Growing Solutions Restoration Education Institute P.O. Box 30081 Santa Barbara, CA 93130 (805) 452-7561 growingsolutions@hughes.net
The Latest News... The Spring 2010 edition of our newsletter, The Seedling, is now available. SeedlingSpring2010.pdf Santa Barbara Magazine turned the spotlight onto Growing Solutions’ restoration and agroecology projects in their Feb/March 2010 edition. sb mag 2010.pdf “Growing Solutions Cultivates Sustainability” GS featured in recent Noozhawk column. http://www.noozhawk.comkaren_telleen_lawton/article z011110_karen_telleen-lawton_growing_solutions_cultivates_sustainability Intern spotlight: Our newest intern is specializing in EcoTourism. Read about Helle Lorentzen on our Intern Spotlight page.Welcome_files/SeedlingSpring2010.pdfWelcome_files/sb%20mag%202010.pdfhttp://www.noozhawk.com/karen_telleen_lawton/article/011110_karen_telleen-lawton_growing_solutions_cultivates_sustainabilityIntern%20Spotlight.htmlshapeimage_4_link_0shapeimage_4_link_1shapeimage_4_link_2shapeimage_4_link_3
Our Mission Growing Solutions Restoration Education Institute’s mission is to build environmental and societal sustainability through hands-on education. Our programs focus on the integration of self-reliant technology coupled with agricultural, watershed, and resource management projects. Students study real-world issues using a theme-based educational setting gaining a sense of stewardship and practical real-world job skills.
 
Letter from the Founders Growing Solutions Restoration Education Institute, in a continuing effort to meet the needs of the community in a proactive manner, is working to address current societal issues that threaten our citizens, community and environment. Growing Solutions Restoration Education Institute board member Steve Barilotti writes: In January 2010, Santa Barbara County’s unemployment rate spiked to 10.4 percent, the highest level ever recorded. Further, the county’s unemployment rate was up a full two percent from 2009, another record jump. But these statistics, as dire as they appear, mask an even more critical situation. In what has been dubbed the “Young People’s Recession” there are more young people unemployed now since the Great Depression. According to a recent US Labor Department study, 18 percent of people ages 16-24 were unemployed in September 2009. That’s twice as many as the year previous. Further, 30 percent in the same age bracket were underemployed. Delving further we see that minorities are even harder hit. Latino teens, ages 16-19 had a nearly one in three unemployment rate; African American teens a staggering 41.7 percent. Further, at the critical job-entry ages of 20-24, 27 percent of African Americans were unemployed, nearly twice that of their white counterparts. In the words of Andrew Sum, director of the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University, “We are throwing out of the job market those kids who will benefit most from the work experience they will get.” While the link between youth unemployment and criminal gang activity is well established, the long-term effects of a dramatically reduced pool of young people putting money back into their local economy or providing for their own social security is far more profound. Clearly, we must be seeking ways now to train and employ the next generation of Santa Barbara County workers and professionals. The Obama Administration has made renewable-energy “green jobs” a major priority in its Energy and Environment policy. The Administration’s goal is, “to ensure 10 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025.” More than $80 billion has been pledged through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for clean energy that includes solar, wind and biodiesel. With this increased commitment come increased jobs and the need for skilled technicians in renewable energy. To accomplish our goals Growing Solutions Restoration Education Institute, in conjunction with Puma Canyon Ranch, will be offering Future Solutions, a comprehensive program of hands-on courses in community building and sustainability. Our focus will be preparing a new generation of workers for 21st century jobs in biodiesel, solar and wind energy, green-building technologies and local small-scale food production. We hope that you will consider becoming a “Future Solution” by participating in our new endeavor. —Don Hartley and Karen Flagg, co-founders of Growing Solutions Restoration Education Institute Restoration Education Institute
 
 
Become a part of Growing Solutions!
Join the growing movement to build sustainable communities.
 
 
Please visit our  Ways to Donate page for all donation options.
Members receive a 10% discount on all plants!