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Our community could be much stronger than it is, for individuals, families, and the populace as a whole. There is a more hopeful version of our future: a shift to economies that are more local in scale. A more robust local economy would mean that:
• More of our people make products and services here locally;
• More of our people purchase more products and services that are made locally and/or sold locally;
• More of our people grow food here, buy more food grown here, eat food grown here, add value to food grown here through culinary arts and prepared products; sell food grown here to others outside the community.
Similarly for wood products and forestry, for renewable energy such as solar and windpower.
Similarly for communications: imagine a local radio station featuring local events, products, activities, arts, opinions, musical productions, services. Think of the ways we could expose to all the wealth of knowledge and talent in the community, and how that could stimulate homegrown business, services, and sales. I am constantly amazed to discover how many residents are not aware of products, services, and even shops nght here m the county, even for basics such as food. But, how would they find out except word of mouth?
A vision of a robust local economy in this rural area may sound like “pie in the sky” in face of rapid globalization and dominant habits of living and consuming in our postindustrial economy. However, the cost of energy for transportation
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