The New Haven Bioregional Group sponsors walks, films, canoe trips, potlucks, and other events to help us connect with our natural and built environment, and to build community and local resilience.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Transition Road Show, World Premier
Sat, July 11, 7:30-9:30 PM
Optional
potluck dinner at 6:30, open to all
UU
Society, 608 Whitney Ave, New Haven
Witness
the birth of the "Transition Greater New Haven" initiative,
and find out what all the fuss is about. There will be entertainment,
reflection, inspiration and dynamic participation all in one show! We'll
cover the problems (peak oil, climate change, economic meltdown) and look to
the solutions (using our collective genius to create sustainable community on a
human scale). The Transition Movement is about connecting the dots and getting
us from here to there (http://transitionus.org/).
Transition Study Group #2
Thursday, July 2, 6:00-8:00 PM
(bring something to add to the salad)
David's house, 74 Woodlawn St, Hamden
1. Group
exercise. Tools for Transition: the humble potato becomes a tool for
breaking our oil addiction, part II (concluding what we began in the
last meeting: this includes sharing our personal plans to reduce our
oil dependency, and a "World Cafe" exploring how our personal plans can strengthen, and be strengthened by, our nascent community plans).
2. Discussion of the Transition Handbook by Rob Hopkins to p. to 133 (Chapter 7, 8, & 9).
Transition Study Group #1
Monday, July 6, 7:30-9:30 PM
(with optional potluck dinner at 6:30, open to all)
UU Society, 608 Whitney Ave, New Haven
Editing our Transition Road Show. (To premier on July 11).
Transition Study Group #2
Thursday, July 16, 6:00-8:00 PM
(bring something to add to the salad)
David's house, 74 Woodlawn St, Hamden
1. Discussion of the Transition Handbook by Rob Hopkins to p. to 175 (Chapter 10 & 11).
2.
Exercise. Transition Tales: News from 2030 (p. 120, and examples
throughout the book). Write a news piece on what's going on in your
powered-down community in 2030 (and maybe how we got there). Please come prepared to share your story.
Wepawaug River Walkabout
Sat, July 18, 9 AM meet at UU, 608 Whitney Ave, New Haven
9:30 AM meet at Wepawaug Conservation Area, Orange (walk will last 2 hr)
The Wepawaug River watershed is a beautiful area tucked in the elbow of Rte. 34 and the Merritt Parkway in Orange, only 10 minutes from Westville. The area we will be exploring encompasses several different conservation areas, including Kowal Nature Preserve, the Howard D. Brooks Wepawaug Conservation Area, Camp Cedarcrest (which serves primarily as a day camp for disadvantaged children from New Haven), the Whitney Tract, and the Ravine.
The trail winds over rocky and treed knolls, past the Camp Cedarcrest
buildings, and through a relatively young forest with a few old
stalwarts. The stone walls remind one that this used to be farm
land. At the Whitney Tract there is another hemlock forest, then the
trail along the Wepawaug crosses over into the ravine. In the years
since the last Ice Age the Wepawaug has eroded the overburden to expose
Devonian rocks that are 200 million years old and created a ravine
which could be dammed. Before electricity, this stretch of the Wepawaug
was the industrial center of Orange with a water-power turning grist,
mills and dams along the river.
On the east bank of the river
is the remains of the foundation of an old mill which
manufactured cloth for Union uniforms during the Civil War. The
building burned in the late 1890s. The flume, which cut through solid
rock and directed water to an overshot water wheel, can still be seen.
Our walk will be a leisurely two hours. We will stop to explore the
Ravine halfway through the walk, and at the end we will stop for a
snack by the bridge if people want to stay.
The walk will be relatively flat. Children are welcome.
The area is well-shaded but it may still be warm, so please bring plenty of water, as well as bug repellent and good shoes.
DIRECTIONS
AND PARKING: The Wepawaug Conservation Area parking lot is located on
Mapledale Road which can be accessed either via Derby Road (Route 34)
or Orange Center Road (Route 152). Both roads can be reached via the Wilbur Cross Parkway.
If you are going west on Rte 34 from New Haven, just past Orange Center
Road you will see a sign for Camp Cedarcrest. Turn left there onto
Mapledale Road. Proceed about half a mile to the Conservation Area
parking lot on the right-hand side of Mapledale opposite Cherry Hill Road.
CARPOOLING:
Meet at the First Unitarian Universalist Society, 608 Whitney Ave., at
9 am. If you are interested in carpooling from the Westville area,
please contact Maria Tupper.
QUESTIONS? Contact Aaron at aaron.goode@gmail.com or (510) 207-6310.
Hiking Our Bioregion with Overnight Camping at Common Ground High School
Sat. & Sun, Aug 8 & 9
The
Bioregional Group has been talking about gradually walking the
circumference of the New Haven Quinnipiac Bioregion. We will begin
with a short piece of that this summer.
For
the first leg of this we have been planning a hike that will begin at
the New Haven Green and head north through some New Haven
neighborhoods. We will walk along the West River, up West Rock and
then end on Sat. evening at Common Ground School. We will have a
campfire and camp in tents for the night. The next morning we will
hike back up to the West Rock Ridge and further north, ultimately
coming down and ending at Shepard's Farm. The entire two day hike will
be about 8 miles.
When
we arrive at Common Ground we hope that others who don't feel up to the
hike will join us for a potluck supper, and singing and drumming around
the campfire.
Please
save the date and let us know if you have an interest in joining the
hike and the overnight. Contact Roger Uihlein 203-773-9510 or mariatupper@gmail.com.
RECENT EVENTS
Nine Squares Walkabout
Sat, June 20, 1 - 3 PM
Meet at the Flagpole on the New Haven Green
A 2 hour walking tour where history meets the modern day with special stops along the way. Joe Taylor
will be sharing historical photos that he has collected over the years.
Parking is free on
Sunday, so park anywhere around the New Haven Green
and meet at the flagpole at 1 PM. We will end the walk at the flag
pole. Because this is a loop walk, people can join us for part of the
walk if they can't stay the whole time. You will never be that far
from your car.
For more info call Roger 203-773-9510 or contact mariatupper@gmail.com
Bicycle Tuneup with the Bike Coop, Potluck, Movie "In Grave Danger of Falling Food"
Sat, June 6, 4:30 PM Bike Tuneup, 6:30 PM Potluck, 7:30 PM Movie
UU Society, 608 Whitney Ave, New Haven
Come to all or part of the evening!!
BICYCLE TUNEUP--As summer approaches, it's time to get your bicycle out of the garage!
Bicycling is a fun, healthy means of recreation and transportation. As
the Farmington Canal Trail nears completion and New Haven moves
forward with its Complete Streets bike/ped initiative, New Haven is
becoming a better and safer place to cycle by the day.
Join
the Bioregional Group for a bicycle tune-up day. Experienced
mechanics will be on hand with bicycle tools to help us get our bikes
in tip-top shape. We'll do a tire-changing demonstration, provide
tips for safe cycling and information about local cycling resources
such as the New Haven Bike Collective, Elm City Cycling, and the
Farmington Canal Trail.
If you need help transporting your bike to the FUUS, let us know (aaron.goode@gmail.com) and we may be able to help.
POTLUCK--Bring something to share with everyone. Label you
dish with the ingredients. Good time to sit and chat with others in
our community.
MOVIE "IN GRAVE DANGER OF FALLING FOOD"--Bill Mollison, author of the "Permaculture" concept and recipient of the Alternative Nobel Prize believes
that the single most destructive force on the planet is modern
agriculture. Mollison has proposed a designed system of agriculture
which uses the engineering princliples of nature itself, and has taken
hold in dozens ofdeveloping countries. He combines hunreds of
species-plant and animal- into a fertile self-regulating eco-system.
His designs apply to the city as well as to the country, they can work
in any sort of climate and once matured, have the potential to provide
most of the food for any household. Transition Study Group #2
Thur, May 21, 6:00-8:00
PM
Bernard
& Patty Brennan’s home, 21 Barrett St, Hamden
At
the first meeting, the group decided to organize at least the next
several sessions around topics rather than going through a particular
book. The topic for next week's session is "The End of Cheap Oil."
We are
considering reading Future Scenarios by David Holmgren , The Mother of All by Kirkpatrick Sale, and the Transition
Timeline.
You can
also sign up to order Transition books together at http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=cnNsN3N3Z2M3WnVyLUM1aE9SWm01Qnc6MA..
Local Resilience
-- http://sites.google.com/site/localresilience/
If you do not have the book, it can be viewed online at:
http://www.appropedia.org/The_Transition_Handbook_-_free_edit_version
We are also placing a bulk order for this and other Chelsea Green books (50% discount). To request copies visit
Transition Study Group #1
Mon, May 25, 7:30-9:30 PM (we are meeting in spite of it being the end of a holiday weekend)
(with optional potluck dinner at 6:30, open to all)
UU Society, 608 Whitney Ave, New Haven
Meeting bi-weekly, this group aims to blend the study of the
Transition Movement with practical actins, incorporating interactive
exercises when possible. We are beginning to work on planning
educational programs that we can bring to the community.
Bring your ideas and enthusiasm!
If you do not have the book, it can be viewed online at:
We are also placing a bulk order for this and other Chelsea Green books (50% discount). To request copies visit
Gazing at the Stars with Bob Carruthers
Yale's Bethany Observatory,111 Hilldale Rd, Bethany
Fri, April 24, arrive before sunset (about 7:30 PM)
We have the wonderful opportunity of gazing at the stars at the Yale's Bethany Observatory with Bob Carruthers as our guide.
Directions
are a little complicated: Come out Whalley Ave, through Westville to
Rt. 63. Take Rt 63 to Bethany. You will pass the old Bethany Fire
House, a yellow blinking light, 2 churches, and the Clark Memorial
Library. Immediately after the library, turn right on Hilldale Rd.
When you come to the diamond shaped sign for a curve, turn left into
that driveway and continue to the observatory (which looks like a
regular building, not a domed observatory. There should be signs. If you have a problem finding it, call Bob 860-575-9385.
This should be great fun. Our Bioregional Sky!!!!!!
Garden Work
Sat, April 25, 11 AM - 1 PM
UU Society, 608 Whitney Ave, New Haven
Last week our gardeners spread wood chips around our
filbert trees, finished the last bed and spread more mulch, and planted potatoes and leeks. Plants are starting to poke their heads above the soil. The rewards of the work are starting to emerge!!
This week we will start digging in the area where we will be
putting cement wall to prevent the encroaching roots from the trees.
Hope you all can join us.
Digging in the dirt is good for the soul!!
Pictures posted in the album: http://picasaweb.google.com/mariatupper/BioregionalGarden2009#
Movie "Flow" & Potluck
Sun, April 26, 6 PM Potluck, 7 PM Movie
UU Society, 608 Whitney Ave, New Haven*
Irena Salina's award-winning documentary investigation into what
experts label the most important political and environmental issue of
the 21st Century - The World Water Crisis.
Salina builds a case
against the growing privatization of the world's dwindling fresh water
supply with an unflinching focus on politics, pollution, human rights,
and the emergence of a domineering world water cartel.
Interviews
with scientists and activists intelligently reveal the rapidly building
crisis, at both the global and human scale, and the film introduces
many of the governmental and corporate culprits behind the water grab,
while begging the question "CAN ANYONE REALLY OWN WATER?"
Beyond
identifying the problem, FLOW also gives viewers a look at the people
and institutions providing practical solutions to the water crisis and
those developing new technologies, which are fast becoming blueprints
for a successful global and economic turnaround.
Hope you can join us!!
Learn more about the film here.
*PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGE - This film was originally scheduled for Sat., April 25 but the FUUS was already booked at that time.
Transition Study Groups Aim to Foster Local Resilience
Mon, April 27, 6:30 PM Potluck, 7:30 PM Discussion Group
UU Society, 608 Whitney Ave, New Haven
Bi-weekly study group focusing on The Transition Handbook: From Oil Dependency to Local Resilience by Rob Hopkins.
It meets on alternate Monday evenings, beginning with a pot-luck dinner.
This week the 4 people from New Haven who attended the Transition
Workshop in Portland, Maine this past weekend will report on their
experience and learnings. This will be the basis of future planning
for the Transition Study Group.
We're
also
forming
another Transition study group that will run in parallel
with the Monday night group because there have been requests for a
study group that meets on another night. It will meet on some evening
other than
Mondays, at a date that will work for most of the people interested in
participating. We'll be reading the new book from the Transition
Movement, The Transition Timeline: for a local, resilient future, by Shaun Chamberlin.Please contact Terry (203-980-1088) if you'd like to be in on the negotiations of a day and time for this group to meet.
More on the Book: The Transition Handbook-from oil dependency to local resilience shows how the inevitable and profound
changes ahead can have a positive outcome. These changes can lead to the
rebirth of local communities that will grow more of their own food, generate
their own power, and build their own houses using local materials. They can
also encourage the development of local currencies to keep money in the local
area.
Local Resilience Website http://sites.google.com/site/localresilience/
Resilient: Capable of adapting quickly to disruptive challenges
IBUYELMCITY--New Haven Independent Business Network
Tue, April 28, 7 PM
Jennifer Jane Gallery
838 West Rock Ave (off Whalley Ave), Westville Village, New Haven
What is the New Haven Independent Business Network?
Support local economy
Inform
local residents about the benefits which come to an area when its
people consciously and deliberately support their local businesses,
especially the enhanced circulation of money and the increase of
relationships and connections among people
Develop
local sources of capital to support and enable local businesses. Avoid
sources of capital that come with strings attached. Capital which
remains under the control of powerful outside interests cannot bring
real local economic vitality.
Cultivate community
A
thriving local economy naturally bears fruit in a rich sense of
interdependence and in the practice of mutual aid. When each business
finds its niche, a living fabric of multiple connections can develop.
Those who affiliate with others in the normal course of doing business
find friends and support as well as income in a more limited sense,
bringing genuine wealth to our region.
Encourage bioregional awareness
"If
you don't know where you are, you won't know who you are, and you won't
know what to do." As we come to know our own life place and begin to
ground our lives in it in a conscious way, we will feel more connection
to the earth. Our community will naturally evolve from the goodness of
earthly life itself. We will want to preserve and protect the water,
the air, the land, and the living beings of our region.
For more information call 773-9510 or go to
www.yourhaven.orgBIOREGIONAL FUN FACT: THE LOGO FOR THE INDEPENDENT BUSINESS NETWORK IS SOMEWHERE ON THIS WEBSITE - CAN YOU FIND IT?
GETTING OUTDOORS AND GETTING BIOREGIONAL!(This is a slide-show -- wait for the pictures to change)
New Haven, CT
Updated Friday, July 03, 2009 6:53 PM
Mostly Cloudy | 73°F | High: 78°F
Low: 62°F
Wind: 5 mph
Humidity: 73%
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