Resilience

Rooftop Revolution

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:52:44 GMT

Solar power's detractors have been proclaiming that the collapse of solar panel manufacturer Solyndra proves solar is just a hippie pipe dream. But as Danny Kennedy points out, Solyndra's downfall actually proves the opposite: the company failed because it wasn't able to compete in a red-hot industry, not because solar isn't ready for prime time. In this succinct, hard-hitting book, Kennedy proves that solar can save money, create jobs, and protect the environment—and only politics and perception stand in its way.

Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:53:04 GMT

In Cooked, Michael Pollan explores the previously uncharted territory of his own kitchen. Here, he discovers the enduring power of the four classical elements—fire, water, air, and earth— to transform the stuff of nature into delicious things to eat and drink.

TEDxManhattan - Brian Halweil: From New York to Africa, Why Food is Saving the World

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:35:48 GMT

Brian Halweil, publisher of Edible Manhattan, was on track to become a doctor until he realized that repairing the global food system could help to conserve people’s health and wellbeing more. Halweil believes that the local food movement is a truly powerful medicine.  

Designing a Resilient Community

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:36:46 GMT

Students participate in project-based learning over several days as they assess their community's ability to respond to crises that threaten both natural and human systems. Then they develop ideas for redesigning their community to be more resilient.

Stories of the Great Turning

Thu, 16 May 2013 11:31:56 GMT

Here is a book of stories written by people who decided to act, in their own lives, in response to the challenges of our time, and found their own way to make a difference. They are not stories about celebrities or gurus of the environmental movement but honest accounts from people who share a concern for the world we live in and who, in the words of one of the contributors, “just got on with it".

The Community Power Report

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:01:09 GMT

The Community Power Report has been established with the goal of providing all enthusiasts of community-based renewable power generation and conservation across the world a compact news hub.

Share Spray: A New Way To Do Everything

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:04:22 GMT

With creativity, charm, and a bit of fun, Share Spray explores how sharing could transform our lives and neighborhoods.

Supply Shock: Economic Growth at the Crossroads and the Steady State Solution

Thu, 09 May 2013 21:00:12 GMT

The steady state revolution - navigating the end of economic growth

The Five Stages of Collapse: Survivors' Toolkit

Thu, 09 May 2013 20:51:17 GMT

A user's guide to economic, political, social and cultural collapse by Dmitry Orlov

Cold, Hungry and in the Dark

Thu, 09 May 2013 20:41:19 GMT

What the frack - exploding the myth of the natural gas "100-year supply"

The Art of Hosting: Exploring a Framework for Working with Complexity

Thu, 09 May 2013 13:51:03 GMT

This TeleSeminar will explore the Cynefin framework, a model used to help organizations and communities make good decisions and create useful actions especially when working with complexity.

Starting a Community Garden

Wed, 08 May 2013 13:37:14 GMT

There are many ways to start a community garden. Whether you're working with friends, neighbors, or a local organization, there are many things you'll want to consider before you ever dig the first hole. This fact sheet is designed to give many different groups the basic information they need to get their gardening project off the ground.

Arguing for Our Lives: A User's Guide to Constructive Dialog

Tue, 07 May 2013 14:34:57 GMT

We live in a time when public discourse is more skewed than ever by the propaganda that big money can buy, with trust in the leadership of elected officials at an all-time low. The "news" has degenerated into sensationalist sound bites, and the idea of debate has become a polarized shouting-match that precludes any meaningful discussion.

State of the World 2013: Is Sustainability Still Possible?

Fri, 03 May 2013 13:24:27 GMT

Every day, we are presented with a range of “sustainable” products and activities—from “green” cleaning supplies to carbon offsets—but with so much labeled as “sustainable,” the term has become essentially sustainababble, at best indicating a practice or product slightly less damaging than the conventional alternative. Is it time to abandon the concept altogether, or can we find an accurate way to measure sustainability? If so, how can we achieve it? And if not, how can we best prepare for the coming ecological decline?

Eat Up: The Inside Scoop on Rooftop Gardens

Thu, 02 May 2013 15:06:26 GMT

Soaring prices and concerns about chemical-laden fruits and vegetables increasingly drive us to grow our own healthy food close to home. In cities however, vanishing ground space and contaminated soils spur farmers, activists, and restaurateurs to look to the skyline for a solution. The hunger for local food has reached new heights, and rooftops can provide the space that cities need to bring fresh, organic produce to tables across North America.

Cows Save the Planet

Wed, 01 May 2013 15:52:48 GMT

Cows saving the planet? Why not? An idea that sounds preposterous begins to make sense when you take a soil’s-eye view of our current ecological predicament.

VIDEO: Local Entrepreneur Showcase

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:13:08 GMT

In this video, New Dream highlights an Entrepreneur Showcase hosted by Seacoast Local in Portsmouth, NH.

VIDEO: Organizing a Cash Mob

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:11:41 GMT

Join New Dream as we visit a cash mob for a local shop in Roanoke, VA.

How To Manual for The Gross National Happiness Index

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 02:54:21 GMT

A quick how to guide for using The Gross National Happiness Index for transformation of our economy and society.

Starting a Community Orchard in North Dakota

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 08:16:00 GMT

Community orchards are growing all across America today. These orchards are being established by local organizations looking to beautify their land and grow healthful food for their people.

Staying Green and Growing Jobs: Green Infrastructure Operations and Maintenance as Career Pathway Stepping Stones

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 08:04:42 GMT

The operations and maintenance of green infrastructure represents a significant opportunity to create entry-level jobs in the green sector for individuals from disadvantaged communities. In the coming years, thousands of new green infrastructure projects will be installed throughout the country. They will require a workforce trained to maintain and monitor the projects.

San Francisco: Reclaiming Streets With Innovative Solutions

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:56:29 GMT

Tom Radulovich, the executive director of the local non-profit Livable City, describes the recent livable streets achievements in San Francisco as "tactical urbanism" -- using low-cost materials like paint and bollards to reclaim street space.

Honeycomb Kids

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:41:45 GMT

Including more than 300 practical ideas and activities, Honeycomb Kids is a book with two priceless benefits: not only does it help you prepare your children for an uncertain tomorrow, it also helps you shift to a better family life for today.

Vegetable Literacy

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:58:07 GMT

In her latest cookbook, Deborah Madison, America’s leading authority on vegetarian cooking and author of Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone, reveals the surprising relationships between vegetables, edible flowers, and herbs within the same botanical families, and how understanding these connections can help home cooks see everyday vegetables in new light.

How to start a seed library

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:24:58 GMT

Imagine if your public library didn't just check out books — but also packets of seeds. Watch this free webinar to learn how to start a seed library! At a seed library, patrons can check out seeds for free. They then grow the fruits and vegetables, harvest the new seeds, and "return" those seeds so the library can lend them out to others. In April 2013, New Dream hosted a webinar about how to start a seed lending program at your public library. Topics include funding models, obtaining starter seeds, patron orientation, and more. The webinar features speakers from seed libraries around the country.