Transition Handbook by Rob Hopkins

[MinorityView]

Recently added this to the library collection. Then I read it. Think it is a wonderful and inspiring book.

Anyone else?:D

[Wonder-Full]

I borrowed our library copy a few months back but never got around to reading it. Must get it out again. I do belong to our local TT though. :)

[MinorityView]

TT = Transition Town?

The first parts of the book are a bit of a handful, I skimmed them. He covers peak oil and climate change, then offers the Transition Movement as a way to move forward. So if you skip the first three of four chapters the book is a lot more fun to read, especially if you are already up to speed on peak oil and climate change.

[Wonder-Full]

Yeah, transition towns. OK, maybe that's why I didn't read it coz I have watched so many peak oil dvd's and when I skimmed the beginning I didn't need more lol.

[Nirvana]

I am a complete newbie here. Anyone care to explain more? I am intrigued. Off to google :)

[MinorityView]

Briefly, Rob Hopkins points out that if you look at peak oil, the obvious solution is to try to find ways to get more oil, or find other fuels which can substitute or maybe conserve a little, but no need to reconsider our overall way of life. And then if you consider global warming, the drive is for conservation and a modest lifestyle, but generally not going much farther.

But he points out that the two concepts go together really well and the right response is to find a way to restore local resilience to communities. Local food, local energy for basic needs, modest life styles, local currencies, reskilling, permaculture, stuff like that.

The Transitions Town movement is a way to change human lifestyles one town at a time, and at the same time it is a mass movement with hundreds of communities learning from each other.

You can tell, I liked the book.

[MinorityView]

http://www.transitiontowns.org/

looks good.

[Nirvana]

I read some online and this entire concept sounds fantastic and very planet-friendly too. No wonder very little is known to the commoners like me. But how feasible are the TT? I mean how can you have local currency when you have to consider an entire country. Or is it something like barter system?

Sounds really fab....one more addition to my book list. Thanks MV.

[MinorityView]

One area in the U.S. has had a very successful local currency for several years now, http://www.berkshares.org/localcurrency.htm there is some info that explains how it works.

What is pretty neat about the TT concept is that every transition town is unique. Each place holds its own meetings and figures out how to build local resilience. Nut trees are great in some places, another locale might do much better with buffalo :) the point is to think through what will make a healthy, ecologically sound, resilient community in one place.

Near where I live someone recently started a Yak herd, for meat and fiber. I'm looking forward to trying a taste soon and also spinning or felting some of the fiber.