However, we are excited to say that we will soon upgrade our system to avoid future glitches, streamline our user interface, and make your subscription and notification abilities more convenient. You will be notified when the changes take effect, and we hope the transition goes smoothly. Thank you for your patience - the Editor and staff of S.A.N.
DONATIONS TO SUSTAINABILITY ACTION ARE NOW TAX DEDUCTIBLE
please donate to our Annual Giving Campaign - (contact info at bottom of page)
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THIS WEEK'S ECOLOGICAL RADIO SHOWS ¤ KKFI COMMUNITY RADIO
Listen at KKFI-FM 90.1, or web-streaming at http://www.kkfi.org/
Tuesday, 1 February, 12:00noon-1:00pm ¤ Eco-Radio KC
In the first half hour, host John Kurmann will interview Jo Robinson, the founder and primary researcher of Eat Wild, about pasturing chickens for eggs and poultry. In the second half hour, he will will interview Charlotte Vallaeys, Farm and Food Policy Analyst for the Cornucopia Institute, about the US Department of Agriculture's rules regarding animal confinement under the National Organic Program.
Wednesday, 2 February, 9:00am ¤ Alternative Radio
An excerpt from Capitalism and the Environment: Chris Williams - "Continued exploitation of all fossil fuels on Earth threatens not only the other millions of species on the planet but also the survival of humanity itself. The roots of the environmental crisis lie in capitalism's relentless and rapacious expansion."
Friday, 4 February, 9:30am ¤ the Bioneers Radio Series
Bioneers presents another one of their award winning shows. ______________________________
PEAK OIL & A CHANGING CLIMATE ¤ YOU-TUBE VIDEO SERIES
Wednesdays, up through 16 March 2011, on your computer
current video - Peak Oil and Our Financial Decline | #4 of 11 with James Howard Kuntsler.
Peak Oil is the point at which petroleum extraction reaches its greatest rate just before going into perpetual decline.
On Wednesday, 2 February, Dmitry Orlov will appear in interview #5 of the Peak Oil and a Changing Climate | video series. Russian-American, and fluent in both cultures, Orlov has made his name on his blog ClubOrlov with beautifully reasoned comparisons of the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s and the coming collapse of the United States. His focus is not "doomsdayism", but rather to diagnose the disease so we can prepare a remedy.
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NO-TILL GARDENING CLASSES ¤ BY FOUNDATION FARM
Wednesdays, 2 February - 23 March 2011, 3:30-5:00pm - $$$
Enthios Art Venue, 215 County Rd. 301, Eureka Springs AR 72632
This series of ten weekly classes in organic gardening will be taught by Patrice Gros who has operated Foundation Farm, a successful half-acre market garden, since 2006. Prior to that, he worked twelve acres organically, and has regularly taught classes in no-till methods. For more info go to Gardening Classes at Foundation Farm.
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CIMARRON SOLAR ELECTRIC FACILITY SUPPLYING TRI-STATE GENERATION
While Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association was dealing a sucker punch to Kansas last December to buy dirty coal electricity from the Sunflower coal plant, they also began a 25-year power purchase agreement with the Cimarron Solar Facility in New Mexico. As one of the largest solar electric arrays to date, Cimarron converts 30 megawatts on a 364-acre site. It was designed and built by a leading solar company, First Solar, of Tempe AZ, and was developed by a partnership of Southern Company and Ted Turner. Kansas wind power deserves as much.
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TAKE CHARGE CHALLENGE ¤ IN LAWRENCE & MANHATTAN
Friday, 4 February 2011, 7:00pm
ECM, 1204 Oread Ave., Lawrence KS 66044 (just north of K.U.)
Margaret Tran of the Climate and Energy Project will talk about the Take Charge Challenge, a unique contest that pits Lawrence/KU against Manhattan/K-State to see who can save the most energy during 2011 in their community. Come learn about how you can participate. For more info, contact the Sierra Club Wakarusa Chapter at
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OUTSIDE THE BOX ¤ AFFORDABLE & SUSTAINABLE HOME BUILDING
Saturday, 5 February 2011, 9:00am-4:00pm - $$$
Turner House Community Center, 2052 N. 3rd St., Kansas City KS 66101
The Green Collar Institute will be sponsoring, as part of their energy program, this one day seminar with Bill Hanlon. Bringing over 28 years of experience, Bill will explain the details of his energy efficient construction methods, from footings to ridge line. His designs use mostly conventional materials, but incorporate advanced framing techniques, solar design, strategic insulation, radiant heat, thermal breaks, air and vapor barriers, and more. For more info go to Green Collar Institute" (EETCKC), or call (913)371-8800. Lunch and a free book are included.
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PERMACULTURE GARDENS AND SMALL FARMS DESIGN COURSE
Saturday-Saturday, 5-12 February 2011 - $$$$
Midwest Permaculture, Stelle IL
This training will cover a full-design course curriculum to provide students with their permaculture design certification (PDC). The emphasis will be on suburban gardens and small farms, and include two pre-course webinars. For more info go to Midwest Permaculture: 5-12 Feb 2011 PDC Course.
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DESIGN ON STAGE ¤ FEED THE CITY
Monday, 7 February 2011, 6:00pm-8:00pm
AIA/KC Offices, 1801 McGee St., Kansas City MO 64108
Come watch eight teams of designers, including architects, graphic, industrial, interior and student designers, as they compete their ideas against one another to help solve a design challenge facing the Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture. Sustainability journalist, Simran Sethi will host the event, and participate as a guest judge. For more info go to Design on Stage: FEED the CITY, and learn of more events in the Kansas City Design Week.
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LAWRENCE CURBSIDE RECYCLING & SOLID WASTE OPTIONS
Tuesday, 8 February 2011, 6:30pm
Lawrence City Commission, City Hall, 6th & Massachusetts St., Lawrence KS 66044
On 17 November, Lawrence City staff provided an memo to the City Commission listing extensive options for handling solid waste. City staff recommended the information be widely distributed "to the Sustainability Advisory Board, neighborhood associations, and other public forums for the solicitation of additional input over the next three months." Instead, it wasn't until 11 January 2011 that most of the public heard of this long overdue information, presented at a Commission study session. And now only a short while later, the Commission is poised to decide whether to adopt curbside recycling as a city service, or privatize it in a corporate model that so often brings inferior and costlier service. For more info go to - Waste & Recycling Options_11Jan11.pdf. Public comment will be received at the 8 February City Commission meeting.
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LAWRENCE FRUIT TREE PROJECT MEETING
Tuesday, 8 February 2011, 6:30pm
Lawrence Percolator, 900 block alley behind the Lawrence Arts Center
The LFTP Lawrence Fruit Tree Project is a co-operative group of pomiculturists who have organized themselves to establish community orchards, and teach folks how to grow and care for fruiting trees and shrubs. They also are setting up a fruit tree register to list existing neighborhood trees that are underutilized, so they can be cared for and harvested. Anyone is welcome who is interested in relocalized food security, environmental literacy, permaculture, fruit tree propagation, etc. Come to our meetings and help our grass roots organization grow!
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COMPLETE STREETS STUDY SESSION ¤ METRO PLANNING ORGANIZATION
Wednesday, 9 February 2011, 7:30am-9:00am
Lawrence City Hall, 6 East 6th Street, Lawrence KS 66044
This mid-month meeting of the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission will focus on Complete Streets, which refers to street designs that equally accommodate pedestrians, bicycles, wheel chairs, transit, and autos/trucks. The Secretary of Transportation under President Obama, Ray LaHood, issued a Complete Streets Policy in 2010 saying that planning agencies should "consider walking and bicycling as equals with other transportation modes, . . . should go beyond minimum design standards and requirements, . . .[and] that walking and bicycling should not be an after thought in roadway design. The Complete Streets Committee of the Douglas County Community Foundation would like a local policy to reflect that sentiment. For more info go to Complete Streets | City of Lawrence or Complete Streets Coalition.
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LAWRENCE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD
Wednesday, 9 February 2011, 5:30pm
Recycling and Resource Recovery Annex, 320 N.E. Industrial Lane, Lawrence KS
The Febuary agenda is unavailable to date. The S.A.B. meets monthly to discuss any and all aspects of furthering sustainability policies and practices by the City of Lawrence government and private persons. The public is welcome. Minutes are finalized in about a month after each meeting http://www.lawrenceks.org/wrr/
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KANSAS CITY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
Wednesday, 9 February 2011, 4:00-6:00pm
Mid America Regional Council, Rivergate Center 2nd floor, 600 Broadway, KC MO
The Environmental Management Commission promotes environmental awareness and resource efficiency to the City's leader and staff, to assist the progress of Kansas City toward sustainability. The general public is encouraged to attend and observe meetings and to join and participate in its efforts. More information and the EMC April 2009 minutes are available at http://www.kcmo.org/manager.
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USDA DEREGULATES GMO ALFALFA, DESPITE SUPREME COURT RULING
In June of 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a ban on the planting of Monsanto's GMO alfalfa, until the time when the USDA would complete the administrative process to deregulate it or not - Supreme Court Rules Against Monsanto GMO Alfalfa. Now the USDA has decided (surprise, surprise!) to deregulate the glyphosate-tolerant GMO alfalfa - USDA cavalierly approves GM alfalfa without restrictions. The Center for Food Safety attorney, Andrew Kimbrell, who has been arguing several legal cases against GMO organisms, said that "We will be back in court representing the interest of farmers, preservation of the environment, and consumer choice". S.A.N. will report future developments.
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KAW PERMACULTURE COLLABORATIVE ¤ QUARTERLY MEETING
Saturday, 12 February 2011, 6:00pm
Delaware Street Commons, Common House, 822 East 13th St., Lawrence KS 66044
Please join us for a meeting, potluck dinner, and a video presentation (a kitchen is available). We will discuss and formulate plans for activities, workshops and project events for 2011. We would like your input and enthusiasm. K.P.C. fosters ecologically sustainable agriculture practices for the production of healthy food using permaculture ethics to restore a sustainable and ecologically viable way of life. For more info contact
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PERMACULTURE, FOOD SECURITY, AND ENERGY DEPLETION ¤ FIRST LECTURE
Friday, 18 February 2011, 6:00pm-9:00pm - $$$
Dreher 4-H Building, 2110 Harper St., Lawrence KS 66044
Steve Moring of Vajra Farm Permaculture Center will teach this Design Certification Course that includes nine 3-hour class sessions, six field sessions and a student presentation up through June. In the summer, there will be four additional 6-hour practicum sessions, all totaling 72 hours of training, and culminating in certification through the Kansas Permaculture Institute.
The first lecture is "Food Security and Energy Depletion" followed by a video "The Power of Community". The material describes our agricultural dependence on fossil fuels and how we can meet the challenge of energy depletion to make a successful transition to sustainable future. Preregistration is required, and a percentage of the fees will support the Kaw Permaculture Collaborative and it's parent organization, the Sustainability Action Network. For more info go to Kaw Permaculture Collaborative, or contact Steve Moring at (785)691-7305 or
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FRUIT TREE PRUNING WORKSHOP ¤ MISSOURI CO-OP EXTENSION
Saturday, 19 February 2011, 110:00am-12:30pm - $$
Alldredge Orchards, 10455 Highway N, Platte City MO 64079
Taught by Marlin Bates, Co-op Extension Horticulture Specialist, this workshop will cover a quick overview of pruning practices for various fruit trees, and then a hands-on pruning session in the orchard. Come prepared dressed for the weather. Register by 16 February, and get more info at
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TWO DAY "ESSENTIAL" PERMACULTURE TRAINING
Saturday-Sunday, 19-20 February 2011, 9:00am-5:00pm - $$$
Knowles Spirituality Center, 2304 Campanile Rd, Waterloo, NE (Omaha)
31 December 2010 early registration discount of $50
Taught by Bill and Becky Wilson of Midwest Permaculture, this weekend session will cover permaculture essentials with an emphasis on transition to a low energy future. For more info go to Essential Permaculture Training - 19-20 Feb 2011.
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KAW VALLEY SEEDS PROJECT SECOND ANNUAL FAIR
Saturday, 26 February 2011, 10:00am-3:00pm - FREE
Douglas County Fairgrounds, Building 21, 2110 Harper St., Lawrence KS 66046
The fair will include a seed exchange, exhibits, local producers, speakers throughout the day and a children's activity center. The Kaw Valley Seeds Project is fostering a network of people who will create a Local Living Seed Reserve by growing, sharing and bartering, and buying and selling primary seed varieties of the Kansas River valley. For more information go to Kaw Valley Seeds Project 2nd Annual Fair and click on "see more".
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GROWING SEASON EXTENDING METHODS ¤ COMMUNIVERSITY CLASS #2307 A
Saturday, 26 February 2011, 1:00-5:00pm - $$
Rethink Energy, 2052 North 3rd St., Kansas City KS 66101
Get a head start on the gardening season. Learn how to extend food growing to all four seasons. We will learn to construct cold frames, hot beds, quarter tunnels, low tunnels, and high tunnels using low cost materials and methods. Bring $15 to class for materials. Class fee is $14, plus $15 for materials. Register at UMKC Communiversity. More info from
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FOOD NOT LAWNS ¤ COMMUNIVERSITY CLASS #2310 A
Wednesdays, 2,9,16,23 March 2011, 4 sessions, 7:00-9:00pm - $$
UMKC School of Medicine, Theatre C, 24th & Charlotte Streets, KC MO
Grow food not lawns! Increase local food security, improve your diet, beautify your surroundings, build community, reduce pollution and energy use (It takes 87 calories of fuel to transport one calorie of perishable fresh fruit from west coast to east coast). As supporters of the Food Not Lawns national movement, we will hold four sessions dealing with topics that include whole system design, garden preparation, permaculture, water-wise gardening, seed saving, planting, and free resources. Presenters include master and highly-qualified gardeners. Class fee is $18, plus $5 for materials. Register at UMKC Communiversity. More info at Food Not Lawns KC, or
The SUSTAINABILITY ACTION NETWORK, Inc. is a 501(C)(3) tax-exempt organization. DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. Mail checks to P.O.Box 1064, Lawrence KS 66044.
Our mission is to advocate and organize societal scale action to address sustainability issues. The triple crises of Energy-Ecology-Economy are building so rapidly that large scale action is needed immediately and methodically to overcome institutional barriers and advance public policy that preserves ecological sustainability. Our focus is to build a relocalized economy-ecology in concert with the Transition Town movement occurring in many other communities. To join the Sustainability Action Network please contact us at
Our current projects include:
1) Transition Kaw Valley - initiating transition to a relocalized post-carbon economy, and municipal-level Peak Oil response planning.
2) Kaw Permaculture Collaborative, and Kansas Permaculture Institute - developing skills and resources for poly-cropping sustainable food production.
3) Energy Conservation & Renewables - advancing a green economy through decentralized technologies and regulations, for conservation and renewable energy.
4) Growers' Land Trust - organizing interested stakeholders to acquire prime farmland in the urban fringe for land-based economic development and regional food security.
5) Water Rights and Watersheds - protecting the water commons, the source of all life, from privatization and contamination, and restoring our watersheds.
6) Electric & Human Powered Vehicles - promoting neighborhood electric vehicles and utility tricycles, including infrastructure and pro-active regulations.
7) Weekly Sustainability Announcements - informing and encouraging others to become active in the Sustainability Action Network, or other action driven groups.
8) Collaboration with sister organizations - such as: The Light Center eco-village; Kaw Valley Food System farm-based economic development; Citizens for Responsible Planning; Films for Action; Kansas River Valley Growers fighting for local water rights; national efforts by the Sustainable Energy Network; KC Metro groups like the Kansas City Food Circle and the All Species Project, etc.
We welcome suggestions for items to be included. Please send items to
To subscribe to this list, please send an e-mail to
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