The series will look at the concept of sustainability and what it means to us in the Pioneer Valley. From my vantage point over here in the media and over there as a consumer of limited means and resident of a city feeling strapped, a more sustainable model of living and working is needed.

Business West has an article on how sustainability factors into Northampton’s land and economic development. In it, the Mayor talks about the prospect of governmental sustainability:

Government is not sustainable as we knew it,” she said. “There has to be a larger dialogue now to provide services. The days of revenue sharing are all but gone, and state aid is gone forever. While we can look at sustaining Northampton in terms of land use, which we are doing, it will be a more difficult talk about fiscal sustainability.

Here’s what I’m wondering about this topic, does everyone’s idea of sustainability look the same? Can it become a workable reality if it doesn’t?

The next interview is with Dan Finn of Pioneer Valley Local First, formerly Pioneer Valley Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (PV BALLE).

Following that will be an interview with my friends Nicole and Patrick who planted wheat in their front yard on Ryan Road as a part of the Hungry Ghost Bakery’s Little Red Hen Project to restore local wheat to the Valley.

I’d appreciate any and all ideas for stories around the concept of sustainability in our Valley. Shoot me an E-mail to kelseyaflynn@gmail.com if you feel so moved.