Transition PDX

"Inherent within the challenges of peak oil and climate change is an extraordinary opportunity to reinvent, rethink, and rebuild the world around us." - Rob Hopkins, The Transition Handbook. 


The mission of TransitionPDX is to inspire, to encourage, to network, to support and train the communities and neighborhoods of the Portland metro area as they consider, adopt, adapt and implement the transition model in order to establish Transition Initiatives.


Starting in July 2008, Transition PDX is made up of a growing network of volunteers working to bring the the Transition model to Portland, Oregon.

In this section of The Dirt! you will find information on how you can join us in helping to create a more resilient city, ready to respond to the challenges and opportunities of Peak Oil and Climate Change.

- How would such city look? Fostering a resilient community is about developing a community that can thrive despite the challenges brought to it by changing climate conditions and the consequences of depleting energy resources.

One of the notable things about the Transition Initiative is the hope that it brings to people. Despite the very real challenges that the future is likely to bring, the enthusiasm in the room at gatherings and meetings can be quite palpable.

Transition PDX is sponsored in part by St. Francis of Assisi Parish.

Illahee Series - Wes Jackson - Power, Change and Food

Event
When: 
Monday, March 15, 2010 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

More about Wes Jackson (courtesy of wikipedia): Jackson founded a non-profit organization, The Land Institute, in 1976. He is still head of The Land Institute, which currently describes its main goal as the development of Natural Systems Agriculture; it also publishes The Land Report, a newsletter about American sustainable agriculture and agrarianism.

The Land Institute explored alternatives in appropriate technology, environmental ethics, and education, but a research program in sustainable agriculture eventually became central to its work. In 1978 Jackson proposed the development of a perennial polyculture. He sought to have fields planted in polycultures, more than one plant in a field, as in nature. Jackson also wanted to use perennials, which would not need to be replanted every year - that would leave the soil more intact, preventing erosion, and allowing important relationships between soil and plant to continue. The Land Institute attempts to breed plants not presently used in agriculture into effective producers of perennial grains in intercropping conditions. Jackson argued that this version of agriculture used "nature as model", and to pursue that end The Land Institute has studied prairie ecology.

Entering its third decade, The Land Institute is beginning to demonstrate progress in developing the perennial crops called for in the Natural Systems Agriculture model. Programs in wheatsorghum, and sunflower are generating crop lines displaying both perenniality and agriculturally-significant seed yield. Research on integrating these new plants into polycultures also continues. The Land Institute is not itself developing machinery suitable for one-pass harvesting of grain polycultures. It instead takes the position that integration of existing materials separation technology into harvesters is a straight-forward task, and will be accomplished by public and private agricultural engineers when the demand arrives.

Wes Jackson is the author of several books and is recognized as a leader in the international sustainable agriculture movement. In 1971, Wes Jackson's first efforts to address growing environmental concerns, react to social concerns growing from the Civil Rights movement andopposition to the Vietnam War, and answer student requests for more relevant materials resulted in the environmental reader, Man and the Environment.[1][2] After leaving academia and establishing the Land Institute, Jackson published the book New Roots for Agriculture about looking to natural ecosystems, such as the prairie, to help solve the problem of soil erosion.

Location

First Congregational Church
1126 SW Park
Portland, OR

Illahee Series - Richard Heinberg: Power, Change and Energy

Event
When: 
Monday, February 22, 2010 - 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Senior Fellow-in-Residence at Post Carbon Institute, Mr. Heinberg is best known as a leading educator on Peak Oil—the point at which we reach maximum global oil production—and the resulting, devastating impact it will have on our economic, food, and transportation systems. But his expertise is far ranging, covering critical issues including the current economic crisis, food and agriculture, community resilience, and global climate change. Heinberg is author of nine books, including The Party’s Over, Peak Everything, and the newly released Blackout.

Location

First Congregational Church
1126 SW Park
Portland, OR

Transiton PDX General Meeting - March 2010

Event
When: 
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Everyone in Transition PDX are invited to gather and hear progress reports from existing groups, the Hub, as well as feedback and discussion from the larger Transition community. 

This is an opportunity to get to know others in Transition PDX, share wisdom and progress toward a more resilient community.

Plan to attend so that together we can maintain the momentum needed to build community, create resilience, and craft an effective Energy Descent Action Plan.

Location

St. Francis Che Room
1131 SE Oak
Portland, OR

Transiton PDX General Meeting - Feb 2010

Event
When: 
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Everyone in Transition PDX are invited to gather and and hear progress reports from new conveners of interest groups, existing groups, and the Hub, as well as feedback and discussion from the larger Transition community.  

This is an opportunity to get to know others in Transition PDX, share wisdom and progress toward a more resilient community.

Plan to attend so that together we can maintain the momentum needed to build community, create resilience, and craft an effective Energy Descent Action Plan.

Location

St. Francis Che Room
1131 SE Oak
Portland, OR

ReSkilling: Mending

Event
When: 
Wednesday, March 24, 2010 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Christine Virgo will present basic mending skills and tips. Then lead us in a hands-on tutorial about mending.

If you have no sewing needles or thread to bring, please come anyway! Christine will have some basic equipment to share. If you have a darning needle, or would like to purchase one, bring it, as well, because Christine can show you how to use that, too!

Bring your holey socks and other clothing that needs a small repair. During the hands-on section, Christine will circulate to give pointers on how best to succeed in the project at hand.

Some time ago Transition PDX asked what skills you most want to learn. By far, mending received the most requests. So, we look forward to Christine working with us, and we look forward to your being there.

Location

St. Francis - Che Room
1131 SE Oak St.
Portland, OR