chapter 8: Spiritual Communities
Chapter 9: Christian Communities
Chapter 10: Income-Sharing Communities
SECTION 2: RESEARCHING
Chapter 11: What Does it Cost?
Chapter 12: What does it take to live in Community?
Chapter 13: The Communities Directory, the internet, and You--Researching
Communities
Chapter 14: Your Criteria for Communities to Visit
SECTION 3: VISITING
Chapter 15: My Marathon Tour of Communities
Chapter 16: Planning your visits
Chapter 17: Excerpts from a Community Seeker's Journal
Chapter 18: How to be a great guest (and make the most of your experience)
Chapter 19: Seriously seeking community
Chapter 20: Evaluating your visits (and debunking some assumptions and
expectations)
SECTION 4: JOINING
Chapter 21: Taking a Second Look
Chapter 22: Choosing your community: The "Insider's Guide"
Chapter 23: The Membership Process
Chapter 24: Entering Community Gracefully
Chapter 25: "The longest, most expensive, personal growth workshop you will ever
take!"
Appendix A: Sample community membership documents
Appendix B: Can Living in Community Make a Difference in the Age of Peak Oil?
==================================================================
The Post-Petroleum Survival Guide and
Cookbook: Recipes for Changing Times with foreword by Richard
Heinberg by Albert Bates (New Society Publishers, 2006, $19.95). See
Albert's website at
http://www.thegreatchange.com/
"Who knew petrocollapse could be so tasty? Albert Bates
has shown us the way through the coming crisis with candor, humor...and good
taste," writes Gregory Greene, writer/director of "The End of Suburbia" and
"Escape from Suburbia" And here's what Dr. Valentin Yemelin, climate
scientist at the UN Environmental Program says about it: A hopeful and
humorous look at the next 30 years--to the world beyond petroleum! ...As we move
from a global culture addicted to cheap, abundant petroleum to a culture of
compelled conservation, this book provides useful, practical advice for
preparing your family and community to make the transition. Taking a
positive, upbeat, and optimistic view of "the great Change," this book offers
recipes for these turbulent times that mend the many rifts that oil culture has
spawned. Wide-ranging in scope, topics covered include:
- Rebuilding civilization
- Changing your needs
- Water and waste disposal
- Energy and transportation
- Equipment and tools
- Food storage and first aid
Also featuring playful recipes--some using basic, wholesome foods, some
illustrating food growing or preservation, and all emphasizing organic,
flavorful and locally grown produce that readily substitute one for another...
The books is like a Swiss army knife. Sharp. Simple. Very practical. Extremely
useful. Full of survival tools, which you may need in the next five minutes or
five years from now. (8/3/07)
==================================================================
Watch for details on
Ecovillages: New Frontiers for Sustainability by Jonathan Dawson
with foreword by Caroline Lucas (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2006, $14)
Little House on a Small Planet by Shay Solomon, photographs by
Nigel Valdez with Foreword by Frances Moore Lappe (The Lyons Press, 2006,
$19.95)
http://www.littlehouseonasmallplanet.com/
Ecohabitat: Experiencias rumbo a la sustentabilidad,
compiladores Laura Valdes Kuri y Arnold Ricalde de Jager, 2006. This
Spanish language book, with many color photographs is in Spanish and published
in Mexico, $10 for shipping. Contact
crsp@igc.org
Blessed Unrest: how the largest movement in the world came into being and
why no one saw it coming by Paul Hawken (Viking Press, 2007, $24.95)
http://www.blessedunrest.com/
(8/3/07)
==================================================================
WiserEarth <http://www.wiserearth.org/article/About/>
serves the people who are transforming the world. It is an open source,
community-editable international directory and networking forum that maps, links
and empowers the largest movement in the world – the hundreds of thousands of
organizations within civil society that address social justice, poverty, and the
environment. WiserEarth provides the tools and a platform for non-profit
organizations, funders, social entrepreneurs, students, organizers, academics,
activists, scientists, and citizens to connect, collaborate, share resources and
build alliances. WiserEarth is the first of three projects to be launched
under
WISER (World Index for Social and Environmental Responsibility): WiserEarth
will be followed by
WiserBusiness and WiserGovernment respectively. Another WISER offshoot
currently in development is the
WiserCommons project. (5/21/07)
==================================================================
Radical Caring: The People's Empowerment Publication
Dedicated to Encouraging, Inspiring, Networking, Celebrating
and Remembering Activists and Communities Worldwide
http://dsame.com/radicalcaring.html (8/3/07)
==================================================================
Car Free and Car Light Resources.
About one-third of global greenhouse gases come from vehicle
emissions. Learn about the resources and places where people are radically
reducing their vehicle emissions by living and working car free and car light.
List of car-free places from Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia
This is a list of noteworthy car-free areas. To be included, areas should meet at least one of the following criteria:
For example,
Freiburg's
carfree district is included because it is of significant size even for
Germany;
Leipzig's
is not since it is merely average and is a small part of the city. However,
Portland, Oregon's
are included since carfree areas of any size are unusual in
North America.
==================================================================
http://new.carfreecity.us/
=====================================================================
World Carfree
Network <www.worldcarfree.net/>
Welcome to the on-line headquarters of the World Carfree
Network, the hub of the global carfree movement, promoting alternatives to car dependence and automobile-based planning at the international level and working to reduce the human impact on the natural environment while improving the quality of life for all. Worldcarfree.net is a clearinghouse of information from around the world on how to revitalise our towns and cities and create a sustainable future. In addition to serving the carfree movement, Worldcarfree.net offers resources for architects, planners, teachers/professors, students, decision-makers and engaged citizens.
=====================================================================
Carfree Cities
<www.carfree.com> proposes a delightful solution
to the vexing problem of urban automobiles.
=====================================================================
http://www.autofreelife.info/
Through words and images, this Web site examines the so-called "need" to
own a car. We explore the possibilities, challenges and rewards of
living auto free and auto light.
On average, one-third of the population in any given community does not drive. Age, disability or finances are the usual reasons, but a few individuals choose to depend less on a car, opting for life on a human scale and at a human pace. These persons report that driving less has rewarded them with reduced stress, improved health and more spare time and money.
=====================================================================
Free Introduction to Permaculture Class Monthly 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
for specific dates, go to
www.sustainablehabitats.org
at
Audubon Center at Debs Park www.audubon-org/debs_park.htm
4700 North Griffin Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90031
(323) 221-2255
Permaculture offers positive solutions to the problems facing the world. Using ecology as the basis for designing integrated
systems of food production, housing, technology and community development, you can learn to create a sustainable environment
wherever you are.
The Permaculture Design Course is for anyone interested in gaining skills and perspective for sustainable living and productivity.
A Permaculture Design Course is a way to share accumulated information with others.
This Introduction to Permaculture Class is an outline of the science and art of Permaculture. It will define the term and
its history, its founders, the curriculum of the design course certificate, its ethics and foundations. It will describe the
benefits and show some of the most important work undertaken by permaculture designers.
For More Information contact:
David Kahn 323 667 1330 or info@susltainablehabitats.org www.sustainablehabitats.org
==================================================================
Permaculture: Listen online for free at
http://www.tilthproducers.org
Click on
Tilth
Producers Internet Audio Archive
BEGOOD CAFE. This Japanese nonprofit organization based in
Tokyo with activities in 13 major cities across Japan is emphasizing lifestyle
changes through special events, concerts, conferences, and a portable veggie
organic restaurant. They are also a major resource for starting
ecovillages in Japan. Traveling to Japan? Be sure to check it out:
<http://www.begoodcafe.com>
(11/12/06)
==================================================================
C.I.C.L.E. (Cyclists Inciting Change thru
LIVE Exchange) <www.cicle.org>
is a not-for-profit group, based in Los Angeles that seeks
to promote the bicycle as a viable and sustainable transportation choice. Our
primary objective is to get people thinking about transporting themselves
responsibly -- making positive choices for ourselves, others and especially the
planet. We believe in the possibility of clean air, calm and friendly streets,
and a more closely connected community. We believe that by utilizing the bicycle
to meet some or all of our transportation needs, we can begin to actualize this
vision. We seek to unify and represent the incredible enthusiasm, diversity, and
creativity of the burgeoning movement by becoming a hub for progressive bicycle
news, culture and advocacy. Viva La Velorution! Artists, media activists,
writers, organizers, fundraisers, etc... needed to contribute to our website
and our organization. (11/11/06)
==================================================================
THE MOVIE "COMMUNE" <http://www.communethemovie.com/>
The acclaimed documentary follows the four decade story of the Black Bear
Ranch commune, which is located near Mt. Shasta. Several notable folks
emerged from Black Bear including actor Peter Coyote, herbalist Michael
Tierra, community activist Osha Neumann and his daughter Rachel, and Chinese
Medicine innovators Harriet Beinfield and Efrem Korngold. They are all in
the film. And the film has many lessons for today's intentional
communities.
(11/11/06)
==================================================================
100 MILE POTLUCKS.
Share food that is grown within a 100 miles. These potlucks could
become trendy. Hold one in your neighborhood. Become a
LOCAVORE.
(10/3/06)
==================================================================
ANOTHER COOL BICYCLE RESOURCE AT
www.bikenow.org or call (323) 478-0060.
(10/3/06)
==================================================================
FLEXCAR
at <www.flexcar.com>.
Some recent research has shown that for every Flexcar placed in
certain neighborhoods, it can replace 14 private automobiles. LAEV has
recently had a Flexcar placed on
the CRSP owned property. We hope this is a start toward radically reducing
the number of cars in our
two block neighborhood.
(10/3/06)
==================================================================
Space Share <http://spaceshare.com/>
People travel to festivals and conferences to connect. Yet their travels are often uncoordinated,
lonely and expensive. If you are planning a large event, how do you extend your welcome beyond
the conference doors or festival gate? We customize environmental networking tools for your
event. SpaceShare web applications let attendees reach out to each other by submitting room
and transportation preferences, then our software finds the right connections... Someone to
share a flight, a room or a ride. People travel to conferences to network; to festivals to make
friends. Make your event more environmentally friendly with carpooling, hotel roomshares and more.
Cut costs for your attendees. Offer a great way to network and make new friends. Build community.
Give attendees a few more reasons to come back next year. (7/25/06)
==================================================================
Gaia University. See www.gaiauniversity.org.
Gaia University offers a unique approach to higher learning by offering students (called
Associates) access to accredited Bachelors and Masters degrees and Graduate Diplomas whilst
the Associate is actively engaged in self and planetary transformation. With Gaia University,
Associates link their ideals with self-directed practical experience, acting as world changers
by working for local and global sustainability and regeneration, justice and peace. Our self-
directed action learning methodology enables Associates to study locally, at work or on projects
supported by Gaia University's Regional Organizers, and a worldwide network of learning provider,s
tutors and mentors. No longer do you have to choose between earning a living and studying.
With action learning your work and your projects become your places of study. Note that GU
associates who participate in many of the CRSP Institute for Urban Ecovillages workshops will
be eligible for credit from GU. (6/1/06)
==================================================================
Wright Organic Resource Center http://elwright.net/wrightway/index.html
The Wright Organic Resource Center educates and activates people to be creative, aware, and environmentally responsible in all
aspects of life. We provide opportunities for people in the Los Angeles area, especially youth, to experience the legacy of Frank
Lloyd Wright and Organic Architecture, encouraging the creative integration of Nature, Art and Community. Our goal is to spark
the imagination of people who come to land and activate them to envision and participate in building a socially and environmentally
connected world. Wright Organic Resource Center is located in Malibu, California on a beautiful and rustic 24 acre site where we
host workshops and events, have a resource library and a variety of demonstration projects. Wright Organic Resource Center is a
project of Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs, (SEE), a 501(c)3 not for profit organization providing technical assistance toward
s our development as an independent entity.
Our mission is to:
Teach and practice the concepts of Organic Architecture which have evolved through the life works of four generations of Wrights
Develop ecological and social models for future generations
Create an environment for contemplation and exchange
.==================================================================
Food Not Lawns, How to Turn Your Yard into a Garden and Your Neighborhood into a Community. Visit www.foodnotlawns.com for more information and to place preorders for signed 1st Editions of the new book by FNL co-founder Heather Coburn Flores. With a foreword by Toby Hemenway and over 400 pages of text, enhanced by almost a hundred drawings by Northwest artist Jackie Holmstrom, Food Not Lawns offers a theoretical and practical handbook for ecological community transformation. (6/1/06) ==========================================================================
The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil. A very inspiring documentary on DVD with lots of lessons for urban places. 55 minutes. $20. http://www.communitysolution.org/cuba.html Also available from the CRSP library for free two week loan to members
This documentary was inspired when Faith Morgan
and Pat Murphy of Community Service in Yellow Springs Ohio took a trip to Cuba
through Global Exchange in August, 2003. That year Pat had begun studying and
speaking about worldwide peak oil production. In May Pat and Faith attended the
second meeting of The Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas, a European
group of oil geologists and scientists, which predicted that hummankind was
perilously close to having used up half of the world's oil resources. When they
learned that Cuba underwent the loss of over half of its oil imports and
survived, after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1990, the couple wanted to see
for themselves how Cuba had done this. Their lessons for us are clear and
inspiring. (5/4/06)
==================================================================
Creating a Life Together: Practical Tools to Grow Ecovillages and Intentional
Communities. Considered the current "bible" of starting and
"fixing" intentional communities, author Diana Leafe Christian has a
new website. Check it out at http://creating-a-life-together.org/
(5/4/06)
==================================================================
Simple Living America http://www.simplelivingamerica.org/
is a nonprofit membership organization for individuals, families and communities that fosters balance and fulfillment in a complex world. It achieves this through the Simple Living with Wanda Urbanska television series, airing on PBS stations around the country. Simple Living America members can receive a free DVD of the entire second season to organize a house party, plus the quarterly newsletter, blog privileges and more.
You can also take a simple anonymous quiz to measure your simplicity score,
developed by Virginia Commonwealth University. (5/4/06)
=====================================================================
Down by the L.A. River,
by long time L.A. Eco-Villager Joe Linton, is a lovingly illustrated
and meticulously written guide to walks and bike rides along the river’s
banks. There are short essays on conservation efforts, history, and flora and
fauna of the river, but primarily it is a practical guide, explaining to
would-be adventurers important details such as where the bathrooms are.
Linton, both author and illustrator, subscribes to the strategy of FOLAR
co-founder Lewis MacAdams who said that if you can get someone down to the
river, they’ll fall in love with it. Wilderness Press, 2005,
$17.95 (5/4/06)
====================================================================
Rethinking the Commune by Barry Yeoman, March & April
2006. Article published in AARP: The Magazine (world's largest circulation
magazine). Across America bold pioneers are building a new kind of housing
for the 21st century http://www.aarpmagazine.org/lifestyle/rethinking_the_commune.html
(5/4/06)
====================================================================
Los Angeles Environmental Change-makers
A circle of Environmental Change-Makers
holds monthly meetings in the Westchester area of Los Angeles. We
offer speakers and topics promoting real life actions to bring society (and our
city) to a more Sustainable existence. We meet on the 4th Thursday of
every month, 7-9 p.m., in the Community Hall of the Church of the Holy Nativity,
Dunbarton at 83rd St., (6700 West 83rd Street), Westchester 90045. All
meetings are free. Check us out at http://www.legacyla.net/LA.htm
(5/4/06)
=====================================================================
Community Tool Box promotes community health and development by connecting people, ideas and
resources: http://ctb.ku.edu/tools/en/tools_toc.htm
=====================================================================
Our movement is growing, and with it a several new books to spread the word. Here's just a small sampling of what came out in 2005. You can order these materials at <http://store.ic.org/catalog/index.php?cPath=34>
Communities Directory: A Comprehensive Guide to Intentional Communities and Cooperative Living: 2005 Edition (Fellowship for Intentional Community). Profiles on 850 intentional communities, articles, maps and more. Available from www.ic.org.
Senior Cohousing: A Community Approach to Independent Living: The Handbook by Charles Durrett (Habitat Press 2005). Fresh off the press. Excellent resource. Watch for Chuck's book talk at LAEV in a few months.
EcoVillage at Ithaca: Pioneering a Sustainable Culture by Liz Walker (2005). Another excellent resource. You can order it at <http://www.ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us/evi_store.html>. Liz may be coming to LAEV in Spring 2005
Sustainable Community: Learning from the Cohousing Model by Graham Meltzer (Trafford Publishing 2005 Canada). A wonderful architect Lois met at Findhorn. He has focussed on urban cohousing communities in the Pacific Northwest.
Head, Heart & Hands: Lessons in Community Building by Shari Leach (Johnson Printing 2005).
=====================================================================
The Bicycle Kitchen <www.bicyclekitchen.com>
continues to provide a variety of services to L.A. area bicycle
lovers. They've expanded their hours and are conveniently located at 706 Heliotrope @ Melrose (2 blks west of
Vermont) just south of the L.A. City College campus. The Bicycle Kitchen
was incubated at LAEV, and we're proud to see their growing success.
=====================================================================
Latino
Urban Forum. You can subscribe
to this informative list about environmental, architectural, social justice and
planning goings-on in the L.A. area by writing to <Latinourbanforum@yahoo.com>.
=====================================================================
Co-Abode <www.co-abode.org>
Co-Abode offers a unique "matching service" to provide single
moms with one or more children the opportunity to share housing while
pooling resources and finances with another single mom of their choice.
Check it out if this is what may raise your quality of life while reducing your
environmental impact.
=====================================================================
Ecovillage Network of the Americas <http://ena.ecovillage.org>
Catch the current e-news. ENA's mission is: To engage the peoples of the Americas in common effort to join the global transformation towards ecologically, economically and culturally sustainable human settlement.
Our goals are to demonstrate how to meet the needs of present and future generations for a safe and healthy planet to inhabit, and to link like-minded projects in the Americas.
=====================================================================
Communities Directory
The new print version of the Communities Directory has recently been
released. You can order it at <www.ic.org>.
You can also access its information on that website via a searchable database.
Click on <Communities Directory>. You'll be amazed at how easy it is
to find all the communities in the world that are part of the intentional
communities network.
=====================================================================
Green Building Resource Center in Santa Monica
Doing some rehab or new construction work and want to make sure you're using
the least polluting, least toxic, most local, most recycled content materials
available and just can't seem to do the time to do all the research? Well,
take a sigh of relief. Now, here in our very own region, brought to you by
Global Green and the City of Santa Monica, you can visit on-line, in-person or
call the Green Building Resource Center. They also sponsor very
information special events and use interns on a six month rotating basis.
<http://www.globalgreen.org/gbrc/>,
2218 Main Street, Santa Monica, 90405, 310/452-7677 <gbrc@globalgreen.org>.
=====================================================================
Fallen Fruit <www.fallenfruit.org>
Fallen Fruit. is an artist project about mapping of all the 'public fruit'
planted on private property that overhangs public space. This project encourages people to
harvest, plant and share public fruit. The project is a response to accelerating
urbanization, as well as issues of grassroots community activism and social responsibility. The
mission of this web project is to expand our community fruit maps, photos and essays to create
an online global public fruit resource.
Fallen Fruit was originally created for The Journal of Aesthetics and Protest, Volume #3, 2004.
This artist project is a collaboration of Dave Burns, Matias Viegener and Austin
Young.
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