Read more about this book at www.chelseagreen.com

Distractions from political leaders make it more difficult to focus on relocalizing the economy. When politicians who know better propose solutions to high oil prices that ignore the fundamental causes of the high prices, then the time it takes to debunk them eats away from the limited time during which we have abundant energy to use in relocalizing the economy.

Food prices are on the rise. In 2007, according to the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of food rose 4 percent, the
highest single-year increase in two decades, and it looks like food
costs will go up another 4 percent in 2008. The prices for corn
and soybeans are skyrocketing because of the increasing demand of crops
for fuels such as ethanol. In addition, with higher
transportation costs, it is costing more each day to ship food across
the country and around the world.

To reference and adapt Barbara Kingsolver's newest book on localvore living...

Animal.

Vegetable.

Pants.

Or underpants.

Whole Systems Design, Inc. describes its work as “occurring at the interface of people and land --
where the built and biological environments meet.” Based in Vermont’s
Mad River Valley, Whole Design Systems integrates ecology, landscape
architecture, site development, construction, farming, education and
other disciplines. Founder Ben Falk holds a master’s degree in
landscape design and has taught at the University of Vermont and
Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum. Vermont Commons Editor Rob Williams
conducted this interview.

 The Peak Oil conundrum is perhaps the single best 21st century
trend for making the case for relocalization, and ultimately, secession.

 Rather than elaborate here, I suggest you read more from Richard Heinberg, who was in Vermont late last week to share his 8 books of wisdom with listeners.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

By Tom Young

Thomas Fuller once said, “Many things grow in the garden that were
never sown there.” This is certainly true at the Waitsfield
Elementary School. Thanks to the work of many, the Waitsfield
Elementary School’s garden has been “reincarnated” over the past three
years. This garden initiative has offered both children and adults
alike a chance to explore the growing process, to think about the
benefits of growing locally, and to use the garden as a community
place.

Richard Heinberg, one of the foremost peak oil educators in the US, will be coming to Vermont this week. On Wednesday evening (April 23), he will speak in Brattleboro, and on Thursday evening (April 24), he'll be in Montpelier. Details on the places and times for these events, plus how to arrange transportation to the Montpelier event, are at the Vermont Peak Oil Network web site.

Heinberg will also be speaking to legislators at the State House on Thursday at 9 am, and the talk will be broadcast live and streamed by WGDR, 91.1 FM Plainfield. The topic will be "Energy Overview: Navigating the Transition from Fossil Fuels to Renewables."

In the northern half of the state, you can hear me interview him live, Wednesday at 1:05 - 2:00 pm on Equal Time, on WDEV 96.1 & 96.5 FM/550 AM.

In addition to his four books on peak oil, Heinberg writes a monthly Museletter. Several recent Museletters are especially interesting for Vermonters.

The automobile matured as a means of transportation just over a century ago, after a Vermonter bet he could drive one of the contraptions across the country. Now the bets are on how much longer they'll be on the roads.

In 1905, the automobile was considered a fad and a rich-person's toy. Horatio Nelson Jackson, on a visit to San Francisco from his home in Vermont, decided to show that the automobile could make the same transcontinental trip that the train could, and he bet $50 that he could drive a car to New York City.

Jackson won his wager, after nearly two months of adventuresome travel in a 20-horsepower Winton touring car which he dubbed the Vermont. Horse-mounted cowboys towed his car out of sand drifts, bicyclists provided him with maps, and he himself bicycled in search of fuel when the Vermont ran out of gas. When spare tires were not to be had, he continued by winding rope around the wheels. Horatio Nelson Jackson and the Vermont arrived in New York City on July 26, 1903, having burned 800 gallons of gasoline. Jackson was $50 richer from his bet; I don't know how much poorer he was from the gasoline and all the wear and tear on the car.

Since 1903 was also the year the Wright brothers used petroleum to fuel the first airplane flight, you could call it the year the age of petroleum dawned.

Since at least 1980, variations on a different type of wager have been placed: When and how fast the age of petroleum-fueled abundance will come to an end.

by Dana Dwinell-Yardley

Now, I know this is going to sound like something I would never say in a million years, but it's true. Last week I went shopping — and I came home happier for it.

This sounds like something I'd never say in a million years because it's something I'd never do in million years. I don't like spending money. I don't like owning junk. I don't like wandering around looking at junk that I could spend money on. Shopping is generally a waste of my time. But last week, it was different.