Thursday, March 6, 2008

Getting Started: Building Sustainable Communities Workshop and Luncheon on May 17

This year of eating local has become much more than a quest for food produced within a couple hundred miles. I've developed a broader interest in the preservation of sustainable agriculture and the promotion of sustainable development. This is why I am so excited to tell you about the Getting Started: Building Sustainable Communities Workshop and Luncheon that will be offered by Building Sustainable Communities and South Vista Communities in May.

Objectives of the workshop:
1. To raise public awareness of ecological, energy, and climatic issues impacting our North San Diego County region.
2. To begin preparing community guidelines to address these impacts (e.g., information campaigns, practical initiatives, local legislation, pilot projects, events, etc.)
3. To foster relationships and partnerships between stakeholders so that we can address the issues holistically.

After attending, you will understand:
•How to identify those parts of your community that are candidates for conservation.
•What other communities have done at the local level to begin their transition to sustainability.
•How to select an appropriate pilot project for your community based upon realistic expectations and existing resources within your community.
•How to directly influence local land-use policy.
•Where watershed management fits into a sustainability action plan.

Seven workshops will cover the many different elements of developing a sustainable San Diego. The topics are intriguing, the speakers diverse, and the company is sure to be engaging. I will be there, and I hope to see many of you there as well!

When: Saturday, May 17, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Where: Green Oak Ranch, 1237 Green Oak Road Vista, California 92081-7890
Cost: Full-day registration is $30 and half-day is $20, including lunch.
Registration and Workshop Schedule: Building Sustainable Communities website

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