tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32933752.post5811802798183406945..comments2008-04-22T20:20:36.593+10:00Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05380570737780717931noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32933752.post-8150208365726979702008-04-22T20:20:00.000+10:002008-04-22T20:20:00.000+10:00does it say something about me that all I have to say is, you have fairies in your house - even in suburbia!ClareSnowhttp://elsewear.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32933752.post-81725540529169526992008-04-04T23:57:00.000+11:002008-04-04T23:57:00.000+11:00Well done Julie. My wife and I were only talking about this the other day, and are frightend that after peak oil, our town will become a slum. I think that town planners and local councils need to start thinking about changing suburbs into villages that are semi self sufficient. I believe that if we begin that process now, we will have half a chance at getting through the troubled times ahead. Once again, great, thought provoking post.<BR/><BR/>GavinGavinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08995214671079288985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32933752.post-59235683638964041882008-04-04T14:06:00.000+11:002008-04-04T14:06:00.000+11:00Well written post! Have you ever thought of putting an article in a magazine/paper? This post has identified so many of things we all are thinking about.<BR/>BellaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32933752.post-30394011747826243812008-04-04T00:57:00.000+11:002008-04-04T00:57:00.000+11:00I worry a lot about the same. My husband came from Cuba. We are talking about food not politics. They did figure it out how to live a “decent life” without all the knowledge that we have right know. They still do know have access to the same information and resources that we have. They were in this situation without a warning. They could have been in better place and would have thrived if it would not have been because of their political situation and their lack of knowledge. We have the ability and knowledge to get ready. Hospitals and doctors are not going to be that available as they are now because of short supplies including medicines. We better learn a little more about holistic medicine and prevention. The only thing that keeps me in a good spirit is that people are always looking to make more money with the next trend. Many cities are going green with the help of the new “green” entrepreneurs. I look at the mayor in my city flaunting that he is moving the city to be “green”. I know all the people that are putting pressure on him (campaign money) to do their projects like buildings, shopping centers, solar power this or that. Since these are green projects it is a win-win situation.Evelynnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32933752.post-79983207270269431262008-04-03T20:13:00.000+11:002008-04-03T20:13:00.000+11:00A thought-provoking post as usual Julie. Lots to think about - thanks.Kezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915193876879614644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32933752.post-1133750431334112182008-04-03T18:57:00.000+11:002008-04-03T18:57:00.000+11:00Hi Julie<BR/><BR/>http://superwall.com.au/water_tanks.html#productinfo<BR/><BR/>These tanks may solve your problem of space, when they become available in WA im replacing all my fencing around chook pens and dogs yard with it, plus lining 2 sides of the house (they are also thermal insulators)<BR/>Hope that helps in one area at least :)<BR/><BR/>blessingsmollyhttp://doing-it-naturally.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32933752.post-55580476736398744672008-04-03T17:58:00.000+11:002008-04-03T17:58:00.000+11:00Julie, Where did you buy your solar oven. i am looking for a local supplier and am just south of Sydney.<BR/>Hannahhan_ysichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07183560511843774235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32933752.post-12846248772904617792008-04-03T17:11:00.000+11:002008-04-03T17:11:00.000+11:00Excellent post Julie!Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32933752.post-30450745864043701002008-04-03T16:24:00.000+11:002008-04-03T16:24:00.000+11:00Thanks Julie. This really mirrors my thinking (but you have articulated it better than I did). I am convinced that building communities now is the way to go. I think there will be dramas everywhere in times of transition but if you are set up where you are and you can start to build skills, then maybe the changes won't be so bad. <BR/><BR/>Might have to get onto that Lord Mayor and have him visit our place.Suznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32933752.post-70667675343620023692008-04-03T15:48:00.000+11:002008-04-03T15:48:00.000+11:00Awesome post, Julie. This is the sort of thing I believe everybody out to be thinking about. Not that I think there are too many certain answers yet, but it's surely better to try and plan ahead and <I>choose</I> to influence the future as best we can.<BR/><BR/>Have you looked into the Transition Town movement at all? (<A HREF="http://transitionculture.org/" REL="nofollow">link</A>) Those communities are actively reshaping themselves to cope with a low-energy future. There's a key concept called an "Energy Descent Action Plan".<BR/><BR/>Just north of me on the Sunshine Coast is <A HREF="http://www.seac.net.au" REL="nofollow">SEAC</A> who are working along similar principles for the whole of the Sunshine Coast region. <BR/><BR/>Like you I've been mulling over the idea of moving out of the suburbs onto a larger piece of land and setting up to become more self-sufficient. But also like you I have a dependency on city services, particularly health.<BR/><BR/>For me the big question is how do we make our <I>cities</I> sustainable? How do we prepare large population centres for energy scarcity?<BR/><BR/>I was delighted to hear this morning that our Lord Mayor (who, incidentally, I did not vote for) is keen on people planting veges in their backyard (<A HREF="http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23473703-3102,00.html" REL="nofollow">link</A>). And I was astounded to read in the same report of "environmentalists" concerned about the amount of water it would require!<BR/><BR/>No doubt in my mind, the world is in for a very difficult century, yet there's still a great deal we can do to positively shape the future. And as parents of young children the onus is very much on people like you and I to do whatever we can.<BR/><BR/>Keep it up, Julie. You're doing great.TBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08364685562037692444noreply@blogger.com