Berea signs on as Transition Town
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.
Getting Down to Work Workshop
Early in 2009, Transition Town Berea (TTB) became the world’s 134th 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.
Home Energy Conservation Project
Goal: To assist, through educational programs and materials, Berea homeowners to reduce their energy use and costs, and to incorporate solar energy systems.
Local Economy
Goal: To strengthen and expand Berea’s local economy.
Monthly re-skilling workshop: The Chicken Meeting
Back by popular demand, the meeting on raising chickens Bryce Bauman, Forever Farms, and Doreen Parsley, Berea, will speak about raising chickens. A discussion will follow about Berea’s current ordinances regarding backyard chickens.
