nations largest biodiesel cooperative, a food co-op, a farmers market

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http://www.democracynow.org/2009/4/9/north_carolina_town_prints_own_currency

North Carolina Town Prints Own Currency to Support Local Business

We take a look at how one North Carolina town is trying to become more self-sufficient by moving toward being able to feed, fuel and finance itself. The town of Pittsboro houses the nations largest biodiesel cooperative, a food co-op, a farmers market and, most recently, its own currency, the Pittsboro Plenty. Pittsboro is one of a number of communities across the country printing their own money in an attempt to support local business. http://www.biofuels.coop/

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Check out our Events Calendar Saturday: April 4 , 2009 Fungi 101 Hands-on Mushroom Log Cultivation Sunday: April 5 , 2009 This class is full - stay tuned for the next one! Beginning Bread Making with Emily Buehler Saturday: April 11 , 2009 Vermiculture Workshop

We turn now to look at how one North Carolina town is trying to become more self-sufficient by moving towards being able to feed, fuel and finance itself.

The town of Pittsboro, North Carolina houses the nations largest biodiesel cooperative, a food co-op, a farmers market and, most recently, its own currency, the Pittsboro Plenty. Pittsboro is one of a number of communities across the country printing their own money in an attempt to support local business.

Community activist, entrepreneur and author Lyle Edsell joins us now in the Raleigh studio. He is the founder of Piedmont Biofuels and the author of two books. His latest, “Small is Possible: Life in a Local Economy," focuses on Pittsboro, North Carolinas effort to become a self-sufficient community.

Lyle Estill, community activist and writer in Pittsboro, North Carolina. He is president of Piedmont Biofuels, which runs the largest biodiesel cooperative in the United States. He is also involved in sustainable farming and is a leading supporter of the Pittsboro Plenty, a local currency. He is author of two books, including Small Is Possible: Life in a Local Economy.

http://theabundancefoundation.org/programs/

Ongoing Programs for 2009:

Agricultural Tourism: Monthly tours of the Piedmont Biofuels Industrial site, Piedmont Biofarms and Vermiculture. To register for our First Friday Tours, please click here: TOUR REGISTRATION.

Children;s Sustainability Energy Tour: Designed to teach to the educational goals, teachers can schedule tours of The Plant home of: Piedmont Biofuels Industrial, Eastern Carolina Organics, Screech’s hydroponic lettuce greenhouse, a Biodiversity landscaping project, Vermiculture and The Abundance Foundation’s office. Children will learn about sustainability, agriculture, renewable energy and community in action as we mix industrial renewable fuel with big chess and a soccer field. Register your class for a tour date here!

and The Abundance Foundation team up for Feed the Farm. The first round of funding went to Roberson Creek Farms and Piedmont Biofarm to help them after the spring hail damage. If youd like more information about this fund, please email or call us: wow(at)theabundancefoundation(dot)org or 919-533-5181. To donate, visit the Feed the Farm page.

Piedmont Biofuels Coop: continued support and development for intern program and farm operation. Purchasing intern housing and classroom space. Developing an Education Program and materials. Click to check out the cool, educational biofuels jigsaw puzzle!

The PLENTY (Piedmont Local EcoNomy Tender): Abundance is the fiscal sponsor of the PLENTY Currency Cooperative and is supporting their efforts to revitalize this local currency. One of the measures of the health of a local economy is its monetary “circulation.” That is, how many times a dollar changes hands before it leaves town forever. By running PLENTYs through your wallet, spending them with those merchants that accept them, you are doing your bit to keep our local economy strong.

Solarize Shakori Hills: Each year Shakori Hills uses about 10,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity during 2 festivals, a fiddlers convention, and other events. To offset our usage we are creating a permanent grid inter-tied solar electric system located permanently on the site.

SEED Saving: South East Eco Diversity (SEED) Sowing the seeds for change begins with having the actual seeds. Across the country other regions have already established projects for maintaining seeds and plants for their developing climates. South East Eco Diversity will create seeds designed to germinate in the southeast.

The Triangle Food Commons: (“the Commons”) is a grassroots community network that is identifying and acting upon food security needs in the communities of the Triangle Region of North Carolina. Please join us in meeting the challenge of food and farm security in our region at the Triangle Food Commons Roundtable. Join one of the five Triangle Food Commons Working Groups formed to continue engaging local residents in initiating a comprehensive regional food production, marketing and distribution strategy to reduce dependence on fossil fuel based systems currently taxing our economy and environment.

Pickards Mountain Eco Institute: Abundance is the proud fiscal sponsor