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B Corporations: Driving a New Ecology of Commerce

2012-01-12T21:28:00.000-08:00

There’s a growing buzz with a new kind of business - Benefit Corporations! building better business, social enterprise and corporate policy Benefit Corporations (a.k.a. B Corps) are leaders in a new type of commerce that uses business as a leverage to solve social and environmental problems. B Corp, bottom-line, is about changing or rather growing corporate law, standards,

the CLEAN movement

2011-09-09T07:57:00.000-07:00

A case for community-based energy generation After one electrical worker singly knocks out electricity to 930,000 users in Arizona, Southern California and Mexico by removing one piece of monitoring equipment - how can we not question centralized energy generation? Read more about this recent power outage event, here. How is our current mainstream system of centralized energy generation really

Developing a Food Policy Council

2011-03-05T10:46:00.000-08:00

Everyone eats! And sadly, on average, most communities do not have access to the most healthy and locally produced food. Some communities are actually 'food deserts' where there is no access to locally grown produce or even shipped in healthy food.If there is one aspect critical to community development, it would be access to healthy local food and water. By establishing a food policy council in

Reaping local benefits

2011-02-10T10:23:00.000-08:00

We all know that we're in a time of economic strife- nationally and locally. A lot of us are wondering, "How can we turn this around and how can I earn a living?" and moreover, "How can I earn a living while also doing something I am passionate about in my community?" How do communities encourage economic recovery that encompasses community and environment, and strives to encourage and

Top 10 Green Resolutions for 2011

2011-01-03T13:11:00.000-08:00

Tis the season to look back on our past year and look ahead to an even greater year. Wanting to make your 2011 even better than 2010? Maybe think about incorporating more healthy and money saving habits into your 2011 resolutions... and also more sustainable. Here's my top ten resolutions. 1) Shop and eat local. Pick seasonal and local fruits and vegetables. Do some research

Designing Local Currency

2010-12-13T10:58:00.000-08:00

I heard an interesting story on National Public Radio the other morning driving to work about Anthropologists studying an "Island of Stone Money." The tiny Pacific island of Yap provides an interesting look at what 'money' can really look like.Yap islanders today use dollar currency, but hundreds of years ago the islanders made huge limestone discs their local currency. Like many other developing

Communicating Community Values

2010-11-21T17:12:00.000-08:00

Human Needs and Finding the Right Words People and collectively- communities are greatly diverse. And in so, trying to find collective agreements amongst multi-stakeholders are not always easy. However, considering the very humane nature of people- what we all share, our universal ‘human needs,’ we can maybe easily find a middle-ground, and draw attention to the common thread that binds us all

the potential in my backyard

2010-09-24T14:18:00.000-07:00

I just learned of the great technology the National Renewable Energy Labratory has as open source- In My Backyard (IMBY). By using IMBY, one can find their location on Google Earth and then establish the right RE technology, size and degree of appropriate development.So if you or anyone you know are thinking of installing an on-site RE (solar or wind), check this software out to better understand

the banning of bags

2010-09-12T11:37:00.000-07:00

A town to the North, Telluride, Colorado has stepped up to banning plastic bags. One more town to jump on the progressive do-better ban-wagon. At first council members in Telluride, Colorado thought that an approach to weening the community from plastic and paper bag use could begin by charging customers who use plastic and paper bags, yet came to the conclusion that they should- just ban the

Hunting Season

2010-09-08T08:43:00.000-07:00

... fruit hunting season, that is.Now is the time that I start my annual urban foraging for fruit hanging from trees, overflowing from local farmer's beds and even wild produce from the mountains, like Chantrell mushrooms.I live in a mountainous valley that was once a heavy fruit-producing valley, with a large river coming down from the San Juan mountains that still feeds the remnants of this

Encouraging Local Energy

2010-09-06T10:20:00.000-07:00

So we all know, by now hopefully, how promising renewable energy development is, how needed it is and how fast the field is developing. Yet, living in the South West of the US (where it is practically raining sunshine 320+ days of the year), RE development- especially on a local, distributed, scale is sluggish and barely seems to exist. How is this possible, that what is needed and pretty much

Getting Involved in the City

2010-09-06T09:40:00.000-07:00

Until recently, I wondered often how I could get more involved in my community's planning and development and yet never thought to look into what was actually happening around the City Council. I'm not sure how I never heard of 'City Boards and Commissions' until now, but what an eye opener for how to get more actively involved in the shaping of my community. City Boards and Commissions are

Slow Food

2010-08-21T09:10:00.000-07:00

While in the Tuscany region in the quaint and beautiful town of Lucca I stayed with a wonderful woman, Ana, who lives in the square where Puccini was born. She told us how the only way she knew the history of his life was from living on the second floor with her windows open hearing all the tour guides of many different nationalities tell the life story of Puccini. Anyways, I tell this story

Being a LEEDer

2010-07-25T09:10:00.000-07:00

If you are in any part involved in sustainable building or community development in the USA, you've probably heard something about LEED.LEED is part of the U.S. Green Building Council, an internationally recognized green building certification system, which helps to ensure that 'green building' (commercial or residential) or a community is actually 'green' by providing a third party assessment of

Slow Housing

2010-07-20T20:18:00.000-07:00

I am currently trying out a different living situation- shared housing. I am renting a renovated apartment in an older home with other tenants. This is not anything new to most people. I imagine a large population of Americans live in some sort of shared housing, whether condos, apartments or intentional housing. But, for me, I have not really lived in too many situations where I share a building

Initiating a Transition Town

2010-07-16T08:59:00.000-07:00

While traveling through Europe and especially England, I visited a few Transition Towns. Totnes Transition Town , in England, is the stand out (which I have posted information about earlier on this blog) due to it being the original Transition Town where the founder lives and continues to spearhead and inspire collaborative programs and initiatives related to the Transition Town movement that

Zero Waste?

2010-07-13T09:29:00.000-07:00

So what exactly does Zero Waste mean? Is it possible? These were my questions when I read that Telluride, Colorado has a Zero Waste Action Plan for the Mountain Village of San Miguel county. And looking it over, it seems like a no-brainer that I want my community to think about too! The Action Plan is laid out in these basic, but extensive areas:Clean Production: More resource efficient,

Clotheslines are Beautiful

2010-07-06T07:41:00.000-07:00

While traveling in Europe, I fell hard in love with clotheslines!How have we come to be so disconnected and pulled away from the simple pleasures in life, like hanging clothes out to dry, breathing in fresh air, observing the landscape or cityscape, a neighbor, a fox or a passerby- saying hello? I know I am being over romantic here. I know that it is easier to sometimes say "I'll hang them up

Big & Fast, we are

2010-07-05T13:39:00.000-07:00

After being back in the US for a few weeks now, I am still adjusting to the way we Americans do things here compared to the things and practices I grew accustomed to in Sweden and the European countries I visited while abroad. These disturbing 'things' can be simplified into all things fast we are sometimes associated with- food, traffic, work, time in a day...Flying from Spain (which isn't the

Smart Grids

2010-07-05T12:57:00.000-07:00

On my recent road trip from Michigan to Colorado I occupied myself with a collection of current and older National Geographic magazines and fed myself on tantalizing advancements in the developing renewable energy grid systems in the US and Europe and ever-growing solar energy developments in the US. This information is specifically exciting to me because I just completed my MSc thesis on

Transitioning

2010-05-16T08:26:00.001-07:00

I have been slow on sharing information on all things related to sustainability that I have been experiencing of late in Sweden. Maybe this is due to writing a Master's thesis? However, now that the thesis is being finalized, I can catch you up on some things very inspirational- The Transition Town Movement happening consciously and even unconsciously in communities around the world.GermanyAero

The Plastic Challenge

2010-04-21T13:14:00.000-07:00

The Plastiki ChallengeWhy is there a team of young adventures out in the middle of the Pacific sailing a boat made of recycled materials? Why Plastiki?Because:It is estimated that almost all of the marine pollution in the world is comprised of plastic materials. The average proportion varied between 60% and 80% of total marine pollution.In many regions in the northern and southern Gyres, plastic

"The Danish Way"

2010-03-29T05:38:00.000-07:00

I recently went on a tour of Denmark in search of community powered renewable energy and found great projects, testimonies and great success stories from all across the country for my Masters thesis research that I and two Master's of Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability grad students are currently working on.We started our tour by visiting The Nordic Folk Center, which stands out as an

The Art of Hosting

2010-01-17T13:57:00.000-08:00

image taken from The Learning Host" The Art of Hosting and harvesting conversations that matter is a new practice of democracy that we really need in the world now " Just how powerful is the art of dialogue? Just how powerful is asking the right questions? What else is as powerful as making meaninful conversation and connecting to another through words, senses and openness? Do we pay enough

Soul Recovery Service

2010-01-17T13:42:00.000-08:00

Felicity Fenton's Soul Recovery Service offers to collect your 'emotionally hindering' objects that keep you from fulfilling your days, wasting your precious time through or withholding emotional freedom. What are the things in your life that hamper your creativity, energy, and free spirit? Even if you do not have anything bringing you down, but still want to be inspired visit Felicity's website

New Year's Sustainability Resolution

2010-01-01T09:30:00.000-08:00

My 2010 New Year's Resolution list... of course to grow & evolve1. EAT as LOCAL as possible2. limit 'take-out' containers... 'to go' coffees and over-packaging from the market3. Walk, BiKe and bus more than any other mode of transportation4. limit use of dryer- hang dry clothes and limit consumption of water- try taking shorter showers5. Support stores that sell ethical, organic and fair trade

Transition Town Totnes, UK

2009-12-31T02:36:00.000-08:00

I recently visited Totnes, UK and fell in love with the little town. I only walked down Fore St and High St, yet saw so many great things happening. To a visitor, one cannot tell what 'transitions' are happening except to get a little taste of the base-level social transformation happening in this little town. After trying to visit the Totnes Transition Town office and finding them closed I

Some Good Ideas

2009-12-31T02:28:00.001-08:00

The Eden Project

2009-12-28T03:03:00.001-08:00

While on holiday in Cornwall, UK my partner and I are checking out The Eden Project. The Eden Project is an educational charity and the largest greenhouse in the world, specializing in diverse biomes and plants from around the globe. The domes maintain tropical, Mediteranian, and temperate environment biomes.Beyond experiential learning...Global GardeningIf you want to replicate what you see on a

"100 Images" at COP15

2009-12-28T02:55:00.000-08:00

Survival Academy

2009-12-02T03:59:00.000-08:00

COP15- Copenhagen Climate Conference is just around the corner. Are you going? Do you know what it is? Hopefully yes to both of those questions.I'm getting pumped to participate in the Survival Academy's workshops and get linked-in to yet another buzzing hub, network and think-tank of innovators, creators, students, and professionals all fixin on co-creation, co-learning and mobilization.

Walking the Line

2009-11-25T12:21:00.000-08:00

I recently realized that I am on my computer way too often. I have prided myself ion not owning a TV for the last 10 years, yet now realize my computer has taken its place. Though I am a Master's student at the moment does not justify the immense reliance on this baby. I have started a user-responsibility declaration with myself. If I am beating myself over the head on sustainability, asking

350!

2009-10-25T01:38:00.000-07:00

Here's Karlskrona's human graph to represent where the world currently is with carbon at 389 ppm and where we want to go- to the level of 350 ppm.Students at Blekigne Institute of Technology and people from the Karlskrona community came together to form this human graph at the same time people all over the world were coming together to raise voices and concern and most of all, generate momentum

Art + Nature

2009-10-18T13:14:00.000-07:00

Find yourself outsideRivers and TidesUploaded by vodeo. - Discover more animation and arts videos.

A New Allotment System

2009-10-14T14:14:00.000-07:00

A Model for SocietyThe Allotment Plot project is a great little model for any one or community to replicate.

Play on Potholes

2009-10-13T11:49:00.000-07:00

You gotta love those potholes. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

The Humming of Hubs!

2009-10-12T08:28:00.000-07:00

The Hub 'Hubs' and 'incubators,' collectively shared spaces for progressive design and community development, are popping up all over the world. Before I left Durango, Colorado, our city council was announcing the beginning of a city Incubator downtown. At the time, I had never heard of this, now studying with classmates from all over the world, I am hearing more and more- the humming of hubs in

Creativity- A Driving Force

2009-09-30T12:01:00.000-07:00

Creativity A Driving Force for Sustainability... a fabric of life Thank you Sabrina for inspiring workStitching together with common threadspatchwork multitudethe world tied, laid outas a quiltI lay upon

"Transition Towns"

2009-09-30T11:28:00.000-07:00

You may already be living in a transition town or dreaming about how to move your community towards something more sustainable, or maybe sustainability has not occurred to you... yet? There is a movement building in little clusters throughout the world and the country you live in. The movement is simple, micro, intrinsic and organic. The process may be part of something overarching- greater than

Season for Acorn Milk

2009-09-27T07:48:00.000-07:00

Turtle Lake Refuge'sWhere one can find wonderful raw food recipes and information about medicinal and botanical plantsAcorn Milk Recipe:"This delicious milk can be made with a combination of any of these nuts or seeds: acorn, almond, cashew, hazelnut, sunflower, or sesame seed. Please feel free to substitute in the ingredients most available to you. 1/2 cup acorns4 cups happy

Saturday Market

2009-09-27T07:05:00.000-07:00

I am so lucky to be in, yet another wonderful town with a wonderful farmer's market. Markets of all kind seem to carry the essence of community- attractive in socio-cultural, economical,and ecological ways. One thing I just love, is a farmer's market! Here, I can find delicious, locally grown and harvested food, the local community of all ages interacting and a place where I can personally put my

Growing into Fall

2009-09-26T06:34:00.000-07:00

Image taken from Grow This BlogIt may be autumn, but it isn't too late to plant and grow your own food! Cool season planting varies all over, depending where you live and zone for hardiness, you can probably plant a variety of things in your backyard. Where I am from and currently living is in the northern latitudes so cool crops for me are greens (easiest with great variety) mixed, mesclun, kale

Climate Affairs

2009-09-26T01:13:00.000-07:00

Google's Climate Stimulator to Play into Copenhagen Climate ConferenceHow to take this information and use it towards making personal efforts to reduce one's carbon footprint? These are my own thoughts on how I try to act...1. Be conscious to choices we make- food, clothing, transportation, housing, energy use...Through making better decisions in all these areas will reduce your overall personal

Global Climate Change Week

2009-09-22T00:01:00.001-07:00

Global Climate Wake Up Call! CALLING YOU!Find what's going on where you live to participate on the 21st and 22nd of SeptemberParticipate by signing the Climate Petition and pledging your experience and actions towards climate change by visiting Seal the Deal!

Learning from "The Greenest City in Europe"

2009-09-20T14:55:00.000-07:00

Vaxjo, SwedenIs said to be called the Greenest City in Europe. After taking a trip North to visit this little town, I was surprised pulling into a town that seemed- well, normal in most ways. It wasn't until I sat through a talk by some of the city's planners that I came to understand how this little town is so dynamite!Practically fossil fuel free, where most energy is run on biomass- collected

Sustainability = Creativity

2009-09-17T09:13:00.000-07:00

I recently watched Elizabeth Gilbert's talk on Ted and man did it hit a chord and link similar themes between being a writer and a creator to someone seeking work in 'sustainability.' Why do we have to fight the current, step out so far to face such a fear-based wall when you say- I'm an artist, a writer or studying sustainability? Shouldn't creativity and sustainability be inherent, innate and

A Sustainable Cup of Coffee

2009-09-13T00:06:00.000-07:00

What is behind a cup of coffee?It's getting cooler and a little more rainy these days, which seems to instigate an increase in my coffee consumption. And of which makes me feel a necessity to look closer at what an increase in my consumption might mean behind the scenes. What type of business am I supporting? Is the supply chain sustainable or depleting to some population of people and place in

Fall- a Time for Mulching and Soil Building

2009-09-11T09:48:00.000-07:00

That cool crisp breeze of autumn is here, and with it comes the turning of leaves and earth. Fall is a good time for all kinds of harvesting and also laying ground for a good harvest in the year to come. You don't have to be a farmer or have a garden in mind for building soil, you can do this simple act as a benefit to any piece of your land. As the leaves color, turn and fall think about

Dr. Karl-Henrik Robèrt and The Natural Step

2009-09-08T11:40:00.000-07:00

In the last week I have been delighted and so lucky to hear Dr. Karl-Henrik Robèrt who is the founder of the NGO, The Natural Step and a visiting professor of my Master's program, Strategic Leadership Towards Sustainability at Blekinge Institute of Technology lecture on how to approach sustainability and what exactly ' is' sustainable development.If you are interested in Sustainability or not

My Fruit Getter

2009-09-08T11:31:00.000-07:00

As we approach the fullness of fall, the fruit is becoming so abundant. Everyday I ride my bike and end up with a full basket of something or other... how rich and wonderful to be amongst all this free food.

Elderberry Syrup

2009-09-07T10:43:00.000-07:00

Click here to visit Elderberry.ComlHere's a Quick Elderberry Syrupl Recipe:2 lbs fresh elderberries... plucked from the stems4 cups spring water1/2 Lemon freshly squized1/2 cup of sugar or 1 cup of honeyBring elderberries and water to a boil and stir for 20 minutesMash and stir the berries and then strainReturn liquids to the pan and add the lemon juice and honey or sugar. Boil for another 10-20

Sweden Sustainability

2009-09-05T09:02:00.000-07:00

I am still adjusting to the fact that I now live in Sweden. It is a wonderfully easy place to settle into... in the turn of autumn. Living by the Baltic Sea brings a nice crisp maritime breeze and the trees and plants seem to be initiating that fall shift. I am in utter delight strolling the streets and woodland trail systems, riding bike paths and neighborhoods to find so much fruit growing-

Sweden's Fall Fruit

2009-09-05T08:59:00.000-07:00

Some of the plentiful fruit of Southern Sweden. What a nice introduction to a new home!

A Love for Barns

2009-03-24T14:05:00.000-07:00

This is my Uncle Art's barn in Midwest Michigan, bathing in the last of the evening's light. He keeps a small garden to the north of it and rarely uses the barn for 'barn-farm things,' yet it still stands representing what it once was and the land spreads out around it remaining natural and also an imprint of some simple life once lived before. Such a pleasant scene.The initial purpose of this