Sustainable living: Transition SLV offers hope in anxious times

While this column typically focuses on sustainability at the local level, let’s take a step back and look at the overall health of the U.S. economy and our political discourse.
This just might be the most divided we’ve been as a nation since the Civil War — socially, politically and otherwise — while a recent CNN poll found that only 14 percent of Americans approve of the job our elected officials are doing in Washington.
Throughout the nation, job growth remains anemic, and our infrastructure is in tatters. Two wars — more, if you count Libya and countless other military adventures abroad — continue to cost us billions of dollars and thousands of lives. The credit rating of U.S. debt has been slashed and Wall Street is sputtering.
Meanwhile, demand for energy is outstripping supply and our climate is changing more ferociously than we ever could have imagined.
So, why am I optimistic?
I’m reminded of that famous scene in “The Wizard of Oz” when Toto pushes open the curtain to reveal the cowardly huckster who led Dorothy and her travel companions to believe he was an all-powerful wizard capable of fulfilling their wildest dreams. It wasn’t until they realized their own inner strengths that they were able to overcome their perceived weaknesses.
Just peek behind the curtain and it’s clear that none of our elected officials are willing or able to solve these pressing issues. And yet, we continue to bark at each other with the scripted talking points you might hear on MSNBC or Fox News.
We’re not pawns. That is why we must rise above petty political squabbling and social differences to realize what we do have in common. We all want food security, access to clean drinking water, shelter, energy and some measure of hope for our children — right?
Simple things like getting to know your neighbors and sharing resources, such as ride shares and community gardens, can go a long way. Recovery might be a long, long way off. So instead of blaming Obama or Boehner, Democrats or Republicans, it may be more effective to actually do something constructive.
One way to meet like-minded folks who are more interested in working together than bickering over politics is to join Transition San Lorenzo Valley (www.transitionslv.org). Now in our second year, we’ve been working hard to make San Lorenzo Valley a more resilient community in the face of environmental challenges, economic decline and energy depletion.
Much of our work has been focused on promoting our goals and increasing membership, including our monthly film series at The Satellite Telework Center in Felton, tabling at local festivals and this column.
We’ve also organized a canning workshop, helped promote a county-wide local currency initiative, provided valuable input for the SLV Water District’s five-year plan and begun the process of planning community vegetable gardens throughout the area.
While it might take some time to implement, we’re hoping to get a Santa Cruz County-wide time bank launched, with the help of Transition Santa Cruz. Also, we’re forming an exciting partnership with Ben Beck, the new owner of Love Apple Farm’s former Ben Lomond location (more on that in a later column).
Admittedly, it has been a struggle to convert our vision and ideas into action, despite an impressive growth in membership. But ambitious grassroots movements are never easy and require patience.
I’m optimistic for our future because I’ve met so many fascinating, intelligent and creative people through the Transition movement. Our so-called leaders in Washington have failed us, so let’s get to work.
Steve Tanner is a writer living in Ben Lomond with his wife and two young children. He is an active member of Transition San Lorenzo Valley, a local nonprofit group committed to creating a more sustainable and resilient community.