Sustainable Berea

Relocalizing Berea: Let’s have a Buy Local, Be Local campaign.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009
6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Public Library, Chestnut Street, Berea

Watch a short video about how more than 600 local businesses came together in Bellingham Washington for an amazingly successful “buy local” campaign.

We will react to a plan that is proposed to help Berea increase its resilience to national economic problems by strengthening its local economy.

By Tom Eblen – Lexington Herald-Leader columnist

Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2009

BEREA — What if the energy supplies, food systems and other foundations of our modern economy and lifestyle suddenly changed? How would your community cope?

It’s a notion more of us have been thinking about during the past year. We saw gasoline spike to $4 a gallon last summer, then watched our consumption-driven economy slide into a deep recession.

Berea is one of nearly 150 communities around the world participating in a project called Transition Town. It is a citizen-driven effort to develop local strategies for coping with inevitable change in energy supplies and economic conditions that are no longer sustainable or good for the planet.

THE REST OF THE STORY: http://tomeblen.bloginky.com

^{3rd Annual 100-mile Potluck and Live Auction}

^{Sunday, July 26, 2009}

^{5:30 pm to 7:30 pm}

^{Berea Community School Gym}

^{Bring a dish prepared with ingredients produced within 100 miles of Berea. Please write down your recipe and sources of ingredients. Recipes from the first three years of potlucks will be published in the Berea Local Foods Recipe Book in October 2009. Join us in celebrating and promoting the bounty of Berea’s 100-mile “foodshed.”}

^{Information: 859-985-1689}

Transition Town Berea

Getting Down to Work Workshop

Sunday, May 31, 4 pm to 6 pm

Public Library, Chestnut St.

Early in 2009, Transition Town Berea (TTB) became the world’s 134^th official Transition Initiative, signifying a community working to increase its resilience to external energy, economic and environmental shocks. One of the efforts that gained TTB this recognition was the development of 36 recommendations for action by the city that were presented last November to a public meeting attended by about 90 people.

Since that time, a group of members of Sustainable Berea have been studying The Transition Handbook and discussing next steps for TTB.  Listed below are 8 initiatives that should be easy to implement. In fact, groundwork has been laid in most of these proposals.

On May 31, we invite all people who want to move into action to join us. Our task is to select two or three of these 8 steps that we can address immediately.  Transitioning Berea is a total community effort and we welcome anyone interested in this exciting and important work!

Energy

Planning and implementation of an expanded 2009 Berea Solar Tour (October 3) to maximize its effectiveness in promoting the use of solar energy in Berea.

Promote alternatives to dependence on a private car such as organized ride share programs and zip car community car sharing programs.

Economy

Evaluate the potential for alternative mediums of exchange such as a local currency or a Local Exchange Trading System (LETS) for Berea.

Compile and publish a directory of local businesses.

Food

Establish a Community Task Group to conduct an analysis of food security issues in Berea and to develop a plan for Berea’s food security in 2025.

Compile and distribute a Local Food Directory

Propose and promote changes to the Berea Livestock Ordinances to support the keeping of backyard chickens.

Organize a raised bed project to construct and sell 100 raised beds to increase Berea’s local food production.

Goal: To assist, through educational programs and materials, Berea homeowners to reduce their energy use and costs, and to incorporate solar energy systems.