The Evolution of Barn-Raisings
Submitted by SBLP on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 11:42am
by Ray Soohoo, Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston
The modern day meaning has changed a bit from the day where early American settlers gathered together to help their neighbor build a new barn by pooling together labor and materials. This meaning may have changed but the spirit is still the same, nowadays a barn-raising means neighbors giving their time and energy to help one another weatherize their homes and reduce their carbon footprint.
Numerous organizations like HEET (Home Energy Efficiency Team), a Cambridge grass-roots organization dedicated to building community while building green, organizes free energy-upgrade work-parties (barn-raisings) to teach volunteers hands-on skills in lowering their energy bills and carbon emissions. HEET has been doing monthly weatherization barn-raisings since the summer of 2008 and is looking for new homes to weatherize.
When did this concept of barn-raising change and for what reason? Perhaps it’s due to a number of factors like the current economic climate, the high unemployment and foreclosure rate, the high cost to heat your home, and possibly the concurrence with President Obama’s call for a national day of service.
If you’re interested in volunteering for a barn-raising, the Boston Climate Action Network (BCAN) is sponsoring one this Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Spontaneous Celebrations (45 Danforth Street, JP), from 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Come join your neighbors and friends this Saturday to help make this building more sustainable. Learn tips and tricks you can use in your own home to save money and shrink your carbon footprint. You can also find out about free weatherization services from Renew Boston. Please pre-register so BCAN be sure to have leaders for all volunteer teams. Call 857-544-6846 to pre-register. To find out more about barn-raisings near you check out one of these great websites:
www.heet.drupalgardens.com/content/what-we-do
Ray Soohoo is a volunteer with the Sustainable Business Leader Program and a board member of the Boston Climate Action Network.
