As autumn arcs into winter, the seasonal contraction seems mirrored by economic and social contractions of a deeper sort. Expansion and contraction are natural rhythms. After three hundred years of material expansion due to fossil fuels, industrial society is now entering a long contraction, marked by oil production plateauing.
This big picture view helps me make sense of so much stunning and sobering news which seems to have accelerated this past year with the economic collapse. We're not in Kansas anymore, and our compassion, generosity, and creative adaptability will be fully needed as we transition towards "scarcity industrialism" (in the words of John Michael Greer, The Ecotechnic Future).
In this newsletter, we offer free DVDs, behind-the-scenes news, an award-winning show, free media for community tv stations, and as always, recent programs.
Thanks for watching, supporting, and doing all you do in your own life and community for the good of all.
With gratitude ~ Janaia & Robyn
For any DVD orders between now and December 31st, we'll give you either a Peak Oil DVD with Richard Heinberg or The Great Turning with David Korten. Tell us your choice when you order. Offer good while supplies last.
Introduction to Permaculture (2-day class $99) Cathe' Fish's Introduction to Permaculture workshop packs comprehensive, practical information into two days of lavishly-illustrated slideshows. Land, water harvesting, soil, zones, gardens, food forests, solar greenhouses, buildings, villages. 6 DVD set - $99.
Preparing Traditional Nourishment (5-evening class, $89) Shan Kendall's five cooking classes on nutrient-dense foods, with bonus Recipes and Resources CD. Lacto-fermented foods, bone stocks, soaked grains, egg dishes, and healthy beverages. 5 DVDs + 1 CD - $89.
Best of Peak Moment (4 conversations each, $20)Suburban Backyard Gardens: Cultivating Abundance
Transforming Communities Through Local Business
Tapings. As the last days of summer cooled into autumn, we took time out from our gravity-fed water project to tape two farm shows. Our longtime friend Mark Cooper has created an edible landscape on four acres — including a wide variety of animals, plants, pond, solar dryer and his unique automatic chickenhouse-door opener. Read more...
Chris Kerston gave us the grand tour of Chaffin Family Orchards, a third-generation family farm with heritage olives and fruit trees integrated with animals "doing some of the work." Their summer Fruit CSA (community-supported agriculture), a taste highlight of our summer, prompted us to visit the orchard. Read more...
Travel. Work on the mobile studio has taken back seat to our resiliency water project, shoring up income-producing activities, and working on some health issues. Several people have contacted us with potential shows, which we welcome and invite. Our plans to tape shows is solid in our hearts but not yet scheduled.
Think Local. We just joined Grass Valley area's Think Local First 20/20/20 Challenge. The campaign invites us to spend at least $20 of our regular weekly buget at locally-owned independent businesess for 20 weeks, and invite 20 friends to jump on board (that's you). We're already mostly there (e.g., BriarPatch natural food coop, SPD market not Safeway, Walker's not Staples, etc.), but it prods us to look for other opportunities. Take the pledge if you're local, or bring the idea to your community if you're not. Local businesses are a local lifeblood.
Award-winner! "Creating a Home Graywater System" (episode 141) is the winner of the 2009 Western Access Video Excellence (WAVE) Award in the category "Talk Show—Issues, Professional Producer." WAVE is sponsored by The Alliance for Community Media, Western region, to support community-access television show producers.
New — Peak Moment Audios on website. Recent shows on the Peak Moment website include audio files, thanks to blip.tv.
Shows free to your local CATV station. We welcome sponsors for stations in Newburyport, MA, and Duluth, MN. Shows are available for free download by CATV stations on PegMedia.org. If your station only accepts DVDs, subscriptions start at $100 a year and we'll send you three months free. Four or five friends each donating $2 a month covers a subscription. Info: janaia@peakmoment.tv.
Social Networks. Join Peak Moment TV on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, join our group on the Transition US ning site.
Baked in Telluride: Making Dough in a Tough Economy.
A longtime "green," baker Jerry Green shares the challenges of running an independent business in a tourist town while competing with bakeries thousands of miles away (episode 151).
The Placemeant Project: Stories of Why "Where" Matters.
Kate Magruder feels that "Opinions make walls. Stories make bridges." Participants create short stories that empower tellers, and elicit respect and admiration from listeners (episode 152).
How Do I Invite You to Grow Food?
Jenny Pell's infectious enthusiasm will sweep you up into creating a future that's beyond sustainable — to one that's "additive." She invites us to to regain skills and to participate in creating abundance (episode 153).
Bicycling on Three Wheels — Transportation of the Future?
Bicycle enthusiast Galen Shumacher takes us for a spin on a competition-winning three-wheeled "tadpole" that's easy to learn, stable and manueverable (episode 154).
My most valued news portal is Carolyn Baker's daily email news digest. Reading the link titles alone paints the picture of unprecedented transitions in economics, energy, society, and the environment, as well as options for navigating those changes. You'll find thoughtful essays there and on her Speaking Truth to Power site. The author of Sacred Demise: Walking the Path of Industrial Civilization's Collapse, Carolyn faces these challenging times unflinchingly yet with heart. We plan to tape a conversation with her soon.
"I think your programs are exceptional and extremely educating in this time of great need.
Lots of people think the only problem is the financial one (that they think is just about over).
They don't have a clue about the problems concerning population, energy and money.
Some are changing their minds, and I think your shows are one of the important catalysts in this process."
— Tom Hall, New York City
Peak Moment TV on Facebook, follow on Twitter, Transition US ning group.
Peak Moment TV is produced by Robyn Mallgren and Janaia Donaldson
Yuba Gals Independent Media, 15504 Lone Bobcat Way, Nevada City, CA 95959
530-265-4244 info@peakmoment.tv