CR:ECO 'Zine: Richmond Halloween / Samhain 2010 Issue

8/8/2019 CR:ECO 'Zine: Richmond Halloween / Samhain 2010 Issue

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CR:ECO launchessuccessfully in Richmondby Cyd Manro

CR:ECO launched as a pilot

project of City Repair onMonday, August 9th, a newmoon. Over the next twoand a half months, quite a lothas happened! We have hadhundreds of fun and insightfulconversations. Nearly half of

the people we spoke tocompleted an asset map,listing their skills, helpful info,assets, and needs.

We have facilitated twocommunity meetings,developed an interactivewebsite with free and open-source community software

(Joomla & Gimp), andcreated this newsletter withfree and open source software(Scribus). Weve raised abouta thousand dollars that can beused towards implementationof any project that the

community decides toparticipate in.

We have helped thecommunity to start two

This 'zine is themed and timed with the cycles of

the earth and focused on local [email protected]

www.eco-munity.com (503) 662-2293


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community projects, create anasset map database, and aformat for organizing

community volunteer efforts.Moving forward, we will helpthe community takeownership of the projects. Wewill work to make the assetmap database a searchableresource for neighbors. Wewill teach communitymembers how to use the freeand open-source tools

mentioned above, and helpvolunteers learn the tools andskills to be effective leaders.

Howl Party!

This Friday, October 29th,

from 9pm - 5am isHOWL, which has historicallybeen one of the bestHalloween parties in town.Its a fundraiser for CityRepair and tickets are $30 atthe door on the night of theparty. Its at 320 SE 2nd AVE,PDX 97214 (Rotture). Dressup, bring your friends and getready to dance by one of thefour spooky music stages. Thisis an age 21 and over event.

We look forward to seeingyou there!

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Table of Contents

1. CR:ECO Lauch...............Cover

2. HOWL Announcement.........2

3. Project Ideas.........................34. Transition PDX......................3

5. Halloween/Samhain.............4

6. Pumpkin Pie Recipe..............5

7. UrbanEdibles........................7

8. Winter Gardening................8

9. Portland Fruit Tree Project....9

10. VBC Submission.................10

11. Richmond VBC Projects......11

12. CR:ECO Interview.............12

13. Super R.O.B.O.T. Article....13


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Project ideas

In our work to organize thecommunity, we have talkedto many hundreds of people

in the RichmondNeighborhood and solicitedideas for possible communityprojects. Weve madeourselves available to helppeople make their ideashappen. Here are some of

the ideas that have beensubmitted by communitymembers:1. NeighborhoodGardens: Communitymembers have talked abouthow theyd be willing to

allow parts of their yards tobe used for neighborhoodgardens if the communityhelped them to do the worknecessary to transform theirlawns to productive gardens.2. Slow Signs: Manyneighbors have brought upthe idea of creating signs thatdraw attention to the fact thatthey are a residentialneighborhood and thatdrivers should respect that by

not driving cautiously andconscientiously through theneighborhood. The signscould be creative, thought

provoking, and fun.3. Progressive Dinners:Progressive dinners involvegoing from house to housewith participating neighbors,

and consume a differentcourse at each house. This isa great way to meetneighbors and eat good food.

We love to support acommunity coming together,and are willing to help

organize these dinners in theneighborhood. Contact us ifyou have interest in hosting acourse.Of course, these are just someideas that could get off theground with a little bit of

effort from the community. Ifthere are more ideas, wedlove to hear them. Just sendthem to [email protected]

Transition PDX

Have you been thinkingabout issues like resourcedepletion, peak oil, and howto create sustainablecommunity? So has Transition

PDX, and to add to that,theyve also been meeting ingroup settings to educate eachother and attempt to move 3


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Portland towards a moresustainable path. The groupmeets twice a month at St.Francis Church, 1131 SE OakST, and hosts a lot of events

around the city to educateand prepare Portland to beadaptable. Learn more atTransitionPDX.org

Halloween

Samhain

by MichaelSchultz

Its almosttime forHalloween,

and many of the readers of

this newsletter may alreadyknow that Halloween is atraditional day pulled fromCeltic holy calender of theyear. It used to be calledSamhain back in the daybefore the Celts had much oftheir culture transformed byinvasion and war. Samhainfell about halfway betweenthe Autumnal Equinox andthe Winter Solstice and mostsources believe that it was

sometime between October31st and November 5th that itwas celebrated. Samhain wasthe day of the ancestors,

when the veil between theliving and the dead wassupposed by the people to bethe thinnest.

A person might think that thiswould be a morbid day tosome of our ancient brethren,but in fact, most of thehistorical data points to theidea that the dead werewelcomed into peoples

houses. Doors and windowswere unlocked and opened,and food was preparedspecifically for the deceased.On this day, many of theCeltic tribes would extinguishtheir hearth completely and

then relight it. This was aritual that was supposed towelcome in the new year.

In fact, an ancient Welshtradition could very well bethe precursor for our modernritual of trick or treating.The Welsh would bake theircakes and the less well offwould take on the collectiveidentity of the local ancestorsand go from house to house

asking for food. If they wererefused by a homeowner, itwas very likely that someproperty damage would 4


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happen to the uncharitablehousehold. The culture as awhole supported this, as thehomeowner had broken ataboo by refusing food to the

ancestors.In modern culture, death isoften thought as something tobe afraid of, and this is quite adeparture from the Celticpoint of view. Death was

thought of as a natural andsacred part of life, and muchof the focus of this seasonalfestival was based on thehonoring of death and thosethat have passed through thatparticular transition before us.

In modern times we oftenforget about our ancestorsbefore they have even passedon. When they stop beingproductive, they can seem aburden rather than a blessing.

It is not hard to understandwhy death was associatedwith this season. Severalobvious natural themes werein effect at this time of season.Many of the animals that

were abundant during thespring and summer were nowgone, either flown away, orconserving energy through

hibernation. The vegetation,especially the leaves ondeciduous trees had fallen andwere rotting slowly on theground. Diseases associated

with the change to the colder,wetter season had come andtaken some of the weak andelderly kinsmen. Death waseverywhere manifest, and thenights were getting longerand colder.

So internally, this was a timeof year when peopleconfronted their mortality,when they dove deep intothemselves, when theycontemplated the mysteries of

life and death. This was alsothe time of year when theparts of the self that no longerserved growth weresacrificed. So the questions ofthe season: How do I honormy ancestors? What is myrelationship with death? Whatparts of myself no longerserve growth?

Vegan, Gluten-FreePumpkin Pie Recipe

We found a really greatseasonal recipe on theGreen Vegan Living blog: 5


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Ingredients:4 large, very ripe, un-peeledbananasCrust:1 cup pecan flour (created by

pulsing chopped pecans infood processor until theybecome the texture of flour)

1/2 cup buckwheat flour1 T. agave nectar4 T. partially melted coconutoil1 t. ground cinnamonpinch of sea saltFilling:1 can (15 oz.) pureed pumpkin1/2 cup evaporated cane juice1 1/2 t. ground cinnamon1/8 cup vanilla extract

3 T. cornstarch1/4 t. sea saltSauce/Topping:1 cup agave nectar

4 T. coconut oilpinch of sea salt1 T. vanilla extract3/4 cup chopped pecans

Directions:1. Roasted bananas: Preheatoven to 325. Place thebananas on a roasting panand roast for 15 minutes, untilbananas are soft and skinturns dark brown. Let

bananas cool to roomtemperature in the pan intheir skins. Set aside. Increaseoven temp to 400.

2. Spiced pecan crust:Combine the nut flour,

buckwheat flour, agavenectar, coconut oil, cinnamon,and salt in food processor andprocess just a few secondsuntil everything is mixed.Press the mixture into thebottom of a pie dish (it mightcome up the sides a bit). Putthe dish into the freezer for 5minutes, then bake in 400oven for 8-10 minutes, untilcrust is a little dry and edgesare light golden. Let cool

completely on a wire rack.3. Filling: Peel the roastedbananas and remove any 6


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obvious strings. Puree bananasin a food processor until verysmooth. Add pumpkin, sugar,cinnamon, vanilla, cornstarch,and salt. Pulse until smooth,

scraping sides of bowlperiodically.

4. Baking: Pour the filling intothe crust and bake at 400 for10 minutes. Reducetemperature to 350 and bake

another 35-45 minutes, untilthe center is set. A toothpickinserted in center shouldcome out clean.

5. Let pie cool to roomtemperature on a rack for at

least 1 hour, then cover withplastic wrap and chill inrefrigerator at least 3 hours,preferably overnight. (Ifyou're like me, you will havea hard time waiting, so I justchilled my pie in the fridge for30 minutes, then went onwith the rest of the directions!)

6. Agave vanilla sauce: In asmall saucepan, combineagave, coconut oil, and sea

salt. Bring to a boil overmedium-high heat. Reduceheat to medium-low andsimmer, stirring frequently,

until sauce has thickenedslightly, about 10 minutes.

7. Remove from heat and stirin vanilla, stirring carefully, as

sauce will bubble up a bit. Letcool for a few minutes thentaste and add more salt ifnecessary. Let cool for a whilebefore pouring on top of pie.Sprinkle top of pie withchopped nuts. Serve and

enjoy.

Urban Edibles

Urban Edibles is a Portlandnon-profit providingresources for those who are

interested in wild edible,medicinal, and otherwisenotable plants. They have arobust map of localharvestable plants. Theyabide by ethical guidelines toensure harvesting consent.They host events, holdworkshops, and publish azine. Their website is thebiggest resource, however.Check it out atwww.urbanedibles.org

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Winter Gardening inPortlandby Cyd Manro

One of the best ways to

connect with the cycleof the earth is throughgardening and spending time

in a working relationship with

nature. Winter gardening inPortland can be quiterewarding. With some goodinformation to start, somehelp from other experiencedgardeners, and a willingnessto learn, you can soon beproducing bountiful winteryields. You can do this byextending the yield of plantsyou already have growing,culminating starts, growing ina greenhouse, or simply

planting seeds outdoors.If you already have beets,Brassicas, carrots, or peas

growing from late summerplantings, you can certainlytry to coax more yieldsthroughout the winter. To doso, you will want to protect

the crops using some or all ofthese methods: raised beds,greenhouse, wind protection,heavy row cover (like straw),dark mulch, planting fabric /black plastic, or plantingagainst a south-facing wall.

Often, a combination of someor all of these methods is best.You can leave well establishedroot plants in the ground untilyou are ready to harvestthem. Smaller leafy plantswill often go dormant until

spring and then grow again ifthey have been protected.

The following plants arerecommended for growingoutdoor seeds in Novemberhere in Portland: fava beans,garlic cloves, onion sets, andshallot bulbs. Planting thesenow will help them to bewell established by the timesprings rays are a-shinin. Thefollowing plants may still

provide yield: kale, spinach,bok choi, cabbage, lettuce,mache, and salad greens. Youcan also try to plant chard, 8


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but it will need protectionfrom the wind and cold. Withthese plants, you are racingthe first frost for your yield.The following plant sprouts

grow well indoors duringwinter: radishes, alfalfa, redclover, buckwheat,wheatgrass, sunflowers,cabbage, fenugreek. Sproutingis a cheap way to grow highyields with low light, less than

2 week yields, and fewresources all year round!

If you do not intend togarden throughout the winter,then you will want to goahead and plant your garlic

and onions now. Then, coveryour soil with 6 of straw orthe like. If you leave your soilbare through the winter, therain will compact the soil andleach out the nutrients, so besure to protect your dirt fromthat fate!

Portland Fruit TreeProject

Portland Fruit Tree Project is

a grass-roots non-profitorganization that provides acommunity-based solution toa critical and growing need in

Portland and beyond: accessto healthy food. Byempowering neighbors toshare in the harvest and careof urban fruit trees, waste is

prevented, communityknowledge and resources arebuilt, and sustainable, cost-free ways to obtain healthy,locally-grown food arecreated. Money doesnt growon trees but fruit does!

We organize people to gatherfruit before it falls, and makeit available to those whoneed it most. We registerfruit and nut trees throughoutthe city, bring people togetherto harvest and distribute

thousands of pounds of freshfruit each year, and teach treecare and food preservation inhands-on workshops.

Learn more atportlandfruit.org

Submit a Project toVillage BuildingConvergence 11by Michael Schultz

City Repair has put on anevent each year for the

past 10 years called VillageBuilding Convergence, or 9


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VBC. You will hear moreabout VBC in the next issue ofour 'zine. The time isapproaching for people in thecommunity to put forward

their ideas for a Placemakingproject. Placemaking projectshappen when the communitydecides to transform a spacein the neighborhood into acommunity place, helping totransform the neighborhood

into something that buildsmore community. City Repairwill be sending out an officialrequest for proposal (RFP)mid November. If you havean idea that would bring thecommunity together to create

something that benefits thecommunity in some way,please email us [email protected] and wewill help you to get started onthat path.

VBC Project Ideas fromRichmondby Michael Schultz

Currently, there are twoprojects that havesufficient interest to submitproject proposals to CityRepair for Village BuildingConvergence 2011. The first

project decided on by thecommunity is BridgingDivision. The concept is toraise awareness around thecrosswalks on SE Division

while using public art toexpress the identity of theneighborhood. The secondproject decided on by thecommunity is NeighborhoodGardens. The concept is tomake it more practical to

share gardening space inPortland neighborhoods.

If you would like to be a partof building an even betterRichmond community, joinwith your neighbors once a

month this Winter to plan forsuccessful projects. We coulduse hosts for the meetings, soif youd like to open yourhouse or your business doorsfor a community meetingplease contact us.

Get to know CR:ECOstaff member MichaelSchultzby Cyd Manro

PLEASESTATEYOURNAME.Michael Harold Schultz.

WHATISYOUR HALLOWEEN 10


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COSTUMEGOINGTOBE?Probably some kind ofsorcerer. Or a girl. Maybe agirl sorcerer. I played a lot ofD & D.

HOWLONGHAVEYOULIVEDINPORTLAND?I moved here in 1997 fromBellingham, WA to go toschool, and Ive been hereever since.

WHATSKILLSHAVEYOUDEVELOPEDALONGTHEWAY?I learned canvassing, publicspeaking, volunteer outreach,astrology, tarot, social media,and management as a few

examples of skills that grewout of living here.

WHATDOYOULIKEABOUTPORTLAND (ANDWHY)?I like that Portland is open toideas that are outside ofpublic discourse in other areasof the country. I like thatmost Portland people aretolerant of opposing viewsbut willing to put forwardtheir own opinions as well.

I like how active a lot of thepopulation here is in doingtheir business in anenvironmentally sustainable

way.

WHATISANIMPORTANTREALIZATIONYOUHAVEHADRECENTLY?That the real solutionshappen when a communitycomes together to work on acommon goal that serves thecommunity. Also thedifferences and things thatseparate us fall away in these

situations.WHATDEVELOPMENTSWOULDYOULIKETOSEEINPORTLAND?Id like to see Portland reallyinvest in empowering its

citizens to solve their ownproblems. If this meansloosening some red tape orregulation, this should bedone. We have a lot ofcollective genius in this city,and by doing the necessary

problem solving and projectimplementation we can savea lot of money that wouldotherwise be used by the cityto solve our problems for us.

WHATDOYOUFEELYOURROLEMIGHTBEINMAKINGTHATHAPPEN?My role is to help people 11


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feel empowered to make thechanges that theyd like tosee. Ive been talking tocommunity members andgetting their pulse and their

passions. If we could aimthese collective passionstowards solutions that makeour city more united andmore proactive we couldachieve great things.

WHATDOYOUSEETHECOMMUNITYALREADYDOINGTOMAKETHATHAPPEN?What Ive noticed from thecommunity is a spotlight on alot of issues that need frontand center attention, such as

community gardening,backyard food plots, and fruittree harvesting. I believe thatgardening reconnects peopleto the Earth, to their food,and to their community in avery important way. Id liketo see even more of that kindof action, because it lessensour dependence on our foodcoming from outside of ourcommunity. This may beimportant at some point in

the near future.

Zombies have stolen theEco-mUNITY Super Vanby Super R.O.B.O.T.(Remotely Operated Bot forOutreach and Teaching)

The community kioskknown as Super Robothas survived, but a Directorhas been missing from theCR:ECO Richmond outreachaction for weeks. Eco-

mUNITY co-founder, andlongtime Montavilla residentDwayne Beals and possibly hiswonderful and adventurouswife Eve were believed tohave fallen in a hole andpossibly to have perished.

My name is Super Robot andI am an Eco-mUNITY kioskwith artificial intelligence.I have good news and bad 12


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news to report. They areback... and they are dead.

Dwayne and Eve were likefamily to me, recently letting

me move into the newlyfinished EcoTV3 video studiolocated in the neighborhoodof Montavilla. Now, backfrom the dead as zombies,they are roaming around theRichmond Neighborhood in

my Super Vanbulance, lookingfor fresh meat and a goodHalloween story as well. Ifyou spot a blood soaked vanthat the press has termed, TheZOMbulance, then you mightwant to run. But if you are

brave enough, and you thinkyour story might be scaryenough, then maybe youshould take a chance and tellthem what is on your mind...before they eat it.

Be forewarned that ZombieDwayne and Zombie Eve andthe Zombulance will likely beseeking brains in theRichmond neighborhood onAll Hallows Eve, Sunday the

31st of October. They will behanding out candy in skullsand this very newsletter tolure the living close. They

might even tell you the secretof how they became zombies!Just remember not to get tooclose.

No one seems to know howDwayne and Eve got to bezombies in the first place, butwe here at Eco-mUNITYintend to get to the bottomof this. We will publish theresults of our investigation in

the Winter Solstice newsletter.In the meantime, if you runinto them, see if you can findout what happened. If youlearn their secret and manageto escape, send an e-mail by12 PM on November 3rd to

[email protected] to claim anexclusive prize.

Stories that are collected bythe CR:ECO outreach inRichmond are aired by Eco-mUNITY and can be enjoyedon our website, on yourdoorstep during our outreach,at public appearances by theSuper Van, and at the Eco-mUNITY kiosk. You can also

attend the story of theRichmond NeighborhoodAssociation at these locationsthanks to SouthEast Uplift's 13


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small neighborhood grant.

All the stories of thecommunity can be shared, notjust the scary ones. Submit an

article to the next newsletterbased around the WinterSolstice, drop us an emailanytime, or share yourcommunity views the nexttime that you run into ourCR:ECO outreach staff at your

door.

I, Super Robot, will fill in forDwayne in the meantime.I can be seen roaming thestreets of Richmond in mySuperVanbulance and I have

been known to hang out at39th and Division in themornings occasionally as well.I can be hard to find, butbeginning next month youwill be able to watch meevery day, the communitycomputer kiosk, as I work onEco-mUNITY affairs. I thinkIm going to call it The SuperR.O.B.O.T. Show. Watch it,human.

All of our broadcast streamsare available live and archivedat eco-munity.com by clickingon the EcoTV3 button up top.

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To you, the readers, thank you

for taking the time to read

through this publication. We

hope it informed andentertained. We hope that our

next issue, which should come

out very close to the Winter

Solstice will have content from

the community at large.Obviously, to be totally

representative of the

community, we need

community input and

engagement. It's been really

fun going through the

neighborhood and talking to

people, and we encourage

every community member

who has a vision for an even

better community to team up

with us to make it happen.

Sincerely,

The CR:ECO Team


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Printed on FSC green certified paper using post- consumer fiber from well managed forests.


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Halloween/Samhain

2010 Issue - RichmondBrought to you by City Repair: Empowering Community Organization

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CR:ECO 'Zine: Richmond Halloween / Samhain 2010 Issue

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