A Drop in the Bucket "Don't worry if your efforts seem small compared to the magnitude of regional, national, or global challenges. Many people stop themselves from moving forward by thinking their actions are just a drop in the bucket. But even one drop is great if it is a drop in the bucket of abundance. With enough drops we will fill the bucket."
Source: Brad Lancaster in Rainwater Harvesting 

Local Banks By switching to credit unions and community banks, we can take support away from the mega-banks that are at the center of the global economic crisis – and invest in our local communities. Remember: You vote with every dollar you spend--or deposit! Don't vote for more of the same.

Calendar for DFW Metroplex

Sat, Jan 14  - Black Vegetarian Society of Texas Vegetarian 101 class at Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, 2922 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, Dallas. 11:30 am -1:30 pm. Free.

Sat, Jan 14 - Animal Connection of Texas demonstrations against Petland's sales from Puppy Mills at various locations. Call Susan at 214 577-6727 for information and locations: Dallas, Plano, Arlington, Frisco.  

Sat, Jan 14 - Bird and nature walk on interpretive wetlands trail at Texas Fisheries Center, 5550 F.M. 2495, Athens, 75752. Entry fees apply. 903 676-2277.

Sat, Jan 14 - White Rock Lake Cleanup. Walk and talk while helping to pick up trash and recyclables at White Rock Lake Park. Meet from 8 am - 9  am at the Love of the Lake office, 1152 N Buckner Blvd, #123, Dallas, on the Northeast corner of Garland Rd. and Buckner Blvd for a free continental breakfast that includes free juice, coffee, other goodies. Gloves, trash bags, etc. provided. There are always birds and wildflowers to enjoy. Clean-up finished by 11 am.

Sun, Jan 15, - All-vegan, all-you-can-eat buffet from 12 noon until 2 pm. New Start Veg, (972 243-0507) 2330 Royal Lane, ste 900, Dallas 75229. Just west of I-35 on the south side of Royal. Call host for info:  James Bisby 469-371-1938

Sun, Jan 15 -  Dallas Trekkers group walks at White Rock Lake at 8 m. Meet at Doctors Hospital, 9330 Poppy Drive, Dallas.  972-489-3072 for more information. Small charge.

Sat, Jan 21 - Birding. Start off 2012 with a new hobby that can become a lifelong pastime. Free class for beginners will be led by Dick Malnory, at the Refuge. There will be a total of 4 consecutive one hour sessions, offered in two blocks - Part I - two sessions on January 21 and Part II - two on January 28. Sessions will cover selecting optics and field guides and bird identification. Register at the door on Jan. 21 9:30am – 12:00pm Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, 6465 Refuge Rod, Sherman, TX 75092

Sat, Jan 28 - Strategies for Sustainable Living: A Day of Solutions

Four (really five events counting the after-party) Events in One: Come for any segment or entire day: 10 am to 4 pm. All free. Rockwall Library, 1215 E Yellowjacket, Rockwall 75087

10 am: Seed Swap. Please bring vegetable, herb, and flower seeds of a sustainable variety. Either organic--heirloom--home saved--open-pollinated--even hybrid/commercial as long as not genetically-modified, chemically treated, or blessed with some other Monsanto Saturday-night special. It would be outstanding to trade seeds that are adapted to this area.

11 am: The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil." The ways Cuba adapts to Peak Oil is a story of community and courage. It offers solutions to Peak Oil for North Texans that we can use now and in the future--ways to adapt to higher-priced energy while we still have time for easy solutions. Ways that we as a society can become oil-lean and low energy and more sustainable

12:45 pm: Permaculture guru Geoff Lawton's "Urban Permaculture: Sustainable Strategies for Urban Living." Urban Permaculture reconnects us with nature so we can live more sustainably and with considerably less expense. Lawton, possibly the best Permaculture teacher of all, offers dozens of examples for you to take home with you, whether home is a small city lot or large rural acreage. In fact, this DVD is as learning intensive as Permaculture is for growing the most amount of food in the least amount of space.

2:45 pm: Intentional Community Speaker. What is an intentional community? How well do you know your neighbors? Would they watch your back if you needed it for some reason? Do you really enjoy coming home to that remote garage door opener? Are you safe? What is an Intentional Community? How is one formed? Intentional communities can be formed in existing neighborhoods or on with neighbors building on land together. They are a warmer, safer, more connected way to live in the future. This answers questions on how to start them. Example: Permaculturist Toby Hemenway organized his neighborhood to plant different fruit trees with a community trading system so each person could enjoy a much larger variety of fruit on their small lots. But if you want that in North Central Texas, is it even available? Can you make it available where you live? This presentation will help clear up many of the questions that intentional communities can create. And possibly help you find a community or create one where you live now or where you will live in the future.

After-Party: Anyone interested in discussing the intentional community forming for this area or just having a beverage and/or dinner with the group, please join us after the last event on the Rockwall Square at 101 North Goliad (Hwy 205) Rockwall 75087. Phone: 972-772-9100

More information about this day of sustainability is here: http://fedfw.com

Skill Building Classes. We have lost many of the skills that we need to prosper in energy descent. Others skills are new with new technologies that will make what could be a trying time better for us all. Come learn. Come share your skills in 2012.  

Have an event related to the planet, outdoors, veg food, animals, local food, sustainability, or green building/remodeling? Please fill out our form here.