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Green Property: The Power of Community Spirit
Llangattock is a small village scattered along a fold in the Brecon Beacon mountains - the softly wooded slopes, high hay meadows and streams making the area one of the loveliest parts of Britain.
“If you forget to put limits on people and assume that they are capable of fantastic things, then the impossible becomes possible,” said Michael Butterfield, who spearheads the Green Streets. The 1,300 inhabitants in the 420 homes have, however, more than the view to be proud of. They are on track to making Llangattock Britain's first ''carbon-negative community'' by 2015. This is no new eco town, but an established settlement alongside the River Usk with a mixture of traditional hill farms and 20th-century bungalows. Yet with energy-saving and energy-creating measures, the community has shown what can be achieved when everyone pulls together.
The woodland group manages and coppices 20 acres of mostly ash and alder for the village's wood-burning stoves; the residential group coordinates distribution of home energy-saving devices from insulation to solar panels. In just one year, 55 homes will have solar panels installed on their roofs.
The 74-member bio-diesel group collects chip fat from restaurants and has converted more than 11,000 litres of fuel, saving 29 tons of carbon dioxide; 60 families tend a field of new allotments and have resurrected the village fête; and the hydro group is forging ahead with six small-scale hydroelectric schemes on the streams around the village.
Larger projects, such as a woodchip district heating scheme and an anaerobic digester, fed with grass and slurry waste from local farms, that will earn the village an income, are also under way.
But how has a small village with a disparate and fairly elderly population pulled off such an achievement?
Almost exactly a year ago, the village won the Welsh heat of British Gas's Green Streets competition, run to find the ''greenest'' communities in Britain. The win provided £137,400 of grants from British Gas, and other grants and earnings have made a total income for the village of £575,000.
The volunteers make money, too: the litter-picking group earned £1,100 from gathering fly-tip waste, which has been spent on bulb and wild flower planting on the road verges; the woodland group hopes to be able to train and employ local youngsters in woodland management with profits from log sales.
"Most of the young leave after school and don't come back until they are in their forties," says Jackie Charlton, who runs the woodland group. "We want to give young people a reason to stay in the village. But already, a once sleepy community has really woken up in the past year."
The village has formed a community interest company with a board of seven directors, which manages the budget. Michael Butterfield spearheads the Green Streets project from his home.
"If you forget to put limits on people and assume that they are capable of fantastic things, then the impossible becomes possible," he says. "Small communities like ours have so much latent expertise - retired financiers, trainers, engineers, just waiting to be tapped. We think we have found a model that can work for many rural communities."
Pete Bates, a retired teacher, coordinates the residential group and divided up the lion's share of the British Gas grant between 38 households who signed up for energy-saving measures in their homes. "Twenty houses had large grants of £4,000 and another 18 had small grants of £400," he says. "Part of our research will compare how much energy people save whether they spend large or small amounts. We have found behavioural changes - turning down the thermostat, turning off lights, unplugging the TV - play a huge part in getting consumption down."
Andrew Fryer, who lives on a farm on the hill above the village, is also involved and says, despite the sceptics, the goal of being carbon negative in five years is ''completely realistic". "By maximising the grant money available and not being afraid of getting venture capital involved - the larger schemes like the anaerobic digester will require large sums - we have made changes that groups who think money is something to be afraid of only dream about," he says.
Lee Barlow, British Gas's community project leader, says: "Llangattock is a great example of how forward-thinking people can help their community to generate and use energy more efficiently, and create a legacy for future generations. We have enjoyed watching their fantastic efforts - it highlights how much can be done if a community pulls together to make it happen."
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Show AllWhat is demonstrated here is that only self directed, collective action, in other words, democratic socialism, can solve global warming and our other ecological catastrophes. Capitalism can't do it.
When I was a teenage lifeguard on the New Jersey shore I used to watch the kids wandering aimlessly around the boardwalk in the evenings, sometimes getting into fights, and I had a revelation one night: so many people with nothing to do, and so many jobs needing to be done. There must be some way to apply all that wasted energy to feeding people, housing them, teaching them, and today, repairing the environment. But of course, under capitalism there is no way, because the capitalists only hire people who will make them a profit by making or selling commodities. (I must confess that being a red diaper baby helped me with those thoughts.)
The Llangattock community in Wales has shown us the way. We can build collective work communities to do what is needed. We can start with students and the young, and with unemployed and retired people. That's where the free time is. But if our collectives function well, many people working in capitalist jobs will ask a question. Why can't WE work collectively for the common good, instead of producing and selling garbage for some one else's profit? When enough people ask that question, life will start to get very interesting.
The millions of unemployed recent college graduates alone are a tremendous resource to apply to this goal. At the rate the US economy is spiraling downward, the number of unemployed colege graduates will continue to increase.
Hello Ray,
In the early 1930's, before the WPA kicked in, there was a large movement of communitarian self help.
A good short summary is at: ... http://holomid.com/Building-a-reciprocal-economy.html
which I found by googling: ... co-ops,oakland,ca,depression,30's,uxa
The first item in the google list is the article by my friend John Curl, titled "LIVING IN THE U.X.A.
... http://red-coral.net/UXA_Article.html
Today, the movements for co-operative self sufficiency and sustainability are growing. If the economy goes where we think it will, these movements will explode everywhere, a mixture of survival and idealism. The political system now is too tightly controlled to allow us another FDR or New Deal. The action, therefore, will be in building community on the ground where we are.
This is a great story. How about a bunch of towns around the US doing the same? It could catch on here, too!
When will there be good news? Oh wait...
Wood-burning stoves? Yeah, right. I live DOWNWIND from a house that burns wood in their fireplace - and I can't open my windows when the wind is from their direction (not to mention the feedlot right above them). Besides, burning wood is illegal in many places in the US - takes a bite out of the coal/gas/oil franchises. (Cheat them out of their income and they'll drag your ass into court under NAFTA - it's been done enough times before to stop any such nonsense.)
There are laws against being self-sufficient in the US - after all, fascism doesn't allow individual freedom, let alone permitting an entire community to defy them. This is the U S of A - not the UK - and regression is the only way to the future.
Hello Armybrat,
Wood stove pollution is estimated to kill over 500,000 a year, mostly in Africa and Asia. There is now a large movement, however, to replace those primitive wood stoves with varieties that are much less polluting, as well as with stoves from solar and biogas produced by local waste. The important thing about the story from Wales is that people are acting communally to create the best possible result. They will continue to change and improve.
As for the US, the number of community gardens, farmers markets and CSA's (organic food trucked to your door) is increasing geometrically. As well as workers' co-operatives and other types of community building ventures too numerous to mention here.
Cynicism is just an easy way out which keeps you from doing anything. As well, I understand, as a reaction to past pain. But if you try to fight your way out of it, you'll be both happier and more useful. First step: find the people in your community who are building community. Working constructively makes it possible to read the political news without quite so much despair.
I told people that home gardens would be snuffed out once they became a threat to corporate profits (just like 'organic' food) - now there is a law in the House to make truck gardens illegal, and to question the 'quality' of home gardens. Told you so. There is also a legal case (rumor here) against a person for 'operating a business without a license' for growing more food in his home garden than for consumption by his own family. Try that on for size, then tell me I'm cynical. No, not 'cynical' - just pragmatic. I have experience with fascism - do you? What are YOU doing to defeat fascism in this country - or are you just hiding your head in the sand and pretending it's not really happening. Thinking 'good' thoughts? Right. That and a couple dollars will get you a cup of coffee...
armybrat--I, too, feel like I've been crying in the wind about this. Haven't heard about this latest vileness. People have got to come together on one issue and food could be it. After all, there are red state farmers and blue state eaters and then there are blue state farmers and red state eaters... and everybody loves gardens or at least a few tomato plants in pots.
"a law in the House to make truck gardens illegal, and to question the 'quality' of home gardens."
And where is that? Nationally, or in the anonymous state you live in? How about some information so we can check.
In San Francisco the City installed a community garden on the City Hall lawn, just for a while as an encouragement to citizens. In Berkeley there is a law pending to make it easier to sell surplus from your backyard. Richmond, north of Berkeley, just re-elected a Green Party mayor, despite an expensive and vicious TV campaign against her. And I know of 2 weekly produce exchanges, where people trade their surplus home grown food. Right out in the open. The cities are proud of it. It's advertised in the libraries.
So "pragmatic" in California means helping grow the communal self help movement.
I understand that the whole country isn't northern California, but here's a thought. The tea partiers and other types of "fascists" say they don't like government, right? So take them up on it. Community gardens and produce exchanges aren't governments. They're as grass roots as you can get. People helping themselves and each other. The pioneer spirit. And if the Tea Party doesn't go for it (& who can blame you if you don't want to work with them), go to the poor and build networks. Detroit and Milwaukee are good examples, and they're part of the old North West.
What am I doing to "defeat fascism?" I'm building neighborhood networks. I'd be happy to hear what you are doing. And I don't say that as a challenge. I'd really like to know.
This is a good example of people transcending the corrupt political system and successfully living more sustainable lives.
Anything dealing with wood or wood chips is going down a slippery slope. Even on a small scale it is not sustainable or green. And certainly not carbon neutral. But the idea of the community doing all that they are doing is most commendable. Also be aware of "venture capital". It usually takes the money and runs and leaves debt in its wake.
Yeah, if there is any profit to be had, some corporation will move in and put the local people out of business, one way or another. They pay people good money to prevent competition - that's what fascism is all about: complete control and maximum (and growing) profits. Impossible - ask the Germans...
In defense of wood...
I have been to a forest that is managed (by the people) to meet their needs plus more to build with, while still allowing the forest more than 100% annual regrowth.
It was nice in there, too. The forest maintained diversity although being thinned.
There are super-efficient woodstoves called "rocket-stoves" to make one more carbon-less. Check out Aprovecho research.
Clearcutting, however, is another part of our insane, abusive relationship to the natural world
Wood is in fact carbon neutral. When the tree is alive it cleanses the air. When the tree is burned it simply replaces what was cleansed. It is fossil fuels that are not carbon neutral.
Armybrat, what state are you in? I consider myself pretty pessimistic about the world and I hope that a bill like that never passes, but considering the power of corps like Monsanto.... It is a scary possibility. The only solution is to get local. Work to make the laws in your town create a sustainable future.
Mr-Milo, they are using a very specific technique called coppicing. The trees retain a full grown root structure and grow new branches very quickly. It is a human scale, labor intensive process. Night and day from modern machine logging techniques.
I guess I'm in the state of despair. Even the pawn shops got taken over by corporations. The nearest town not only opted for Wal-Mart (with all the tax-free 'incentives') but also a Wal-Mart warehouse - drove my favorite grocer out of business. I live outside town (we're too small to be a real town) because at least there's still a private restraunt here, and a decent pizza-place that isn't franchised. Also a post office, bank, service station (that actually fixes vehicles), and other 'private' ventures - we also have paper ballots - a perfect ideal for a conservative. 'Our' senators and reps have been Zionists, but one of them got trounced in the recent election - the only one with a decent bone in his body (he wasn't corrupt, but he was a Zionist-appeaser). Guess which state? (One of the poorer ones in the Old Northwest, with no large cities of import.)
My town is largely fascist - they don't know the meaning of the word yet, which is probably why they support fascism. I can't even get them to abandon big-banks (I use the local credit union, as I have for over 40 years - and I worked in banking). They love Wal-Mart, eat at fast-food joints (which have proliferated like dandelions on the main drag, while Main Street is boarded up - by Wal-Mart, largely). Few give a rat's ass about anyone but themselves, and most are decidedly to the right of Attila-the-Hun. I'm a traditional Eisenhower republican - conservative - and absolutely despise fascism, which is why I'm so pessimistic. I saw what it took to stop Hitler and his Third Reich - and I saw Germany right after the war. The propaganda in the US today is exactly the same, although it's taken 30+ years to get fascism firmly entrenched in US government - but we saw it coming since 1980 (and in some areas, before). 'My' state just turned bright red - although it's been closet-conservative for some time (maybe always - I'm not from here) and will continue its death-spiral, like the rest of the country. The chance of ever getting the people of this 'community' to co-operate is somewhere between zero and nil - they hate everybody. Maybe you live in a better place - I'm looking for one...
Debvandet,
You made a key statement,
"The only solution is to get local"
I agree completely, yet, the words you surround that phrase with seem to contradict your key statement.
"I hope that a bill like that never passes"
and
"Work to make the laws in your town create a sustainable future"
These statements seem to imply a lot of waiting around.
To my understanding it was the power of the people that got that community on the path to (ecological) sanity.
My "hoping" Monsanto etal. don't pass their monstrous bills is passive. You're right. I can vote and I can call, email and write my representatives but I no longer believe that those actions are enough. So I am starting a green team at the elementary school, attending district meetings on sustainability. I am in the Portland metro area and many of our communities are making strong commitments to sustainable practices on many levels. Of course there is always more to be done.
This is what I am already doing: Growing food IN THE FRONT YARD, composting, backyard chickens (many towns are re-legalizing due to grassroots pressure), saving rainwater. Talking to my neighbors. And then teaching anyone who shows an interest.
This article is one of the more positive I've read in a while. It's good to have hope.
The more people who are organized by "going local" in many places, the easier it is to defeat corporate laws, and to elect our own legislators. So there is no contradiction. Organize locally and get the local people to vote.
All hands on deck!
http://www.grist.org/article/2010-11-11-a-brief-stylish-animated-history-of-fossil-fuels-video
"Stone November 17th, 2010 6:13 pm
This is a good example of people transcending the corrupt political system and successfully living more sustainable lives."
~~~~~
It is a perfect example of what a 'village' of people, living in a beautiful and fruitful location on Earth, can do.
~sc
I have for some time felt that there is little hope that the Federal Government will do anything of substance for the people. In short we are on our own.
A group of us pooled our resources and bought 40 acres of forested land in Montana. Our intention is to create a community of people working together to live as sustainably as possible together and on the land. We have started forest restoration projects that is addressing fire and beetle damage issues. In the process we have slowed the advance of the pine beetle on our land created a healthier forest environment and produced enough lumber to build three small, energy efficient homes. The slash that is normally burned, and is at this moment choking the air from commercial operations in the surrounding hills, is being chipped for gardens and composted soil building or used as fuel for the small efficient stoves known as rocket stoves.
We have built a green house and six raised bed gardens that is supplying a portion of our food with plans for doubling the number of beds next year. We have plans for a large production garden down the road.
Our homes will be timber frame with straw bale in fill. The materials will be derived from the land itself or from local sources. We are also using as much recycled and reused material as possible for all our projects.
The population for our ecovillage is only 7 at this point with an age spread of 3-97. As a result the progress is fairly slow, but our goal is to create a model that others can follow then unite local rural communities in caring for ourselves and each other. We have a long way to go to realize our goals but we are working hard towards them and the current environmental and political issues are providing the inspiration to bring us together and moving forward.
Check out sundogecovillage.org
There is a food safety bill in the Senate that would make the regulatory requirements so stringent that only large agribusiness would be able to handle it. This would concentrate food production in fewer hands and make self sufficiency of local communities illegal.
One Montana's Senators,Jon Testor,is an organic farmer and is pushing for an amendment that would exempt farms and food producers that either fit the FDA's definition of "very small business," sell most of their products directly to consumers, restaurants, or retailers within state lines or within 400 miles that have annual sales of less than half a million dollars.
This bill was originally a response to contamination of the food supply traced to large agribusiness processing. The resulting regulation was written by corporate lobbyists to push back against the rapidly growing local food movement.
The measures this small community are taking are all good of course, but a major or even the greatest part of CO2 emisions are from transpotation - notably personal cars, what are they doing about that?
Most CO2 comes from industrial and power generation.
However, if you read the article, it talks about how they are making their own biodiesel from restaurant grease.
It is not possible for the countless millions of people living on land which is cemented over (vast cities ) .. or survive in hot deserts of sand.. having, likewise, no soil, (and no water).. even IF seeds were supplied...... to grow crops.
~sc