Post Carbon Newsletter #26 April 2007

1. Post Carbon Cities is Here!
2. Global Public Media
3. Relocalization Network
4. Energy Farms
5. Featured Post Carbon Group
6. Tech Report
7. Job Postings
8. Forthcoming Events
9. May Preview

1. Post Carbon Cities is Here!

Post Carbon Institute is pleased to announce the official launch of our new Post Carbon Cities program, and the unveiling of the Post Carbon Cities website at postcarboncities.net.

We've started Post Carbon Cities to help cities respond to the challenges posed by peak oil and climate change. The program provides technical assistance and resources to the people who work with and for local governments, from elected officials and staff to consultants and non-governmental organizations.

The Post Carbon Cities website at postcarboncities.net has daily updates on news, policy tools and other resources related to local government actions on peak oil and global warming. This spring we are also releasing a guidebook for local government officials and staff in the U.S. and Canada, Post Carbon Cities: Planning for Energy and Climate Uncertainty. The guidebook explains the relevance of peak oil and global warming to local needs and concerns, and presents case studies of previous municipal actions as well as resources for developing local responses.

Please visit us at postcarboncities.net and spread the word about this great new resource to your local government officials and staff!

2. Global Public Media

At Global Public Media, we pride ourselves on bringing together a far-flung flock of interesting, insightful people who challenge us to see the world in new ways. But we also find great subjects right on our new front door in California: in this case, Post Carbon fellow Richard Heinberg, who shares his thoughts on why the United States appears poised for an air attack on Iran's nuclear energy facilities in an interview hosted by Post Carbon's president, Julian Darley.

As for people who challenge our way of thinking, we've got 2 good ones this month: first, a Reality Report audio interview with ecological philosopher and author Derrick Jensen, who questions whether civilization itself is sustainable; and the well-known irascible critic of auto culture, James Howard Kunstler, who talks about our recent illusions of keeping our cars running on biofuels rather than facing what he calls, "the twilight of Happy Motoring."

On a more cheery note, Post Carbon's Richard Bell reports that in what was billed as a "debate" with Senator John Kerry on global warming, even that crusty Republican Newt Gingrich endorses global warming and the urgency of reducing CO2 emissions.

3. Relocalization Network

Relocalize.net continues to buzz with activity. Beyond Oil NYC has put together a report "Moving New York City Toward Energy Independence," and submitted it to NYC Council. Willits Economic Localization Link (WELL) is sponsoring the 2007 Regional Localization Networking Conference on May 18-20, 2007, in Willits, California. Click here to download the information and a sign-up package. Peak Moment Television has produced five new online videos focusing on community localization topics from local currency to electric cars, including a conversation with Richard Heinberg. You can watch or listen at www.peakmoment.tv and Global Public Media.

Visit www.relocalize.net for updated news and events posted by all the local groups around the world.

4. Energy Farms

Chris Hansen reports on the growth of the Energy Farm Network, and on what's happening as the Willits Energy Farm moves into spring:

In the last month, the Energy Farm Network has expanded to five sites. A site on private land in Rogue River (OR) will be growing Peredovik sunflower seeds and developing an oilseed press to be used at other farms in the network. Laguna Farms, a 400 member CSA in Sebastopol, CA will be looking to create a biogas digestion system that converts plant matter to combustible methane gas. Finally, Post Carbon Institute is teaming up with a professor at Kentucky State University to look for alternatives to tobacco cultivation as the site experiments with sweet sorghum processing for small-scale production of ethanol.

The Willits Energy Farm evolves by the day. Over 800 Sq Ft of spring annuals are in the ground, and more are on the way. Kale, spinach, chard, lettuce, beets, onions, turnips, and cabbage are spaced in beds utilizing certain aspects of the Grow Biointensive methodology. Each bed in the spring annual section has been prepared using the toolset and petrol-free bed preparation methods that are being tested at the Willits Energy Farm. By the end of April, we plan to ready another 1800 Sq Ft for the cultivation of potatoes. In spite of limited rainfall, the spring grain and legume crops are established and we are curious to see how they will perform under dry-land farming conditions. A dry-land demonstration is important because it provides farmers an agricultural option in which they can adapt to the demands of a changing climate and a lack of energy to power large scale irrigation systems.

Besides the cultivation of spring crops we are working hard to establish necessary farm infrastructure, including a composting area, irrigation system, and a solar array for on-site power. Thanks to the help of Rachael Adaire and a local irrigation supply company, we will be looking to install the plumbing components of the irrigation system by the end of April. The system has been designed to be flexible in order to accommodate four main annual sections that will remain in constant crop rotation. We also built a 4 Ft by 8 Ft worm composting bin this month. It will process food scraps from a nearby restaurant and convert them into nutrient-rich worm castings. The bin has the capacity to process 30 pounds of food scraps a day when fully stocked with 64 pounds of red worms! We will start small, but plan to expand to three additional bins that will someday be able to manage the lunchroom wastes from Brookside Elementary School.

5. Featured Post Carbon Group

Dan Minor from Peak Oil NYC sent us this report about the direction that energy activists in New York City have been taking to tackle the massive problem of moving the city away from its dependence on fossil fuels and foreign energy supplies. Dan is also the author of Moving NYC Toward Sustainable Energy Independence, a report issued through the Sierra Club New York City Group, available online at www.beyondoilnyc.org. For Dan's update on New York City, click here.

6. Tech Report

Relocalize.net custom page templates are in production. Groups can now customize banners and have their own menus per group. You can see an example of the new group lay out at the Sustainable Maleny Project site. The development team is focused on improving the group themes, mapping and calendaring tools in the coming month, as we move forward to drupal 5.

The past month has also seen many changes behind the scenes to Post Carbon Institute's information infrastructure. We've been busy installing powerful new internal management tools, including the Zimbra email/calendar program, and a new web-based project management system, in order to serve the growing needs of the Post Carbon programs.

7. Job Postings

Post Carbon Institute is currently hiring for the following three positions:

*Relocalization Network Manager

*Global Public Media Coordinator

*Web Services Programmer

For job descriptions, responsibilities, and qualifications for all three positions, click here.

8. Forthcoming Events

The Sustainable Energy Summit: Community Action for a Clean Energy

April 28, 8:30 AM -- 5:30 PM, Northhampton, MA, USA

At the Smith College Mendenhall Center for the Performing Arts. Workshop topics include: environmental justice, and municipal and school sustainable energy options. Special guest lecturer, Richard Heinberg.

Global Warming: Understanding the Big Picture & Solutions

May 4, 7:00 PM, Dance Palace, Pt. Reyes Station, California, USA

West Marin Alliance presents a discussion of climate chaos, peak oil, economic consequences, and what we can do. Featuring noted authors, including Jerry Mander and Richard Heinberg.

Creating Economic Localization Through Relationship Building: Regional Localization Networking Conference

May 18-20, Brooktrails Lodge, Willits, California, USA

An event to encourage effective communication and relationship building with Economic Localization community groups through presentations, theater, panels, and discussions. Featuring keynote speaker Peter Russell, internationally renowned futurist, environmentalist, speaker, and author.

Lane County Relocalization Conference

April 27-28, 2007, Eugene, Oregon

Global challenges demand local integrated solutions! Post Carbon Eugene invites you to join together with other local concerned citizens and Lane County planners for an exciting culture changing opportunity. Special guest speaker is Post Carbon Cities Program Manager Daniel Lerch, author of Post Carbon Cities: Planning for Energy and Climate Uncertainty.

9. May Preview--Post Your Comments on Global Public Media

What do you think about the articles and interviews on Global Public Media? Register on any of Post Carbon's websites, and then go to Global Public Media. Click on the phrase "Add a Comment" (which appears at the bottom of every item) and share your ideas, questions, criticism, links to other articles or websites...it's up to you.