Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 02/10/2009 08:18 PM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 03/18/2009 09:32 AM
Expires: 01/01/2014 12:00 AM
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Foothill Collaborative for Sustainability, FoCuS, Announces its Educational Programs for 2009
The Foothill Collaborative for Sustainability (FoCuS), a three year old nonprofit educational organization based in Calaveras and Tuolumne counties, has announced its first annual series of educational programs – with the first offering on the evening of February 25th in Murphys.....
Click to Visit FoCuS
There are two kinds of programs in this year’s Sustainable Living Series: Sustainable Seminars and Sustainable Conversations. The Sustainable Seminars are ordinarily scheduled on Saturdays, to allow weekenders to attend as well as locals. These are professional seminars and workshops designed to provide those attending with practical information about a wide range of topics including organic gardening, “greening your business,” and self-sustainability skills such as healthy living and positive communications. The Sustainable Conversations are free explorations held on the last Wednesday evening of each month. Each conversation will begin with a brief presentation on a topic such as local economy, solar energy, and everyday “green” living, followed by exploratory conversations to deepen everyone’s understanding.
John Adams, who lives in Camp Connell, is Director of Education for FoCuS. He points out that during the last year or so, the housing bubble has burst, the state has been unable to agree on a budget leading to many freezes, there has been a global economic “meltdown,” climate change appears to be happening ever faster, and gas and propane prices have jumped up and down, while food prices have just gone steadily upwards along with the unemployment rate. In other words, we are living with a great deal of uncertainty these days. The purpose of the FoCuS Sustainable Living Series is to offer a range of topics that will help all of us in the area to live locally and healthfully in the face of an unknown future.
One of the things that originally stimulated this educational series was a question asked by Randy Crutcher, editor of the FoCuS newsletter, during a potluck and movie evening – “How will we look after each other up here in the mountains after peak oil, when the delivery trucks come up here less often?”
Here is a description of the first events for the 2009 Sustainable Living educational series:
Free Sustainable Conversations are held at the Eastman Center at the First Congregational Church in Murphys on the last Wednesday of each month from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
February 25 Sahara Saude Thinking Locally
Sierra Business Council in the Sierra Nevada
This evening session introduces the “Think Local First – Sierra Nevada” program that is intended to attract revenue into independently owned, local businesses. The concept of “local” applies not only to where people shop or a place on a map, but also as a way to brand and support our region. Join this conversation to explore where we get our energy, produce, and building supplies from, how we can draw in new businesses, strengthen the communities we live in, improve local tax revenues, decrease environmental impacts, support local philanthropy, and continue to recycle money within the community, while living more sustainably.
Sustainable Seminar:
March 14 Marlys Bell Victory Garden: Columbia
$40 Garden Writer 2009 Style 10am-4pm
This workshop teaches you to grow your own fruits and vegetables in order to be healthier, to save money, and to have greater control and enjoyment over the food that you eat. You will learn the ABCs of how to create an organic garden that produces your favorite foods within your property, opportunities, and constraints. From planning to harvesting, you will learn the ingredients of success without relying on harmful additives, pollutants, or costly commercial solutions. You will take away a personalized plan of action and knowledge you will need to start growing your very own Victory Garden – 2009 style.
Preview of Topics through June:
March 25 Leslie and Victor Guillot: Solar Energy 101
April 25 Christine and Eric Taylor: The Beginnings of a Summer Garden: seedlings, potatoes and cover crops
April 26 Jim Rende, Cooper Kessel, and Peter Livanos: Green Living in the Mountains
May 9 Galen Weston: Plant varieties, tools, drip irrigation and other supplies for successful foothill gardens
May 23 Ron Ringen, Glen Inouye, and others: Gray Water Systems - Is Now FINALLY the Time?
May 27 Annie Anderson: Eating – Eastern Traditions and Modern Nutrition
June 18 Christine Meyers and Mike Needs: The Four Threats to the Health of the Nation's Forests and Grasslands
June 20 Rebecca Cremeen: Clavey River Project Field Trip
June 24 Sue Holper: When everyone matters, everyone thrives
To view the entire calendar for the FoCuS 2009 Sustainable Living Series, go to www.foothillsustainability.org/events.html. Contact John Adams at 209 795 6672 or jadams2212@comcast.net for more information.
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