This Organic Life is a yearlong chronicle of life on the farm. The film shows who grows your food, and how it is grown. We’ve all seen the end product at farmer’s markets, grocery stores, and restaurants; however, rarely do we think about what actually transpires in the 200-some days it takes your local farmer to produce that heirloom tomato. The film focuses on one young farmer, filmmaker Casey Beck’s boyfriend, Austin Blair, and tells their story, thus allowing the viewer to delve into this issue and experience over the course of one hour the low points and ultimately the joys that surface over a year of farming.

September 28, 6-pm
Sunnyvale Public Library, 665 W. Olive, Sunnyvale
More on the film: http://www.theorganiclifemovie.com/

Why are we working harder but feel less secure? Why are the benefits going to a small percentage of the population? Can we make the economy more compassionate and just?

Enjoy a fascinating and eye-opening look at our current economic and monetary system, how it affects us, and what we can do. The three part series will give you answers, get you thinking, and inspire you.

Each session is separate and can stand alone, but come to all for the full story. If you missed a session, we’ll have a video available soon.

Sunday Sept 13 noon-2pm: Part 1: Money and banking
What’s behind the money and banking system, and why does it wield so much power? Learn the surprising story about how money is created – and the results.

Sunday Oct 18 noon-2pm: Part 2: Our economic system
Why are most people working harder, but fewer are benefiting? How can we move beyond growth-at-all costs to a more compassionate and just society?

Sunday Oct 25: noon-2pm Part 3: Our financial system
Why is financial capital divorced from productive activity, and how can we fix it? Learn how communities are transforming investment to be local, democratic, and productive.

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Redwood City, 2124 Brewster, Redwood City
12-2pm, Main sanctuary, refreshments served, child care provided

Donation: $10 per session (no one turned away for lack of funds). Go here to register in advance: http://bit.ly/EK4Transition (register for each session separately). If you can’t register in advance, just show up on the day.

Marco Vangelisti was a Fulbright scholar in mathematics and economics at UC Berkeley. He managed investment equity portfolios for large foundations and endowments before leaving the finance industry in 2009 to focus on positive change. He helped form the Slow Money Northern California chapter and now shares his knowledge, experience, and vision with communities around the country. More info at http://ek4t.com/

Sponsored by the Social Action and Adult Education committees of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Redwood City, Transition Palo Alto, and Human Agenda

Click for the flyer: Marco flyer 2015

How can we balance the need for healthy rivers and the ecosystems they nourish with our thirst for water and low-carbon energy? With majestic cinematography and unexpected discoveries, this powerful film odyssey across America explores the sea change in our national attitude from pride in big dams as engineering wonders to the growing awareness that our own future is bound to the life and health of our rivers. 

Dam removal has moved beyond the fictional Monkey Wrench Gang to go mainstream. Where obsolete dams come down, rivers bound back to life, giving salmon and other wild fish the right of return to primeval spawning grounds, after decades without access. DamNation’s majestic cinematography and unexpected discoveries move through rivers and landscapes altered by dams, but also through a metamorphosis in values, from conquest of the natural world to knowing ourselves as part of nature.

Enjoy this excellent film and bring your ideas to the discussion.

Friday September 25
7:15-9:30 pm (7:15 meet and greet, film starts promptly at 7:30), discussion follows the film
Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto Fireside Room
505 E Charleston Rd, Palo Alto, CA 

A perfect evening for the Fourth Friday summer picnic at Mitchell park. Hanging out with excellent food and company. Just a bit hard to keep track of where to throw the bean bags!

Potluck Picnic Time!

Mitchell Park Arbor area, 600 E Meadow, Palo Alto
6:00-8:30 pm July 24 Note the updated time

It’s time for the Transition Palo Alto Summer Picnic! Bring food to share, wallow in the summer evening, and enjoy some fun games.
All ages are welcome.

If you’ve been involved with TPA activities, this is a great time to connect with friends. And if you’re new to TPA, come meet people and learn more about our community.

Want to help out? Click to sign up for a volunteer slot. It’s great fun! Setup starts at 5:30pm.
And click here to say what you’re bringing.
And we want to extend a special invitation to all the volunteers who have made TPA events a great success this past year.

Don’t miss the fun!

Have you ever wondered how recycling gets sorted after it leaves your bins? What happens to the clothes you give to Goodwill? How recycled goods become new products? What’s compostable?

June Fourth Friday attendees got to learn how, with Racing to Zero, a fascinating nuts-and-bolts view of how San Francisco is working to achieve zero waste. Viewers got to see the people, machinery, and amazing processes that all go into reducing the waste that goes into Bay Area landfills. And there’s plenty of education involved, too, with inspectors who go around checking people’s waste bins and leaving friendly little notes about how to do a better job sorting.

What do shoe making, aroma therapy, bike repair, tool sharpening, drought landscaping, and massage to name a few) have in common? Answer, they were all on display at the June Share Faire. It was a glorious day at Lucie Stern Community Center – and so many things to see and learn. Attendees learned how to wield a knife in the kitchen and tasted delicious solar-cooked pancakes and banana bread.  Plus musical instruments, conversation, and even a bit of Tai Chi for a fine way to welcome in summer!

Ever wonder what to do with old T-shirts? Answer: Make a tote bag! As folks learned at June craft night, it’s easy and fun to do, and because the bags breathe, you can even use them to store veggies, etc. that you get at the Farmers Market. For an extra Transition twist, we started making TPA logos out of felt to add to the bags (or to sew onto anything else.

Another creative evening for craftivists! The Share Prepare team got together June 2 for sign making and related fun.