Here in New Hampshire, where town-meeting local government, Yankee ingenuity and frugality are part of our heritage, finding local solutions to larger societal problems may be in our genes. A question worth asking in these difficult economic times is how can we tap these age-old community values to address new problems such as the ever-increasing cost of energy, the reliance on distant and anonymous suppliers to meet our local needs, and our ability to help one another through times of stress and difficulty.

“The end of the Age of Cheap Oil is rapidly coming upon us, and life will radically change, whether we want it to or not….By taking a proactive response rather than a reactive one, we can still shape and form that future, within the rapidly changing energy context, in such a way that it ends up preferable to the present.” Rob Hopkins, The Transition Handbook

Transition Kearsarge is an emerging local network of individuals, families, businesses and organizations that are committed to improving the well-being and resilience of our neighborhoods and communities. Drawing upon the ideas, skills and experiences of our members we develop positive localized solutions to address the regional impacts of larger global issues such as economic insecurity, environmental instabilities, and dependence on non-renewable energy. The Kearsarge Valley area is blessed with breath-taking natural beauty, deeply enthusiastic people and unique family-owned businesses, and our intent is to leverage the strength of those elements to help foster our shared values such as love, food, family, health, security, engagement and connections throughout the region. If these goals speak to you and if you believe in making a positive difference, then we welcome you to the Kearsarge Valley Transition movement.

"One of the most powerful aspects of the global Transition Movement is it's emphasis on COMMUNITY, and the collective genius that manifests when a group of caring, connected people work together toward identifying and achieving a common vision of what is possible. No matter how great the challenges we face, they are no match for such a potent force as this. Indeed, it is the diversity and range of ideas we each bring to the table, the individual talents and passions we share, that make real what was previously unimagined, or simply support and enhance what may already be underway." - Sue Shann

Recognitions underpinning the Transition response, from Rob Hopkins, Author of The Transition Handbook and The Transition Companion.

*Life with less energy is inevitable. It is better to plan for it than to be taken by surprise.

*Climate change and peak oil require urgent action

*Industrial society has lost the resilience to be able to cope with the energy shocks.

*We have to act together, now

*Infinite growth within a finite system (such as planet Earth) is impossible

*We demonstrated great ingenuity and intelligence as we raced up the energy curve over the last 150 years. There's no reason why we can't use those qualities and more, as we negotiate our way back towards the sun and air.

*If we plan and act early enough, and use our creativity and cooperation to unleash the genius within our local communities, we can build a future far more fulfilling and enriching, more connected to and more gentle on the Earth, than the life we have today. - Rob Hopkins