Community action for resilience

Let’s face it: most people already recycle, but there are some other ways to contribute to a prepared region. Folks in the community have already pledged hundreds of actions toward the goal of 828 resilient acts that will grow food, save water, conserve energy, reduce waste and/or build community.

In the first week of Asheville’s Community Resilience Challenge, some of the things locals have done or have pledged to do include:

• • Add a locally-grown, in-season dish to their weekly meal plan
  • Learn a new food preserva- tion skill (can, dry, ferment, pickle, etc.)

  • Discuss with their condo asso- ciation the use of Roundup on grounds that could support per- maculture plantings

  • Help insulate a house occu- pied by a low-income resident
  • Build a pizza oven for community gatherings

  • Donate, sell, or trade lightly used unwanted items
  • Install a heat pump water heater • Lower the thermostat on their water heater to 120 degrees

  • Hand out LED bulbs to other people
  • Record their monthly water use and look for places to reduce • Buy in bulk and avoid indi- vidually wrapped items and (new) packaging

  • Get off junk mail lists and “go paperless” for monthly statements • Host a potluck to share food, ideas, and resources with your neighbors

  • Improve soil health in their garden so that more water is absorbed during heavy rains

You can make your own pledge online at ow.ly/4nvKnG