Ben Mates (Author) wrote:

My vision for my community and my world: I start from the premise of using available local resources to meet as many of my needs and the needs of my community as possible. Instead of relying on the sunlight that falls on the fields and orchards on the other side of the world, and then relying on the sunlight that fell on ancient swamps (fossil fuels) to transport food and other commodities across the planet (with resulting pollution and other inefficiencies), I am committed to using the sunlight that falls all around us and other such resources – to grow our food, to heat and light our homes and fulfill as many of our other needs as is feasible. Here are a few possibilities that are open to us: Create, support and participate in local food culture - Grow gardens, orchards, vineyards, woodlots - Harvest, preserve, and cook delicious healthy organic food - Share your abundance with others - Raise small animals (chickens, goats, rabbits) for milk, cheese and meat - Improve soil fertility with compost and manure Live close to where you work, learn, volunteer, shop and recreate so that you can walk, bike or take public transportation as much as possible - Self-employment in a live/work option - Co-operative businesses - Tele-commuting - Co-housing communities - Small electric or hybrid vehicles - Ride-sharing and shared vehicles Construct energy efficient buildings using local, natural materials - Super-insulation and high thermal mass (earth, straw, timber, stone) - Energy from sun, wind, geo-exchange - passive and active solar heating (space, water) Use water efficiently - xeriscaping - drip irrigation - mulching/add organic matter to the soil - rainwater harvest - cisterns - grey water Zero waste - reduce, re-use, recycle - create cyclic systems to replace linear processes - live simply - derive your happiness from non-material sources Community - learner-centered education - hosting conversation that matter - study groups, arts groups (music, theater, dance) - hosting visitors from other communities - multi-generational integration Health - drastic reduction of preventable diseases (diabetes, heart disease, cancer) - balanced, low-stress lifestyles - abundant relationships give life meaning Economy - local first - complementary currency - micro-finance - fair trade - barter and free-cycle The more we move toward such a lifestyle, the less there is a need for the vast infrastructure that is currently placing so much stress on ecosystems and human communities - war, weapons - energy infrastructure (power plants, pipelines, transmission lines) - pollution, toxic waste - depletion of soils, forests, fisheries and other natural resources - species extinction - scarcity of food and water - government oversight and regulation - military, police, courts, prisons - gangs, drug use, crime - healthcare facilities and technology - overabundance of consumer goods (manufacture and distribution) - banking, investment - fast food - landfills - urban sprawl - homelessness, social alienation/disintegration

December 18, 2008 | 2:24 pm

Ben Mates (Author) wrote:

Here is the way I see our visions coming into reality: on a neighborhood by neighborhood level, people come together to connect with their visions for what they want to see in their communities and commit to being in action to move toward the vision they agree upon. Periodically, these neighborhood groups call in help or attend workshops given by local or regional groups working on specific topics such as food growing, alternative energy systems, or preventive healthcare. Once or twice a year there is a summit of all the groups, with representatives from all of the neighborhoods and all of the special topics groups to share what is emerging, exchange best practices and connect with new possibilities. As our current unsustainable systems become less and less viable, more and more people join in the conversations and activities that are moving us toward a healthy and prosperous world that works for everyone and for all of life.

December 18, 2008 | 3:39 pm