ON THIS EPISODE OF THE TALKIES: RUNAWAY HOUSING COSTS IN THE BAY AREA AND BEYOND HAVE MANY PEOPLE LOOKING FOR AFFORDABLE ALTERNATIVES. THE GROWING TINY HOUSE MOVEMENT IS QUICKLY EMERGING AS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR SOME. JOINING GUEST HOST MAX PRINGLE TO TALK ABOUT THE MOVEMENT IS TRACEY HARRIS. SHE’S AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY AT CAPE BRETON UNIVERSITY IN NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA AND AUTHOR OF “THE TINY HOUSE MOVEMENT: CHALLENGING OUR CONSUMER CULTURE.” HARRIS SAYS TINY HOUSES CHALLENGE US TO RETHINK WHAT’S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO LIVE A FULFILLING LIFE, ONE THAT’S MORE AFFORDABLE AND HELPS LESSEN OUR ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT.
THEN, OPEN SPACE HAS BECOME A PREMIUM IN OUR REGION AS EXPENSIVE REAL ESTATE CONTINUES TO DRAW WOULD BE DEVELOPERS TO THE AREA. A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS HAS CONVERTED A PORTION OF THE OLD MARE ISLAND NAVAL SHIPYARD IN VALLEJO INTO THE MARE ISLAND SHORELINE HERITAGE PRESERVE. IT’S ENJOYED BY THOUSANDS OF HIKERS, BIKERS AND NATURE LOVERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. VOLUNTEER MYRNA HAYES SPOKE WITH MAX ABOUT THE REWARDS AND CHALLENGES OF KEEPING A PIECE OF CALIFORNIA HISTORY AND NATURAL BEAUTY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
AND, FINALLY. IT’S SUMMER AND THAT MEANS WILD FIRE SEASON HAS RETURNED. THE UNUSUALLY WET WINTER HAS CREATED A LOT OF POTENTIAL WILDFIRE FUEL. STANTON FLOREA IS OUR GUEST. HE’S A RANGER WITH THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE’S PACIFIC SOUTHWEST REGION AND AN EXPERT ON WILDFIRES AND WILDFIRE PREVENTION.