Real positive change in the quest for a sustainable world begins at the local level, on the ground. Yet the prospect of participating in building sustainable communities can be daunting. "Kitchen Table Sustainability" offers a unique view on sustainability through the lens of community engagement. It takes sustainability and community development out of the ivory towers of universities, government departments and planners to the kitchen tables of the world.This practical guide distils decades of wisdom from community planning engagement and sustainability practice from around the world into a user-friendly and engaging book that is both inspirational and packed with hands-on tools. The core of the book is a bottom-up approach to participatory community engagement and development, referred to as EATING, that consists of 6 components: Education, Action, Trust, Inclusion, Nourishment and Governance. This approach develops communites' ability to participate and gives readers the knowledge, vocabulary, tools and confidence to engage in bringing sustainability to the forefront of community planning and development.It shows how anyone, anywhere can take charge of pursuing sustainability within their community. It is written in an engaging conversational style by experienced practitioners. It offers hands-on, practical methods, tools and advice based on decades of experience which are applicable to any situation, context and scale of development. It provides in-depth analysis of international cases studies, boxed examples and engaging illustrations. Table of Contents Foreword by Professor Peter Newman 'Perhaps the World Ends Here' by Jo Harjo Preface 1: Introduction 2: The Sustainability Story 3: Community Engagement: A Pathway to Sustainability 4: The EATING Approach... 5: Education 6: Action 7: Trust 8: Inclusion 9: Nourishment 10: Governance 11: Conclusions, Challenges and a Way Forward Index About the Author Wendy Sarkissian has taught in schools of planning, landscape architecture and architecture and has co-authored a number of award-winning books and is Principal of Sarkissian Associates Planners in Australia. Nancy Hofer is a planning post graduate student at the University of British Columbia, Canada. Yollana Shore is a community engagement practitioner, therapist and entrepreneur. Steph Vajda is a social planner in Brisbane, Australia. Cathy Wilkinson, based in Sweden, provides sustainable planning advice to city governments across the world. Links http://www.kitchentablesustainability.com http://www.earthscan.co.uk Reviews Wendy Sarkissian and colleagues come through again, giving us fresh ideas and perspectives.' John Forester, Cornell University 'This timely book opens the door so that the theory and practice of sustainability can enter into the experience of the 'everyday' ... [Wendy Sarkissian] has pioneered innovative planning and development approaches in an astonishing variety of contexts.' Beth Offenbacker, Chair of the American Planning Association International Division 'Heads up for the brilliance and warmth of Kitchen Table Sustainability! Because the book is rooted in the human scale, it exudes the aroma of possibility.' Chellis Glendinning, award-winning author of My Name Is Chellis and I'm in Recovery from Western Civilization 'Offers accessible, insightful thinking about the most daunting challenge facing 21st century cities.' Leonie Sandercock, University of British Columbia 'Drawn from a lifetime of experience ... and a wide reading of the pertinent literatures, this is a primer of community planning for a turbulent age.' John Friedmann, School of Public Affairs, UCLA 'The authors' metaphor of a kitchen table is brilliant, and this is a large and welcoming table indeed, with room for all to squeeze around it... This is a book rich in practical insights and advice, useful processes, engagement tips and strategies, and successful stories told.' Timothy Beatley, University of Virginia 'A book to be savoured... The process will generate hope and will help communities to face whatever else life will throw at them.' From the Foreword by Peter Newman, Curtin University, Western Australia 'A powerful, reflective contribution by this great pioneering practitioner and her team on the vital importance of community engagement for achieving local and global sustainability.' Nick Wates, author of The Community Planning Handbook and The Community Planning Event Manual and editor of communityplanning.net 'Loaded with examples of good practice in the operation of voluntary groups and coalitions... Definitely recommended reading for community activists.' Green World 'Useful and thought-provoking information' Food Ethics Council |