Building on the monthly "Roundup of What's Happening in the World of Transiton" pulled together over at Transition Culture, here are some highlights of what's keeping Transition Initiatives busy across the US...

In California > A.P.P.L.E. (Alliance for a Post-Petroleum Local Economy) is "proud to present our first annual Homesteading Demo Day, Saturday September 18 2011, 11:00 AM-4:00 PM. This Urban Homesteading event will include hands on workshops, including a Homestead Tour, Cooking from the Garden, Composting 3 Ways, Animals on The Homestead, Laundry to Landscape, Preserving your Harvest, Feeding your Garden’s Soil, Seeds in the Greenhouse, and Retrofit Energy Efficiency."

The Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library, a project of the Richmond Rivets Transition Initiative in collaboration with the local public library, put together a video on saving seeds for beans and peas - check out it:

In Colorado > Transition Boulder County's Eat Local Week kicks off with farmer Joel Salatin as one of the keynote presenters. 

In Connecticut > members of Transition New Haven were featured in an article in the New Haven Independent exploring the growing interest in co-housing, local economy tools like the SHARE Haven local time bank, and Seed Local Exchange Trading System (LETS), to re-localize the community and collectively reduce their environmental footprint. 

In Illinois > Transition Chicago had a day of harvesting at the Winthrop Community Garden followed by a cooking session with the harvested veggies. Yum. (see photoset on facebook >>)

In Kentucky > Sustainable Berea is organizing a Neighbourhood Food Feast for October 1 and 2nd that will feature food grown locally. "Join Sustainable Berea in a city-wide conversation about “How Can Berea Feed Itself?” Let your voice be heard about developing our local food economy!"

In North Carolina > From Transition Asheville: “We are planning a community celebration of the work done so far to make us the 88th Official Transition Town in the USA and the 373rd Official Transition Town worldwide. We are officially part of the global movement to build community resilience as we power down. Plans for the celebration include good food, great music, activities for families and a chance to renew our common ground in the prinicples and positive vision that the Transition Movement offers. We are inviting some politicians, some of the many nonprofits already doing this work in WNC, some of the green businesses that have generously supported sustainability efforts in our community and, most important, all of the many folks who have attended our events, read our newsletter and believe that together we can make a future beyond fossil fuels.” The afternoon will include entertainment by Billy Jonas, Geri Littlejohn, Deja Fuze and more. 5-10 p.m. Free.

On Rhode Island > Revive the Roots has been busy with their Mowry Gardens produce sales - "This is our premier open to the public facility. It will serve as a hub for education and exemplification of sustainability and advanced ecologic stewardship. Featured on the property is our forest garden, community gardens, poly-culture production beds, and lush pine forest." Check out more photos >> 

In Washington DC > Members of Transition Westchester, NY, arrived in DC to participate in the Tar Sands Action (photo below). 

In the news this month: 

The Transition Movement - initiating resilient, sustainable communities in PDX, the world

Posted August 24, 2011 by on KBOO Community Radio (Portland, OR)

A global economist for HSBC recently warned that oil will last us less than 50 years, and called for government planning on a level not seen for 40 years. The Transition Movement has already begun planning.  It began in 2005 in Totnes in the UK with a vote by the town council to work toward energy independence and a sustainable future. The idea spread quickly. There are now...Read more

 

 

Asheville named the 88th official “Transition Town” in the U.S.

Posted August 15, 2011 by Susan Andrew on Mountain Xpress

From Transition Asheville, who today released a community invitation: "Come party with us!": Transition Asheville is presenting a community-wide event, Saturday, August 27, from 5:00 to 10:00 pm at Carrier Park on Amboy Rd. in West Asheville, to celebrate Asheville being officially named the 88th Transition Town in the U.S. As a family-friendly celebration, there will be a variety of activities...Read more

 

 

The Permaculture Movement Grows From Underground

Posted July 28, 2011 by MICHAEL TORTORELLO on New York Times

As a way to save the world, digging a ditch next to a hillock of sheep dung would seem to be a modest start. Granted, the ditch was not just a ditch. It was meant to be a “swale,” an earthwork for slowing the flow of water down a slope on a hobby farm in western Wisconsin. And the trenchers, far from being day laborers, had paid $1,300 to $1,500 for the privilege of working their spades on a...Read more