For May Fourth Friday, Marco Vangelisti, who’s been a major force in the Bay Area Slow Money movement, will give the second in his three-part series on Essential Knowledge for Transition. Come whether or not you were able to catch the first part!

From Marco:

In the face of increasing economic instability, building a resilient, enduring and equitable local economy is vital. To achieve this, we need to understand the current economic system, how it affects our communities and ways to transform it. 

At the May Fourth Friday, Marco will help us understand the current economic crisis in its historical context, how we dealt with the last major crisis in the 1930s and how we are (counter productively) dealing with it now. He’ll also explain the economic system and alternative ways of structuring it so that it democratizes and localizes economic activity and anchors wealth and capital formation in our community.

Marco’s a knowledgeable and engaging speaker – you’ll learn and enjoy doing so!

Saturday & Sunday, April 13 & 14, 2013
Common Ground Organic Garden Supply & Education Center
10:30 – 4:00+
$150
Register online

Learn how to create a sustainable future in your suburban backyard and beyond. A central theme in Permaculture is the design of regenerative and ecological landscapes that produce food. Emphasis is placed on multi-use plants, cultural practices such as sheet mulching and trellising, and the integration of animals to recycle nutrients and graze “weeds.” Permaculture entails more than just food production. Energy-efficient buildings, waste-water treatment, and land stewardship in general are other important components of Permaculture. Design concepts are applicable to urban, suburban, and rural settings, and are appropriate for single households as well as whole farms and villages. In this 2-day course you will learn the ethics, principles and holistic design process practiced in Permaculture. Plus, participants will take part in hands-on Permaculture projects at local sites to put theory into practice.

Drew is an edible-garden and Permaculture consultant, the manager of Jesse Cool’s Seeds of Change Garden and the former Common Ground Garden Manager. Susan is a suburban Permaculturalist who enjoys cultivating her own backyard mini-farm. She is also an avid compost tea brewer whose passion is creating biologically active soil.

For all who are interested in sustainable food systems, don’t miss the April Fourth Friday.
Friday April 26, World Centric, 2121 Staunton Ct, Palo Alto, 7:30pm
7:30p: Program
Come at 7pm for “Introduction to Transition”

How do restaurant workers live on some of the lowest wages in America? And how do poor working conditions–discrimination, exploitation, and unsanitary kitchens–affect the meals that arrive at our restaurant tables?

In Behind the Kitchen Door, Saru Jayaraman sets out to answer these questions by following the lives of restaurant workers in nine major cities.

Click here for the flyer with more information: Behind the Kitchen Door

Conductor, scrapophonist, and water lover Herb Moore lead more than 20 intrepid rain orchestra musicians in a simulated spring rain storm at Heritage Park in Palo Alto on Friday March 23.

For more on the rain orchestra idea, see this Palo Alto weekly article: http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/show_story.php?id=28997

And here are some photos. A fine time was had by all.

Herb plans to continue finding creative ways to bring people together – stay tuned!

Connie Kwan wants to set up a food swap. She writes:

Is anyone interested in setting up a food swap? 

Basically involves cooking up a large batch of one recipe.  Then bringing it to the swap and exchanging for variety.  For the time invested in one dish, you get to enjoy a variety throughout the week.  Does anyone do this now?  And are folks interested? 

If you’re interested, please post a comment or send email to transitionpaloalto@yahoogroups.com

With humor, chutzpah and a piece of vinyl siding firmly in hand, Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Judith Helfand and co-director and award-winning cinematographer Daniel B. Gold set out in search of the truth about polyvinyl chloride (PVC), America’s most popular plastic. From Long Island to Louisiana to Italy, they unearth the facts about PVC and its effects on human health and the environment.

Back at the starter ranch, Helfand coaxes her terribly patient parents into replacing their vinyl siding on the condition that she can find a healthy, affordable alternative (and it has to look good!).

A detective story, an eco-activism doc, and a rollicking comedy, BLUE VINYL puts a human face on the dangers posed by PVC at every stage of its life cycle, from factory to incinerator. Consumer consciousness and the “precautionary principle” have never been this much fun.

(Summary from the Bulldog Films website).

7:00p – 7:15p:   Transition for Newcomers
7:30p:  Program

Friday March 22, World Centric, 2121 Staunton Ct, Palo Alto

It’s time for Multishare again, bringing gardeners, artists, bicyclists, musicians and more together to share stories, goods, and skills.

• Crafters, bring your arts and crafts supplies.
• Gardeners, bring your produce, fruit, seedlings, seeds, and garden tools.
• Ride your bike to get a tune-up with Tom Kabat.
• Bring an instrument to jam with Herb Moore.
• Sam Friedman will demonstrate and discuss how to start up your seeds this spring.

All this and more – Sunday, March 10, 11am-12:30pm at Common Ground on College Ave. in Palo Alto. All are welcome, and it’s free!