Being without electricity (and computer and Internet) occasioned some thinking about what's necessary, what might be slipping away and where daily living might evolve in a post-industrial society.

I regularly read apocalyptic predictions, and the seem shrill and overly reactive. And even some of the "gradual decline" scenarios seem almost as dire compared to the comfort, ease, wealth and luxury of today. In both prognostications, there's buzz about immense suffering and privation…

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These lyrics are from John Prine in "Spanish Pipedream" from Great Days: The John Prine Anthology, pre-1993. The words seem as proper (maybe moreso) today.

"Blow up your T.V. throw away your paper

Go to the country, build you a home

Plant a little garden, eat a lot of peaches

Try an find Jesus on your own"

We're taking little steps forward/backward.

I've learned a lot from the following resources. Some are more than 30 years "old" but timely.

Books

• Jayber Crow, by Wendell Berry - about agribusiness, place, and community
• Bringing it to the Table: on Farming and Food, Wendell Berry - timely essays about food
• Depletion and Abundance, Sharon Astyk - small steps toward sustainable communities
• A world made by Hand, James Howard Kunstler - a…

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This holiday season I am excited to make it easy for people to eat local, healthy food while keeping their food-dollars in the community.  Eat Local Network has put together ingredients and recipes for classic Thanksgiving side dishes.  

All vegetables come from farms in the Snoqualmie Valley. Other ingredients (including butter, cranberries, nuts and dried cherries) are grown within 100 miles of the valley.

Locally…

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In addition to the exciting New Livelihoods Job Fair tomorrow, Saturday November 5, Transition Snoqualmie Valley has reserved the Loft at the Carnation Tree Farm Friday & Saturday nights.  All Transition groups and members are invited to attend a potluck, Friday at 6:30 PM, and Saturday at 5 PM, for a fun Transition gathering.  The address is 31523 Northeast 40th Street, Carnation, WA 98014. (425)333 -4510.  For further questions or logistics, please contact Jim Hermason at… Continue

The New Livelihood Job Fair is a hybrid that blends new ideas into the old.  It is just one example of how we can draw many facets of our community together to create positive change, from government agencies to private organizations (see our list of diverse sponsors!). Whether you need a job, or are exploring the creation of a brand new livelihood, this fair is sure to be fun and informative. 

 

I’m sure you’ve heard it before - we are the ones we’ve been waiting for.  We are…

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