Transition COTATI Blogs Transition COTATI syndicated data http://grou.ps/transitioncotati Sat, 26 May 2012 11:35:08 +0100 GROU.PS FeedCreator Are you the next sustainability leader? http://grou.ps/transitioncotati/blogs/item/are-you-the-next-sustainability-leader
The challenges facing our global society are apparent on many levels. From a lack of social trust, climate change, poverty, pollution, species extinction, institutional failure and our inability to continue consuming at current levels, the change that needs to take place on a global scale is massive, compounding and complex. In order to combat these challenges, we need both strategic planning that adheres to the limits of the Earth's carrying capacity and leadership that inspires and creates systemic change in a collaborative manner across sectors, borders and disciplines.

I had the very good fortune of attending a graduate programme in Sweden, called the Master’s in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability (MSLS) programme. We focused on the skills and knowledge necessary to create a sustainable 21st century. This experience taught me that the challenges facing our world require a systems thinking and scientific-based approach, and the ability to work collaboratively with diverse people. 

And while this programme taught skills in team-work, facilitation, presentation, project management, communication and strategic planning it taught me so much more. This programme taught me that when you get a group of people together that want to make the world a better place, amazing things become possible. People begin to really listen to one another, enjoy working together and become more authentic. My class had students from over 30 countries and the alumni networks encompasses over 50 countries. Here, I learned the importance of community building, sharing common goals and how working together is not only a lot of fun, but provides the foundation for a sustainable society. 

I am writing about this programme to let people know that applications for the MSLS cohort of 2012-2013 are opening December 1st, 2011 and close mid-January. I hope that someone will read this and realize they too have an amazing opportunity to work with a dedicated international network that wants to change the world.

Please visit the website www.bth.se/msls to see the full programme brochure and application procedures. If you are an EU citizen, the Swedish Government pays for your tuition. Outside the EU, tuition is 100,000SEK for this 10-month program. Scholarships are available and if you are a fee-paying student, you are welcome to visitwww.kitesh.org to find out more about the free services available to assist you in the application and funding process.

Do yourself and the world a favor - go on the adventure of a lifetime and join the amazing network of alumni in the Master's in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability.

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]]> Thu, 08 Dec 2011 02:39:40 +0100 Common Security Clubs http://grou.ps/transitioncotati/blogs/item/common-security-clubs

I first heard about Common Security Clubs a few months ago and they seemed to be a natural fit with the idea of Transition.  They also appealed to me because of the huge inherent collaborative opportunities with other organizations, faith-based groups, etc.


Read below for a general description and check out their website for more.


Would you be interested in getting something like this going in and for Cotati?  Add a comment or question below!  


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These are uncertain times. The Great Recession has reminded us of our vulnerabilities.  Debt.  Foreclosure.  Unemployment and Anxious Employment. Evaporating Savings.  Rising Costs.  Job Insecurity.  We can face these changes alone – or come together.


What is a Common Security Club?

A place to come together to increase our personal security in a rapidly changing world by:

  • Courageously facing our economic and ecological challenges, learning together about root causes.
  • Building relationships that strengthen our security and undertaking concrete steps for mutual aid and shared action.
  • Rediscovering the abundance of what we have and recognizing the possibility of a better future.
  • Seeing ourselves as part of a larger effort to create a fair and healthy economy that works for everyone.

In the process, a common security club allows neighbors (co-workers, etc) to get to know one another, find inspiration, have fun, and strengthen community.

]]> Wed, 05 Jan 2011 00:15:53 +0100 Why the heck does anyone go to all the work? http://grou.ps/transitioncotati/blogs/item/why-the-heck-does-anyone-go-to-all-the-work

Grew in the garden the usual tomatoes (very, very late ripening this year, cool summer) BUT decided to add tomatillos this year, another member of the tomato family... And they handled the cool weather just fine. 

Why grow them? Because we like a lot of salsa verde (i.e. mexican food). Turns out the main ingredient in Salsa Verde ($2.99 for 12 oz)is those strange looking green things that kinda look like a ping-pong or golf ball sized fruit, covered in a leathery green husk, found tucked away in the produce department.

First off, how do you even know when they are "ready" or "ripe"? I asked a friend who makes lots of mexican dishes. They are ALL ripe, just depends on what size you want (and how do you KNOW what size you want, I'm saying to myself?). 

Well, maybe they are ALL ripe in the grocery store, but how about in the garden?  They do this strange trick... never seen it before.  You have this pretty little husk ball hanging on the plant... and on trying to see if it's ready to pick I found that the "ball" was empty. Well, almost empty.  The fruit inside grows and fills in the husky covering... neat little trick. So as the season progresses, I end up going around "feeling up" my tomatillos to see if they are filled in enough to justify picking! They don't really get soft but have a firm green meaty insides.

After harvesting a bucket full, husking them (quite easy), cutting them into quarters, and tossing them in a big pot to simmer in water, I threw in some seasonings.  Checking my purchased bottle of commercially produced product I find that they have added onions, peppers, a bit of salt & some sugar. Ditto... I do the same. Organic sugar, of course. Peppers, home grown. (Putting to good use the hot peppers we have raised this year - another outstanding crop even with the cool summer). And onions, OMG, we didn't come close to growing enough onions for what we use! I have to race down to Oliver's Groc to grab some more red onions to toss in.

(Interesting side note: the great big red onions standard grown are very mild while the smaller organic red onions have a very healthy bite. And when the smaller one's are sautéed, they are incredibly sweet!) But back to my big pot of simmering salsa... cooked for an hour or two, just letting it thicken (i.e. cooking off the moisture) and then it's time to throw it in the jars.  Picked up some pint and 1/2 pint jars figuring I could adjust the amount needed for a meal without wasting any of my hard earned bounty!

Quick wash in hot, soapy water, rinse, and fill with the salsa.  Hot lids on, rings tightened a bit, and into a big pot of hot water to do a boiling water bath for 15 min (depending on the size of the jar... I admit, several sizes, I just went ahead and aimed for 20 min to be on the safe side).
 (cont. after pic)



























Sounds so quick and easy but actually it took a bit of time, not hard to do, but just time.  Needed to be around to prep, monitor, prep, fill, boil.  Putting the ingredients together was rather fun and creative... For the "not so creative parts"  I remind myself that it's important to "be in the moment" and just enjoy the activity.  

My husband, on the other hand, stands back in amazement as he looks at the jars in the pantry. Quite pleased and proud that what he has crafted out of the compost piles, the gardening, the daily watering, has now resulted in "food for the table".  His pleased expression is another unexpected bonus!

Past experience with other things harvested from the garden, we have been amazed at the taste and the abundance the garden has provided us.  Used to commercial foods, we've forgotten what some term "real food", tastes like! Who would have "thunk" it, that growing your own would actually make such a difference.

So WHY would anyone go to all the hassle, when you can just plunk down your shiny dollar and walk out the door with a jar of "________" (fill in the blank)... with all that extra time, energy, and effort saved up for... for... let me see, for....  (hmmm, watching commercials, on TV, between clips of a show).

Instead I bought myself, involvement with my family, the soil, the garden, interaction with the real world, a sense of fulfillment, and the awareness that I have been able to produce quality healthy food that is actually good for you! 

Along the way we also increased the health of the soil & the nutrients available for the plants.
I didn't even need any help from Monsanto to make it happen... what a trip.... independence as well as... self-sufficeny. Yep, I guess that's why someone would. 


AmyD
]]> Wed, 13 Oct 2010 03:52:46 +0100 Piglet Saga http://grou.ps/transitioncotati/blogs/item/piglet-saga
While not listed on the endangered livestock list, they are no longer a popular breed because they don't meet the industrial requirement of fast growth.  Slower growing but quality meat is their asset; that and being good natured & wonderful moms. 

Without a purebred boar we would be unable to meet our goal of maintaining heritage genetic strains... so-o-o-o, we looked into A.I. (no, not artificial intelligence but artificial insemination). We could just order up the product we wanted (the boar, dead or alive!) and do the deed ourselves.  We were assured it was a piece of cake.  It was... it's just figuring out when the gilt (never bred female) is IN heat! Turns out THAT is the real challenge, especially without a male around to trigger her.

After several VERY expensive tries (you have to order overnight and it's shipped in special cold packing)... we decided that we had flunked Swine A.I. and maybe, just maybe, we should search a little harder for a male companion for our two females. What we had spent on the semen & shipping we could have bought a boar.

After much searching we finally located a young man who fit the bill... only problem, he was in Oregon.  A marathon trip to Oregon to pick him up ensued: 12 hrs up, 1 there to load up, and 12 hrs back... two drivers trading off. Loading was a piece of cake; just enticed him with some fresh veggies and he hopped right on board. Getting him unloaded was a bit more challenging.... going downhill off the truck was a little slippery, not to mention the unknown landscape!

Off the truck, into the new quarters to meet the gals! Exciting day... opps, he turned tail and ran, after the girls let him know who was boss! Well, let's try a slower intro through a very solid fence where they can get to know each other a bit more... and time to let the scrapes heal up... hope it doesn't take to long for his ego to recover!

Suffice to say, everyone made up.  Both gals were bred and here we are, 4 months later.  After a 1 1/2 yr saga in all, we actually missed the BIRTHS!  A previously scheduled course in Texas, offered only once a year, was a conflict we couldn't get around. But, darn it, turns out those mom's don't really need us there. Amazing... they can birth all on their own!!!

Our three Intern WWOOFers got a huge kick when they realized the first mom was delivering... 1st clue, a piglet scampering around the farrowing pen. They quickly gathered around and watched the other babes deliver. We ended up with 5 live births and one stillborn. Yep, they tried stimulating and resuscitation the stillbirth but no go. It was a twin birth (literally two popped out at once) and we think one twin cut of the cord circulation of the other one, while in the birth canal. 

But the five other piglets were up and running around literally within minutes.  Mom's teats were pouring milk the whole time she was delivering and the babies scooted over and latched on right away. Vigorous little guys. None of this trying to figure out how to stand up like calves or foals!or just WHERE is that teat.  This guys honed in without missing a beat.

And boy are they growing! A week old, we took three up to Thomas Page Elem School, kindergarden class, for the kids to check out the piggies.  They snuggled and snorted their way around the grass and under the hay, to the delight of the kids.  But after an hour away from mom, they were quickly whisked back to her where she gave each a very close inspection to make sure they were OK.

We have one more lady in waiting... and looking like she is going to deliver this week.  Fingers crossed that it goes as well!

If you would like to come by and see the babes, just let me know.  But remember, it's a real farm, not a picture perfect clean farm. Wear clothes/shoes that can get grubby!





]]> Mon, 04 Oct 2010 21:56:57 +0100 Fine things in September... http://grou.ps/transitioncotati/blogs/item/fine-things-in-september Hello all -

I hope you all have had a great summer.  What a funny one, weather-wise, eh?  Must say, though, I'm enjoying these lovely days of the Late Summer.  There's a lot to harvest from this time!

Look what else sprouted up this summer --  our lovely new logo!!   Notice how the flower represents the central street layout of Cotati? Cathy Tully Smith of Santa Rosa made it for us for the cost of 3 Time Dollars.  Another of the great and growing ways that the Sonoma County Time Bank is making a positive difference.  Look below to learn about an upcoming free workshop on (y)our Time Bank and some other wonderful local goings-on:

Saturday, September 11 - THE STORY ORCHESTRA comes to the Cotati Community Garden!
“An Artful Celebration of Life in the Garden with Stories and Music”
6 pm to 8 pm
East Cotati Ave across from La Salle  
Featuring: Coastal Winds, Larry Temple, Mistaundahill,  P. Joseph Potocky, and The Round (Brian Skinner, Kelly Ann Walton,Tanya Boone-Alva, and Nick Alva)  
The event is no-cost, but limited to 30 people. No reservations. There is plenty of ground to sit upon, but bring a chair or blanket if you like.  Hosted by The Cotati Community Gardeners


Saturday, September 18 -  HOME GARDENING CLASS with Bob Cannard at Green String Farm
10:15 am to noon
3571 Old Adobe Rd.
$5

If you've never had the chance to listen to some of the inspiring wisdom of Bob Cannard, now's your chance.  And if you have heard him before.... well, you know what I'm talking about.  You will learn how to apply Green String Natural Process Agriculture at home.  Q&A with Bob is a wonderful thing -- and your garden will thank you with nutritious, delicious food.  SIGN UP AT THE FARM STORE  Farm tour from 9 - 10 am with "Green String Graduates" that same day, free with your enrollment in Bob's class.

Monday, September 20 -  Sixth Annual Smart Growth Symposium
7:30 am to 12:30 pm
Finley Community Center, 2060 W. College Ave., Santa Rosa
$45

Michael Shuman will provide the keynote address for this event put on by the Leadership Institute for Ecology and the Economy.  Michael is one of the nation's leading experts on community economics and the advantages of small-scale businesses in an era of globalization.  There will also be panel discussions on creating prosperous communities of a new, sustainable kind in Sonoma County.  To register, go online to smartgrowth6.eventbrite.com


Wednesday, September 29 - MOVIE NIGHT with Deborah Koons Garcia
7 pm
French Garden Restaurant
8050 Bodega Ave, Sebastopol

Transition Cotati has teamed up with Transition Sebastopol and Bioneers to bring you Deborah Koons Garcia (director of The Future of Food), presenting her short film Soil in Good Heart.  Join us to hear about local actions to preserve and protect our precious soil. We encourage you to come and have dinner beforehand!  http://www.frenchgardenrestaurant.com/ 


Saturday, October 16 - SAVE THE DATE - Workshop on Time Banking at the Cotati-Rohnert Park Library
Save the date for this workshop on Time Banking.  Learn about how TIme Banking works, how to sign up, and the tremendous differences it is making already in our county and elsewhere.  Stay tuned for further details as the date approaches.


ALSO OF NOTE:

♦ "Navigating the Coming Chaos": a Conference call with Carolyn Baker, Thursday Sept. 16, 6 pm. Carolyn is a psychotherapist who has been studying the task of preparing ourselves to cope with a collapsing industrial society. Free; pre-registration required. 


  We'd love to hear what you're up to -- send along your ideas, questions, or comments.


cheers,

Judith
for Transition Cotati

]]> Fri, 10 Sep 2010 23:46:26 +0100 Late July update http://grou.ps/transitioncotati/blogs/item/late-july-update
Hello everyone -

Hard to believe we're already headed into the final days of July!    Transition Cotati hasn't held many public events this summer, but we've been busy planning and working on some good stuff.  Read on...

GARDEN WHEEL, etc.
The Rohnert Park - Cotati Garden Wheel is rolling along!  This is a group of people who enjoy an on-going work party where friends and neighbors can swap labor, expertise, ideas for gardens, seeds, produce, delicious food and enthusiasm.   All are welcome to join!  We'll be meeting again on August 3rd from 5:30 to 7:30 pm for a potluck and seed & start exchange at the FrogSong Cohousing Common House, 8290 Old Redwood Hwy.    

Wondering what you can grow this time of year?  This Sonoma County garden guide says August is a good time for planting beets, carrots, peas, cilantro, spinach, lettuce, the brassicas, kale, fennel, radicchio and leeks!  

And if you've got produce you want to share (zucchinis, anyone?) or want to find out about someone else's bounty, check out the Sonoma County Harvest Share site for opportunities.

TIME BANKING The Sonoma County Time Bank is going great!  I personally have done exchanges as a giver and a receiver and it's wonderful.  We even have someone finalizing a beautiful, first-ever logo for Transition Cotati for Time Dollars.  If you have questions or want to sign up, go to the website.    And if you've already joined -- thank you! 

DISASTER READINESS  Several of us attended a disaster readiness program in Sebastopol called Mapping Your Neighborhood.  It's a great program to bring neighbors together to gain education and assess the infrastructure, assets and vulnerabilities in their own neighborhood.  We have materials, including a DVD and handouts, to help other neighborhoods get going on this.  Shoot me an email if you're interested and I can set up a meeting with you.

GROU.PS  As you can see, we have moved from our previous networking platform, Ning, to this one called Grou.ps.    All of the content of the previous page migrated over successfully and now we have a new site where anyone can post local Transition-related events, discussions, blogs, photos, videos, etc.   

Drop us a line if you have any questions or ideas you want to share.  We're always glad to hear from you.




]]> Sun, 25 Jul 2010 03:46:22 +0100 TC Busy Weekend http://grou.ps/transitioncotati/blogs/item/tc-busy-weekend Transition Cotati had a busy weekend. On Saturday we hosted an Herb Walk with herbalist Larkin Child. Within a few steps of starting off, she showed us interesting and valuable "weeds" growing along the path. I find it enjoyable and quite fascinating to hear the stories of these plants. Their potential uses are amazing, surprising and give me hope for the future. Here's a picture of the group waist high in wild oats:


On Sunday, we undertook to "green" the Cotati Historical Society Annual Barbeque. We had proposed this last year but too late in the game. For me, the event was an environmental travesty with foam plates, plastic utensils, bottled water... This year, they were open to collaboration so, with the help and support of the fabulous Green Mary, we brought in real silverware, plastic cups, coffee mugs and water crocks. For their part, the Cotati Historical Society (CHS) paid the premium for Chinet plates which are not coated and are therefore compostable. The CHS was very supportive and helpful during set up and clean up and also very appreciative of our contribution. The public had only positive things to say - especially about having real silverware. I mean let's face it: nobody really likes using plastic utensils - particularly to cut up a piece of chicken.


It was a fair amount of work on our part as we had to pick up and return all Green Mary's items; set up and break down at the event; sort through the compost to remove trash; clean 200 forks, knives and cups (whew). But it was so gratifying to see the big can fill up with compostable stuff and almost nothing going to the landfill. I think it was worth it and I'm putting it in print so I'll remember I said it next year. Special thanks to Transition Cotati helpers Ben, Elaine, Judy; Terry Dutra and Suzanne Whipple of the Cotati Historical Society.


]]> Tue, 20 Apr 2010 06:57:41 +0100 The Chicken Channel http://grou.ps/transitioncotati/blogs/item/the-chicken-channel
Today I went on a field trip with my daughter's class which means witnessing first hand the incredible amount of waste - food and otherwise - after lunch. Many another person would have just left it all but I scrounged through the top layer and grabbed a few barely eaten ham sandwiches and half dozen apples, some untouched (while "everyone" thinks it is great to give kids fresh fruit, it doesn't matter much if they don't/won't eat it). If I'd had more time and fewer people around I would have scrounged for more - ahhh well. Many people think chickens are vegetarians but they're not. I guess they're opportunists and they love ham. I mean love. We got quite a kick out of watching them chase after whoever got a bit of ham. Sometimes it is challenging to be a chicken. Let's say you're the lucky one who quickly pecks and gets that piece of ham. Now you're excited about your prize. But it's too big to swallow so you need to put it down and bite off pieces. But, you're being followed by 3 other chickens that want the ham so you can't put it down. You run here and there but they follow. You can't eat, you can't put it down - poor chicken. Eventually I think most or all got some but there was a lot of running and clucking for a while.

They also love our compost pile and spend quite a bit of time scratching around in there. Here's a picture of a group on the pile just after I dumped a "fresh" load of rotting stuff:




]]> Tue, 20 Apr 2010 06:30:42 +0100 The Chicken Channel http://grou.ps/transitioncotati/blogs/item/the-chicken-channel



Then there was a report of one of the chickens pecking the eggs. So, we're collecting the eggs more frequently in the morning, giving them oyster shell for additional calcium and Suzi, my chicken mentor, gave me some milk from her new cow. She suggested soaking grain in the milk for some extra protein. Whether it's necessary or not, the chickens like the treat of extra grain! I haven't seen any pecked eggs so one or all of these measures seems to be working.

And one of the Barred Rocks likes to fly out and lay her eggs in a spot of her choosing. First we made the fence higher but that didn't seem to make any difference to her. Then pokey sticks were added but she was able to fly out in a different spot. I've decided I'm going to clip her wings so she can't fly out. Luckily none of the other chickens seems interested in following her so, hopefully, if she can be broken of this habit, they'll all stay in.




]]> Mon, 12 Apr 2010 06:26:45 +0100 A new kid on the block; uhhh, make that "a new heifer"! http://grou.ps/transitioncotati/blogs/item/a-new-kid-on-the-block-uhhh-make-that-a-new-heifer School Street Farm announces the arrival of a very tiny newborn heifer, a full-blood lowline angus.

Welcome to come by and take a peak @ 875 W School St, Cotati. Just email me or give a call before coming by (707 494 7104 Amy's cell). Now that the weather has turned nice, the fields/pastures are drying and we can actually move around a bit without drowning in mud!

Mom is quite busy drying her baby off, while babe gets her first bit of colostrum, the first milk that has lots of good stuff for the new calf. She must nurse within the first 2 hours to help colonize her "gut" with "good" bacteria to help digest the milk she will get through nursing.


Just remember, it is a real farm... & most stock is free-range (including chickens) so any pets must be on a leash in case your out "walking the dog" and drop by for a bit.

]]> Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:41:49 +0100