Localization, Relocalization, Futurization

What is localization? Let’s look at the leading localization movement description – by the localization group of WELL in the small town of Willits, CA

 

The WELL Vision:  An enduring local economy that provides health and security for our community.

The Mission of WELL To foster the creation of a local, sustainable economy in the Willits area by partnering with other organizations to watch for opportunities and vulnerabilities, incubate and coordinate projects and facilitate dialogue, action and education within our community.

 

Why Are We Doing This? Willits is a great place to live for many reasons. We have a strong sense of community, creative and dedicated residents, and surrounding natural beauty.

Economic, demographic and environmental trends concern many in our community. Rising fuel costs, climate change, and the importation of most of our essential goods leaves our community vulnerable.

Localizing our economy means that we will produce more of our essentials here in Willits. This behavior models the great American values of self and community reliance. Creating local food and energy systems will tap the vast wealth of knowledge and ingenuity in our area. Benefits include:

Diverse local employment Clean, efficient and more responsible options for food, energy and transportation Securing the future for our families and children Having a stronger connection to each other and the natural beauty around us

Through economic localization we strive to protect and enhance existing qualities of our community and meet the challenges of the future.

 

At foremost issue is the coming decline of petroleum resources and the impact it will have on all of us. The goal is to find creative methods to sustain and empower the local community while moving away from global (imported) resources — in essence, to ‘localize’ our community. WELL is made up of a network of citizens and community organizations that meet regularly to create a common vision, foster education, plan work, and carry out projects.

The simple idea is to remember what we all used to do – before the boats, trains & trucks rolled into town bringing all the supplies of modern life to be purchased by the “consumer”.

What did we do? We used to MAKE things and had local food supply, grain and flour mills, manufacturers & suppliers of conveniences and dry goods…you remember olde time “Main Street” with its shops – each one a distinct and different entity – the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker…not just a children’s poem, but a real community. We even picked our own fruit

from trees that our grandparents planted! I love those stories of possible past and possible future. An emblem of hope in TURBULENT TIMES.

Other groups are helping pioneer the change to a “Post carbon” future with more local evolution of services and goods. The time too begin is now – with oil at over $120/barrel, we can re-apply efforts to discovering old ways, using new low-technologies for energy and transport, and mentoring local “green transition” skills.

Join the pioneers of future and start a localization movement in your town – it can be as simple as plantiing a community garden, publically showing films like “Escape from Suburbia”, promoting energy farms.

Energy Farms are a response to the dominant agricultural model of the so-called “Green Revolution” that turns soil to dust, chemicals to food, and food to fuel.

Using science, proven tools, and evolving methodologies the Energy Farm Initiative seeks to demonstrate systems of agriculture that can sustain both farms and communities in the face of climate change and peak oil. This program weaves threads of the Relocalization vision into a fabric of local currency, local food and biofuel systems, revitalization of local industry, and community cooperation.

 

Ok, so – lots to do!!! In fact, I gotta run – plants to water, bee swarms to manage…see you later,

-anniegreenjeans