Adam Soltys

40, Male

Vancouver

Canada

Profile Information:

In which Vancouver neighbourhood or other community do you live?
Grandview-Woodland, Hastings-Sunrise
Please tell us which areas of Transition interest you. For example: growing more food/urban agriculture, relocalizing our economy/local currency, Permaculture, transit, energy efficient buildings, the arts, urban homesteading, preserving seed diversity, placemaking, potlucks, outreach, organizing events, community-building, having fun while saving the world, or...
All of the above!
There's a saying that "Transition is not a spectator sport". It's true! Village Vancouver runs on people power, and engaging in activities and projects together helps us accomplish more. Which groups, networks, neighbourhood villages, or projects do you think you might be interested in getting involved with? And what knowledge, skills, resources or other assets can you bring to the mix? (Don't be bashful!)
I'm interested in pretty much any and all of the village projects. I'm a web developer by day and have always been good with computers. I've recently been looking at building neighbourhood wireless mesh networks with repurposed or recycled antennas and equipment. See https://projectmeshnet.org/ and http://www.bcwireless.net/ for more information. I'm also interested in economics, community currencies and bitcoins, and am listed at https://localbitcoins.com/ as a local exchanger. I don't have a lot of gardening experience, or a space to garden at the moment, but I'd like to learn.
What would you like to see improved in Vancouver or in your community regarding sustainability or resiliency? Do you have an idea for a new Transition project or activity?
I'd like to see less pollution and consumption, less cars and noise, more green spaces, trees, clean water, renewable energy, local food production, and friendly, cooperative communities.
I agree to read and abide by the Site Guidelines under the About tab on the navigation bar, remaining respectful in all communications on this web site.
Yes

Comment Wall:

  • Jordan B

    Hi Adam,

    Thanks for joining Village Vancouver, and we look forward to welcoming you this summer! I'm also originally an Albertan who grew up two hours east of Edmonton, on a farm 25 minutes north of Vermilion. I've been in Vancouver for 4 years now and love it, and I think you will too.

    I have been heading up our community currency initiatives here in Vancouver, and so am delighted to see that this is something that interests you and that you may even be able to bring some of your expertise as a developer. I have been working closely with Michael Linton, the community currency and Open Money pioneer (and founder of the LETSystem) from the Comox Valley, for the past year, and he has found a couple of other developers who it seems would be willing to help upgrade and improve his very basic but functional transaction software. Basically it just needs a more user-friendly UI, better security and a couple of feature enhancements. To get a better sense of what Open Money is, I invite you to watch Michael's series of videos at http://openmoney.blip.tv (watch them in order from 1 to 12). Altogether they take about 2 hours to get through, after which you will have a very new understanding of money, and you will see where your idea for associating transactions with real-world identities ties in very strongly with Michael's vision (you can also check out www.openmoney.org for more information from Michael Linton). I believe you may also reassess your enthusiasm for bitcoin, which has some brilliant features but in my opinion replicates too much of what is wrong with our conventional, scarcity-based money. Please feel free to contact me anytime to discuss: jordan@villagevancouver.ca.

    Cheers,

    Jordan

    Feb 14, 2012