Saturday, October 9th, 2010 from 10am - 5pm, plus the six (6) following Tuesday evenings, 6-9pm. Taught by Alan Seid, this is an in-depth learning series for the highly acclaimed process for preventing and resolving conflicts, creating rich and powerful relationships, and much more! One full-day Saturday plus six weekday evenings. Register here, or contact Angela MacLeod, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , phone 733-3541.

Where: Explorations Academy Library, 1701 Ellis St., between Ohio & State, Bellingham, WA, USA. Cost: $400 Full Tuition •$600 full tuition; $347 Early Bird Special if paid in full by Sept. 17, 2010  •Includes Snacks & Refreshments •Please Inquire if Needing Financial Assistance. Empowered Communication (also known as Compassionate Communication, Nonviolent CommunicationSM or NVC) is a way of speaking that facilitates the flow of communication needed to exchange information and resolve differences peacefully. It helps us identify our shared values & needs, encourages us to use language that increases goodwill, and avoid language that contributes to resentment or lowers self-esteem. Click here to learn more about NVC.  Download flyer here.

William Aal is deeply involved in social and environmental justice work with a particular focus on agricultural sustainability and social healing, and is a Trainer for Transition United States. Versed in opening the imagination, awakening people’s best thinking and inspiring group transformation, Aal works with group reflection to unleash collective genius in organizational settings. A former manager in the non-profit and information technology worlds, he co-founded Riseup.net to build computer-based communications networks for activists. Aal has developed accessible networking tools and trainings in social analysis and use of the web for community organizing, empowering individuals who traditionally have not had access to these tools.

For more info about this event, contact  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

See also the Permaculture Design Course being led by Starhawk and Bill Aal, beginning July 3rd.

Saturday, May 29th, 10:00am.

The Inspiration Farm Reskilling Series, co-sponsored by Sustainable Bellingham and Transition Whatcom.

Applied Basic Biodynamics, Learn how to see and treat your land as one organism. Bringing the land back into balance using basic biodynamic practices. Making and inoculating Biodynamic compost, Planting by the calender using positive cosmic forces, use of Biodynamic sprays and teas, understanding the use and functions of preps and peppers. These practices increase vitality and vigor, reduce pests and disease, create biodiversity and Inoculate the land with love and intention. $30 - $60 sliding scale, life dollars accepted Please RSVP

May 11th, All Day

co-sponsored by Inspiration Farm, Earthcare Garden Designs, Transition Whatcom, Sustainable Bellingham, Nearly Wild Garden

Event UPDATE! Due to unforeseen circumstance Larry Korn will not be able to make it for this event. We will still be hosting the Spring Fling a seed ball portion followed by an orchard and farm tour. This revised event will start at 12 noon and go to 4 or so.


Seed Balls are a method inspired by Masanobu Fukuoka (author of One Straw Revolution) for planting without tilling or planting in harsh environments. Bring seeds if you have them and we will make a variety of seed balls with the mixture of seeds on hand. Then we will walk around Inspiration Farm and talk about natural orchards, food forests the Fukuoka method and more.

$5-$20 donation; Please RSVP so we know how to prepare. Location: Inspiration Farm, 619 E. Laurel Rd., Bellingham.
Website or Map: http://www.inspirationfarm.com. Phone: 360-398-7061

Sustainable Bellingham is a co-sponsor of The Great Unleashing

April 10 and 11, 2010 at Bellingham High School, 2020 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham, WA.
Day 1: 9am - 5pm
Day 2: 1pm - 6pm

Admission is a suggested donation of $15. No one turned away for lack of funds - - attend without obligation -- pay what you can! Advance tickets are being sold for $15 at Village Books, The DOWNTOWN Community Food Co-op, and Terra Organica. Admission to Frances Moore Lappe's 4pm keynote is Free, sponsored by Village Books.

Many of the details of this "Extravaganza" are noted in our Community Newsletter Event Listings. Full details can be found at the Transition Whatcom links below. Follow the links to get all the details, or Click Here to download a well formatted, conveniently packaged "TGU At A Glance" Word document to see all of the important info about Day 1 of the Unleashing.

General Description of the event, and an "at a glance" outline of the sessions on Day 1.

The Pedal Powered Parade
Come be a part of the pre-event parade on Saturday morning!

The Keynote Speakers: Rob Hopkins, Trathen Heckman, Vicki Robin, and Frances Moore Lappe.
Read their bios, see their photos, and learn what they'll be talking about.

The Breakout Sessions: All the Details
Full details of who, what, when and where for the breakout sessions on Day 1. We have a long list of local movers and shakers presenting: Celt Schira, John Rawlins, Alex Ramel, Linda Quintana, Kim Bauer, Cyndy Sheldon, Francis Ayley, Whatcom County Elders, Brian Kerkvliet, Paul Kearsley, Dyana Fiediga, Seth June, Laura Leigh Ridenour, David MacLeod, Dr. Frank James, Stephen Trinkaus, Dillon Thomson, Cameron Murphey, Max Wilbert, Thia Riddle, Kendall Hardy, Makena Henriksen, Jim McCabe, Chris Wolf, Gigi Berardi-Allaway, Fred Berman, Walter Haugen, Kathryn Fentress, Ann Gunderson, Robert Ashworth, Anders Carlson-Wee, Channing Showalter, Rick Nicholson, Tom Anderson, Rick Dubrow, Wain Harrison, Jackie Lynch, Carl Weimer, Preston Burris, and Brian Carpenter.

Music and Food
Music and food are important. Dana Lyons, Jan Peters, Burke Mulvaney, Youth Jazz Band, and more!

The Exhibits
Read all about the exhibits and exhibitors.

An Overview of Day 2
This is the day when the real work of Transition Whatcom will begin. We encourage everyone who has a strong interest in Transition to prioritize attending Day 2 of The Great Unleashing. It could be among the most important time spent of your entire year.

Sponsors
We couldn't put this event on without our sponsors. Please express your thanks to these generous companies and folks!

Saturday, March 27th
Spring Bike Tour of York Neighborhood Gardens - 3rd Annual Spring Bike Tour
This spring will feature the York Neighborhood. This is the third year for these garden tours by bike, and they are always tremendous fun. Meet at Nelson’s Market (Humboldt and Potter) for a 10:30 departure. The ride should end around 1pm where a meal will be served on the 1100 block of Humboldt. Bring a side dish or bottle of wine. This will be an easy ride with only one small hill. Total biking distance will be around one mile.

Please send Jeff information on your scheduled work parties to be listed on this newsletter, which will go out weekly.

If you do not see one in your neighborhood, then get involved and organize one! You will be surprised how a little effort goes a long, long way to making a difference in Bellingham and the world. It is a wonderful way to meet your neighbors. 

Contact Jeff Westcott for more info, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Jan Spencer returns to Bellingham! Sponsored by Transition Whatcom, RE Sources for Sustainable Communities, and Sustainable Bellingham.  7:00pm, Friday March 5th at Sustainable Living Center above the RE Store. 

Global Trends - Local Choices is a timely, practical and humane call for personal empowerment and action, given the current state of our economic system, culture, natural environment and world.

GTLC recognizes the global trends that challenge us are all symptoms of deeper issues.  GTLC put its focus on those deeper issues - ourselves, culture, economics and our communities.

GTLC is action oriented - describing choices and strategies  people can make at home, in their neighborhoods and communities that can mitigate virtually all the challenges we face at the same time.  There are enormous opportunities to create positive outcomes, in these changing times, that require no permission beyond ourselves.

The  presentation is philosophical, practical and passionate while offering many visual images and descriptions of real life pioneers of eco logical culture change.  GTLC affirms that virtually all the assets, models and tools for creating a  healthy and peaceful world already exist.  Its simply a matter of the choices we make.

See Jan Spencer's Suburban Permaculture website, and check out the YouTube trailer for Global Trends - Local Choices DVD.