"You cannot insert a gene you took from a bacteria into a seed and call it life. You haven't created life, instead you have polluted it." - Dr. Vandana Shiva
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VANDANA SHIVA TO SPEAK IN KANSAS CITY
Thursday, 17 April 2014, 7:00pm - lecture, $$
Unity Temple on the Plaza, 707 West 47th Street, Kansas City MO 64112
Friday, 18 April 2014, 6:30pm - dinner, $$
Johnson County Community College Capital Federal Building, 12345 College Blvd., Overland Park KS 66210
On Thursday, Dr. Vandana Shiva's lecture, "Cultivating Diversity, Freedom and Hope" will address the value of diversity in nature and in society, as well how the monoculture of the mind can destroy that diversity at every level. Dr. Shiva is a physicist, ecologist, political activist and author who is changing the way the world thinks about food, agriculture and sustainability. Her food sovereignty organization,Navdanya is actively involved in the rejuvenation of indigenous knowledge and culture, has created awareness on the hazards of genetically engineered food (GE), and defended people's knowledge from biopiracy and food rights in the face of globalisation. Since 1984, the organization has established 111 community seed banks, trained more than 500,000 farmers in seed saving and sustainable agriculture, and has actively raised awareness about the hazards of genetic engineering (GE). For more info and to purchase tickets to the events, visit Dr. Vandana Shiva: Kansas City events.
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PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT FOR WIND ENERGY IS IN NEW U.S. TAX BILL
Tuesday, 15 April 2014 - - Happy Tax Day!
The
renewable energy Production Tax Credit (PTC) that benefits the wind
energy industry has been included in the new Senate Finance Committee version of the Tax Bill by chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and
Senator. Orrin Hatch (UT), as the "chairman's markup". It was not in the first draft announced
earlier. The credit was included thanks to an amendment introduced by
Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Maria
Cantwell (D-WA). It would extend the PTC for two years, the same
period as most of the credits in the legislation - New tax bill includes wind energy credit.
Simultaneously, the U.S. D.O.E.'s Renewable Energy Lab has issued a report that the
wind energy Production Tax Credit has been crucial to the sector's
development, and failing to extend it would greatly curtail wind
projects. Without the PTC, the sector's increases in capacity could
reach only up to 5 gigawatts per year from 2013 to 2020, compared to
the 8.7 GW per year recorded from 2008 to 2012. "Reduced domestic wind power deployment would be
likely to have a direct and negative effect on US-based wind turbine
manufacturing production and employment." - Report Supports US Wind Energy Production Tax Credit.
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LAWRENCE
BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Tuesday, 15 April2014, 5:00pmLawrence Parks & Rec. Conference Room, 1141 Massachusetts St., Lawrence KS 66044
The April
agenda includes the coordination of
bicycle and pedestrian facilities, bicycle/pedestrian crash reporting,
and Bicycle Month in May. The
Bicycle Advisory Committee works to improve bicycle safety and
awareness through education of motorists and non-motorists, develops
bicycle plans and maps, and advises the City and County Commissions
on bicycle priorities and needs. The agenda and information can be
downloaded at Bicycle
Advisory Comm | agendas.
______________________________KKFI COMMUNITY RADIO ¤ ECOLOGICAL SHOWS THIS WEEK
Listen
at KKFI-FM 90.1, or web-streaming at http://www.kkfi.org/
(courtesy Mike Murphy, KKFI Programming Committee)
Wednesday, 16 April 2014, 9:00am ¤ Alternative Radio
This excellent series by David Barsamian presents this week "Contamination Without Consent". Sandra Steingraber is a leading voice alerting the public to toxic trespassing and the dangers posed by fracking. We are turning parts of the Earth into a toxic waste dump. What comforts are we willing to give up to protect Mother Nature? Will we make real sacrifices or simply kick the ball down the road and be content with placebos like shopping differently?
Thursday, 17 April 2013, 12:00pm ¤ Sprouts Radio
The show this week is "Bald Eagles Are Getting Lead Poisoning". Just as Bald Eagles were the indicator species for DDT contamination in the 1960's, today they are being poisoned by the lead bullets in some of the prey they eat. The issue is discussed between an Iowa wildlife specialist, a hunter, and naturalist Bob Anderson, the creator of a ground-breaking web cam project that sends close-range eagle brood images to eagle lovers and schools around the world.
Thursday, 17 April 2013, 7:00pm ¤ Thursday Night Special
Dr. Vandana Shiva's talk this evening will be broadcast live from Unity Temple on the Plaza. Listen at http://www.kkfi.org/.
Friday, 18 April 2014, 9:30am ¤ Bioneers Radio Series
Bioneers presents "Forest Lifeboat: From Spirit Bears to Victoria's Dirty Secret". How do you go from being a passionate tree-hugger to a business-suited change-maker on behalf of the forests? Enter Forest Ethics program director Tzeporah Berman. With a string of conservation successes, including the "Amazon of the North," her inspiring story show how innovative market-based strategies, strange bedfellows, and public embarrassment are powerful tools to preserve the wild places that provide our essential ecosystem services.
Monday, 21 April 2014, 6:00pm ¤ locally produced Eco-Radio KC
This week's EcoRadioKC will feature another in their series of ecologically oriented shows.
______________________________(courtesy Mike Murphy, KKFI Programming Committee)
Wednesday, 16 April 2014, 9:00am ¤ Alternative Radio
This excellent series by David Barsamian presents this week "Contamination Without Consent". Sandra Steingraber is a leading voice alerting the public to toxic trespassing and the dangers posed by fracking. We are turning parts of the Earth into a toxic waste dump. What comforts are we willing to give up to protect Mother Nature? Will we make real sacrifices or simply kick the ball down the road and be content with placebos like shopping differently?
Thursday, 17 April 2013, 12:00pm ¤ Sprouts Radio
The show this week is "Bald Eagles Are Getting Lead Poisoning". Just as Bald Eagles were the indicator species for DDT contamination in the 1960's, today they are being poisoned by the lead bullets in some of the prey they eat. The issue is discussed between an Iowa wildlife specialist, a hunter, and naturalist Bob Anderson, the creator of a ground-breaking web cam project that sends close-range eagle brood images to eagle lovers and schools around the world.
Thursday, 17 April 2013, 7:00pm ¤ Thursday Night Special
Dr. Vandana Shiva's talk this evening will be broadcast live from Unity Temple on the Plaza. Listen at http://www.kkfi.org/.
Friday, 18 April 2014, 9:30am ¤ Bioneers Radio Series
Bioneers presents "Forest Lifeboat: From Spirit Bears to Victoria's Dirty Secret". How do you go from being a passionate tree-hugger to a business-suited change-maker on behalf of the forests? Enter Forest Ethics program director Tzeporah Berman. With a string of conservation successes, including the "Amazon of the North," her inspiring story show how innovative market-based strategies, strange bedfellows, and public embarrassment are powerful tools to preserve the wild places that provide our essential ecosystem services.
Monday, 21 April 2014, 6:00pm ¤ locally produced Eco-Radio KC
This week's EcoRadioKC will feature another in their series of ecologically oriented shows.
NATIVE PLANT SALE BY MISSOURI PRAIRIE FOUNDATION
Saturday, 19 April & 26 April 2013, 8:00am-1:00pm
City Market, 5th & Walnut St., Kansas City MO
(courtesy Ralph Bauer)
This sale will benefit the Missouri Prairie Foundation, with plants supplied by Applied Ecological Services of Baldwin City KS and Forest Keeling Nursery of Elsberry MO. Native plants will include wild flowers, grasses, sedges, vines, trees, bushes, ground covers, and more. They are looking for volunteers to help on the days of the sale. To volunteer or for more info, contact Doris Sherrick at <djsher@fairpoint.net> or 816-716-9159.
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NATIVE PLANT SALE BY GRASSLAND HERITAGE FOUNDATION
Saturday, 19 April 2013, 11:30-4:00pm
South Park, 12th & Massachusetts St., Lawrence KS 66044
Native plants are adapted to Kansas weather extremes and are ecologically useful in low-maintenance landscaping. In addition, they are beautiful flowers and grasses that attract pollinators and other beneficial insects. All plants at the sale will be supplied by Baldwin's own Applied Ecological Services, consisting of 20 different varieties including Butterfly Milkweed, Spiderwort, Little Bluestem. For more information, contact Kim Bellemere at
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LAWRENCE EARTH DAY CELEBRATION
Saturday, 19 April 2014, 11:00am parade, 11:30-4:00pm park festival
South Park, 12th & Massachusetts St., Lawrence KS 66044
The Lawrence Earth Day Parade begins at the Train Park, and is sponsored by K.U. Environs - http://groups.ku.edu/~
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KANSAS AND MISSOURI FARMERS' MARKET DIRECTORIES
(courtesy of Cole Cottin & Linda Cottin)
In order to find any of dozens of farmers' markets in Kansas and Missouri, use these searchable data bases for both states. They are - Kansas Farmers' Market Search by Location, Missouri Farmers' Market Search by Location, and Missouri Farmers' Market Search by Map. Wherever you are, there is probably a market nearby!
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DOUGLAS COUNTY FOOD POLICY COUNCIL
Monday, 21 April 2014, 7:00pm
location TBA., Lawrence KS 66049
The Food Policy Council seeks to identify the benefits, challenges and opportunities for a successful, sustainable local food system. By advising the Douglas County Commission on public policies that will support local producers, preserve local agricultural resources and land, and create more local jobs, the F.P.C. hopes to improve the community's access to a local food supply and distribution networks. For more info go to Dg County Food Policy Council.
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RESPONSIBLE ENERGY VS. FUKUSHIMA DAI-ICHI
Data shows that clean energy boosts the economy
RTI International, a leading national research institute, has released a new study - "The Economic Impact
Analysis of Clean Energy Development in North Carolina". It notes that
between 2007 and 2013, approximately $2.7 billion was invested in
renewable energy and energy efficiency development in the state and that
investment has supported 36,885 annual full-time equivalent jobs. During
that period, the total economic benefit of clean energy development in
North Carolina was over $4.7 billion. Since 2007, the state's
renewable energy development has generated $236.3 million of state and
local tax revenue. Renewable energy project development in 2013 was
$732.4 million, or nearly 42 times the $17.5 million investment in 2007. Learn more at - New Report Documents Clean Energy's Positive Economic Impact.
We suggest readers avail themselves of reports from the following sources: Japan for Sustainability - http://www.japanfs.org/; Japan Focus - http://japanfocus.org/; Fukush
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NONVIOLENT PROTESTS PLANNED FOR WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA DECIDES ON KEYSTONE XL
Between the release dates of the Supplementary Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) and the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), it became clear that the State Department and their hired contractor had gamed the system with flawed conclusions by the consultant, ERM, Inc. Over 75,000 citizens have signed a "pledge of resistance". Each person committed to risk arrest if necessary to stop Keystone XL, and President Obama has felt pressure in a way he never had before. It is thought his decision may come soon, so protectors of the land and air need to be ready when the time comes.
With over 400 volunteer action leaders trained in 25 cities nationwide, the local sit-in actions will be deployed when and if the Obama Administration recommends approval of Keystone XL. Chances are there's one near you. To stop Keystone XL, you can take the next step and sign up with your local pledge action. You can Find your nearest Pledge of Resistance action and sign up to be part of it. The passive resistance actions will be at places like the State Department, EPA and Federal offices, oil industry contractor ERM offices, and branches of TD Bank. If you click the above link and plug in your zip code, you will learn where the nearest action is to you.
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"A
VISION FOR WATER IN KANSAS" ¤ PRESENTATION BY THE KANSAS WATER
OFFICE
Thursday, 24
April 2014,
4:00-6:00pmKansas Room, Student Union, University of Kansas, Lawrence KS 66045
This will be a presentation by the Kansas Water Office who is interested in getting feedback from the public. Details will be forthcoming soon. For more info contact Katie Patterson-Ingels at the Kansas Water Office <Katie.Ingels@kwo.ks.gov>.
With climate-change induced drought in Kansas, it seems the major water conservation issue will be how to curtail the millions of gallons of water needed for typical gas fracking wells, as well as moving away from high irrigation crops such as corn in western Kansas.
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MARCH AGAINST MONSANTO ¤ KANSAS CITY
Thursday, 24 April 2014, 1:00pm
J.C. NIchols Fountain, 47th St. at Broadway Blvd., Kansas City MO
As the movement against GE foods grows larger, people are becoming educated about the dangers that the corporations and the F.D.A. are not revealing. State and community policy initiatives are on the increase, and the food giants are needing to spend millions to try to thwart them.
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"BETTER BLOCK LAWRENCE" ¤ ENVISIONING INSTALLATION OF A COMPLETE STREET
Friday, 25 April 2014, 6:00-10:00pm
9th Street corridor from Massachusetts St. eastward to Pennsylvania St.
A "complete street" is built to be equally accessible by all forms of transportation: pedestrians, bicyclists, wheel chair users, transit riders, skate boarders, and motor vehicles. A "better block" event is a temporary installation of all the complete street elements and amenities: bicycle lanes or tracks, pedestrian crossings and refuges, wheel chair ramps, transit stops, right-sizing the auto lanes, and community plazas for gathering and playing and art and food. Various U.S. communities have installed better blocks, some for a day, some for a week or more, to get a feel of how it can work on the ground.
This Lawrence Better Block will be in conjunction with the Final Friday Arts Gallery Walk and will feature 9th Street which is central to the Lawrence Cultural District in the East Lawrence Neighborhood. It is organized by a number of K.U. Architecture students, and they are using http://neighbor.ly/ as their crowd sourcing partner for folks to donate and sponsor the event. To learn more visit Better Block Lawrence: 25 April 2014.
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"INTRO TO PERMACULTURE DESIGN FOR URBAN GARDENERS" WORKSHOP
Saturday, 26 April 2014, 8:30am-5:00pm - $$
Dreher 4H Building, Douglas County Extension Service, 2110 Harper St., Lawrence KS 66046
Do you want to grow your food in your front yard or vacant
lot? Vegetables, but also apples, pears, blueberries, peaches,
hazelnuts, chestnuts, and more? This workshop will
provide the essentials of permaculture ethics, principles, and
design as applied in an urban setting. If you thinkyour yard is limited in food-growing potential
because it's too shady or too sloping or it has low
fertility, think permaculture. In the
permaculture garden, there's no need to till every
year, much of the weeding is eliminated by
groundcovers,
shade trees and shrubs will bear
food, and irrigation needs will be reduced.
This workshop will be taught by permaculture designers who operate the PermaCommons Community Garden which includes raised beds for growing annual vegetables, and perennial crops of fruits, nuts and berries spread throughout. The $50 fee includes a catered lunch, resource information, and a tour of the PermaCommons Community Garden. PermaCommon Garden members may attend for free. If you are considering joining a community garden this year, a PermaCommons member fee of $100 will get you a seasonal membership AND attendance at this one-day workshop. To get a member application, contact Michael at
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KANSAS PERMACULTURE COLLABORATIVE MEETING & POTLUCK & BONFIRE
Sunday, 3 May 2014, 4:00pm (potluck at 6:30pm)
Vajra Farm Permaculture Center, 14370 54th St., Oskaloosa KS 66066
This will be the seasonal meeting of the Kansas Permaculture Collaborative to share ideas, do file swaps, compare notes on nursery suppliers, make plans for collaborating in the upcoming year, and more. Meeting topics may include: farm implement/tool bank, crop mob work trade system, local seed bank, improvements of web site/list-serve/social media, practical or philosophical discussion groups, reskilling workshops. Bring a pot luck dish and something to drink, and wear warm clothes for gathering around a bonfire after dinner. Please no dogs. For more info contact Steve at
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8th ANNUAL KANSAS CITY PLANT, SEED, & BULB EXCHANGE
Saturday, 3 May 2014, 9:30am to 12:00pm - FREE
Discovery Center of MO Dept. of Conservation, 4750 Troost Ave., Kansas City, MO
(courtesy Dayna McDaniel)
At this plant exchange there will be heirloom veggies, herbs, berries, trees, natives, ground covers, annuals, perennials, and houseplants. Bring your extra plants to contribute to the group, and it's all available for the choosing to take home for free. Please label properly every plant item you bring, and don't bring invasive or weedy or super common plants (like orange daylily, baby redbud, common violet, loosestrife, etc.). Also, please don't bring bare root plants (except for bulbs, tubers, rhizomes, or peonies), only those potted two weeks in advance for sake of survival. Bring your own trays or boxes to carry your plants around. It is all free and they do it to encourage gardening and growing locally. For more info contact <dthrumc@sbcglobal.net> or call
816-356-9892.______________________________
LAWRENCE COMMUNITY CURRENCY MEETING ¤ SUSTAINABILITY ACTION
Wednesday, 7 May 2014, 6:30pm
Capital City Bank conference room, 740 New Hampshire St., Lawrence KS 66044
The L.C.C.I. Mission is to build
community and increase resilience through the use of a complementary
currency. Our core organizing group meets every other Wednesday to
lay the groundwork for a broad based local currency. To be
successful, it should have broad community "participation of
producers, users, and agencies that will assure reciprocity and a
high level of daily exchanges to avoid stagnation. More info is
available at the facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/
Anyone is welcome to bring their ideas and energy to create the structure, so it will be ready when circumstances require. To get on the e-mail info list, send your contact information to
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LAWRENCE
BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Tuesday, 13 May2014, 5:00pmLawrence Parks & Rec. Conference Room, 1141 Massachusetts St., Lawrence KS 66044
The May
agenda is not yet available. The
Bicycle Advisory Committee works to improve bicycle safety and
awareness through education of motorists and non-motorists, develops
bicycle plans and maps, and advises the City and County Commissions
on bicycle priorities and needs. The agenda and information can be
downloaded at Bicycle
Advisory Comm | agendas.
______________________________KANSAS CITY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
Wednesday, 14 May 2014, 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
leaders 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 is at KC
Environmental Mgt Commission
______________________________LAWRENCE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD
Wednesday, 14 May 2014,
5:30pm
The May agenda includes: native prairie plantings in City parks, and grant application to build a City-County household hazardous waste facility. 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/
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Public Works Conference Room, lower level, City Hall,
6 East 6th St., Lawrence KS 66044
The May agenda includes: native prairie plantings in City parks, and grant application to build a City-County household hazardous waste facility. 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/
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LAWRENCE PEDESTRIAN COALITION
Wednesday, 14 May 2014, 7:00pm
Carnegie Building Conference Room, 200 West 9th St., Lawrence KS 66044
The May agenda is not yet available. The Lawrence Pedestrian Coalition is a joint effort of the Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods and the League of Women Voters. Monthly meetings are open to the public. For more info go to Lawrence Pedestrian Coalition, or contact Laura Routh
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SUSTAINABILITY ACTION ¤ MEMBER MEETING
Thursday, 15 May 2014, 6:30pm
1425 Oread West, Lawrence KS 66049 (N.W. corner
of 15th & Wakarusa, building just west of the bank)
Local Solutions for Transition to a Sustainable Economy
Possible discussion topics:
Local Solutions for Transition to a Sustainable Economy
Possible discussion topics:
- Making a Board Capacity Building Plan
- Grant data base opportunities
- Confirmation of a Sustainability Action 2014budget
- Bicycle funding plan for City of Lawrence 2015 budget
- "Energy Reality": executive summary and community roundtable
- Summer 10-day PDC planning
- "Principals of Permaculture" workshop at thePermaCommons Garden
- Any plans for reskilling workshops
We welcome suggestions for Newsletter items. Please send items to
Join the Sustainability Action Network by clicking this link - Become a Sustainability Action Member - and follow the instructions. The Sustainability Action mission is to bring awareness of the global crisis caused by climate change, energy vulnerability and economic instability to communities in the Kansas River bioregion, and the tools needed to re-skill and re-localize our economy and create a more socially just and ecologically sustainable world.
Sustainability Action Programs include:
1) Kansas Permaculture
Institute- formal
training of permaculture designers, and issuing them
PDC Certificates - Kansas
Permaculture Institute.
5) Sustainability Action Newsletter- informing and encouraging people to be active in the Sustainability Action Network, or other action-driven groups.
2) Kansas
Permaculture Collaborative
- freely
and informally sharing knowledge and resources about
sustainable food production and dwellings -Kansas
Permaculture Collaborative.
3) Bicycles
&
Alternative Transportation
- promoting
bicycles, complete streets, ride sharing, and electric
vehicles, including infrastructure and pro-active
regulations - Lawrence
OnBoard | Community Supported Transportation
4) Local
Community Currency-
fostering money literacy, and implementing a
local currency, either cash or electronic or both,
that will transition to a
sustainable local economy and weather global
economic instability.
5) Sustainability Action Newsletter- informing and encouraging people to be active in the Sustainability Action Network, or other action-driven groups.
6) Energy Conservation & Renewables - reducing our carbon footprint by promoting a carbon diet, an energy diet, conservation, and decentralized renewable energy.
7) Prime Farmland Preservation - protecting Capability I & II farmland from urban development and industrial land uses.
8) Water Rights and Watersheds - protecting the water commons from privatization and contamination, and restoring watersheds.
9) Collaboration with sister organizations
- building synergy with the
combined talents and creativity of like-minded groups
to achieve a transition to sustainable local
economies.
Groups such as: Films
for Action; The
Light Center eco-village; churches and civic groups; Kaw
River Valley Food System farm-based economic
development; Cultivate
Kansas City;Transition
Kansas City; Kansas River Valley Growers
fighting for local water rights; the National Sustainable Energy
Network; the Kansas
City Food Circle, and more.
Sustainability Action sponsored organizations:
1) Lawrence OnBoard - local roadside ride sharing for safe and convenient transportation in rural and urban areas - Lawrence OnBoard | Community Supported Transportation
2) Lawrence Fruit Tree Project - educating and inspiring the community to grow and steward perennial food plants and increase local food sovereignty - Lawrence Fruit Tree Project
Sustainability Action sponsored organizations:
1) Lawrence OnBoard - local roadside ride sharing for safe and convenient transportation in rural and urban areas - Lawrence OnBoard | Community Supported Transportation
2) Lawrence Fruit Tree Project - educating and inspiring the community to grow and steward perennial food plants and increase local food sovereignty - Lawrence Fruit Tree Project
"THE TRANSITION COMPANION" ¤ AVAILABLE FOR $27
As a guidebook for local transition communities, Rob Hopkins has published this sequel to the original Transition Handbook. For your copy, e-mail Michael at
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