Pedaling for change
Dr. Kevin Peterson rides his bicycle 16 miles each way to work or carpools most mornings to decrease his dependence on gasoline. The bike ride to work only takes about an hour. The bicycle commute home, however, involves climbing Tobacco Row Mountain and can take an hour and a half.
His family heats water with solar energy, and meets most of their household electrical needs with solar panels. They have a large garden and a small orchard. They are "localvores;" they try to eat only food grown within 100 miles of their home. They volunteer at Lynchburg Grows, a local greenhouse and community farm that produces fresh, organic produce while employing disabled and disadvantaged citizens.
When there is a choice, the Peterson family tries to buy from a locally owned business. "Although things might be slightly more expensive, than say, online or at a big box store, the money stays in the local economy and you get to talk to a real person who often knows you by name," said Dr. Peterson, associate professor of mathematics.
Dr. Peterson wants to show people how to move away from their dependence on oil. While some folks may not want to face the challenges of climate change and the end of abundant oil, they can increasingly relate to the idea that their job might disappear. How do you feed your family? How do you pay your mortgage? These are questions on nearly everyone's minds these days, and these questions might be easier to answer with a public cooperative spirit.
"It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the problems facing our planet, especially when facing them alone," Dr. Peterson said, but adds, that acting locally and building community can make a difference. He and his family are dedicated to helping build strong community in their neighborhood, here at LC, and in the city of Lynchburg.
The way you survive tough times is through community, Dr. Peterson said. "Sharing and being involved are the best ways," he said. Neighbors can share the abundance from their gardens and trade skills instead of currency. Even in good times, this is a great way to live. "Cheap oil has made it easy to separate from your community," he said.
A strong interest in "rebuilding local resilience" both at LC and in Lynchburg has inspired Dr. Peterson to launch an LC reading group, starting with a dozen colleagues who are discussing The Transition Handbook: From Oil Dependency to Local Resilience by Rob Hopkins.
The group consists of professors, staff, and students from the sciences, political science, math, English, and public relations. The goal of the discussion group is to analyze how LC might revise its current food and energy practices to ensure the long-term success of the College. For instance, LC might decide to grow a good portion of its food or develop its own currency that could be exchanged at local businesses.
Dr. Peterson knows a small but vocal group of people can change the world, he said, pointing to those in the Civil Rights movement as a prime example.
