The Regenerative Economy. The Solidarity economy. The Doughnut economy?! What is this world beyond Monopoly where Mister Rogers meets the Commons and the Lorax leads the EPA? Where resources are shared, mutualism is the new wealth and the economy is in service of ecology and history and justice. …sounds like the kind of Krispy Kreme we need this holiday season. But what’s it take to actually put a new economy into action? Like anything, it usually means starting at home, in your community, and building from there, inch and inch, coalition by coalition. And that’s exactly what All Together Now PA is doing. |
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All Together Now PA builds self-reliant regional economies that work for all by uniting rural and urban communities in PA to supply basic needs for food, textiles, building materials and plant medicine. Over the years, more and more rural communities have been at odds with urban progressive politics, especially when it comes to the climate– but the energy generated in rural communities fuels the whole country, and without an economy that works for everyone, we’ll just be creating further chasms without solutions. |
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Organizing Local Coalitions All Together Now PA organizes coalitions comprised of farmers, entrepreneurs, researchers, and investors who are working to build just, sustainable and locally-owned supply chains in areas of basic needs– clothing and textiles, plant medicine, Food & grain and sustainable building materials. Recently their Building Materials Coalition hosted an Intro to Hempcrete event where industry experts presented to government officials, architects, builders and the general public about the many benefits of using hempcrete and different installation methods. This event followed an all-day hempcrete workshop where attendees got to build planters using the cast-in-place method. |
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P3 Campaign Their Plant Medicine Coalition hosted a Cannabis farm tour at Wild Fox Farm, a local, family-owned farm in Barto, PA in order to educate the general public about how small farmers can benefit from the legalization of Adult Use Cannabis in PA and why it's so important to make licenses to grow accessible to small farmers. |
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Meet the Makers Their Clothing and Textile Coalition hosted a “Meet the Makers” event where attendees got to witness the different steps that go into making a garment in real-time from hand-processing hemp and flax, to spinning yarn and weaving textiles, to dyeing and silk screening, pattern making, cutting and sewing, to upcycling materials at the end of the garment's lifecycle. |
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When we found All together Now PA, we were struck by their north star ideals– to educate, celebrate and unite– and above all their uncommon position to bring urban and rural communities together regarding the economy. It’s been amazing to watch how far they have come in a year. We’re excited to support All Together Now PA this year. Everything now until the end of year goes to supporting them and the rest of 2022's amazing orgs. |
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CONNECTING THE BASIC NEEDS DOTS... As we come to the close of the year, we're taking a moment to look back at all the work we have highlighted through this year's Community Supported Action program. Just when we begin to lose hope or feel overwhelmed by the state of our country and planet, we are buoyed by the courageous and deeply necessary work that is happening all around us, every day. Whether Climate Justice Alliance for the environment or Shatterproof for health...what became clearer and clearer is how interconnected everything is. A regenerative economy can only come when we have regenerative energy sources, restorative justice for the people and land, representational education and integral design. As we have often said before, you can't whack-a-mole your way to liberation. We need to move, all together, now ;) We thank you for learning along with us, supporting where you can, and making a program that thumbs its nose at the competitive funding models. You know, a world beyond Monopoly where Mister Rogers meets the Commons and the Lorax leads the EPA. If you haven't yet, please consider making a contribution to this year's final month of the Community Supported Action program. Every bit you donate will go to supporting 12 incredible organizations and us– we'd love to make that end of the year check a generous one. |
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Photo Credits & Descriptions: 1. Industrial Hemp Coalition farm tour. 2. Meet the Makers Clothing and Textile Coalition group. 3. Participants in a Hempcrete demonstration for the Sustainable Materials Coalition. 4. Cannabis Farm tour at Wild Fox Farm. 5. A local maker, showcasing the process of hand-processing flax. |
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Thank you for your support, now and always. | | |
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