Local Sustainablity and Relocalization Resources Online
The Relocalization Network (a non-local resource!) defines "relocalization" as a strategy to build societies based on the local production of food, energy and goods, and the local development of currency, governance and culture. The main goals of Relocalization are to increase community energy security, to strengthen local economies, and to dramatically improve environmental conditions and social equity.
There are many individuals and groups in Concord working on sustainability issues as they apply to our town and beyond. Below we gather some links to their efforts both to display their work and to educate readers about these issues.
This is no doubt an incomplete list. If you have a wonderful link about local green resources, why not send it to us? If we receive enough interesting new resources, we will update this list in December, 2008.
And what better place to focus on sustainability and relocalization than the town where Henry Thoreau was born, lived and died? Thoreau is one of six charter members of the Ecology Hall of Fame, which is dedicated to the heroes of the American environmental movement.
Credited with being one of the founders of the worldwide conservation movement (see Documentary Chronology of Selected Events in the Development of the American Conservation Movement, 1847-1920
from the Library of Congress), we would do Thoreau proud by not just touting his name, but by truly taking to heart what he practiced.
Thoreau's careful field work is still yielding new results today. Using his data from the mid-19th century, climatologists made world-wide news about current climate change (Phylogenetic patterns of species loss in Thoreau's woods are driven by climate change).
Continuing on a more modern front, The Localizer Blog by Concordian Christopher Ryan, AICP, a professional urban planner with decades of experience in state and local government. He is the Director of Planning and Development with Ayer, Massachusetts. He also currently teaches Land Use and Community Planning at Antioch University New England.
Relocalizations.net provides resources for relocalization planning, and is also from Christopher Ryan. It contains categorized and annotated links for a wide range of topics including energy, green building, local food, sustainable urban design, global climate change, local ecology, local economy, emergency management, sustainability, and more.
The Concord Freecycle email group is part of national Freecycle Network, a nonprofit organization and a movement of people interested in keeping good stuff out of landfills. It is open to all who want to "recycle" that special something rather than throw it away. Whether it's a chair, a fax machine, piano or an old door, feel free to post it there, or to pick up something someone else has offered via this list.
ConcordCAN (Climate Action Network) is an independent, volunteer-based grassroots organization based in Concord, Massachusetts, and is part of the larger CAN international movement. Their mission is to promote sustainability, advocate for environmentally positive policies and behaviors, and work in cooperation with other local organizations on important environmental issues.
Do check out ConcordCAN on Relocalize.net an informational, networking and discussion website for this organization.
And speaking of relocalization, the Concord Independent Business Alliance ("The Concord Indies") is part of a nationwide movement of Independent Business Alliences (IBAs), proven tools for helping maintain unique community character, ensuring continued opportunities for entrepreneurs, building local economic strength, and preventing the displacement of locally-owned businesses by chains. An IBA helps return decision-making ability over a community's future to the people who call it "home."
ConcordConserves.org provides a handbook for low-impact living, as an online resource for combating climate change and environmental degradation. Its mission is to educate and promote environmental conservation measures -- initially for residents and businesses in Concord, and then for other towns in Massachusetts. Their website includes a comprehensive database of conservation measures with an emphasis on rebates and economic incentives as well as local environmental news, events, forum, Freecycle plug-in, and other features.
The Green Team provides environmental review of town projects for Concord. The team, a group of volunteer citizens with expertise in sustainable building and other environmental practices, advises the Board of Selectmen and Town Manager and other town boards on the construction of new facilities and in the carrying out of other town functions. The team's goal is to ensure consideration of energy and resource conservation, as well as other sustainable practices, in all town projects.
A long-time local organization, Musketaquid seeks to link discovery of art with passion and respect for nature. Musketaquid does this by organizing events and activities that encourage and inspire people of all ages to experience, learn about, celebrate, and protect the natural world by participating in artistic and creative projects in a wide variety of media.
One of the organizations protecting our precious rivers, The Sudbury, Assabet and Concord River Stewardship Council was established to coordinate conservation of the 29-mile Wild and Scenic River segment. The Council functions as an official advisory committee to the National Park Service on federal permits affecting the rivers' outstanding resources. The Council also raises awareness of the rivers through events and publications, including RiverFest, an annual celebration of the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers, and facilitates efforts to preserve and improve river resources.
Local food is important to the sustainable future of Concord. To that end, the Town of Concord's Agriculture Committee has put together a beautiful
Guide to Concord Farms. This information was also sponsored by
Concord Natural Resources, the Concord
Land Conservation Trust and Minute
Man National Historical Park.
List of Concord organic farms by NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association).
The Town of Concord's Comprehensive Sustainable Energy Committee has put together an Energy Plan for the Town.
The Sustainable Concord Action Fund was established by a generous gift from the Alfred H.
Sawyer Resource Conservation Fund. It is intended to support energy and natural resources conservation
purposes such as the following energy conservation in Town facilities, water conservation and material recycling. Their application for funding is here.
Art Credits: Page designed by Windfall. Other images courtesy of Clipart.com.
