This month’s meeting, held at the home of Christine Carver and David Gay from 2pm to 9pm, focused on “Re-Skilling”. We provided opportunities for 15-20 people to learn about hand and machine sewing and sharpening tools. Both were very popular though there was not enough time to do as much of either as we would have liked. We look forward to have more meetings like these during the winter months.
Announcements
Cuttings and Seeds Giveaway
Ann Kreilkamp sent some Reliance grapevine cuttings and persimmon seeds to share.
Indiana Forest Alliance Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Fest
When: Saturday, February 28, 7 pm
Where: Buskirk-Chumley Theater
What: fundraiser and enjoyable evening being dazzled by the earth’s natural beauty. Only $10.
Community Currency Group
When: March 1, 2 to 3:30 pm
Where: Monroe County Public Library, Room 207
What: There were about 10 people who attended the first meeting recently on the subject of a local exchange system. This started with a review of past attempts here in Bloomington. Aaron and several of his friends from IU are also discussing development of “Oasis Hours” equal to an hour’s work in the Oasis Community Garden. There are several existing long-term systems in the US and abroad.
Bloomington Permaculture Growers Cooperative Meeting
When: March 1, 3:30 to 5:00 pm
Where: Monroe County Public Library, Room 207
Introduction to Beekeeping
When: March 3, 6:30 to 8 pm
Where: at Ingrid Skoog’s home at 5779 E. Kings Road
Who: by local beekeeper George Hageman
Partnering with Native Bees Talk
When: Thursday, March 12 at 4:30 pm.
Where: Monroe County Public Library Meeting Room 1B.
What: A presentation entitled, "Partnering with Native Bees: Ways to cultivate & conserve native crop pollinators"
Who: Alex Smith, a masters student in ecology at Indiana University. He is working with Dr. Heather Reynolds, studying the effects of landscape factors on pollination of cucumbers by native bees.
More Details:
Concern is growing about declines among honeybees, and some researchers are warning that our bee-pollinated crops may be in peril. Fortunately, honeybees are not the only pollinators of vegetable and fruit crops! This presentation will focus on how native bees (species other than honeybees) can be managed as crop pollinators. We will cover ways to provide forage and nesting habitat for native bees on the farm, and introduce some common native bee species. We will also discuss research on how factors such as land use and plant diversity affect crop pollination by native bees, and point out areas where work still needs to be done. Questions and answer time at the end.
B-TOP’s Livable Cities Speakers Series
When: Monday, March 23, 7 to 8:30 pm
Where: 211 South Indiana Ave. IU School of Law, Room 125
Who: Bloomington Transportation Options for People is sponsoring a talk by Dr. Vukan Vuchic , a Professor of both Transportation Engineering and of City and Regional Planning at University of Pennsylvania. His expertise is on planning balance, intermodal urban transit systems for livable cities. (http://www.seas.upenn.edu/~vuchic/)
Community Gardens Fundraiser
When: Monday, March 23
Where: Max’s Place
What: Out-of-Time
“Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash” Viewing
When: Tuesday, March 24, 7 pm
Where: Monroe County Public Library Auditorium
Bloomington Community Wellness Challenge
When: June 1 through August 22
What: Sponsored by Bloomington Parks and Recreation and Bloomington Hospital Community Health, this is an opportunity to make the whole area aware of ways to live more healthfully. Individuals and teams of people will register in April and compete to earn the most wellness points by participating in planned activities. BPG could participate by creating/designating activities that would award points. It would be free marketing for us.
GANA (Green Acres Neighborhood Association) Workshops
When: This spring and summer, various dates.
March 28 10 am to 4 pm Getting Grounded in the Earth: Planting and Transplanting Useful Trees and Shrubs
April 25-26 10 am to 5 pm “Carpet sandwich, please. Hold the water!” Small Pond Construction
May 23 10 am to 5 pm Mulch Ado About Something Delicious: No Dig Garden Beds
June 27 to 29 9:30 am to 5 pm Ferrocement Fences
July 25- Planning, Prepping and Planting for the Fall Garden
August 22, Drought- and Stress-proofing Your Garden
September 26, Preserving the Harvest: Canning, Drying, and
Fermentation for Food Security
October 17, Extending the Growing Season
Date TBA Planning and Preparing for a Fall Garden
Date TBA Drought- and Stress-Proofing Your Garden
Date TBA Preserving the Harvest: Canning, Drying, and Fermenting
Date TBA Season Extension
Where: Ann Kreilkamp’s home on Overhill and at 2601 Dekist St, Bloomington IN, site of the new Green Acres Permaculture Demonstration Garden.
What: These workshops will feature slideshows and lecture in the morning with hands-on activity in the afternoon. Registration details have not been worked out yet. They are initially meant for GANA members with additional openings for others as space allows.
Peak Moments TV Series
This is free viewing on CATS and on local cable. Most are also available online for free. Refer to the BPG blog posting of January 25 for more information.
Discussion
“Training for Transition” Update
Zach Mermel and Keith Johnson are organizing a leadership training workshop for Bloomington, which they expect to draw local as well as out-of-town, out-of-state, and even international attenders. It will be held April 18 and 19 in the Bloomington City Council Chambers (capacity 220). Registration is $225.
“Transitions” refers to a relocalization process of adapting to peak oil, climate change, and economic collapse. It was started in Great Britain by Rob Hopkins, author of The Transition Handbook: From Oil Dependency to Local Resilience. Only a couple of trainings have been held in the US. The first was last September in Boulder CO. Michael Brownlee and Lynette Marie Hanthorn, who will be the trainers here in April, are co-founders of Transition Boulder County the first official Transition Initiative in North America.
The goal is for communities around the world (including Bloomington and Monroe County) to pass resolutions committing us to becoming Transition Towns, which may involve:
· The percentage of local trade carried out in local currency
· The percentage of food consumed locally that was produced within a given radius
· The ratio of car parking space to productive land use
· Degree of engagement in practical transition work by the local community
· Amount of traffic on local roads
· Number of businesses owned by local people
· Proportion of the community employed locally
· Percentage of essential goods manufactured within a given radius
· Percentage of local building materials used in new housing development
· Percentage of energy consumed in the town
· Amount of sixteen year-olds able to grow 10 different varieties of vegetables to a given degree of competency
· Percentage of medicines prescribed locally that have been produced within a given radius.
Dave Rollo was instrumental in securing the Showers facility for us. Several other names were brought forward as potential allies in county positions: Warren Henegar, Mark Stoops, Geoff McKim and Vic Kelson.
Volunteers are needed in every capacity. Lucille Bertucchio has volunteered to organize a fundraising event. People who can offer hospitality on April 17 and 18 to out-of-town attenders are also needed.
Publicity efforts will call for us to update the BPG brochure that Rhonda has done. Jami volunteered to do this. We discussed tabling at the Winter and Spring Farmer’s Markets.
Action: We voted unanimously to sponsor the transition training workshop.
Community Gardens
Aaron reported on the Oasis and IU Campus community gardens, expressing appreciation for past support. They are setting up a bank account in the coming week and could use donations of time, garden tools, soil amendments, plants, seeds as well as money. See information above on their fundraiser. They are also planning a workday at the Oasis on S. Washington. They had one scheduled today, but were snowed out. They have removed 2 couches which were dumped there, but have other jobs as well.
Templeton School Gardens
Jami Reed reported on the status of gardening projects at Templeton. The school is in turmoil over the resignation of the principal. Many decisions will be on hold until the new Superintendent takes over in July. She has made progress with the Playground Committee and Lee Huff, the City Forester ahs advised them on planting trees, such as white oaks and serviceberries, and evergreens to screen the playground from traffic pollution. They are also planning to plant fruit trees on the grounds. There are 3-4 teachers who want to get their classes out in the gardens regularly. Volunteers are needed.
Next Meetings
March 14: John Galuska's
April 25: Green Acres Neighborhood Workshop (Small Ponds)
May 30: Rhonda Baird's
June 27: Green Acres Neighborhood Workshop (Ferrocement Fences)
In addition to the BPG listserv, blogspot and Website, Rhonda has created a social networking site at:
bloomingtonpermacultureguild.ning.com
You must be invited to join.
March 21: Sewing Day at Christine Carver’s. More information later!!!
Wildlife film maker Rebecca Hosking investigates how to transform her family's farm in Devon into a low energy farm for the future, and discovers that nature holds the key. With her father close to retirement, Rebecca returns to her family's wildlife-friendly farm in Devon, to become the next generation to farm the land.
Rebecca Hosking's return to her small family farm and her search for a post-fossil fuel agriculture. I've since seen the film, and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in food and farming - come to think of it, I'd recommend it to anyone who eats. But for those without the time or means to watch it, Rebecca has also written an excellent article in the Daily Mail newspaper about her quest for truly sustainable agriculture.
There is no doubt in my mind that Rebecca is opening a lot of eyes to the unsustainability of our present food system. Take this excerpt from Rebecca's conversation with permaculture guru Patrick Whitefield [Disclaimer: Patrick is a former teacher and friend of mine]:
