On the anatomy of thrift
Posted: April 26, 2012 Filed under: 1. Philosophy, 3. Food Security Comments OffFrom the island just south of ours. Brilliantly done.
Fixing the Big Picture inside ourselves
Posted: March 26, 2012 Filed under: 1. Philosophy, 6. Personal Training | Tags: B-Corp, Empathic Civilization, Jeremy Rifkin Comments Off
In the sustainability and social entrepreneurship circles I run in, we discuss almost every one of the macro issues that the world is facing today (overpopulation being the taboo subject few people dare to speak about publicly).
But even as we create “benefit businesses” and nonprofit corporations to build resiliency in our systems, we must also look inside ourselves to affect the change required for the long term benefit of the human race and the biosphere in which we live.
I’d encourage you to take 10 minutes right now to put your brain into “full, open” mode and watch Jeremy Rifkin’s Empathic Civilization video.
Imagine the possibilities, and then go take actions to make it reality in your life.
Celebrating Cyber Monday!
Posted: November 29, 2011 Filed under: 1. Philosophy Comments Off
…by turning off the cyber and turning on the Made By (Your) Hands.
Building resilient neighborhoods
Posted: October 24, 2011 Filed under: 1. Philosophy Comments Off
As part of writing a book about this topic over the next several months, I’m enjoying the links folks are sending me from around North America related to this idea of bridging the emergency preparedness movement to the sustainability movement. “Preppers and Permaculturalists” is the phrase I’ve been using recently to describe the book’s content.
Locally we are heading into voting season which triggered an acquaintance to send this post about a San Francisco event talking about opening up government in addition to the ideas of building resilient communities and neighbors helping neighbors. Hit the link to listen to the podcast if you like to geek out on this as I do.
Are you a slave to your iOS device?
Posted: October 20, 2011 Filed under: 1. Philosophy Comments Off
Yes, it is a big deal about the Apple upgrade and iCloud is useful for those of us trying to do many different things in many different places, but consider who is serving whom in your relationship with your smart devices.
Personally, I like Randy Murray’s suggestion on how to break your online addiction:
You don’t have to be a slave to your devices. They are there to serve you. But you are there to serve your garden.
Of course, I end up using my smart phone while gardening frequently for reminders on when I’ve sown specific seeds, reviewing notes on last year’s garlic harvest, listening to NPR podcasts, looking up directions on assembling a greenhouse, or completing work telephone calls while weeding.
Hat tip to one of my favorites blogs: Minimal Mac.
#Occupy
Posted: October 14, 2011 Filed under: 1. Philosophy, 8. Wealth Management Comments OffThe most important thing in the world.
Map Your Neighborhood Step 10
Posted: October 12, 2011 Filed under: 1. Philosophy, 2. Water Security, 3. Food Security, 4. Energy Security, 5. Alt Transportation, 6. Personal Training, 7. Physical Security Comments Off
There is a brilliant woman named Dr. LuAn Johnson in Olympia, Washington who created the Map Your Neighborhood (MYN) program. It has the nine steps to complete immediately after a wide scale emergency such as a tornado or earthquake.
For our small town, we are adding a “Step 10″ series to various citizens’ nine step guidebook to bridge the gap between an individual set of neighbors and the larger community surrounding them. Steps 1-9 of Dr. Johnson’s MYN program ensure you, your loved ones, and your direct neighbors are cared for and secured. As we roll out our town-wide plans to connect our neighborhoods for both emergency preparedness and sustainability projects, the Step 10 series will shift the focus of specific individuals to securing entire neighborhoods and then the whole town (which happens to be an easily defined area – it’s an island).
Perhaps this list will be useful for your town as well. Here are a few examples of our Step 10 additions for citizens to pursue after they have finished their Steps 1-9. They will seek to travel (safely, short distances) to their neighborhood’s designated shelter:
- Ham radio operators to begin communication coordination
- Doctors, nurses, EMTs and CPR experts to to provide medical attention
- Mechanics and engineers to ensure all generators are safely up and running
- Members of the horse and bicycle communities to begin transportation duties (medical supplies, communication devices, etc) where roads are likely blocked by landslides and fallen trees
As we do further work on these Step 10 actions, we’ll document them on our main website, as well as excerpts here on this blog.
Keep Calm & Carry On
Posted: September 22, 2011 Filed under: 1. Philosophy, 2. Water Security, 3. Food Security, 4. Energy Security, 5. Alt Transportation, 6. Personal Training, 7. Physical Security, 8. Wealth Management Comments Off
I have British friends who use this old catchphrase often and many times tongue-in-cheek. Which made me smile all the more when I saw the nearby graphic while reading one of my favorite blogs, Little Homestead in the City.
As we are ramping up our local efforts to build resilient neighborhoods on our island, it’s a good reminder to read about the history of victory gardens and related sustainability projects that our grandparents were quite familiar with, and that are becoming new again.
In her post Anais asks her readers their preparedness levels in these areas (at least one of which you’ll see we’ve not listed in our categories to the right – oops): Food, Water, Fuel Energy, Sanitation, Alternative Currency, Transportation, Communications, Medical & First Aid, Survival, Security.
I’ll prepare a future post regarding our sanitation plans in low or no power scenarios.
Letting go…while staying prepared
Posted: July 20, 2011 Filed under: 1. Philosophy Comments Off
I found excellent insight from a super high-quality person on Transition Voice. I’ve spent time with the author David Johnson before and can assure you he is as thoughtful, calm, and far-thinking in person as he is on paper (or your browser).
Given my “control issues” that I constantly work on, I normally scoff at anyone advising me to “just let go.” But Johnson makes a compelling case. Recommended.
(The nearby graphic from the World Economic Forum details the risks facing our globe, plotted by their perceived impact versus likelihood).
