In an apartment or otherwise without access to space for a garden?

Then you should check this out. While there are grounds for reservations about soil-less growing systems (such as the fact that we don't fully understand how trace minerals that come from natural soil influence our health and the nutrition profile of plants), there's simply no doubt that, given a choice between no garden and an indoor soil-less garden (hydroponic or aeroponic), you are much better off with the soil-less garden.

People need to wake up to some hard facts: The economy isn't in a "downturn," and it's not going to "pick up" anytime soon. The sad truth is that we have experienced the first in what are likely to be many economic contractions driven by the fact that our demand for resources is overwhelming our ability to extract them and to manage the waste products of all that consumption. And all the theorizing in the world about economic stresses won't take your mind off the fact that you're hungry if you haven't made provisions to grow some food.

Even if your living situation means you can't take many steps for food security (such as convert your lawn to growing food, planting fruit and nut trees, learning to put food by), you can still grow fresh greens indoors, and those greens can make a positive difference, both for your family's diet and for giving you something to trade with.

Important Idea: Green our transport infrastructure with stimulus money

1000 Friends has an important letter to Gov. Kulongoski here.

For those who have thought of Pringling

They're trying to figure out why sales are dead. Respond to mckenzie@pringlecreek.com if you like. If you've looked at Pringle Creek and want to comment here, that's also welcome.

Thank you for your previous interest in Pringle Creek Community.

We were hoping that you would assist us by sharing some of your thoughts and opinions about the community.

Below are a few questions that specifically interest us:

- Have you visited Pringle Creek Community before? If so, what were your first impressions?
- What do you like / dislike about the community?
- Are you still considering becoming a part of the community?
- What has prevented you from becoming part of the Pringle Creek Community to date?
- What would need to happen for you to consider building a home a Pringle Creek Community (e.g. new pricing, change in the economy, view a model home, have a built home to purchase, etc)?

If you would like to discuss your thoughts over the phone please do not hesitate to contact me at 503.400.1322.

Thank you for your time and thoughtful response. Your opinion is extremely valuable to Pringle Creek Community.

Sincerely,
Mckenzie Farrell
Pringle Creek Community
T: 503.400.1322
E: mckenzie@pringlecreek.com

Salem, Oregon Stimulus Watch

How many of these "shovel ready" projects (gag, the new jargon) reflect the new reality of scarce energy, rising energy prices, and the need to radically reduce greenhouse emissions?

A Worthy Cause

Salem has a group, Friends of Two Bridges, working on an important issue: finishing up the Union Street ped/bike bridge and getting a ped/bike connection from Riverfront Park to Minto Island. They have a web presence now, so check 'em out and help out if you can.

How to Contribute:

You can make a tax-deductible contribution to the Salem Parks Foundation, P.O. box 5764, Salem, OR 97304 and put a note on there earmarking your gift for Friends of Two Bridges.

OR, even easier:

Got an American Express card? You can sign up to use Giving Express to make one-time or monthly contributions using your AMEX card, so you don't have to write a check or find a stamp. There are over 1,000,000 nonprofits working on a plethora of issues registered with Giving Express. The Salem Parks Foundation is listed -- in fact, it took less than two minutes to find the listing for Salem Parks Foundation and to give a $5 monthly gift earmarked for Friends of Two Bridges via Giving Express.

(Note that plenty of other worthy Salem area nonprofits are listed there too -- so check it out.)

Speaking of electric bikes

Click on image for larger version

New Washing Machine design top-rated for energy efficiency

And now, a brief commercial message

An ad on Salem Craigslist for an eGO electric commuter/errand/RV bike offered here in Salem.

A great idea in Salem

Representatives Read and Bailey Kickoff Energy Efficiency Plan - February 18th

On Wednesday, February 18th, Rep. Tobias Read (D-Beaverton) and Rep. Jules Bailey (D-Portland) will kick off their energy efficiency plan, the Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Technology Act, which will help homeowners and small businesses make energy efficient and renewable energy upgrades.

They will be joined by Rep. Chris Edwards (D-Eugene), Rep. Tim Freeman (R-Roseburg) and Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR). The Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Technology Act of 2009 (EEAST) is a bipartisan effort to foster large-scale energy efficient and renewable energy upgrades in existing homes and buildings. The plan would help meet Oregon's energy challenges while creating jobs.

February 18, 2009
11:30 AM
Capitol Press Room, #43, Salem

rep.juleskopelbailey@state.or.us, 503-986-1442
rep.tobiasread@state.or.us, 503-986-1427

What do you want from your transit system?

A very important series of meetings coming up -- your chance to tell the Cherriots Board what you want from the system. Attend one, several, many, or all of them, and share your ideas and perspectives on how the Cherriots Board should deal with the defeat of its second operating levy in a row.

TOWN HALL MEETINGS on:
Redesigning Bus Service/What Does the Community Want

• Feb 19 Thu 6:30 – 8:30 PMWest Salem Roth’s (1130 Wallace Rd NW)
• Feb 25 Wed 6:30 – 8:30 PM Marion County Fire Station (300 Cordon Rd)
• Mar 2 Mon 6:30 – 8:30 PM Leslie Middle School (3850 Pringle Rd SE)
• Mar 3 Tue 6:30 – 8:30 PM McNary High School – Cafeteria (595 Chemawa Rd N) note that this meeting will also discuss Keizer Transit Center Planning.

Next after that is a series of meetings for the public to
OPEN HOUSE – Review Service Proposals/Voice Your Preference

• Apr 27 Mon 6:30 – 8:30 PM South Salem High School (1910 Church St SE)
• Apr 28 Tue 6:30 – 8:30 PM Marion County Fire Station (300 Cordon Rd)
• Apr 30 Thu 6:30 – 8:30 PM West Salem Roth’s (1130 Wallace Rd NW)
• May 7 Thu 6:30 – 8:30 PM Keizer Fire Station (661 Chemawa Rd N)
  

There are also a number of regular Cherriots Board/Committee meetings that are always open to the public. These meetings are all at the county office building next to the Court Street Transit Center, where Cherriots HQ is located:

• Regular Cherriots Board meeting is on Thursday, Feb 26, Meeting starts with a work session at 5:30, with the regular board meeting (and opportunities for public comment) at 6:30 PM (Senator meeting room, first floor).
  

• The Cherriots Planning & Operations Subcommittee will meet on Tuesday, Mar 3 at 1:30 PM, 5th Floor (Cherriots Admin Office – Large Conference Rm).

• Mar 12, Thu, (Both meetings in 5th Floor Conference Rm)
  2:30 PM/Specialized Transportation Subcommittee
  4:00 PM/Finance, Admin & Marketing Subcommittee
  

• Mar 26, Thu (Both meetings in Senator Hearing Room, first floor).
  5:30 PM/Board Work Session
  6:30 PM/SAMTD Board of Directors Meeting
  
  
• Apr 2, Thu (Time TBA)/Budget Committee Training Session (5th Floor Conf. Rm).

• April 7, Tue (5th Floor Conference Room) 1:30 PM/Planning & Operations Subcommittee

• Apr 9, Thu (both in 5th Floor Conference Rm)
  2:30 PM/Specialized Transportation Subcommittee
  4:00 PM/Finance, Admin & Marketing Subcommittee
  

• Apr 9, Thu, Time TBA/Budget Committee Orientation (Senator Hearing Room)
  

• Apr 14, Tue, 6:00 PM/Budget Committee Meeting (Senator Hearing Room)

And if you want to run for the Cherriots Board, here are some dates you should be aware of:

• Mar 19, Thu, 5:00 PM, Filing deadline for District Candidates
  

• Mar 23, Mon, 5:00 PM, Deadline for submitting Candidate Statements for inclusion in county voters' pamphlet
  

You probably need to contact the County Elections Office for information on which districts are up for election and how to proceed if you want to run.