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The ‘Transition Movement’ started in England as a way to engage local communities in making real changes to their dependence on fossil fuels and dwindling resources; and they have come to Victoria.  My Fernwood neighborhood has already started working groups.  What makes Transition Towns a successful model is it involves community leaders, businesses and organizations in cooperatively seeking practical steps and actions to “localize” communities into a “powered down” future.

The Sierra Club in Victoria, BC is holding an open house at their 733 Johnson Street Headquarters this Thursday (Feb 18) from 430 to 630.

They have made a clear and accessible video about our Pacific Northeast Ocean health.Sierra Club on YouTube

Such a title - this subject may not excite your brain cells but is riveting stuff to a self confessed recycling and composting nerd.

Victoria, BC and the CRD (Capital Regional District) are gradually leading us toward curbside collection of green waste.  We are running out of room for landfill, (after all we are an island) and landfill leachate contaminates our water supply…see the latest studies at the CRD website.

Ontario cities are taking lessons learned from Europe and building (since 2003) successful solid waste recycling programs.  Solid Waste & Recycling Magazine has some fascinating (remember, the nerd enthusiasm is at work here) videos.

So hurry up Victoria and get on board.

On the buses: another great ride with a thoughtful driver - this one giving precise directions to a confused tourist, waiting for a late running passenger and slowing down approaching each stop (some bus drivers think they are in a rally - or have I groused about that already?).

Bus travel can be travelling theatre:

- A young guy telling his friend and consequently the entire bus, the difficulties and successes in his lovelife at college - thankfully without the addition of procreative descriptors.

- Man gets  up and offers his seat to woman, she refuses - yowzers!

- Bus driver calling out the name of a stop and every uni student saying “thank you” as they alight.  I wonder if the drivers get bored with saying “you’re welcome, every time”?

There are people going to work, shopping, travelling (suitcase in hand to transfer to the Ferry/ Airport buses); everyone transported in every way for the cost of a cup of coffee.

Central Middle School in Victoria, BC has gone Eco in a big way.  They are recycling everything in the school - they are even composting the kids’ leftovers, a prime example of their dedication.

We have a  great resource for composting information and supplies right here in Victoria: The Compost Education Centre.  Every Spring they host a plant sale, with many unusual herbs and vegetables - organically and locally grown.

Carless in Victoria is possible because we have user friendly public transport AND I live in funky Fernwood, which means I can walk, bike or bus to downtown under half an hour.  Walking to town is a pleasant 30 minute stroll along tree lined residential roads.  I sound like an advert for the tourist board! 

When I need a car (especially for transporting Recycle2shop’s ’stuff’ to market) I walk 3 blocks to pick up my Victoria Carshare Coop truck or car.

Took the bus to town the other day (raining the proverbial) and the bus driver was amazing - yes, he actually waited for the less able to sit down before he took off and he slowly braked when coming up to a stop - sometimes we look like a bunch of drunks waiting to get off,  a tad unsteady on the feet as some drivers like to think they are on a rally course.  I feel like a ‘grumpy old woman’ some days when a passenger who obviously needs to sit is left standing by some lumpen’ youth (see what I mean about ‘grumpy’).  However, on that same bus trip one young man after another stood up with alacrity when the need arose-astonishing.  Obviously our bus driver’s considerate ‘aura’ was leaking out to the rest of us.

Try out the bus system, leave your car at home and take part in a really interesting bus ride.

OK, here’s the deal - only good news about recycling will appear on these pages.  2009 was enough doom and gloom for a lifetime.  I won’t go all ‘Pollyanna’  here - I figure we all know what’s up or should that be ‘down’ (my baaaad sense of humour will not change, of course).

So the first bit of  good news rumour is that the UK environment minister, Tony Benn (the last of the socialist ministers to survive in the labour party) has announced that there are plans to divert food waste from landfill.  Lead the way Tony. 

Stay tuned for [re]jeanius.  All will be revealed in the next installment.

The anti’s are at it again - every time there is an international platform for climate discussion the skeptics ramp up their attacks.  The skeptics are supported by the corporations’ self interest vs climate research scientists supported by - um - who? Universities?  Magical thinking (ignoring all evidence hoping for a wishful outcome) will lead us to the Earth as an organism (Gaia Theory) getting rid of us and leaving cockroaches in charge.

OK that’s my one and only political rant for the year!

Let’s just keep on recycling and making our local environment a whole lot cleaner.

Returning from a very successful craft show & sale in Victoria - the interest and support from everyone who stopped by our booth is what makes this project so worthwhile. 

I love explaining that plastic bottles turn into soft, durable fleece and nylon  (made into the baby rug pictured - overlooking the ocean in this view from a Victoria clifftop).  We sold out of these great little gifts so it’s back to the sewing machine for me.

Victoria CRD (waste recycle) are looking into wood recycling - the UK has been working on a similar project and LetsRecycle has the latest news.

We are off to sell our re-goodies in the Pearkes Centre  Tillicum,  Xmas Fair this weekend.  Come and say hello!