Rooted locally. Growing sustainably.
SELDC — Sustainable Environment & Local Development Coalition — helps ordinary blocks become extraordinary ecosystems. Urban farms, solar co-ops, repair cafés, green jobs and neighbor-to-neighbor resilience since 1998.
About SELDC coalition
We are not a distant charity. We are neighbors, teachers, carpenters, gardeners and small business owners building a local economy that respects planetary limits.
From one vacant lot to a national movement
SELDC began on April 22, 1998, when 14 families in Southeast Portland cleaned an illegal dump and planted potatoes. That lot became Lents Commons — now a 2-acre food forest. The method spread: listen first, map assets, start small, share everything.
Today SELDC.org connects 240+ communities in 31 states. We are a coalition, not a corporation: each chapter is autonomous, each project is open-source. Our central team provides training, seed funding, legal toolkits, soil testing and storytelling — everything a block needs to thrive without waiting for permission.
We work at the intersection of ecology, economy and equity. A rain garden is also flood insurance. A repair café is also job training. A community fridge is also climate action. This is sustainable development without jargon — practical, joyful, neighborly.
Development that stays in the neighborhood
Big developers extract value. We circulate it. Every dollar spent at a SELDC cooperative multiplies 3x locally. Our principles are simple and non-negotiable:
🌱 Ecology first
Native plants, zero waste, water wisdom. 1.2M trees, 340 rain gardens, 92 miles of bioswales.
🤝 Economy local
Co-ops, time banks, micro-grants. $4.8M kept in neighborhoods last year alone.
🏠 Equity always
Renters, youth, elders and migrants lead. 68% of grants go to BIPOC-led blocks.
We are funded by members ($12/year), city partnerships and everyday donors — no corporate greenwashing, no strings attached. Annual reports, budgets and meeting notes are public on request at our assemblies.
Programs that work on your street
Six flagship tracks. Each includes free toolkit, mentor and starter grant. Pick one — or combine them.
Block Farms & Seed Libraries
Turn lawns into lunch. Soil testing, raised beds, 400+ seed varieties, youth apprenticeships.
Start a farm →Solar Co-ops & Weatherization
Bulk-buy panels, share batteries, insulate homes. Average bill cut: 38% in first year.
Join energy circle →Repair Cafés & Tool Libraries
Fix toasters, bikes, clothes. 12k items saved from landfill yearly. Skills stay local.
Open repair day →Rain Gardens & Depaving
Rip concrete, plant natives, stop floods. Design help + $2k materials per block.
Depave with us →Green Apprenticeships
Paid 12-week tracks: compost, carpentry, solar install. 84% hired locally after.
Hire apprentices →Micro-Grants $500–$5,000
No 40-page forms. Two pages, video allowed, decision in 21 days. Neighbors vote.
Apply in 20 min →Real impact you can walk through
We measure shade, soil, savings and smiles. Independent audit 2025 confirms every claim below.
- 1,240,000 native trees & shrubs planted
- 860 block projects funded, 94% still active after 3 years
- 38% average energy bill drop for solar co-op members
- 112 community fridges, 58 tons fresh food shared yearly
Lents Green Corridor, Portland — 2018 vs 2025. 14 depaved lots, 3 solar streets.
27 years of neighbor power
From potatoes to policy. How a cleanup became a coalition.
Fresh from the blocks
Field notes, guides and victories. Click any story to read the full version on its own page.
Stories are sprouting — check back soon. Meanwhile explore about us.
“SELDC didn’t bring a plan. They brought shovels and listened. Now our alley is an orchard.”
— Maria Torres, Block Captain, Fresno“Our heating bill fell from $210 to $129. The install crew were kids from our street.”
— James Okafor, Solar Co-op Member“The repair café saved my bike, my mixer, and my Saturdays. I teach sewing now.”
— Lena Park, Volunteer, SeattleQuestions? Good.
Everything is free or at-cost. No expertise needed — only neighbors. Still curious? Write to us below.
What exactly is SELDC?
Sustainable Environment & Local Development Coalition — a member-led network helping neighborhoods grow food, save energy, share tools and fund small projects. Think community development + ecology, without bureaucracy.
How do I start a project on my block?
Pick a program, gather 3 neighbors, fill a 2-page idea (or 2-minute video) and request $500–$5,000. A mentor calls you within a week. Most projects launch in 30 days.
Do I need to own a home or land?
No. 61% of our stewards are renters. We work with parking strips, balconies, schoolyards, church lots and rooftops. If you can access it, we can green it — with permission.
Where does money come from?
Member dues ($12/year), city resilience contracts and small donors. 89 cents of every dollar goes directly to blocks. No corporate sponsors, no ads, full open books at assemblies.
Can our city / school / business join?
Yes. Cities get depaving + solar playbooks, schools get garden curricula and soil labs, small businesses get circular audits. Contact us for partnership memo.
Last call 2026 — micro-grants open
Get $5,000 for your block idea
Tell us about your vacant lot, leaky hall, dream fridge or tool shed. We reply within 5 days. Join 18,400 neighbors already building.
Or visit: Open House every Saturday 10am — Lents Commons, Portland • All welcome • Kids & dogs encouraged