Robyn and I have just returned from Moeraki where we spoke, at the invitation of the Hampden Community Energy group, about some of the activities we do down here that help local communities to become self supporting. The Hampden group were very lively and active in getting programmes going in their area and are planning a trip south soon to look at how our farmers market, native plant enterprise, community orchard, food cooperative etc. are going. Moeraki and Hampden are quite a distance to travel to, but linking the two communities has already proved to be valuable as a source of support and ideas.
4 comments:
That Riverton has made these efforts toward 'relocalisation' is excellent, but what about other Southland towns? Invercargill even? It will soon be obvious that food is far more expensive and difficult to secure than it has been over the past 30 years and what then? Time for all Southland towns (and city) to establish some security and insurance for the future by developing sustainable, localised communities. Kinsale in Scotland (?) is the most famous example of a town that is looking ahead and making it's people safe from climate, political change. They have a great website too.
The only time I ever see a real example of a community that has developed a sustainable structure and 'wrapped itself around' the real cores of food and services is on television - Discovery chanel looking at an African village market of somewhere in Eastern Europe or maybe Cuba. Our efforts here semm more cosmetic than anything else but for all that I would encourage any moves to become relocalsied in anticipation of more trying times. Here in Nelson the famous Saturday Market looks like a good example but is only a ripple on the surface of a really sustainable system and would soon fold under any pressure.
We need people at the CEO level of all our local government organisations to be au fait with the relocalisation process and movement. It is spreading fast and wide throughout the Western world and we are in a very good position to make it real here and all the better if we can have ur leaders leading us, rather than having to work around or even against them.
Your seed savers and rare breds people are the ones to involve here. With ge and nanotechnology eroding the base you need for safe food you have to have a store of viable genetic material or you will get steamrolled by 'progress'. Spread it around, the broader the base, the safer you are.
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