Hello out there. I've been keeping my thoughts inside my own head for the past week. Thus, no new posts here.
I've been reading and thinking about some of HUGE issues, like WATER and ENERGY, and those can get pretty overwhelming. You don't know how much you don't know until you start researching something.
We tend to take for granted that our water will always be there when we turn on the tap or flush the toilet. Yesterday morning our power went out for a short time, and it brought home the fact that, in this household, we require electricity to pump our water out of the ground. We don't have a Plan B in case the grid fritzes out like it did in the summer of 2003.
Furthermore, I learned that the city of Jamestown gets their public water supply from two underground wells. Not that this is a huge big deal, but having lived for most of my life on Lake Erie, and now on Chautauqua Lake (and still in the shadow of the Great Lakes), I grew up with an assumption that "water comes from lakes." And closely behind that one, an assumption that "civilizations grow near water." What's to think about?
How about energy? Are there any other ways we can rape and pillage the earth to extract non-renewable fossil resources to fuel our short-sighted lifestyles? Ta-da! Marcellus Shale is the rock formation that extends throughout the Appalachian Basin and contains huge, largely untapped natural gas reserves. Ah, but how to recover this resource from the rock? Hydraulic fracturing technology, aka "fracking," involves drilling a wellbore deep into the rock and then pumping in fluids at a rate that causes fracturing to extend the crack deeper into the formation. This is not a new technology, but its use in the Marcellus formation raises a whole host of health and environmental issues, ranging from the amount of surface water needed for the operation to the contamination of the air, soil, and ground water (drinking water) due to the toxic chemicals used in the process and the toxic waste materials produced by it.
Not that everyone worries about little things like that.
Which brings me to another issue. A wind farm in Chautauqua county seems like a no brainer to me. Granted, I am a newbie here, dancing as fast as I can to get up to speed on all the local who, what, why, when, and where. We have the wind, there seems to be plenty of land available, why is money being wasted on development plans for a new coal-fired power plant in Jamestown when that is so last century? Are elected officials required to lack vision?
A longtime big city suburbanite transplants herself in a small town and embarks upon a search for resilient, sustainable community in western NY
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
No impact
I watched an interesting documentary this weekend, called "No Impact Man." If you subscribe to Netflix, you can watch it on your computer. You can also read Colin Beavan's blog here.
In a nutshell, Manhattan writer Colin Beavan, doing research for a book, decides to eliminate his personal impact on the environment for one year, dragging his wife and two-year-old daughter along for the ride. It means buying only local food, turning off the electricity, no television, no elevators, no cars, busses, or airplanes, no toxic cleaning products, no material consumption, and no garbage.
It is a fascinating look at how much we take for granted in our lifestyles that are out of step with about 75% of the people on this planet. How much stuff do we actually need, and what is each of us personally willing to change to lessen our impact on the environment? Do we even know what choices are available to us, or do we just go with the flow?
Obviously, most people are not going to wake up one morning and begin a radical lifestyle change. Change is painful and undertaken in painfully slow baby steps. Even when that change is extremely beneficial--like exercise. It hurts when you start. You have to force yourself to keep doing it until you get the rust out and start to believe that maybe those muscles really do work after all. Eventually, you feel so great that you wonder why you didn't start doing this years ago.
I realize that I am still a neophyte in my quest for sustainability. We are enjoying the local food choices available to us, but do I really want to give up coffee and chocolate? I can reduce my electricity use, but would I ever voluntarily turn it off altogether? I got over my retail addiction years ago, and enjoy treasure hunting for secondhand whatever-I-need at thrift stores, garage sales, ebay, craigslist. (And I am finding that what I "need" at this point in my life is actually very little.) We recycle lots, but still...we are sending too much to the landfill.
Landfills are bad. Why are they bad? Well, all that garbage packed tightly together in a sealed space takes an awfully long time to decompose, so we can't make it disappear fast enough for the rate at which we are producing it. And while it is decomposing, it emits a lot of methane gas, which has a much more harmful impact on the environment than carbon dioxide. (Plus, a lot of the stuff we are putting into those landfills, like plastics, will not decompose in many lifetimes.)
So how do we make less garbage?
First of all, by bringing less of it into our households to begin with. How much packaging does an item need? At one end, this is a design problem on the part of the producer. At the other, it is a consumer choice. How do we send a message to the producers that we don't want all that packaging? Don't buy it. Choose to buy things that are minimally packaged--unwrapped produce, items packaged in paper, which can be composted--or things which can be dispensed into reusable containers (items from bulk bins). Say no to plastic bags--carry your own reusable bags.
Recycling is important, but there's too much plastic in the system and it doesn't recycle very well and ultimately ends up as garbage--so avoid buying it in the first place.
Compost food scraps: if done correctly (google it, it's not rocket science) there is no unpleasant odor and you end up with rich fertilizer for your garden (or your neighbor's), much better than going to Home Depot and buying it in a bag from somewhere else.
Before you even consider throwing something out, consider how it might be reused or repurposed, either by yourself or by somebody else. Jobs can actually be created when trash is reconsidered as resource--whether for recycling, crafting, or secondhand use. Buffalo ReUse has built a business around green demolition and resale of building materials. Broken items can be repaired. Things that are unwanted might be just what someone else is looking for. Give them the opportunity to make that decision before you send it off to the landfill.
So many little things we can do and most of it isn't even painful.
In a nutshell, Manhattan writer Colin Beavan, doing research for a book, decides to eliminate his personal impact on the environment for one year, dragging his wife and two-year-old daughter along for the ride. It means buying only local food, turning off the electricity, no television, no elevators, no cars, busses, or airplanes, no toxic cleaning products, no material consumption, and no garbage.
It is a fascinating look at how much we take for granted in our lifestyles that are out of step with about 75% of the people on this planet. How much stuff do we actually need, and what is each of us personally willing to change to lessen our impact on the environment? Do we even know what choices are available to us, or do we just go with the flow?
Obviously, most people are not going to wake up one morning and begin a radical lifestyle change. Change is painful and undertaken in painfully slow baby steps. Even when that change is extremely beneficial--like exercise. It hurts when you start. You have to force yourself to keep doing it until you get the rust out and start to believe that maybe those muscles really do work after all. Eventually, you feel so great that you wonder why you didn't start doing this years ago.
I realize that I am still a neophyte in my quest for sustainability. We are enjoying the local food choices available to us, but do I really want to give up coffee and chocolate? I can reduce my electricity use, but would I ever voluntarily turn it off altogether? I got over my retail addiction years ago, and enjoy treasure hunting for secondhand whatever-I-need at thrift stores, garage sales, ebay, craigslist. (And I am finding that what I "need" at this point in my life is actually very little.) We recycle lots, but still...we are sending too much to the landfill.
Landfills are bad. Why are they bad? Well, all that garbage packed tightly together in a sealed space takes an awfully long time to decompose, so we can't make it disappear fast enough for the rate at which we are producing it. And while it is decomposing, it emits a lot of methane gas, which has a much more harmful impact on the environment than carbon dioxide. (Plus, a lot of the stuff we are putting into those landfills, like plastics, will not decompose in many lifetimes.)
So how do we make less garbage?
First of all, by bringing less of it into our households to begin with. How much packaging does an item need? At one end, this is a design problem on the part of the producer. At the other, it is a consumer choice. How do we send a message to the producers that we don't want all that packaging? Don't buy it. Choose to buy things that are minimally packaged--unwrapped produce, items packaged in paper, which can be composted--or things which can be dispensed into reusable containers (items from bulk bins). Say no to plastic bags--carry your own reusable bags.
Recycling is important, but there's too much plastic in the system and it doesn't recycle very well and ultimately ends up as garbage--so avoid buying it in the first place.
Compost food scraps: if done correctly (google it, it's not rocket science) there is no unpleasant odor and you end up with rich fertilizer for your garden (or your neighbor's), much better than going to Home Depot and buying it in a bag from somewhere else.
Before you even consider throwing something out, consider how it might be reused or repurposed, either by yourself or by somebody else. Jobs can actually be created when trash is reconsidered as resource--whether for recycling, crafting, or secondhand use. Buffalo ReUse has built a business around green demolition and resale of building materials. Broken items can be repaired. Things that are unwanted might be just what someone else is looking for. Give them the opportunity to make that decision before you send it off to the landfill.
So many little things we can do and most of it isn't even painful.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Wheels
I saw a guy riding his bicycle home from Wegman's this afternoon. That's remarkable because riding bikes as transportation doesn't seem too common here.
I guess it could be the terrain. My husband and his friends are longtime, well-conditioned, recreational cyclists who have probably toured a gazillion miles over the years (the Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure, Cleveland to Oregon, not to mention the whole crazy long distance endurance thing known as radonneuring). Long story short, they don't let hills bother them, whereas a non-athlete like me finds them very challenging.
Recreational cycling seems to enjoy great popularity here, however, judging by the turnouts for events such as the annual Tour of Chautauqua, Tour de Bemus, and the weekly rides from the Holly Loft.
But cycling to the store, not so much. I know it's going to be a while before I can make it back uphill!
I'm better at walking, and Jamestown actually has some very walkable neighborhoods. You can plug your address into this little application to find your neighborhood Walk Score and what it means.
Still, we tend to be awfully dependent on our cars, even as that becomes more expensive. What can we do?
We can drive the most fuel-efficient cars we can buy, and keep them tuned up and the tires properly inflated.
We can drive fewer miles by combining all of our errands in a single trip, instead of making several separate trips.
We can carpool with co-workers or offer rides to neighbors when we're going grocery shopping, or attending the same event, to reduce the number of cars on the road.
We should be aware of when public transportation is an option. I didn't realize until just this week that Jamestown has public transportation. I mistakenly thought the CARTS provided transportation for seniors and people with disabilities. They do, but there are also regular bus routes in Jamestown and Dunkirk. More info is available on the Chautauqua county website here.
I guess it could be the terrain. My husband and his friends are longtime, well-conditioned, recreational cyclists who have probably toured a gazillion miles over the years (the Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure, Cleveland to Oregon, not to mention the whole crazy long distance endurance thing known as radonneuring). Long story short, they don't let hills bother them, whereas a non-athlete like me finds them very challenging.
Recreational cycling seems to enjoy great popularity here, however, judging by the turnouts for events such as the annual Tour of Chautauqua, Tour de Bemus, and the weekly rides from the Holly Loft.
But cycling to the store, not so much. I know it's going to be a while before I can make it back uphill!
I'm better at walking, and Jamestown actually has some very walkable neighborhoods. You can plug your address into this little application to find your neighborhood Walk Score and what it means.
Still, we tend to be awfully dependent on our cars, even as that becomes more expensive. What can we do?
We can drive the most fuel-efficient cars we can buy, and keep them tuned up and the tires properly inflated.
We can drive fewer miles by combining all of our errands in a single trip, instead of making several separate trips.
We can carpool with co-workers or offer rides to neighbors when we're going grocery shopping, or attending the same event, to reduce the number of cars on the road.
We should be aware of when public transportation is an option. I didn't realize until just this week that Jamestown has public transportation. I mistakenly thought the CARTS provided transportation for seniors and people with disabilities. They do, but there are also regular bus routes in Jamestown and Dunkirk. More info is available on the Chautauqua county website here.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Green Home Chautauqua
The Jamestown Audubon Society has launched a new page, Green Home Chautauqua, on their website. Its purpose is " to be your gateway to resources that will help you create a greener home through renovations. In particular, we are interested in promoting projects that implement alternative energy sources and/or technologies & strategies that reduce energy usage." It is a work in progress, as they compile information on local contractors, suppliers, or vendors of green technologies, books and websites useful to homeowners looking to reduce their energy usage, and accounts from homeowners who have already installed green features.
This is interesting because "powering down" is a key component of how we get beyond the challenges of peak oil and global climate change. It also makes good personal economic sense.
When we hear of green technologies, we tend to think of energy alternatives like wind and solar, water conservation measures like rainwater collection and low-flush toilets, use of recycled materials or renewable plant materials like bamboo and straw. But there are many more mundane things that each of us can do to reduce our harmful impact on our planet.
Weatherization is the easiest way to cut energy bills (and use) by reducing heat loss through cracks, gaps, and holes in your home. Weatherization includes such things as caulking and weather-stripping around windows and doors, using window film (or adding storm windows and doors, perhaps even going so far as replacing windows and doors with new, energy efficient ones), adding insulation, sealing leaks you might not even think of, around electrical outlets and recessed lighting. Government funding is available for low-income families to receive weatherization services, which save the average family over $300 on energy costs in the first year. Locally, this program is administered by Chautauqua Opportunities.
It's good for folks who don't qualify under "low income" guidelines to do these things too. For a small investment at your local hardware store, and a Saturday afternoon of sweat, you too can enjoy energy savings and be snug as a bug in a rug this winter.
You can still get federal tax credits for installations through the end of 2010 of new energy-efficient doors and windows, storm windows, insulation, heating systems, and biomass fuel stoves with a thermal efficiency rating of 75% or more.
If you don't feel handy enough to do it yourself and can't afford to pay a contractor, here's an interesting idea:
A group of activists in Cambridge, MA formed a non-profit called Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET). They organize free weatherization parties (which they call "weatherization barn-raisings) to teach volunteers how to lower their energy bills and carbon emissions. The labor is free to the home-owners/tenants. They only pay for materials. It sounds like a good deal. In fact, they give how-to instructions on their website for other interested groups to organize their own HEETs.
As for us, we've always been conservation minded. We received the message that most people ignored back during the 1970's oil embargo. During the cold months, we keep our thermostat low during the day, and lower at night. We like it that way. Sweaters and blankets work remarkably well!
Now we live in a small house. You might even call it tiny. We like the small footprint, but we're finding we may not be quite tiny house people. So we're contemplating adding a second story. In the meantime, we swapped out our monster hot water tank for a tankless model that only heats water on demand. We're replacing all of our windows this month. We compost and recycle. We use compact fluorescent bulbs.
When we need new appliances (which we don't, at the moment) we'll get the most energy efficient ones we can find. The NY Great Appliance Swap Out program for purchasing Energy Star appliances was very popular and funds have been depleted, but you can still apply on their wait list because they anticipate further funding will become available.
Homeowner or renter, there are things everyone can do to live "greener."
This is interesting because "powering down" is a key component of how we get beyond the challenges of peak oil and global climate change. It also makes good personal economic sense.
When we hear of green technologies, we tend to think of energy alternatives like wind and solar, water conservation measures like rainwater collection and low-flush toilets, use of recycled materials or renewable plant materials like bamboo and straw. But there are many more mundane things that each of us can do to reduce our harmful impact on our planet.
Weatherization is the easiest way to cut energy bills (and use) by reducing heat loss through cracks, gaps, and holes in your home. Weatherization includes such things as caulking and weather-stripping around windows and doors, using window film (or adding storm windows and doors, perhaps even going so far as replacing windows and doors with new, energy efficient ones), adding insulation, sealing leaks you might not even think of, around electrical outlets and recessed lighting. Government funding is available for low-income families to receive weatherization services, which save the average family over $300 on energy costs in the first year. Locally, this program is administered by Chautauqua Opportunities.
It's good for folks who don't qualify under "low income" guidelines to do these things too. For a small investment at your local hardware store, and a Saturday afternoon of sweat, you too can enjoy energy savings and be snug as a bug in a rug this winter.
You can still get federal tax credits for installations through the end of 2010 of new energy-efficient doors and windows, storm windows, insulation, heating systems, and biomass fuel stoves with a thermal efficiency rating of 75% or more.
If you don't feel handy enough to do it yourself and can't afford to pay a contractor, here's an interesting idea:
A group of activists in Cambridge, MA formed a non-profit called Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET). They organize free weatherization parties (which they call "weatherization barn-raisings) to teach volunteers how to lower their energy bills and carbon emissions. The labor is free to the home-owners/tenants. They only pay for materials. It sounds like a good deal. In fact, they give how-to instructions on their website for other interested groups to organize their own HEETs.
As for us, we've always been conservation minded. We received the message that most people ignored back during the 1970's oil embargo. During the cold months, we keep our thermostat low during the day, and lower at night. We like it that way. Sweaters and blankets work remarkably well!
Now we live in a small house. You might even call it tiny. We like the small footprint, but we're finding we may not be quite tiny house people. So we're contemplating adding a second story. In the meantime, we swapped out our monster hot water tank for a tankless model that only heats water on demand. We're replacing all of our windows this month. We compost and recycle. We use compact fluorescent bulbs.
When we need new appliances (which we don't, at the moment) we'll get the most energy efficient ones we can find. The NY Great Appliance Swap Out program for purchasing Energy Star appliances was very popular and funds have been depleted, but you can still apply on their wait list because they anticipate further funding will become available.
Homeowner or renter, there are things everyone can do to live "greener."
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Revitalizing neighborhoods
I was excited to see a couple of stories in the local paper this morning about people in Jamestown who are stepping up to improve things in their neighborhoods. One group is starting a new Neighborhood Watch (joining a coalition of other watch groups that work in cooperation with the Jamestown Police Dept. to prevent crime in their neighborhoods).
Another story related the efforts of one guy taking it upon himself (and friends) to clean up several blocks of his own street--literally. He walks the neighborhood picking up trash, reporting code violations and suspicious activity, all in the name of "reclaiming" the neighborhood (which also has an existing watch group) of which he has been a lifelong resident.
These are the kinds of grassroots efforts which need to be repeated all over the city to help bring about the kind of neighborhood revitalization envisioned in the report of the czb consultant team that performed a detailed study of Jamestown neighborhoods and reported their findings and recommendations earlier this year.
I read the report with great interest and found it immensely encouraging. Although the population and jobs in Jamestown have been declining for many years, property values are flat, and pockets of blight have infected some areas, the consultants concluded that
While it is possible for government to provide incentives to promote the desired actions, the real momentum is going to have to happen in the neighborhoods themselves. And that is why it is vital for neighborhood leaders to emerge and initiate the kinds of conversations and activities that will rekindle the sense of community that has to a large degree been lost in our neighborhoods as changing times have brought about changing lifestyles.
Earlier in the year I became aware of a city neighborhood that had formed a grassroots organization called Northside Pride. Not only did these neighbors get to know each other, they formed partnerships with the city and several local organizations, and applied for grant money which led to substantial improvements. New curbs and sidewalks were constructed. More than 100 trees were planted. A vacant lot was cleaned up and landscaped. Vacant homes were purchased by the Chautauqua Home Rehabilitation and Improvement Corp. and renovated for resale to owner-occupants.
This is a great illustration of the Margaret Mead quote: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
More like this, please.
Another story related the efforts of one guy taking it upon himself (and friends) to clean up several blocks of his own street--literally. He walks the neighborhood picking up trash, reporting code violations and suspicious activity, all in the name of "reclaiming" the neighborhood (which also has an existing watch group) of which he has been a lifelong resident.
These are the kinds of grassroots efforts which need to be repeated all over the city to help bring about the kind of neighborhood revitalization envisioned in the report of the czb consultant team that performed a detailed study of Jamestown neighborhoods and reported their findings and recommendations earlier this year.
I read the report with great interest and found it immensely encouraging. Although the population and jobs in Jamestown have been declining for many years, property values are flat, and pockets of blight have infected some areas, the consultants concluded that
In a nutshell, Jamestown is a place that ought to be valued and loved more. It is a place that deserves attention and investment.The consultants suggested that residents need to develop confidence in the strengths of their community in order to feel free to make the investments in their properties (mostly little fixes) that will make Jamestown's neighborhoods shine again.
...
The residents of Jamestown in 2010 benefit from many important strengths. Surely, Jamestown is one of the most beautiful towns in the United States. Second, the setting - Chautauqua County - is one of the most idyllic, as well. Third, the homes, spacious yards, rich civic life, good schools, and historic architecture, all make Jamestown a great place to raise a family. Dollar for dollar Jamestown may offer among the highest quality of life options found anywhere in America.
While it is possible for government to provide incentives to promote the desired actions, the real momentum is going to have to happen in the neighborhoods themselves. And that is why it is vital for neighborhood leaders to emerge and initiate the kinds of conversations and activities that will rekindle the sense of community that has to a large degree been lost in our neighborhoods as changing times have brought about changing lifestyles.
Earlier in the year I became aware of a city neighborhood that had formed a grassroots organization called Northside Pride. Not only did these neighbors get to know each other, they formed partnerships with the city and several local organizations, and applied for grant money which led to substantial improvements. New curbs and sidewalks were constructed. More than 100 trees were planted. A vacant lot was cleaned up and landscaped. Vacant homes were purchased by the Chautauqua Home Rehabilitation and Improvement Corp. and renovated for resale to owner-occupants.
This is a great illustration of the Margaret Mead quote: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
More like this, please.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Eating Local
Just returning from this morning's Farmer's Market in Westfield. ("Local food," for now, means anywhere in the county--quite a bit closer than California or South America.) Got some glorious looking tomatoes and peppers for the pot of Ohio State chili my husband is cooking up, as well as grass fed beef, brown eggs, some cheese, and a nice Amish-baked peach pie for dessert.
Early in our Chautauqua county home search, we very nearly settled in Westfield. We love the older homes and the walkable village environment. But it didn't work out, and we found our place in West Ellicott, which is not quite as walkable (though not far from anything), but we have lots of room for a garden and we like the neighbors.
I've started a page on local food, though with its 1557 commercial farms, 15,500 acres of grapes, and eight wineries, Chautauqua County has more farms and produces more grapes than any other county in New York State, there is much to choose from and I'm not going to list all of them here. I've listed the regular Farmers Markets and some Farm Markets. We've even found a good selection of local produce at Wegman's.
I gave up on trying to grow vegetables when we were in Cleveland because everything was getting eaten up by "varmints" (rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, groundhogs, etc) before it ever got to my table. Instead, I developed a knack for cottage flower gardening, with a few herbs thrown in. Now, however, I'm interested in giving it another try, and will install deer and rabbit proof fencing around my beds to improve my odds. We'll be installing a couple of raised beds this fall and filling them with soil and compost so they'll be ready to go in the spring.
This year, we became shareholders in a CSA, Roots and Wings Family Farm, and that has kept us supplied with lots of fresh organic produce all summer.
I'm easing back into preserving food--something I learned from my mom, but haven't done in many years. This year I made strawberry jam. Our loaded apple trees suggest I'll be canning applesauce this fall. I may get some tomatoes done too.
Food grows in abundance here, but nothing grows during the winter months, so we need to plan ahead for those times.
Early in our Chautauqua county home search, we very nearly settled in Westfield. We love the older homes and the walkable village environment. But it didn't work out, and we found our place in West Ellicott, which is not quite as walkable (though not far from anything), but we have lots of room for a garden and we like the neighbors.
I've started a page on local food, though with its 1557 commercial farms, 15,500 acres of grapes, and eight wineries, Chautauqua County has more farms and produces more grapes than any other county in New York State, there is much to choose from and I'm not going to list all of them here. I've listed the regular Farmers Markets and some Farm Markets. We've even found a good selection of local produce at Wegman's.
I gave up on trying to grow vegetables when we were in Cleveland because everything was getting eaten up by "varmints" (rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, groundhogs, etc) before it ever got to my table. Instead, I developed a knack for cottage flower gardening, with a few herbs thrown in. Now, however, I'm interested in giving it another try, and will install deer and rabbit proof fencing around my beds to improve my odds. We'll be installing a couple of raised beds this fall and filling them with soil and compost so they'll be ready to go in the spring.
This year, we became shareholders in a CSA, Roots and Wings Family Farm, and that has kept us supplied with lots of fresh organic produce all summer.
I'm easing back into preserving food--something I learned from my mom, but haven't done in many years. This year I made strawberry jam. Our loaded apple trees suggest I'll be canning applesauce this fall. I may get some tomatoes done too.
Food grows in abundance here, but nothing grows during the winter months, so we need to plan ahead for those times.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Leaving Cleveland
With our children grown, it's time for downsizing and living a less complicated life. When you have rooms that you never even use, the house is TOO BIG. It's hard leaving good friends and neighbors in Ohio, but the kids have moved out of state and aren't coming back. Moving east puts us closer to our grandchild in Massachusetts.
So why Chautauqua county? We're ready for a change from the general busyness of a large metro area. The natural beauty here is very attractive to us as people who enjoy nature and outdoor activities. The huge agricultural presence bodes well for local food security. There is a good fresh water supply. Despite the higher NY taxes, the cost of living in this part of the state is really quite reasonable.
So, we bought a small home on a nice lot outside the city limits in late 2008 and embarked upon our journey of discovery. We have discovered that there are a lot of committed groups of people working hard to maintain and improve the quality of life here. Not everyone appreciates the importance of their efforts, but we are impressed.
We live in interesting times, when the way of life to which we have been accustomed to is threatened by our over-consumption of the limited resources our planet has to offer. The rapid industrialization of India and China with their huge populations is forcing us to face the unsustainability of continued growth based on use of finite fossil fuels. Americans are dying in the global competition for these resources. Our air, water,and earth are becoming dangerously polluted and the planet's temperature is rising. Economic instability has hit home with failing businesses, prolonged periods of unemployment, people losing their homes and their healthcare. Good people are suffering.
What can we do? We can pretend this is just a temporary inconvenience, do nothing, and hope things get better. But these conditions are unprecedented, and that is unlikely to happen. By the time government officials in faraway Washington come to grips with what's happening, their actions will be too little too late.
So it's up to us. By starting now, with our neighbors, to build resilience in our own communities, we can meet these challenges head on and successfully manage whatever comes our way.
For some time now, there have been pockets of people around the world attempting to organize and address these issues. Their models are helpful to others in that we can learn from them and avoid having to reinvent the wheel. The Transition Towns movement was started in the UK in 2006, caught on rapidly, and has spread worldwide, including the US. Others call it relocalization, building community resilience, or The Great Turning.
Whatever we call it, it boils down to people working together in their own communities to ensure that, whether we are faced with rising fuel costs, disruptions in power and supply chains, natural disasters, job losses, or plagues of locusts, we are able to securely meet our own needs for food, water, shelter, energy, healthcare, and other necessities.
This doesn't mean a return to an earlier and more primitive way of life or isolation in small enclaves. Indeed, opportunities exist for the creation of very vibrant communities employing the latest technologies, rich with cultural, educational, and recreational activities, doing meaningful work and enjoying life, and reaching out to the world without the harmful impact on our earth.
We invented the internet and sent men into space, so surely we can do this. Where do we begin? By getting to know our neighbors and our community and all of the resources that are already available. By finding others who share our concerns and our interest in starting now to ease the transition for future generations.
So it begins.
So why Chautauqua county? We're ready for a change from the general busyness of a large metro area. The natural beauty here is very attractive to us as people who enjoy nature and outdoor activities. The huge agricultural presence bodes well for local food security. There is a good fresh water supply. Despite the higher NY taxes, the cost of living in this part of the state is really quite reasonable.
So, we bought a small home on a nice lot outside the city limits in late 2008 and embarked upon our journey of discovery. We have discovered that there are a lot of committed groups of people working hard to maintain and improve the quality of life here. Not everyone appreciates the importance of their efforts, but we are impressed.
We live in interesting times, when the way of life to which we have been accustomed to is threatened by our over-consumption of the limited resources our planet has to offer. The rapid industrialization of India and China with their huge populations is forcing us to face the unsustainability of continued growth based on use of finite fossil fuels. Americans are dying in the global competition for these resources. Our air, water,and earth are becoming dangerously polluted and the planet's temperature is rising. Economic instability has hit home with failing businesses, prolonged periods of unemployment, people losing their homes and their healthcare. Good people are suffering.
What can we do? We can pretend this is just a temporary inconvenience, do nothing, and hope things get better. But these conditions are unprecedented, and that is unlikely to happen. By the time government officials in faraway Washington come to grips with what's happening, their actions will be too little too late.
So it's up to us. By starting now, with our neighbors, to build resilience in our own communities, we can meet these challenges head on and successfully manage whatever comes our way.
For some time now, there have been pockets of people around the world attempting to organize and address these issues. Their models are helpful to others in that we can learn from them and avoid having to reinvent the wheel. The Transition Towns movement was started in the UK in 2006, caught on rapidly, and has spread worldwide, including the US. Others call it relocalization, building community resilience, or The Great Turning.
Whatever we call it, it boils down to people working together in their own communities to ensure that, whether we are faced with rising fuel costs, disruptions in power and supply chains, natural disasters, job losses, or plagues of locusts, we are able to securely meet our own needs for food, water, shelter, energy, healthcare, and other necessities.
This doesn't mean a return to an earlier and more primitive way of life or isolation in small enclaves. Indeed, opportunities exist for the creation of very vibrant communities employing the latest technologies, rich with cultural, educational, and recreational activities, doing meaningful work and enjoying life, and reaching out to the world without the harmful impact on our earth.
We invented the internet and sent men into space, so surely we can do this. Where do we begin? By getting to know our neighbors and our community and all of the resources that are already available. By finding others who share our concerns and our interest in starting now to ease the transition for future generations.
So it begins.
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