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  • From: bob ford <bobford79 AT yahoo.com>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] Healthy Harvest (was Re: Community, the importance of)
  • Date: Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:17:34 -0700 (PDT)

Jerry your post sounds great, but where do people actually work together like
you describe. Some of my relativess are in close-knit rural communities
(with other kin, even) and except for big things on occasion, they rarely
interact outside of church.

I agree that Sage is making good step in her community; but will this work
in the average community, rural or not? ....bobford


--- On Mon, 9/29/08, Jerry B <liberty AT kaballero.com> wrote:

> From: Jerry B <liberty AT kaballero.com>
> Subject: [Homestead] Healthy Harvest (was Re: Community, the importance of)
> To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
> Date: Monday, September 29, 2008, 1:07 PM
> Sage wrote:
> > In our area most people live on large ranches and
> their
> > only community is their church. We are trying to build
>
> > community and just started a local group called
> Healthy
> > Harvest to focus on food issues.
> >
> > We held our first meeting a couple of weeks ago and
> > discussed rising food costs, food scares, loss of the
> old
> > timer's knowlege of farming and storing food,
> > environmental impact, nutrition for the elderly and
> school
> > children. We also spoke of seed saving and sharing,
> > growing organic, cooking healthy, community gardening,
>
> > finding local sources for food, raising food
> awareness,
> > etc. Eleven people showed up and the local newspaper
> > covered it. We expect more this month.
> >
> > A historic ditch irrigated 800 acres of local river
> bottom
> > croplands here from 1860-1960. We know these former
> > residents had to provide food for the community
> because
> > there were no grocery stores in those days. The grain
> mill
> > was across the street from us. Food is a subject that
> cuts
> > across all party lines, and pride in the pioneer
> ancestors
> > who farmed this area runs deep around here. If it was
> once
> > accomplished, it can be again.
> >
> > --Sage
> > Way Out in Texas
> >
> Sage,
>
> I can't let this post pass by without comment. To
> emphasize how great I
> think is the venture you and your neighbors are
> undertaking, I must say
> I think it is representative of the next step, even the new
> economic
> order of tomorrow! That's all. :-)
>
> Totally free and voluntary association for the joint
> production,
> distribution, and consumption of goods not only "cuts
> across party
> lines", but lines of culture, education, financial
> status ... in short
> all human differences. The focus on food, in this case,
> works as well
> for any type of economic activity ... building, selling and
> buying
> houses, raising chickens, or even manufacturing
> automobiles. (Note: If
> such things are done by and for oneself and/or one's
> family then this
> limited definition of 'economic' as a *social*
> activity, does not apply.
> However, it is rare that even such private activity does
> not include
> some element produced, distributed and consumed by others,
> known or
> unknown. And yes, James, 'do-it-yourself' has
> social implications as well.)
>
> Though it is the product that is the goal, a very important
> 'by-product'
> of these endeavors is the meeting and rubbing-shoulders
> with very
> different persons, learning to cooperate in a neighborly
> manner. The
> common need and desire for the product provides motivation,
> but the
> process can lead to, what to call it? ... brotherhood?
> fraternity? (sure
> need more genderless terms) friendship? camaraderie?
> communion? Or the
> opposite if not done aright in freedom. It turns out that
> in striving
> to fill our human needs, opportunity is given to mix with a
> wide variety
> of persons, not just those who think like we do, look or
> act like we do
> ...our very lives depending on it.
>
> This type of free and voluntary association is a far cry
> from either
> Capitalism or Socialism. It transcends both, in synthesis,
> hence the
> next step. Each individual remains his or her own boss ...
> freely
> choosing who they wish to work with, choosing what they
> want to do, and
> determining how much time and labor they choose to apply to
> it. One's
> 'time' and 'labor' are no longer made into
> commodities. There is no
> 'servitude' in the negative sense involved, or
> making a few rich from
> my time and labors ... each working for fulfillment of
> their own needs,
> self-determined, yet in company. As the 'company'
> succeeds so do the
> individuals and their dependents.
>
> Any one that wants to, and can, provide any or all of their
> own needs is
> left totally free to do so. No one is telling them they
> must associate
> with others, how or where. In such joint ventures,
> leaders arise quite
> naturally and spontaneously, in fact changing often or
> having several at
> the same time as different aspects of the project arise. No
> vote need be
> taken. The degree of expertise in the particular economic
> activity soon
> becomes obvious to all. The 'authority' of skill
> and knowledge, not
> social position or financial position, is the determinative
> factor. As
> this increases, so does compensation for the quality and
> quantity of the
> product produced No dole, nor hand outs. No salary based
> on time (who
> can put a value on how much one hour, one week, or one
> month of my time
> is worth?). The product, in this economic order of social
> life, is the
> thing. No product, no pay. More product, better quality,
> more pay. This
> is quantifiable, understood by all participants.
>
> Profit becomes a just means of measurement of demand and
> value.
> Voluntary contracts are made between persons and between
> other
> associations, even contracts across borders and nations.
> It works on
> any scale. I don't know if your dreams for Healthy
> Harvest include
> these types of exchanges and outreach but I would think it
> well might. I
> am interested in continuing to hear more about what you all
> are learning
> from this adventure. I want to keep up to date with
> developments. If I
> were a neighbor, I would be right there in middle of it.
> I'm thinking
> already how such a group can be initiated in our own
> neighborhood.
>
> Was it you that began this activity? Are there other
> projects that serve
> as a model? btw, I recently saw a piece done on TV about
> 'Growing
> Power'. http://growingpower.org/Index.htm. The TV
> article was
> specifically about the city food center in Chicago and
> it's remarkable
> founder, Will Allen
> http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/dining/01genius.html?ref=style
> but
> the home page reveals its broader scope including farming
> communities as
> well. I am much impressed.
>
> The underlying promise, to me, of all this, is that there
> are indeed new
> things that can be and are being, done, independently and
> along-side the
> old. This allows for simple free choice by anyone as to
> which is the
> better way. As the 'old' ways fail, no longer
> encompassing present
> circumstances, vital alternatives can grow and thrive on
> new ground. I
> think it is mainly through such joint ventures that some
> can survive
> what is quickly coming down upon us as a result of our past
> choices. So
> as you notice, I think what you all are doing is most
> important, and
> exciting. Jerry
>
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