Comments for SustainableTogether.com

Comment on Fluffy Line-Dried Towels Every Time by Shelly

Shelly — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 20:50:10 +0000

You're so right, Debbi, that clotheslines ought to be legal everywhere--for goodness sakes! If your homeowner association prohibits or restricts outdoor clothes drying (effectively forcing use of electric or gas dryers), fight back! Here's a good resource for people who are looking to change the rules in their community: The Right to Dry Guide (download a PDF from this page) from Project Laundry List.

Comment on Fluffy Line-Dried Towels Every Time by Debbi Steele

Debbi Steele — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 18:13:04 +0000

I LOVE MY “solar” DRYER! I must confess, I’m not so good in the winter but can’t WAIT to see even the first inkling of sun to begin drying everything on the line. Great tip on the “fluff” technique but I’m one of those who like that rough feeling. Next step…get these planned communities (you know who you are) to allow clotheslines to be put up!

Comment on ‘Get to Know Your Neighbors’ by Shelly

Shelly — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 21:09:46 +0000

I’m proud to share the comments (and compliments!) of one of the Transition Port Angeles organizers:

How lucky PT is to have such a wonderful talent as Shelly. She did you all proud by presenting, in an informative and positive manner, the route that your town took towards Transition Initiative status.

Shelly was a great help to us in setting the stage for our kick-off meeting. But still we were overwhelmed by the response – about 100 people, some spilling over into hallways and having to stand for the first half hour.

Shelly’s outstanding and professional presentation could not have been a better antidote to the recitation of some facts relating to PO/CC/EC [peak oil, climate change, economic crisis] that were necessary in order to get people on the same page.

She followed up by facilitating a World Cafe format discussion. The fact that almost all off the starting audience remained and appeared engrossed in the proceedings was testimony to the level of engagement that she had helped to develop.

My wish for Transition PA is that we find such people as Shelly in our community who can lead and inspire us to achieve the potential that she demonstrated to us last night.

Many thanks and best regards,
Dave

Comment on Bringing Down the Dams—and Capitalism? by Juliet

Juliet — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 03:24:36 +0000

Love this post! We wrote about this dam removal in our book that is about to come out: A 21st Century US Water Policy (Oxford University Press, to be released May 2012!). Let me know if you’d like a complimentary copy of the book.

–Juliet Christian-Smith
Senior Associate, Water Program
Pacific Institute

Comment on Bringing Down the Dams—and Capitalism? by Markus

Markus — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:31:09 +0000

Mr. Cunningham,

You are grossly ill-informed. But that’s okay. If you grew up in the US, you’re supposed to be.

I encourage you to actually read THE ENEMY OF NATURE before you drag your flabbergast out for all to see.

Contrary to Friedman’s assertion, is there no causal relationship between capitalism and equality, or opportunity, or self-rule, or democracy. In fact, capitalism (a human-generated way to organize an economy) resists and destroys all of those listed qualities we would like to be organizing forces in our communities and society as a whole.
—

Ms. Randall,

An excellent and exciting blog entry.

I was (accidentally) present at one of the celebrations for the Elwha dam removal. Interesting & satisfying.

While I’m not of your generation, I will continue to stand with those committed to dismantling capitalism.

-M

Comment on ‘Get to Know Your Neighbors’ by Brian

Brian — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:58:04 +0000

We are fortunate to live in a place where “community” and “sustainability” are cherished terms. There are many ways to engage in community, and I have found it quite easy to get plugged into community in Port Townsend:

1. Through my church
2. As a member of the Northwest Earth Institute (NWEI) steering committee
3. Starting NWEI courses
4. Becoming a s member of the Local 20/20 energy action group
5. Joining a community garden
6. Becoming a member of the Local Investing Group (LION)
7. Singing with local groups

There are ample opportunties for everyone here, just take that first step to attend a meeting or two, and you will find the warmth of community!

Comment on Bringing Down the Dams—and Capitalism? by Dave Cunningham

Dave Cunningham — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 20:12:32 +0000

I’m flabbergasted, Shelly. While our capitalistic, free-enterprise system may have its faults, it has also produced the most prosperous nation in world history, top to bottom, all strata. Even the poor are far better off here than in Africa, India, the Middle East and, most notably, communist China. Lamentable as they are, inequalities are human-generated and present in all civilizations (if you think gender bias is an issue here, visit Saudi Arabia). But capitalism and free enterprise are bold steps AWAY from inequality. They espouse equal opportunity for all. Ecosystem preservation and capitalism can and do, in ever-increasing examples, work together. If dismantling capitalism is indeed your “generation’s life work” and your generation succeeds, I expect you will be remembered as the generation that destroyed the greatest opportunity for a truly free, self-rule democractic republic the world has ever seen.

Comment on ‘Get to Know Your Neighbors’ by Chauncey

Chauncey — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 17:53:33 +0000

People change out of reacting to fear or drawing closer to inspiration. INSPIRATION! BE INSPIRATIONAL! Yahoo! )

Comment on ‘Get to Know Your Neighbors’ by Nadine Feldman

Nadine Feldman — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 14:29:04 +0000

We’re moving to PT from Houston, where we never really got to know our neighbors well. Already, in just a few weeks, one neighbor dropped by (with cookies, no less!) and I met with a woman on another matter but learned she is a neighbor as well! We are very excited about how friendly the neighborhood and the town are! I am impressed with the community’s commitment toward sustainability and look forward to learning from others as we get settled in.

Comment on Affordable Local Food…But How? by Shelly

Shelly — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 03:36:43 +0000

Here’s another blogger’s tips on this topic:

15 Tips for Buying Organic on a Budget

RE: #5 on Carrie Vitt’s list, I have been ordering Grade B organic maple syrup from Amazon for about a year now. One quart comes in the mail every month unless I cancel the delivery. Costs $17-something, no shipping fees.

The only time/place I can get it cheaper is at our Food Co-op during the Thanksgiving holidays when they offer a significant manufacturer’s coupon.