It's the time of year for instituting change in our lives, and Villages Connected is inviting socially conscious individuals, business owners and nonprofit organization to share how they are committing to acting socially. Join them in making a Social Resolution and commit to changing the world around you.

Woody Tasch's recently published book Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money: Investing as if Food, Farms, and Fertility Mattered comes complete with a foreword from the founder of the International Slow Food Movement, Carlo Petrini. This must read offers a new vision of capital that is rooted in nature and supports businesses that enhance biodiversity and promote local food systems.

Woody currently serves as Chairman and CEO of Investors' Circle. He is also Chairman of Chelsea Green Publishing, a leading publisher of books on organics, renewable energy and the politics of sustainability.

Stuck on your New Year's Resolution? Try committing to spend some time focusing on you and your personal growth this year by attending one of Hollyhock's inspiring programs. Check them out online at: www.hollyhock.ca!

Renewal early investee, Equal Exchange, the pioneering fair trade company, will infuse new capital and take over majority ownership of Oke USA to keep the fair trade fruit company operational. Here's the wonderful story of collaboration that is keeping the fruit moving.

On October 2, 2008 at the annual shareholder meeting, the future looked bleak for Oke USA. Organic bananas, our core product, were in short supply and priced above what the US market would bear. AgroFair, majority owner and operational supporter, faced a fast tightening cash situation and could no longer supply Oke with needed cash or a corporate guarantee.

Looking for alternative ways to celebrate gift giving during this Holiday? For inspiration visit the Georgia Straight and read about alternative gift giving.

Check out Duanne's Nickull's interview with Joel Solomon at Open Everything, a conference that happens every year at Hollyhock, hosted by Renewal investee Communicopia.

The Renewal team was deeply troubled to learn about the unfortunate death of Ben Banky, CEO of Tallgrass Distribution. Ben was a frequent participant at our annual Social Venture Institute at Hollyhock and he will be deeply missed by many. We extend our condolences to Ben's family and colleagues during this challenging time.

Social Change Institute (SCI)  alumni Vanessa Richards presents a new song for our times, called Occupying Army.

Check out Carleen Hawn's article on patient capital and a "grow slow" response to investing today, based on an interviews with Woody Tasch, Chairman of Investors' Circle, and Eric Becker, money manager with Trillium Asset Management.  "There is a growing awareness that to have a truly sustainable civilization we need to have sustainable food systems, and to get there we need to rethink capitalism to make it work at a pace that can help finance sustainable agriculture and food systems."