General Audiences - TV-G/ TV-PG

Tour Janet and Richard's quarter acre for an example of what's possible in suburbia. Their front yard of edible plants also provides habitat for birds and insects. The backyard radiates out from an herb and kitchen garden to vegetable beds and containers; 25 fruit and nut trees; and a restful Zen garden. Near a future pond is a "three sisters" spiral of corn, beans and squashes.

Energy researcher Glenn Rambach's charts show how America budgeted for energy independence following the OPEC embargo in 1973. Then the Reagan administration switched to having "the market" create research incentives, so federal funding declined severely. He says we've lost 30 years, are spending in the wrong places, and need to get back to serious research in energy development.

In this freewheeling conversation, Jason Bradford and Brian Weller, co-founders of Willits Economic LocaLization (WELL), discuss local food security, creating a farm at a nearby grade school, being rooted in community, urban / rural friction in wealth and land use, regional trading partners, reinventing local public transportation, and more. (www.willitseconomiclocalization.org).

Communities Magazine editor Diana Leafe Christian concisely spells out what the successful 10% of intentional communities do: common vision and purpose, fair participatory decision-making, clear agreements in writing, good balance of right and left-brain knowledge, methods of staying accountable to agreements, criteria for new members, good communication and processing skills. She also discusses peak oil effects on the wider community. (www.creating-a-life-together.org).

What happens when citizens apply permaculture principles to a city grid? They create friendly places within the grid that invite people to come together. Mark Lakeman, co-founder of Portland, Oregon's City Repair Project describes these "creative intervention" projects as placemaking at its best. People learn to work together, build trust and have fun.

Smart municipalities are planning and preparing for energy vulnerability and climate change. Daniel Lerch, manager of the Post Carbon Cities project, has prepared a guidebook including case studies of cities large and small planning how to maintain essential services in the face of energy and climate uncertainty. (www.postcarboncities.net).

Christopher Alexander - Patterns In Architecture

Rob Hopkins - Transition Permaculture Convergence

Rob Hopkins talk at the 2013 Northern California Transition and Permaculture Convergence at the Solar Living Institute in Hopland, CA.

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/77185737

Published by Michelle Moore, October 17, 2013

From: http://betterworldfilms.com/

What If We Change - Documentary on Ecosystem Restoration

How to nurture nature better.

All across the world, people are making efforts to restore and protect the ecosystem they are part of. Video reporters of the initiative What if we change followed the work of local communities and organizations in India, Bolivia, Mali and Bonaire for two years.