permaculture

[Toby Hemenway <toby@patternliteracy.com>]

Both Portland, Oregon and Seattle have city-sponsored neighborhood tool 
lending libraries. I'm sure other towns do as well. That makes so much sense; 
how often do you need an extension ladder, socket set, or a pole pruner, or 
even a lawn mower? I did hear some people voice fears that it would cause 
unemployment by reducing tool sales. Ah, well.

Toby
http://patternliteracy.com



On Dec 3, 2010, at 1:43 PM, Jason Gerhardt wrote:

> In Boulder, CO the Center for Resource Conservation is opening a tool
> library in a few days.  Here is the web link:
> http://www.conservationcenter.org/ToolLibrary.htm
> 
> There is also a new movement to establish seed lending libraries.  Bill
> McDorman of Seeds Trust is promoting this concept.  Richmond, CA has one up
> and running.  The idea is that people can borrow seeds from the library, but
> have to return a greater amount (by saving the seed).  This way the library
> grows its seed bank and seeds are adapted to the local climate.  This of
> course requires a lot of education for those who borrow to be able to save
> high quality and relatively pure seed.  A woman in Lyons, CO is developing a
> model for there and Boulder.
> 
> The one observation I have made of lending libraries is that big centralized
> libraries are bound to inspire a lot of people, but when you really get down
> to it, it makes more sense to have lending libraries in the neighborhoods
> where they will be used most.  Many small community tool sheds for example
> are far more accessible than traveling across town to borrow a chainsaw when
> you only need it for 15 minutes.  All this means is that the big lending
> libraries will serve a huge purpose in spreading the word and lending the
> idea, but ideally to create many smaller ones.  Neighbors can often pool
> their tools together and keep them in one shed so all have access to them
> when they would otherwise just sit unused in individual garages.
> 
> I agree that lending libraries are a crucial piece of a reslient culture.
> They just make sense.  In addition it builds a greater sense of community.
> 
> 
> Jason
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