Bay Localize News #8: Exciting Tools for Stronger Communities (Spring 2008)
The race is on to prepare our communities for climate change and rising energy prices. It's a race against time which we can only win by working together. Bay Localize invites you to join us in this effort as we launch new tools for community collaboration in preparing for change.
Recent months have seen some of the central predictions of peak oil and climate change activists come to pass:
- Gas prices reached new historic heights at nearly $4 a gallon, as oil-producing countries have struggled to keep up with surging demand and oil companies have raked in the profits.
- According to the World Bank, average global food prices have skyrocketed by 83%, prompting food riots in dozens of countries. Economists see the drivers as rising energy costs, commodity speculation, and increased biofuel production at the expense of food crops.
- Asia's version of Hurricane Katrina came in early May to Myanmar, where tens of thousands of people are feared dead after being slammed by one of the worst cyclones in that nation's history. Climate change models predict increases in violently destructive storms.
Clearly, none of these challenges can be addressed without international cooperation and targeted assistance to the poorest regions most impacted. But we must also shore up our own local economies to withstand these growing threats. As local food advocate Temra Costa writes in this issue, communities where local farms border our cities are better protected during uncertain times, and receive critical benefits in the form of open space, fresher food, and greater biodiversity.
Here at Bay Localize, we're pleased to announce the release of several exciting new tools designed to strengthen our communities. The first is our Local Resilience Assessment, the first part of a 5-step Localization Action Toolkit that community groups can use to develop action plans to increase local economic security. The second is the 21st Century Energy Greenprint, a new policy roadmap to be unveiled on May 22 that charts the most effective paths to boost renewable energy production and efficiency programs in our region. And last, but not least, is the interactive Rooftop Resources Web Gallery, where you can upload your own photographs and descriptions of rooftop gardens, solar, and rainwater catchment systems around the Bay Area and beyond!
Read on for more on our efforts to build a more equitable and resilient region. We hope you enjoy our Spring newsletter, and welcome you to join us and get involved!
Together for the future,
—Aaron, Allyse, Dave, Ingrid, Kirsten, and Nile
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Assess Your Community's Local Resilience!
- Alliance Forwards Community Choice Energy
- Rooftop Awards, Projects, and Web Gallery
- Fire in the Belly: Local + Food = Good
- Events Roundup: Upcoming and Recent
- Support Bay Localize!
How Resilient is Your Community?
Find Out with the Local Resilience Assessment!
The Assessment allows planners and advocates to identify areas of strength, weakness, and priorities for action in your community. It asks you to consider the following fundamental questions regarding food, water, energy, transportation, jobs and economy, and public sector finance: The Assessment can be completed as a quick questionnaire (10 minutes) as a measure of residents' perception of the resilience of their communities, or used as a guide to an in-depth research and planning process. We will be compiling online responses to the Assessment by county in order to document perceptions of the resilience of Bay Area communities. Please send the link to the Assessment to your friends, family, and colleagues throughout the Bay Area and encourage them to full it out! For your reference, here's the direct link: http://www.baylocalize.org/survey
The Local Resilience Assessment is one component of Bay Localize's Community Localization Action Toolkit, to be launched at our General Membership Meeting on June 25. The Toolkit outlines a 5-step process for community groups of any size to identify, prioritize, organize, and implement action plans to increase the resilience of their community. Bay Localize is currently piloting the Toolkit with the Mt. Diablo Post Carbon group of community activists in Contra Costa county. Contact Kirsten Schwind at Bay Localize if you are interested in using the Toolkit in your community.
Bay Localize has launched a beta version of an exciting new Local Resilience Assessment. The assessment is made up of 25 simple questions that allow you to rate how prepared you think your community is to deal with climate change, rising energy prices, and natural disasters that will affect how you meet your basic needs.
Local Clean Energy Alliance Advocates for Community Choice Energy
In the coming weeks, the cities of Berkeley, Oakland, and Emeryville will release a business plan for implementing Community Choice Energy in those cities (see our website for more information). Meanwhile, the Local Clean Energy Alliance of the East Bay continues to meet with city councilors about Community Choice and to collaborate with Community Choice groups Marin Clean Energy, Women's Energy Matters, and the San Joaquin Valley Power Authority (SJVPA).
In January of 2007, SJVPA became the first Community Choice program to be certified by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), but ever since the program has been dealing with obstacles put in place by PG&E. Given a recent final CPUC decision and a proposed settlement with PG&E on marketing activities, it seems like SJVPA may be back on track soon.
On May 7, the Local Clean Energy Alliance hosted a general meeting featuring Barbara George, Executive Director of Women's Energy Matters, who spoke about boosting energy efficiency efforts through a Community Choice Energy program. In addition, representatives of Rising Sun Energy and California Youth Energy Services spoke about their energy efficiency programs to save money for low-income households and provide training opportunities to urban youth.
We're also pleased to welcome the Center for Safe Energy and Women's Energy Matters (WEM) as the newest members of the Local Clean Energy Alliance! If you represent an organization, business, or association wishing to join our growing Alliance, simply Sign On to Our Platform and come to our next convening to help build a local clean energy future for all!
SAVE THE DATE! Join the Local Clean Energy Alliance at the Ecology Center in Berkeley on May 22 at 7 pm to celebrate the release of our 21st Century Greenprint for the East Bay, which charts the most effective paths toward ramping up renewable energy production and efficiency programs in the East Bay. Speakers include Berkeley City Councillor Kriss Worthington. For more information visit www.localcleanenergy.org.
Redevelopment Funds Approved for Solar Development!
This pilot project supports the goals of redevelopment because it increases the affordability of low-income housing by lowering the utility bills of residents or owners. It is likely that energy costs will rise further in the coming years, and these renewable sources of electricity will provide ever-more-valuable economic benefit to low-income residents.
The same logic that supports housing affordability by lowering utility bills would justify other projects in redevelopment project areas such as solar hot water systems, energy efficiency and conservation measures, and water efficiency and conservation measures. Local green jobs training programs, such as the Oakland Green Jobs Corps slated to launch this year, could serve as a natural partners to carry out the installation of sustainable energy systems within redevelopment project areas.
On April 22, the Oakland City Council approved a grant of $20,000 from Broadway/San Pablo/MacArthur Redevelopment funds to GRID Alternatives for the installation of two solar electric systems. Bay Localize spoke in favor of the proposal, which has been spearheaded by Local Clean Energy Alliance member Aaron Reaven. The properties selected for these systems will either be owned by low-income homeowners or a non-profit entity.
Rooftop Resources Project Updates:
Awards Received, Projects Underway, and Web Gallery Launched!
Rooftop Resources Study Receives Awards!
The Rooftop Resources Project study Tapping the Potential of Urban Rooftops recently earned two prestigious awards, indicating a growing recognition within the planning and design fields of the value of sustainable rooftop systems. The study received a Merit Award from the Northern California Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, as well as the 2008 Innovation in Green Community Planning Award from the American Planning Association, Northern California Chapter.
Bay Localize was also recently honored to be the selected recipient of a prize won by Rooftop Resources engineer and ally Kate Stillwell (pictured at right). Kate won the Degenkolb Engineers Sustainability Challenge for the most creative reuse of a plastic bag — with her ingenious and charming plastic bag hat and handbag designs — and chose to direct the prize to Bay Localize. Thank you, Kate!
Rooftop Gardens: Glide Memorial and E.C. Reems Academy
Bay Localize intern Maya Donelson recently won the Focus the Nation CLIF MOJO Slingshot grant program. The program awarded three innovative young leaders $10,000 to propel creative global warming solutions into action. Maya will use her award to launch a Summer Rooftop Gardening project that will install a rooftop garden at Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco.
The project will demonstrate various lightweight soil-less gardening and organic container gardening methods, implement a vegetable waste recycling program to produce valuable worm casting compost, and produce 1,440 pounds of produce in its first year. Glide Youth will learn important job training skills and become an integral part of the project as they learn about the intricacies of rooftop agriculture and support the construction and maintenance of the rooftop gardening system. Congratulations, Maya!
In other project news, Bay Localize has been working steadily with Oakland Food Connection this Spring to complete the E.C. Reems rooftop school garden. In early April, a team of volunteers produced an additional five garden beds and a greenhouse, showing the power of community and old-fashioned barn-raising. If you missed it, another community work day will be held in June. Inquire to Ingrid Severson for further information.
Rooftop Resources Web Gallery Launched!
We are excited to announce the launch of the Rooftop Resources Web Gallery, where you can view exemplary rainwater catchment, solar power and roof gardens of all types. The gallery aims to track these developments and provide an opportunity to display, inform and document rooftop projects where others can get inspired, acquire information and learn more about these technologies.
UPLOAD YOUR OWN PHOTOS! Use the gallery to add your own photographs and designs, exchange best practices and techniques, and help spread this appropriate technology around the Bay Area and beyond!
Local food hasn't been this hot since the Victory Garden days (World War II era) when nearly 20 million Americans were growing their own. In 2007, "Locavore" was deemed word of the year by Oxford Dictionary and Michael Pollen tipped the issue over the edge with the release of his book, The Omnivore's Dilemma. This pivotal book exposed many of the underlying disparities and externalities of the food we eat — much to our discontent. Food can be easier to eat if you aren't aware of the production methods that brought it from farms to our forks (check out the book if you don't believe me). Today, the reinvigorated interest in locally grown foods are coming from our inherent desire to be more connected with our food, to trust the food that we eat will be safe, to eat a healthier and more delicious diet, to ensure that good food will be available for future generations, and to minimize our dependency on foreign foods and oil — at least that's the way that I see it.
1. Local Food, n. 1: Food that is produced as close to home as possible for a particular product (ie meat cheese, fish, vegetables, dairy, etc). When purchasing food, seek out sources closest to you for maximum freshness and to support your local food economy. For example in the Bay Area, buy table grapes from Sonoma County or Yolo, not from Chile - available in August. Buy lettuces from the Central Coast/Watsonville area, not from Southern California. Look for foods with origin on them. If it is not listed, ask.
2. Foodie, n. 1: a person that loves food; A person who has an ardent or refined interest in food; a person devoted to refined sensuous enjoyment (especially good food and drink)
3. Food insecurity n. 1: the state of, or risk of, being unable to provide food (to oneself, a family, a nation, etc.).
4. Lorganic (pr. loreganic) n. 1: Food that is both local and organic.
In the Bay, we just happen to be surrounded by some of the most fertile agricultural fields in the world. You might not know it — but that salad you're eating is likely from Salinas. Those strawberries are under 100 miles away and those snap peas and asparagus, just under 75. Even in winter, we benefit from diverse food availabilities — especially when compared to folks living in colder climes. Despite our huge production capacity to feed our own state, California has become a net importer of food due to a focus on export-based markets that feed the rest of our country and the world. In the entire state, we only have 78,000 farms left and have lost around 6,000,000 acres since 1974 (2002 US Ag Census Bureau). The trend toward purchasing more locally grown food will aid in preserving our access to one of our most important state industries, agriculture.
For myself, choosing local over imported foods is more than just a "consumer" act. It is an act that votes for the type of food system that I personally want to see more of in the world. I want to witness the day when communities are buffered by farms for secure food access, organic and sustainable production techniques are fully utilized and celebrated, and orchards and fields provide open space and biodiversity that we unknowingly need for a healthy constitution. After all, I'm talking about our roots here and reconnecting to them. In the Bay Area, we're not far off from realizing this.
Temra Costa serves as the director of the "Buy Fresh Buy Local" program at the Community Alliance with Family Farmers. E-mail her at temra@caff.org and check out the inspiring work of CAFF by visiting their website at www.caff.org.
The Fire in the Belly
Local + Food = Good: Why I Eat What I Eat and Do What I Do
"The Fire in the Belly" is a new feature in our newsletter on what personally motivates people to work on localization. This issue's feature is written by Temra Costa, "Buy Fresh, Buy Local" Program Director for the Community Alliance With Family Farmers.
We will be inviting other members of our movement to contribute to future editions. These essays are personal statements exploring the diverse viewpoints that lead to localization as an organizing framework, and as such do not necessarily reflect the positions of Bay Localize.
My daily life is ALL about local food. When I'm not making dinner or digging around my garden, I have the pleasure of working with farmers, community members, organizations, chefs, the media, distributors and retailers to engage people in a more sane agricultural system for the state. There has never been a more exciting time for this work! I eat what I eat — local and organic (or lorganic) whenever possible — because it is the easiest (and most delicious) way to support the kind of environment I want to live in — one that regionally provides for my food needs, increases small business vitality, and values community and a more healthful environment. I'm not alone in my love for lorganically grown food as demand has reached a new peak in eater awareness in the past year.
Definitions:
With the price of oil increasing (over $120 a barrel!), local, state and federal governments are starting to nibble around the topic of local food security and access. Contra Costa County just passed a progressive resolution linking the Public Health Department with local farming organizations like the Brentwood Agricultural Land Trust. This year, October is Local Food Month and we will be encouraging everyone to eat as close to home as possible and for other counties to pass the same sort of resolutions. Through work in creating the Bay Area Local Food Guide and online searchable database for all things local, I'm finding that by involving everyone in the food chain — from farmer to eater — we are able to improve the economic viability of our farming community. This is an important element in making local food work for everyone as with improved viability, young people like myself will be more inclined to go and give a try at turning dirt into dollars. After all, our system currently works on the value of a dollar bill and has yet to reincorporate social and environmental wellbeing in our indexes of progress.
I'm well aware that bananas are not going to disappear from the supermarket overnight or that unripe, tasteless produce, corn syrup processed foods or hormone injected dairy and meat which dominate our store shelves today will disappear next month — the corporations that are running the food show would simply not allow it. It's going to take time and continuous eater support of the kind of agriculture that makes sense for people, our communities and the environment — that of lorganic food. The great news is that it is already working! Each of us are making the choice daily and are increasing the viability of local farms. Some things that you can do to support local food is to join a CSA, ask for local wherever you eat or shop, shop at a farmers' market, plant a garden, sign up for our monthly newsletter, volunteer for an organization working on the issue, etc. Local food resources and more are available at our website at www.buylocalca.org. The choice is ours.
Events Roundup: Upcoming and Recent Activities
UPCOMING EVENTS:
"21st Century Greenprint for the East Bay" Release
May 22, Ecology Center, Berkeley
Join the Local Clean Energy Alliance on May 22 at 7 pm to celebrate the release of our 21st Century Greenprint for the East Bay, which charts the most effective paths toward ramping up renewable energy production and efficiency programs in the East Bay. Speakers include Berkeley City Councillor Kriss Worthington.- Neighborhood Empowerment Network 2008 Clean and Green Summit
May 31, San Francisco
Join San Francisco's Neighborhood Empowerment Network for a day of networking with community activists, sustainability experts, and neighbors. The summit includes a resource fair, breakout sessions, and walking tours. - Greening Albany: a Community Works to Fight Global Warming
June 8, Albany
Learn what you can do as a business and resident to fight global warming and conserve resources. Featuring booths and workshops on topics designed to give people hands-on experience to help them green their homes and businesses. - Alameda County Fair, Living Green Village
June 20-July 6, Pleasanton
This year the Alameda County Fair will include an area devoted to green living, including presentations and exhibits on energy conservation, recycling, natural foods, and more. 
The Big One Community Empowerment Convergence
June 21-22, Speedway Meadow, San Francisco
This free two-day community building event is intended to forge new relationships through dialogue, committed engagement, and trust. The event seeks to develop sustainability awareness and action, civic engagement, and localization of culture, economy, and decision-making.- Bay Localize General Meeting
June 25, Oakland
We're excited to invite you all to our first general meeting! Please join us for the launch of our Local Resilience Assessment toolkit, as well as other project updates, food, and friends. Look for further details in your inbox soon! - Green City Gallery Anniversary Celebration
June 28, Ecology Center, Berkeley
Join the organizers of Berkeley's Green City Gallery for a celebration marking the anniversary of the landmark community space's establishment. Help us build support to for a new and permanent Green City Gallery! - Solfest XIII
August 16-17, Hopland
Since 1996, the Solar Living Institute has hosted the premier celebration of renewable energy and sustainable living. Join us for two days of world-renowned speakers, workshops, music, and more. 
Slow Food Nation 2008
August 29-September 1, San Francisco
This fall Slow Food Nation will bring together hundreds of farmers, food artisans, food activists, and food eaters to taste and talk about good food. The event will offer activities for all ages, including (of course) food, music, forums, workshops, films, and exhibits, all highlighting an agricultural system that is good, clean and fair.
Look for announcements of other upcoming gatherings on our website.
RECENT EVENTS:
This Spring has been a period of frenzied activity and community outreach for Bay Localize!
In February, Bay Localize took part in a special event in Berkeley with Paul Hawken, author of Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Movement in the World Came Into Being and Why No One Saw it Coming. Hawken spoke about how the increasing global scarcity of energy and other critical resources requires us to fundamentally redesign our economies, noting how a multifaceted, diverse global movement is forging new ways of living in harmony with one another and the natural world.
On March 19, Bay Localize joined thousands of concerned residents in a peaceful march through the streets of San Francisco marking the 5th anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq. We distributed flyers describing how to end oil wars by building locally powered economies that free us from imported energy and ensure a healthy quality of life for all.
Later in the month, Bay Localize's Aaron Lehmer and Kirsten Schwind presented to the Mt. Diablo Post Carbon group about strategies to increase local energy efficiency and renewable energy development in Contra Costa County. Organizers with the group are assessing their community's resilience, and offering feedback on our Localization Toolkit (under development).
In early April, Bay Localize participated in the Transportation and Land Use Coalition's Healthy Communities, Healthy Planet Summit in Oakland. This 11th annual gathering explored the connections between land use, transportation policy, and health issues in the Bay Area. Bay Localize is a proud member of TALC.
In celebration of Earth Day 2008, Bay Localize took part at the Oakland Earth Expo (see photo at right), the East Bay Municipal Utility District Earth Week event, and Emeryville Earth Day.
Bay Localize also played a prominent role at the 7th International Ecocity World Summit in San Francisco in late April. This event brought together an international community of inspired change-makers — individuals who are addressing problems of the world's environment with thoughtful long-range solutions that are truly sustainable, ecologically healthy and socially just. Bay Localize's Dave Room and Kirsten Schwind spoke on panels covering energy and economic localization and Ingrid Severson spoke on the potential of living roofs to create green jobs.
Volunteer with Bay Localize!
Are you interested in donating your time to your community and the environment in a meaningful way? Bay Localize needs steady, dedicated volunteers to help with office work and other projects. Come join us in our lively, friendly office in downtown Oakland right next to BART, to make the world a better place for future generations. We welcome seniors! Afternoon hours preferred. Please send your letter of interest and resume to kirsten@baylocalize.org with "Volunteer Application" in the subject line, or call us at (510) 318-0610.
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Intern with Bay Localize!
Thinking of a career in local energy and climate change policy? Interested in building community through energy conservation? Flexible internships available with responsibilities according to your experience! We are happy to work with your institution to arrange academic credit. Send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to kirsten@baylocalize.org with "Internship Application" in the subject line. Internships are unpaid, with a stipend available for local travel.
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Have a Computer to Donate?
Reuse is even better than recycling, and we can offer your old computer a good home! Pentium 4 processors and newer, receipts for tax write-offs available. Contact kirsten@baylocalize.org or call (510) 318-0160. We are interested in laser printers, LCD monitors, fax machines, and photocopiers as well. Thank you for your generosity!
Invest in Bay Localize!
We would be honored to count you among our growing range of supporters. Your contribution will help us to forward localization projects and initiatives in the Bay Area. Each donor of $35 or more receives a one-year subscription to the award-winning quarterly publication, the Earth Island Journal.
To make a tax-deductible contribution, please click on the online donation link below, or write a check or money order made payable to Earth Island Institute (our fiscal sponsor) with "Bay Localize" in the memo and mail it to:
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436 14th Street, Suite 1127
Oakland, CA 94612
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About Bay Localize News
Bay Localize News features regular news and updates from Bay Localize, a growing network of nonprofits, businesses, and municipal leaders working to build a more self-reliant, sustainable, and socially just Bay Area.
EDITORS: Allyse Heartwell, Aaron Lehmer
CONTRIBUTORS: Temra Costa, Allyse Heartwell, Aaron Lehmer, David Room, Kirsten Schwind, Ingrid Severson
For more about Bay Localize, please visit our website at http://www.baylocalize.org.
Contact Us:
NEW ADDRESS!
Bay Localize
436 14th Street, Suite 1127
Oakland, CA 94612 USA
(510) 834-0420
Web: http://www.baylocalize.org