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Mill Valley group takes aim at climate change
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| Transition Mill Valley members Zhenya Spake, Anita Fieldman, Barbara Bogard, Libby Jennings and Bruce Richard sought to raise awarness of upcoming climate change events in downtown Mill Valley last Saturday. The group will hold a forum on Sept. 22 and an event-filled “day of action” on Sept. 24. (Hans Roenau/Marinscope) |
Transition Mill Valley plans 'day of action' on Sept. 24
By Ryan White
A grassroots Mill Valley organization isn’t waiting for national or international solutions to climate change. Rather, Transition Mill Valley is hoping to inspire local residents to embrace more-sustainable lifestyles through an evening forum and a subsequent “day of action” on Sept. 24.
“There are many options that government can take,” said Mill Valley resident Zhenya Spake, a community activist and lead organizer of the events. “But what can we do at the local level?”
The group, which has been around for about two years and has held a handful of grassroots events, will first present a forum at 142 Throckmorton called “Under One Sky: Change and Your Backyard” on Sept. 22. The evening will feature a number of local environmental leaders (including British expat Raven Gray, an early leader in the U.K. Transition Town movement) in a panel discussion of how communities can embrace sustainable food, water and energy systems at the local level. KPFA’s Brian Edwards-Tiekert will moderate the panel.
One of the programs the event will highlight is the Marin Carbon Project, a research project currently under way on West Marin rangelands — preliminary results are suggesting that traditional practices such as widespread composting and sensitive grazing can be a highly effective means of reducing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Lead researcher and UC Berkeley professor Whendee Silver has reported particularly promising results from spreading a thin layer of compost over study plots of West Marin grassland. The move, she says, has proven to build soil and nutrient level, increase water retention and, crucially, spur carbon-storing plant growth (surprisingly, grasslands can sequester more carbon than forests in some instances). Marin Carbon Project Director John Wick will further discuss results and implications from the “carbon farming” research at the Sept. 22 forum.
“It’s proving that we can help reverse climate change by managing our grasslands in a different way,” Spake said.
On Saturday, Transition Mill Valley is organizing a series of events — films, solar energy Q&As, backyard chicken tips, local beekeeping info, gardening guides, rainwater catchment ideas — hosted by local businesses such as Tam Bikes, Busy Beez and the Urban Farmer Store. These “re-skilling” events are part of Transition Mill Valley’s larger goal of reviving skills (such as canning) that were commonplace a couple of generations ago but have since languished in the wake of modern conveniences. The goal, Spake said, is to foster “resilient local systems and resilient people” who have the skills and supplies to provide for them and their families in a spirit akin to the Victory Gardens of World War II.
Organizers just hope residents are willing to ditch the car when attending some of these events. “Put on comfortable shoes, hop on a bike and help your community express our concern about the climate change crisis,” Spake urged.
Inspiring residents to adopt transportation less dependent on cheap, carbon-emitting fossil fuels is a key part of Transition Mill Valley’s mission.
“Whatever your normal routine is, try doing it in a different way and let’s see how our community feels,” he said. “When you’re walking around town, your community will feel different than if you’re in a car behind a window, closed off from the sound of the birds, the kids laughing in the street.”
At a meeting earlier this week, the Mill Valley City Council recognized Transition Mill Valley’s efforts by proclaiming Saturday “a day to move beyond fossil fuel.”
The Sept. 24 “day of action” coincides with similar events around the world organized by 350.org under the banner Moving Planet — “a worldwide rally to demand solutions to the climate crisis.” The “350” in 350.org refers to the organization’s goal of halting climate change by reducing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere from its current 392 parts per million to 350 parts per million.
“We’re beginning to prove that we can actually turn the situation around,” Spake said. “It’s just going to take us all.”
“Under One Sky: Climate Change and Your Backyard” will take place on Sept. 22, at 6:30 p.m., at 142 Throckmorton Theatre. A $15 donation is requested. For a full listing of events, times and locations on Sept. 24, visit transitionmv.wordpress.com.
Contact Ryan White at rwhite@marinscope.com.
“There are many options that government can take,” said Mill Valley resident Zhenya Spake, a community activist and lead organizer of the events. “But what can we do at the local level?”
The group, which has been around for about two years and has held a handful of grassroots events, will first present a forum at 142 Throckmorton called “Under One Sky: Change and Your Backyard” on Sept. 22. The evening will feature a number of local environmental leaders (including British expat Raven Gray, an early leader in the U.K. Transition Town movement) in a panel discussion of how communities can embrace sustainable food, water and energy systems at the local level. KPFA’s Brian Edwards-Tiekert will moderate the panel.
One of the programs the event will highlight is the Marin Carbon Project, a research project currently under way on West Marin rangelands — preliminary results are suggesting that traditional practices such as widespread composting and sensitive grazing can be a highly effective means of reducing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Lead researcher and UC Berkeley professor Whendee Silver has reported particularly promising results from spreading a thin layer of compost over study plots of West Marin grassland. The move, she says, has proven to build soil and nutrient level, increase water retention and, crucially, spur carbon-storing plant growth (surprisingly, grasslands can sequester more carbon than forests in some instances). Marin Carbon Project Director John Wick will further discuss results and implications from the “carbon farming” research at the Sept. 22 forum.
“It’s proving that we can help reverse climate change by managing our grasslands in a different way,” Spake said.
On Saturday, Transition Mill Valley is organizing a series of events — films, solar energy Q&As, backyard chicken tips, local beekeeping info, gardening guides, rainwater catchment ideas — hosted by local businesses such as Tam Bikes, Busy Beez and the Urban Farmer Store. These “re-skilling” events are part of Transition Mill Valley’s larger goal of reviving skills (such as canning) that were commonplace a couple of generations ago but have since languished in the wake of modern conveniences. The goal, Spake said, is to foster “resilient local systems and resilient people” who have the skills and supplies to provide for them and their families in a spirit akin to the Victory Gardens of World War II.
Organizers just hope residents are willing to ditch the car when attending some of these events. “Put on comfortable shoes, hop on a bike and help your community express our concern about the climate change crisis,” Spake urged.
Inspiring residents to adopt transportation less dependent on cheap, carbon-emitting fossil fuels is a key part of Transition Mill Valley’s mission.
“Whatever your normal routine is, try doing it in a different way and let’s see how our community feels,” he said. “When you’re walking around town, your community will feel different than if you’re in a car behind a window, closed off from the sound of the birds, the kids laughing in the street.”
At a meeting earlier this week, the Mill Valley City Council recognized Transition Mill Valley’s efforts by proclaiming Saturday “a day to move beyond fossil fuel.”
The Sept. 24 “day of action” coincides with similar events around the world organized by 350.org under the banner Moving Planet — “a worldwide rally to demand solutions to the climate crisis.” The “350” in 350.org refers to the organization’s goal of halting climate change by reducing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere from its current 392 parts per million to 350 parts per million.
“We’re beginning to prove that we can actually turn the situation around,” Spake said. “It’s just going to take us all.”
“Under One Sky: Climate Change and Your Backyard” will take place on Sept. 22, at 6:30 p.m., at 142 Throckmorton Theatre. A $15 donation is requested. For a full listing of events, times and locations on Sept. 24, visit transitionmv.wordpress.com.
Contact Ryan White at rwhite@marinscope.com.
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