by Rob Avis, Verge Permaculture, October 23, 2013 North America is full of small dying towns that are loaded with perfectly good infrastructure, cheap lots and small homes on large lots. They have commercial centers, water systems, parks, social structures and are surrounded by cheap to rent – and sometimes own – agricultural land. They are walkable, bikeable, quiet and usually human scaled. It would seem that these would be bursting with young families trying to make a go at...
For those of us thinking about ways to foster local, sustainable, green businesses, here are some wise words. Ernesto Sirolli got his start doing aid work in Africa in the 70’s — and quickly realised how ineffective it was. In this funny, challenging and passionate talk, Ernesto shares his deep insights into sustainable economic development, and how entrepreneurs can be truly supported to live their passions. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SpIxZiBpGU0]
Michael Shuman, author of the book Local Dollars, Local Sense, is director of research for Cutting Edge Capital, director of research and economic development at the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE), and a Fellow of the Post Carbon Institute. “Traditional public-sector improvement in education, health, and other quality-of-life factors can only be sustained in communities generating their own wealth, and this is only possible in communities rich in entrepreneurs.”