Transition: A movement to create sustainable communities

Michele's patio tomatoes.

Transition is an international movement to create sustainable communities.  It all began in Kinsale, Ireland in 2005 and has spread around the world by Rob Hopkins the author of the Transition Handbook.  The reason for the movement is the concern of peak oil, which is when oil production declines and it is no longer “cheap”.  He also addresses climate change, and has added the global economic crisis, and food shortages as part of the movement’s key concerns. 

Since fossil fuels are not a renewable energy resource and greenhouse gas emissions are having a negative impact on our climate, Hopkins offers an opportunity for us to develop our own sustainable community plans.  Hopkins’ book and the Transition movement give twelve steps to building and establishing a sustainable and self-reliant community by regular people.

Hopkins stresses the importance of building resilient communities that won’t fall apart when a shortage in energy or other resources befalls a town or village.  Our access to resources revolves around a system that relies on fossil fuels through trucks, ships, and trains.  Many of the goods we receive, including fresh food, come from Mexico, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, China and elsewhere.  Those goods are floated, flown, or driven into our state.

Can you think of things made and grown right here in Colorado and sold in many stores?  There aren’t many and in fact the majority of our fuel for our vehicles and our homes and businesses come from elsewhere.  Sure there’s coal, natural gas, and oil shale found here in Colorado, but the majority of our fuel for transportation comes from other countries like Saudi Arabia.  Plus, a number of the goods we buy in the stores and online are made in other countries. 

If the cost of petroleum increases, then in turn the cost of all products will increase, especially if they must travel long distances. With unemployment numbers increasing by the day, healthcare costs ballooning, and debt never ending in this country, isn’t it time to make a real change?  Do we want to invest in something that lasts?  Do we want a healthy society for us and the planet in which we rely upon?  Are we going to wait for the politicians to solve our problems or can regular people use their ingenuity, creativity, and leadership to develop a sustainable and self-reliant society by working with governments? 

What happens when there’s a drought in California and/ or Mexico where produce can no longer be grown?  Where do we get our strawberries?  How about lettuce?  Can we grow them here?
That’s exactly what Hopkins proposes in his book that produce be grown locally in community gardens, green houses, containers on patios, backyard orchards, and where ever there is space (Learn about the Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco scrambling for any land to grow food.).  This is a step in creating self-sufficient communities and building strong and positive relationships with our neighbors through cooperative permaculture. 

What is permaculture?  This where neighbors can build a sustainable community.  Think of it as the squirrels and bears preparing for a permanent winter.  Can the squirrels click into the Internet to order a truckload of nuts?  Can humans continue to search for goods and resources at ever increasing costs (pocketbook and environment) from overseas or across the country?  Isn’t that nuts?  Permaculture is where a society develops resources of food, energy, goods, and services within their own communities.  The communities are self-sufficient and use resources and create goods and services that work with nature and not against it.  (Think of the three R’s and three E’s in Michele’s previous articles.)

Transition is headquartered in the U.K. and is spreading worldwide.  It took root in the U.S. right here in Colorado about a year ago in Boulder County by Michael Brownlee.  There are now Transition initiatives (formerly called towns) sprouting up all over the country.  Any dedicated individual(s) can start one, but in order to be an official initiative a couple of the members need to take the Transition training and apply to be official.  Learn more here and becoming a member.  The only fee is your leadership, creativity, and time.

The benefits of Transition go far beyond producing food locally, but include providing services and energy resources locally from truly renewable resources.  For instance Transition educates the public on energy consumption and conservation.  In Totnes, Devon in the U.K. they’ve created a local currency used to purchase local goods.  Here in Colorado they also feature a social online network to share information, events, and discussions.  The movement sponsors speakers on the economy, growing locally, growing more with less, seed collecting, solar energy, holistic living, and much more.

This weekend Transition Colorado will be hosting Chris Martenson’s A Crash Course seminar in Denver.  Martenson is the author of Crash Course, which outlines the history and downfall of an unsustainable fossil fuel economy and what we can do to prepare communities for the future.
Do you want to get involved in creating a sustainable community?  Getting involved is a click away.  It is only a matter of taking the time to participate for a sustainable future.  There may be a Transition group in your town.  Transition Colorado has groups in Denver, Boulder, Longmont, Louisville, and WAB, (Westminster, Arvada, Broomfield).  You can easily create your own group by contacting Michael Brownlee at this web address: http://transitioncolorado.ning.com/

If you are a reader outside of Colorado you can go to Transition U.S. at: http://transitionus.ning.com/.

Transition is assisting citizens to relocalize economies and create sustainable communities at the grassroots level.

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Upcoming green events:

Attend Boulder County's Green Building Conference for only $85. Friday, July 17, 5:30pm-8:00pm - Conference Networking Reception. Saturday, July 18, 8:00am-5:00pm - All-day Conference at University of Colorado at Boulder Campus. Join us and learn about: Green Financing; Sustainable Tenant Finishes; How to achieve and exceed green remodel and new construction codes; Advanced Building Science; and much more. Get Connected! We're providing organized, strategic networking forums to help connect job seekers with opportunities, spark collaboration, and facilitate the exchange of business ideas. Register Today for just $85 (registration includes the Friday evening Reception). Go to the conference web site at http://www.greenbuildingconference.org and click on "Register today!" From there you'll need to choose the "Student" registration type. You'll be asked to enter your e-mail address and proceed. You'll then be asked to enter a registration code which is "STUDENT."

Tour John Avenson's net zero home on Friday, July 24th from 9-11 AM.  Inquire with Michele for more information at mspencr@ix.netcom.com.