Tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. the Alliance for a Post Petroleum Local Economy and The Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains present two 30-minute films that feature global energy depletion expert Richard Heinberg and his wife, Janet Barocco.

The series takes place at the Unitarian's auditorium at 246 S. Church St., Grass Valley.

The first film, "Peak Oil, Peak Coal, and Beyond," features hot topics that include record-high U.S. fuel prices, the ethanol big-business boondoggle, coal projected to peak about a hundred years early (around 2020), what the climate change discussion is missing and the benefits of "going local."

This film gives a taste of what Heinberg will present in Grass Valley on June 7 at the Don Baggett Theatre.

The second film, "Suburban Permaculture," is a tour of Heinberg's and his wife's quarter-acre home site for an example of what's possible in suburbia. Their front yard of edible plants also provides habitat for birds and insects. The backyard radiates out from an herb and kitchen garden to vegetable beds and containers, 25 fruit and nut trees and a restful Zen garden.

Check out their rainwater catchment barrels system, solar ovens, grid-tied photovoltaics with backup batteries, a low-energy house and a comfortable "summer palace" of natural and salvaged materials.

Suggest donation is $3.

The films were produced by Peak Moment Television, owned by Nevada County residents Janaia Donaldson and Robyn Mallgren, and aired weekly on NCTV, Cable channel 11.

Contact Kate Sholly at kate@mountainastrologer.com for more information.

- The Union staff