How do we grow more green businesses and increase the number of green jobs in Southern Oregon?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dan Moore on June 10, 2009 at 4:25pm

What specific and concrete actions are we, the people, calling on our local, state, federal governments, our communities, and our businesses to move towards a greener economy - building, growing green businesses and jobs - here locally?

Very good question. My answer is that there are many grassroots efforts going on here in the Rogue Valley that are focused on sustainability and climate change issues. For example, the City of Ashland is a member of ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability - which is an international association of local governments as well as national and regional local government organizations that have made a commitment to sustainable development. This is significant because being a member of ICLEI means that the city understands that being a sustainable community can help to reduce greenhouse gases that are contributing to global warming.

I believe that we need to have a more "coordinated" effort to bring all these groups together to develop a regional sustainability plan that meets our current economic, social and environmental needs, without compromising the similar needs of future generations.

There are opportunities for growing green businesses and jobs here in the Rogue Valley. We need to figure out what direction we want to head. Maybe we should explore manufacturing electric vehicle recharging systems that are needed to support the incoming fleets of electric vehicles that will be on the market soon. Renewable energy is another area we need to move forward on. Let's coordinate and prepare a plan - starting with a vision, goals and objectives - then we can be successful.

Just my 10 cents.

Permalink Reply by Delaine Due on July 30, 2009 at 12:01am

I am not very savvy on the government piece, but I am on a personal business mission to help local businesses and families shift from toxins to safer choices that work--save money or create their own green job. I'm always looking for more people who want to make green choices for their homes and families. I've also commited to helping 10 people in 2009 who want to work part-time on creating their own green health and wellness business meet the goal of earning an extra $1000/month in a year. Do you know anyone who might be interested in either greener, safer, economical cleaning choices, or a green income opportunity? I'm so grateful for my own part-time job that turned quickly into my saving grace with full-time income when the economy tanked. I would love to help some others have this too.

I'm open to other ideas on your initial questions.

Permalink Reply by Mike Green on July 30, 2009 at 2:01am

Challenging question, Susan. So, here is my suggestion:

Ashland is compact enough to initiate the nation's very first city-sanctioned food recycling district. Now, that sounds sort of silly at first. But let's break it down quickly and see if it still sounds like a crazy idea.

1. What is food recycling?
Singapore is an island where they've run out of space for landfills. They can't burn trash because it releases cancer-causing toxins. So, what to do? Well, how about recycling food and using the naturally released methane to fuel a plant that creates electricity for the people. And the byproduct of the recycled food is compost, which is then used to grow more food. The system works. Check it out here.

2. How practical is recycling food waste in a small town?
One resort that serves up world-class cuisine grows some of its own food. The waste left by consumers goes into a machine that creates compost out of it. The compost is used to grow more food. How does this work? Check it out here.

3. No city-sanctioned food recycling district can work without buy-in from the Ashland School District and SOU. Tons of food garbage are produced by these districts each week.
No problem. The University of Texas is the largest university in the country with more than 50,000 students. And it has a food recycling system that creates compost, which it sells to local farms/ranches. Check it out here.

So, the bottom line is that the technology exists to recycle food waste in Ashland. If there is enough interest in doing so, it would be easy to raise the funding necessary to create such a system that all the businesses in the downtown area, Railroad District and school regions could access. SOU could team up with Ashland School District, the Chamber and the City to form a coalition and push forward on the project as a united front. Such a bold move would attract national attention, investment and prestige.

Since food is a major source of controversy, the effort to buy local, eat local and recycle would attract much support throughout this region. It could be the top unifying factor that brings together all of the currently fragmented groups and businesses that are all working on sustainable issues and projects separately. In other words, a hub of activity can be created around this single project that connects to numerous others.

But if the idea is to push for political movement, then let's just forget about all of this sustainable stuff and put our heads back in the garden dirt. The reality is that creating a "green" project of this magnitude needs forward-thinking people who are willing to galvanize support from local businesses, local school leaders, local city leaders, local organizations and local farmers/ranchers. The money exists in Ashland to get a project like this done.

The real question is whether the will to do it exists?

Permalink Reply by Dan Moore on August 4, 2009 at 2:22pm

I could also use the extra income. Can you provide some more details?

Delaine Due said:

I am not very savvy on the government piece, but I am on a personal business mission to help local businesses and families shift from toxins to safer choices that work--save money or create their own green job. I'm always looking for more people who want to make green choices for their homes and families. I've also commited to helping 10 people in 2009 who want to work part-time on creating their own green health and wellness business meet the goal of earning an extra $1000/month in a year. Do you know anyone who might be interested in either greener, safer, economical cleaning choices, or a green income opportunity? I'm so grateful for my own part-time job that turned quickly into my saving grace with full-time income when the economy tanked. I would love to help some others have this too.

I'm open to other ideas on your initial questions.

Permalink Reply by Delaine Due on September 2, 2009 at 9:25pm

I just returned from teaching 3 people in the Valley who want to start their own green and sustainable business working from home. I love what I do and the best part is that it is a green business opportunity available to anyone who chooses it. There really are many great alternatives. I'm looking for 10 people to help who have positive attitudes, a dream bigger than themselves and a desire to work. In the economic downturn Shaklee has dedicated this year to reach 1 million people and help them create a sustainable green health and wellness business for themselves. I'm doing my part by looking for 10. Do you know anyone interested? No harm in gathering information. Send them to my website: ddue2ndgeneration.myshaklee.com

A note on sustainability: there is such a mainstream focus on sustainablility meaning green and environment. This is great. However, in a time of failing health care systems that have been focused on symptom management and cures and a time of high unemployment, I want there to be space for sustainable health and sustainable wealth to be a mainstream possibility as well. Preventative and natural health care is a much better investment than treating the disease after the fact. Quality of life and financial burden are both affected. And how about a world where more jobs can create sustainable income that can be passed from one generation to the next? The various crisis call for a broader field of sustainability. I call it Sustainable HEW (Health, Earth, Wealth).

Permalink Reply by Delaine Due on September 2, 2009 at 9:31pm

Sorry Dan, not sure how to reply on this site specifically to you. For more information about my business, you can look on my website: ddue2ndgeneration.myshaklee.com

I'm also more than glad to set up an hour to share what I do and answer any of your questions. It may or may not be a good fit for you, but it's better to make an informed decision.

Permalink Reply by Delaine Due on September 10, 2009 at 10:27am

Dan, would it be okay to send you a DVD to watch that will explain more about what I do? If it doesn't seem like a good fit for you, then perhaps you know someone else who might be interested in a trifecta of wellness: sustainable health, sustainable earth, sustainable wealth.
Delaine

Dan Moore said:

I could also use the extra income. Can you provide some more details?

Delaine Due said:

I am not very savvy on the government piece, but I am on a personal business mission to help local businesses and families shift from toxins to safer choices that work--save money or create their own green job. I'm always looking for more people who want to make green choices for their homes and families. I've also commited to helping 10 people in 2009 who want to work part-time on creating their own green health and wellness business meet the goal of earning an extra $1000/month in a year. Do you know anyone who might be interested in either greener, safer, economical cleaning choices, or a green income opportunity? I'm so grateful for my own part-time job that turned quickly into my saving grace with full-time income when the economy tanked. I would love to help some others have this too.

I'm open to other ideas on your initial questions.

Permalink Reply by Dan Moore on September 16, 2009 at 3:55pm

Delaine,

You can send the DVD to the following address:

Dan Moore
384 Helman Street
Ashland, OR 97520

email: dmoore@mind.net

Permalink Reply by Tracie Sage on October 29, 2009 at 11:26am

We actually have a coordinated, grassroots effort currently growing and evolving here in Ashland. Many of you may already be aware of it, but if you have not been to a meeting yet, I highly recommend it. This is the most coordinated and productive group I've connected with in terms of taking action steps toward creating Sustainable Ashland. And it is inclusive of all other groups, creating a place where we can share awareness, progress and information, as well as coordinate and consolidate our efforts in a more unified way. The website link is http://TransitionTownAshland.org


Dan Moore said:

What specific and concrete actions are we, the people, calling on our local, state, federal governments, our communities, and our businesses to move towards a greener economy - building, growing green businesses and jobs - here locally?

Very good question. My answer is that there are many grassroots efforts going on here in the Rogue Valley that are focused on sustainability and climate change issues. For example, the City of Ashland is a member of ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability - which is an international association of local governments as well as national and regional local government organizations that have made a commitment to sustainable development. This is significant because being a member of ICLEI means that the city understands that being a sustainable community can help to reduce greenhouse gases that are contributing to global warming.

I believe that we need to have a more "coordinated" effort to bring all these groups together to develop a regional sustainability plan that meets our current economic, social and environmental needs, without compromising the similar needs of future generations.

There are opportunities for growing green businesses and jobs here in the Rogue Valley. We need to figure out what direction we want to head. Maybe we should explore manufacturing electric vehicle recharging systems that are needed to support the incoming fleets of electric vehicles that will be on the market soon. Renewable energy is another area we need to move forward on. Let's coordinate and prepare a plan - starting with a vision, goals and objectives - then we can be successful.

Just my 10 cents.