On-Line Action & Community Networks

What Is It?

On-line action or community networks are spaces on the Internet where people can go to collaborate, share resources, inform and create solidarity and efficiency. When applied to the mission of “living ecologically” as is Toolshed’s aim, these spaces generally collect and connect efforts by individuals and organizations in a particular geographical region to lower carbon footprints, implement policy, practice sustainable living and create resilience.

What Does it Do?

On-line spaces, whatever their downside, are very good for collecting resources, making connections and centralizing communications. A number of free or inexpensive platforms make this accessible to communities. These spaces can be a very effective way to bring together people working on climate action or living ecologically across a town or region. They can be used to publicize events to an interested public; post resources such as funding opportunities, techniques other sub-networks, or tools; and share knowledge. These networks build relations and take people out of isolation. That is the very definition of ecology.

We used the image of geodesic dome for this post because as Buckminster Fuller pointed out these network-shaped structures have incredible strength regardless of the materials they are made out of. The individual materials can be weak, but by working together and re-enforcing strength the structure as a whole is resilient. That is a basic lesson of ecology.

How Can It Be Accessed?

Something as simple as a Facebook Group is an form of on-line community and action network. It is one of the only ones that is free. More sophisticated platforms have emerged that vary in price from like $9 a month to as much as $450 a month.

Here is a one list of such platforms, as well as some tips. Even if these are designed as “marketing” tools, does not mean you can’t use them even when you are not trying to sell anything, but just creating ecologies!

Toolshed is proud to partner on one such on-line network in the Hudson Valley:

The Hudson Valley Climate Action Network.