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The Elsewhere Artist Collaborative in downtown Greensboro hosts "Green Dialogues," an eight-part series of North Carolina-based eco-thinkers presenting DIY environmental projects for urban living. They take place every other Saturday through September.

The group has started a hanging garden system in the back alley of the collective. Charlie Headington of UNCG will speak Saturday at 2 p.m. of living vertically in the city. Sounds interesting. 

The Rev. Canon Sally Bingham, president and founder of Interfaith Power and Light, asked as much during the closing keynote addresses at the conference on faith, spirituality and environmental stewardship, I attended with almost 300 others in Salisbury last week. With all the work to do globally regarding climate change, it seems the pace of change on the government, business and community level is mighty slow.

But Bingham and other presenters made the case that people of faith have much to contribute to the transition away from a carbon-based society to one that relies on conservation, efficiency and renewable energy to meet its needs. I left quite inspired to do as much as I can personally and professionally in Greensboro.

Bingham said: "I think we are at a point where enough people have realized we are destroying ourselves.... I see a wonderful horizon. It may get worse before it gets better but I believe it will get better."

To which Gary Gardner, senior researcher of the Worldwatch Institute, responded: "I don't think we should underestimate the challenge that is before us. The challenge is huge."

Highlights from the conference (pictured below is Dr. Samuel Dansokho, an associate professor at Hood Theological Seminary, who gave a presentation):

Gardner said humans need a new understanding of progress, one that is not based on material consumption and lack of boundaries. He said religion can spiritually ground people to find their self-worth in something other than wealth generation.

Matthew Sleeth, an evangelical Christian who gave up his career as an ER physician to preach a green message, said that churches are starting to open up to the message of being better stewards of their natural resources. One session he gave was on observing the sabbath, both as a way of taking care of one's health and also as a way of reducing material and energy consumption. Sleeth said on Sunday, he and his wife only drive to church. They take walks and don't require anyone else to work on that day, for example, by ordering takeout.

"I don't think God intended our lives to be one long run-on sentence," Sleeth said.

Erik Assadourian of the Worldwatch Institute listed 10 ecological ethical choices for people to follow in their daily lives: right diet, just livelihood, active political engagement, life of service, mindful consumption, family for all families (population control), renewing life rituals (and planning green versions of funerals, weddings, etc), preparing for a changing world, spreading community and shifting perspective. Assadourian said he doesn't see any reason why a coffee shop can't use reusable items, compost its waste and provide locally-produced products, such as garden produce, etc. (Sounds like a business idea!)

Of course, a lot more happened, but I think you get the point. If you are interested in any particular session, I will try to provide more information. Also, the Center for the Environment plans to some video of the keynote speakers online.

An invitation to formal and informal educators from the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh: 

Join the Museum of Natural Sciences as we explore natural areas our state! Our itinerary includes stops at a number of state parks: Mt. Mitchell, Stone Mountain, Hanging Rock, Falls Lake, Jones Lake, and Hammocks Beach. We'll spend a lot of time in and on the water kayaking the Dan River (class 1 rapids - no experience necessary but loads of fun!) and canoeing on Salters Lake (a Carolina Bay in eastern NC), plunging in swimming holes, cooling down in waterfalls, and everywhere examining the geology and ecology that shape the streams, rivers, lakes, and coast of our state! No camping experience is necessary - we'll have an "advance team" of Museum staff to help with the camp setup and cooking (and there will be showers at almost all campsites!). There will be moderate to strenuous activities over the course of the week, including hiking, kayaking, and canoeing. It should be an amazing adventure! We hope you'll join us.

Location: Various natural sites around NC
Date: Sunday, July 20–Saturday, July 26, 2008
Cost: $250 (includes transportation from Raleigh, camping fees, 
most meals, take-home materials and kayak rental)

Spend a week traveling from the highest point in the mountains, the spruce-fir forest atop Mt. Mitchell, to the barrier islands along our coast. As we explore the diversity of North Carolina, we'll examine changes in the geology and ecology, including a close look at the characteristics and inhabitants of our streams, rivers and estuaries. We will camp our way across the state to experience the changes in local climates — from cool mountain air to salty ocean breezes. Most camping equipment can be provided by the Museum;  participants need to provide sleeping pad and bag.

For more information or to sign up, call Melissa Dowland at (919) 733-7450 ext. 613
or e-mail at melissa.dowland AT ncmail.net

Read more here.

The Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation reports that this spring's Triad Commute Challenge was a success. More than 1,500 people pledged to use an alternative form of transportation in March, April and May. Let's hope the participants followed through on their promises.

The N.C. Sustainable Energy Association is asking residents to sign a petition requesting strong rules for connecting solar systems to the electrical grid (net metering, which would allow households to supply electricity). The Vote Solar Initiatve is an effort to bring solar energy into the mainstream.

I've been mulling for the past week whether to participate in any of the various local food challenges going on in North Carolina and across the country. Not because I don't think it would be possible. In fact, I believe North Carolina is one of the best states to do it in. I just don't know if I want to add more rules or guidelines to my life.

I actually thought about participating in the 100 Mile Diet last year and blogging about it for the News & Record, but I scrapped the idea once I became pregnant. Now that my daughter is six months old, I feel comfortable trying it. Plus, eating locally is becoming more popular and I've got to be in the in-crowd, now don't I? (Yeah, right.)

I've been gardening in a small plot and shopping at the farmers markets in Greensboro and Colfax since last spring. Resources such as Slow Food Piedmont Triad and Local Harvest have helped me find sites for all kinds of goods, such as locally milled flour, chicken and herbs. I just need to decide how strict I want to be and how long I want to go. Do I cut out rice and pasta, salt and pepper? Do I go for a week, a month or the rest of the year? What restaurants in Greensboro would be off limits?  

Whatever I decide, I have made the commitment to increase the amount of locally-grown and produced foods I eat. I like feeling connected to farmers and artisans in Guilford County and North Carolina and being able to ask them face to face about their products. But I want my purchases and food preparations to be both a joy and learning experience, not a guilt-ridden chore. 

The "Simple Living" television show will feature Guilford County on UNC-TV at 6:30 tonight. 

The segment, called "Connecting with Nature," will include a visit to The Center for Education, Imagination and the Natural World, and interviews with Thomas Berry, cultural historian; Richard Louv, nationally-known author of "Last Child in the Woods"; and Joseph Cornell, head of the Sharing Nature Foundation. 

This Saturday, from 10-11:30 a.m.: Guilford Solar Communities will feature passive solar design.

Where:  Barn Kitchen Meeting Room, Guilford County Agricultural Center,
             3309 Burlington Rd., Greensboro, NC 27405. (Nearest cross
             street is Huffine Mill Road.)

Description:  This month’s presentation will be about Passive Solar Design. Passive Solar is the system of making use of the sun’s energy without mechanical devices.  It’s a system that was already used by the native Indians, but was “forgotten” in the modern world due to the availability of air-conditioners and heaters.  Passive solar principles are now slowly making a comeback in buildings in the U.S.
 
Presenter:  Michiel VanderSommen.  For more information, contact Michiel directly, at 558-4405.

Also on Saturday, from 2-4 p.m.: “Take Action Tour” on climate change at the Museum of Natural Science in downtown Raleigh. Will include the following topics: setting a reduction goal for carbon dioxide emissions, adapting to climate change, clean cars, and ways you can make a difference. Please RSVP. Click here for more information.

On July 31: Greening Your Events & Parties (from Piedmont Environmental Alliance). Planning a wedding, conference, race or festival?  Or, maybe just a backyard BBQ?  Events and parties typically generate a lot of waste.  Learn how to make your events eco-friendly, perhaps even zero waste.  Reduce, reuse, recycle, compost – we will provide lots of suggestions, alternatives and local sources for greening your event. Join the alliance on Thursday night, July 31st, for its quarterly Environmental Exchange.  More details in the coming weeks. 

In the news: Ten Thousand Villages, with local stores in Greensboro and Winston-Salem, was recognized this month as one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by The Ethisphere Institute and Forbes Magazine.

Yay! I've been waiting for this to happen. Green Drinks, a social networking opportunity for those interested in green living and sustainability, is finally coming to this city. Winston-Salem has had one for a while but I could never justify driving 30 minutes out of my way in rush hour just to chit chat.

But then I got this message, and my toes curled because I realized I could easily swing by after work:

When:   June 18th, 5:30pm
Where:  Natty Greene's Brewing Company, 2nd Floor
Why:      See below...

What is Green Drinks Greensboro? It's a social hour.  It's a networking event.  It's unwinding with friends.  It's a time and place where it's okay to be green and to find out what others in your city are doing to be green, work green, play green, or live green.  And it happens all over the country and the world in over 300 cities.  Proving that it's never too late to join the green movement, Green Drinks Greensboro will begin meeting every third Wednesday of the month on the 2nd floor of Natty Greene's Brewing Company (345 S. Elm St.) starting on June 18th from 5:30 until 7:30(ish).

Green Drinks Greensboro invites all those who care about the environment, teach about and learn about the environment, work in an environment-related field, have interest in the environment, environmental products, sustainable building, environmental protection, eating local, ecological design, alternative energy…you get the idea.  There will be no agenda and there are no dues. From time-to-time we will allow a few minutes for short presentations. To get on our e-mail list, simply send an email to greendrinksgso@gmail.com and we will keep you posted on our events.  See you there!

And, to truly make this a fun event for all, please forward this message on to others who would enjoy this event.  You can search www.greendrinks.org to see what other groups around the world are doing.

The Fund for Democratic Communities and the Greensboro Montessori School will co-sponsor a screening of the new PBS documentary "Where Do the Children Play?" at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 28 at the HIVE, 1214 Grove Street. 

    The film examines an issue of growing concern among pediatricians, mental health experts, educators, and environmentalists that today's children have little or no opportunity for unstructured play, especially outdoors:

“When you think about it, for tens of thousands of years children spent much of their childhood playing or working in natural settings,” says Richard Louv, author of "Last Child in the Woods," and one of the experts who appears in the film.  “Within the space of two or three decades in Western society, particularly in the United States, that's in danger of ending. This is a radical change in a very short period of time. It's got to have important, perhaps profound implications for mental health, physical health, and spiritual health -- for who we are.”

    The film screening is the initial event in a year-long community discussion about the state of childhood and play in Greensboro.  Louv will be at the Greensboro Montessori School on Sept. 25 for a talk and book signing.

    WHAT: Screening of the PBS documentary "Where Do the Children Play?"
    WHEN:  Saturday, June 28, 6 p.m.
    WHERE:  The HIVE, 1214 Grove Street
   
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Muktha Jost, 549-0733, mjost@ncat.edu

The Piedmont Environmental Center will host a free talk on sustaining your business on July 17 at the Piedmont Environmental Center in High Point. Refreshments will be served. Questions answered include "who represents the new green audience" and "what going green means to your future."

About 40 people showed up for Greensboro's first Green Drinks socializing event at Natty Greene's on Wednesday, a pretty strong turnout for the first meeting. Participants included folks from the building industry, the city of Greensboro, Elsewhere Artist Collective and local colleges and neighborhoods (I even met a recent Guilford College graduate who was looking for a job). Very cool indeed.

Brian Higgins, who just moved to Greensboro with his wife from Seattle in February, is responsible for getting Green Drinks going.

He said he was going to the one in Winston-Salem but realized it would be better to get one going here than commute. Now it's established that there is a legitimate interest in green living here; now it's up to Green Drinks to be a tool for positive and progressive change in the city. Can you drink to that?

Across the country, American Dreams are evaporating in so many ways and for so many reasons it is hard to keep count. I was just reading today in the New York Times about homeowners who have been foreclosed upon now finding it difficult to rent apartments (including one 43-year-old woman who is renting kitchen-less space on the third floor of someone's house). Then you've got the destroyed homes and businesses in the Midwest from the floods, mounting layoffs, and then, of course, $4 gas.

What does this mean? Rejection letters from landlords. Sleeping in cars. Staycations (not trips to Myrtle Beach and Disneyworld). Beans and rice for dinner. Unemployment checks. All with the background noise of peak oil, climate change and drought.

How's all that for a slice of humble pie? I'm certainly eating it. All those years in college racking up debt while aspiring to build a career, own several homes, take weekend retreats and summer vacations (hey, maybe even travel overseas!), and retire at 60 could have been better spent preparing to live in an "earn less, make do" world. A world where people explore the nooks and crannies of their towns and cities rather than jet-setting, where homeownership exemplifies a person's commitment to their communities rather than a path to riches. A world where I have a blue-collar back-up to my white-collar 9 to 5.

Pride (as in "We Americans deserve it!") may have gotten us far in the the 20th century, but it will do us a disservice now. Sharing, sacrifice, solidarity, cooperation and common sense, all those things we pay lip service too, will be the currency that gets us through these next years and decades. It means sharing a house, a car, a garden. Counting the full cost of things you buy from production to sale.  Creating miracles for yourself and other people instead of waiting for them to drop out of the sky. Seeing God work in darkness as well as light.  

Throwing hissy fits is not going to get us through this deal.

Starting this Sunday, the News & Record will feature a three-part series I worked on this year about peak oil. I'm encouraging you all to take a look because you will likely hear more about it in the news from now on.

If you want a head start, take a look at this article.

In addition, Peter Kauber of Guilford Solar Communities will do a two-hour presentation on peak oil on July 12. Details:

What:    Guilford Solar July Program: "Peak Oil -- Theory
           and Evidence"
Where:  Kathleen Clay Edwards Family Branch Library,
           1420 Price Park Road
           Greensboro
When:   Saturday, July 12, 10 AM -- 12 Noon
Cost:     Free
Description:  Transportation is the lifeline of our current global and US economies.  Over 95% of our transportation is dependent upon the refined products of oil -- gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and bunker fuel.  As the price of oil sets new records weekly, the question naturally arises: Why is this happening?  One increasingly common explanation is that the rate of production worldwide of cheap, high-quality oil has peaked or will do so in the near future.  This is the "peak oil" hypothesis.  Guilford Solar's July program will explain the meaning of peak oil and will examine the evidence that supports it.  The presenter is Peter Kauber, who has researched the topic over the past four years.  Kauber was employed by Marathon Oil Company during the 1979-1981 "oil crisis" and thus brings a historical and industry perspective to the discussion.