Learning from Portland’s do-it-yourselfers

What: “Handmade Wealth: Lessons for Durango from Portland’s Artisan Economy”
Where: Durango Arts Center
When: 6:30 m- 8:30 p.m., Wed., April 8

Hailed as the future of small business development, the “artisan economy” movement is revitalizing communities around the Unite States – including right here in Southwest Colorado. The boom is credited to a growing handful of pioneers who have struck out on their own, hand-crafting everything from outdoor gear, bicycles and furniture to ice cream, beer and chocolates.

Next Wed., April 8, locals will get the chance to learn from one of the country’s most vibrant artisan economies, that of Portland, Ore. The event, “Handmade Wealth: Lessons for Durango from Portland’s Artisan Economy” will feature an expert on the subject, Portland State University Associate Professor of Urban Studies and Planning Charles Heying. Things get under way at 6:30 p.m. at the Durango Arts Center.

Portland is a leader in the artisan economy movement with the label “Portland-made” acquiring distinction across the country. Strong land-use planning, a wealth of farmland, distinctive neighborhoods, relatively reasonable housing costs, an influx of young people and the rise of social media have all created conditions allowing the city’s do-it-yourselfers to prosper.

The event will not only celebrate these pioneers but hopefully spark ideas with a panel discussion that focuses on what Durango can learn from Portland’s example in areas such as policy, cooperative enterprise and individual decision-making. The panel will be moderated by Roger Zalneraitis of the La Plata  Economic Development Alliance and feature Dave Thibodeaux representing the Durango Bootleggers Society; Ryan Finnegan of the Durango Makers Group; Shay Lopez of Studio &; and Jeff Estes of Durango Bike Co.

 Heying will also share research that went into his recent book, Brew to Bikes: Portland’s Artisan Economy, as well as profiles on manufacturers, restaurants, food carts, microbreweries, clothing designers, recycling hubs and more. In addition to the presentation and panel, there also will be exhibits from an array of local artisans.

Heying will also deliver a talk earlier in the day at the Green Business Roundtable, from 12 noon - 1 p.m. at the Henry Strater Theatre. Cost for the Green Business Roundtable is $15 and includes lunch. Registration is required by 9 a.m. Mon., April 6, at sanjuancitizens.org/events. 

The DAC event is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by: San Juan Citizen’s Alliance, Durango Arts Center, Durango Business Improvement District, City of Durango, Local First, Green Business Roundtable, Stoneage Tools, Rochester Hotel, Earthly Ideas LLC, Durango Coffee Co., Marias Bookshop and Zia Taqueria.

Enviro Center spices up movie date night

What: “Greening the Desert” movie and curry dinner
Who: FLC Environmental Center and Permaculture Provision Project
When: Doors at 5:30 p.m.; dinner at 6 p.m., Sat., April 4
Where: FLC Student Union Vallecito Room

What better time than the Blood Moon to learn about the inner amazing workings of our own planet. On Saturday night, the FLC Environmental Center and Cortez-based Permaculture Provision Project present a night of eco-minded films and food. The main event will be a screening of Geoff Lawton’s “Greening the Desert,” a  film about growing salinity- and drought resistant crops that not only create food from formerly barren landscapes but help offset global warming at the same time. Lawton is a leading earthworks engineer, having experience in drought-proofing land and optimizing productivity around the world.

Other films include excerpts from a documentary by ecologist and former CBS reporter John D. Liu, “Hope in a Changing Climate.” Liu recently visited the Four Corners to document plans for what would be the largest land restoration effort in U.S. history, on the nearby Navajo Reservation.

The evening will also include an “exotic” curry dinner as well as more information on permaculture and the upcoming Colorado Permaculture Convergence, May 23-24 at the Hananiah Ranch in Cortez.

The Permaculture Provision Project is a demonstration site at the Hananiah Ranch designed to help familiarize people with permaculture. It hosts regular “Dinner and a Movie” nights to help people have an “Aha Moment” about permaculture no matter how familiar they are with it, according to organizer Grant Curry.

There is a suggested $5 donation for adults. For more information, go to  www.coloradopermaculture.com/events/, visit them on Facebook or call 970-769-1351.