CREATING STRONG, SUSTAINABLE AND SELF-RELIANT COMMUNITIES IS THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK THAT WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW, AND RELOCALIZATION IS HOW WE WILL DO IT!
Relocalization
Relocalization--the process of creating sustainable and self-reliant communities--is the most important work we can do to prepare for the converging catastrophes of the 21st century.
Please visit OPOA's RELOCALIZATION WIKI to find out more about relocalization and to contribute to the growing movement toward creating healthy and sustainable communities. Also check the Resources Page for communities and organizations that are promoting relocalization.
The following is a thorough list of major steps toward forming a relocalization movement within your community. As always, we appreciate any feedback, suggestions, and comments you may have on how these ideas may be improved. Contact Us!
SERMON ON THE COLLAPSE
Blessed are those who depend least on modern technology, for they have not forgotten how to take care of themselves. Blessed are those whose culture is communitarian and not individualist, for they will share and prosper.
Blessed are they who have no exploitable natural
resources, for no one will bother them. Blessed are those who know how to grow food, for they will eat and feed others.
-Richard Heinberg-
THE POWER OF THE RELOCALIZATION MOVEMENT
Not only is the movement to build strong and sustainable communities necessary if we wish to survive the coming times, it is also a way of living that is simply better and more fulfilling than what modern industrial civilization can offer.
Wendell Berry writes:
The reverse movement--a reverse movement is necessary, and some have undertaken it--is uphill, and it is difficult. It cannot be fully accomplished in a generation. It will probably require several generations--enough to establish complex local cultures with strong communal memories and traditions of care.
Paying lip-service to the idea of “community” and “the importance of community” is worthless without actually undertaking sincere movements to recultivate community within our personal lives and neighborhoods. Building this reverse movement of community is obviously not going to be easy. This is why we need to formulate and articulate strategies for rebuilding community more effectively and quickly. This calls for a lot of creativity and problem-solving.
This website represents a starting place for serious discussion and debate regarding how we might be able to formulate effective strategies for dealing with the coming times. Here we will examine strategies for relocalization. In many instances the strategy can be worked out as we go...
I. BUILDING AWARENESS AND FORMING CORE GROUP
1) Film Screenings, Potlucks & Discussions
Hold regular weekly film screenings, potlucks, and discussions. Good films to screen include “The End of Suburbia”, “The Future of Food”, “The Corporation”, “Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Prices”, “Baraka”, "The Power of Community – How Cuba Survived Peak Oil," and “From the Heart of the World: Message from Elder Brother.”
2) Letters to the Editor
A handful of people can organize to write letters to the editor on a weekly basis on issues of oil depletion, sustainability, relocalization, and community building. Note, many newspapers don’t allow a single individual to write more than once or twice a month, so it is helpful to employ at least four or five people in this project.
3) Website & Meeting Place
Developing a website is a rather easy way to establish a presence and a source of important information for your community and beyond. Websites can also be used in the future to setup “wikis” and “Craigslist”-type interactive services that can, among other things, help organize community currencies and network various organizations. Find a good meeting space that is accessible and appropriate for your needs.
4) Forming Core Groups
Out of the community awareness and education you should be able to bring together a core group of committed people to start on the beginning stages of the relocalization process. It is essential that community awareness and education is an ongoing process that continually draws in more and more folks into your community’s relocalization. Jason Bradford, from Willits, CA, was able to divide the meetings up into various working groups and also included a weekly screening of the “End of Suburbia” for folks who were just starting to learn about the issues.
RELOCALIZATION WORK PARTIES!
Considering the severity of the situation that we now find ourselves in, the very least we can do is to dedicate one day a week to community organizing for relocalization and sustainability work. Imagine this: Every Saturday morning relocalization folks gather. For the first half an hour or so they catch-up with each other and chat.
After that they gather for several hours to learn a particular skill or craft such as basket weaving, making a fire from a bow-drill, nonviolent communication, or installing photovoltaic solar panels from one of their fellow community members.
After three or four hours of workshoping, they breakup into groups of three or four and hit the streets with backpacks and bikes in tow. Going house-to-house, they could chat with their neighbors, pass out literature about peak oil, sustainability and relocalization, and invite them to a neighborhood film screening and potluck that they are having later that night. With neighbors that aren’t home they could leave fliers with information about their relocalization effort. They might initiate the chat with a gift such as fruit and vegetable seeds, plant starts, fresh baked cookies or zucchini bread, flowers from their garden, fruit or nut trees, etc.
After several hours of hitting the streets and going door-to-door, the group could come back together to have relocalization planning meetings prior to the potluck and film screening.
For example, the Saturday Relocalization Day of Action, Learning, and Fun may look like this…
9:00a.m. : Group comes together, 30 minutes of chatting
9:30a.m. : Workshops begin
Basic Permaculture Designs for the Backyard Garden
Building Wind Turbines
Advanced Seed Saving (Ongoing workshop)
Noon: Group comes together for lunch
1:00p.m. : Hit the streets door-to-door
5:30p.m. : Reconvene for “Study Group” discussion and planning
7:00p.m. : Large group meeting for half an hour
7:30p.m. : Potluck and video screening with neighbors
This sounds like one heck of a day! But, hey, we can’t afford to fool around any longer! If we are going to deal with this situation we’ve got to get utterly disciplined and committed. Many of us spend at least forty hours a week working jobs we don’t care much about. We can at least justify spending one day a week working hard on something which is truly worth our time and effort, especially when the stakes are so high. Not to mention the rewards of spending so much time with neighbors, working together in small groups, and feasting together, are excellent ways to create the social glue in a society where the art of being neighborly has almost been entirely forgotten.
II. COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT
1) Study Community Relocalization Plans
A serious study of all the existing relocalization plans should be made by community members to determine important questions and consideration that may have been overlooked. OPOA's RELOCALIZATION WIKI site is an excellent resource to connect people in local areas, distribute information, find like-minded folks, and engage in collective problem solving.
2) Answering Community Assessments Questions (Listed Below)
Consider and address the questions listed at the bottom of this page. If you find questions that you feel have been overlooked, feel free to contact us to address these points, so we can more fully cover all the pertinent questions of relocalization in coming site updates.
3) Create a Community Relocalization Plan
From the questions you have answered, formulate a relocalization plan that is specific to your bioregion, geography, culture, and community.
4) Involving Local Organizations, Universities, and Schools
A good idea would be to involve local organizations, universities, and schools in answering questions pertinent to relocalization. A lot of the questions are directly related to natural history of the region, science, and social studies. There is a lot of room for creative intellectual engagement.
III. COMMUNITY COHESION & FUN
1) Potlucks
Have potlucks!
2) Live Non-Electric Music and Dancing
Have live music! Dance with your children and with your lover and with your neighbors and with your grandma!
3) Make up New Holidays
Create new holidays which are unique to your community or bioregion that give you an excuse to come together to celebrate and create new rituals that honor the Earth and Humanity.
4) Community Congresses
Start holding regular community meetings, congresses, and caucuses to discuss all matters local and global.
5) Bioregional & Sustainability Workshops
Start holding inexpensive or free workshops on topics ranging from biointensive gardening to draft horses to permaculture, to rainwater catchment, etc. These workshops could be the start of a Bioregional College!
6) Organize Community Games
Have fun! Organize silly community games for all ages, such as capture the flag, chess tournaments, soccer matches, etc.
IV. TRAINING AND NETWORKING
1) Permaculture and Ecovillage Training Course
Have two or more folks from the relocalization group attend a Permaculture or Ecovillage Design course.
2) Gaia University
Consider sending one or more representatives from the relocalization group to attend Gaia University’s Masters in Regional Development, World Change and Transformation, Ecological Design, or other programs.
3) Renewable Energy Training
Consider sending several members of your community to a renewable energy workshop on specific applications that are relevant to your community needs whether it be microhydro, photovoltaics, or wind energy.
4) Uniting Organizations
Link, interconnect with, and join local organizations that focus on working toward sustainability, environmental protection, community building, neighborhood watch, local business, peace and justice, agriculture, etc.
5) Wikipedia and Craigslist
Use the relocalization wiki website to start coordinating workshops, relocalization plans, and to network existing groups and organizations.
6) CERT Program Training
Have several folks from the relocalization group take the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) program training courses to start a CERT program in your own community.
7) Emergency Medical Training
Have several folks from the relocalization group train to get their EMT and Paramedic licenses. It would also be advisable to have at least one or two members get instructor certification in these areas so that, in the future, they will be able to provide training.
9) Start an Education Fund
Start an education fund to help pay for all members of the community to take workshops, courses, and certification relating to sustainability and relocalization.
10) Nonviolent Communication and Consensus Decision Making
Train several folks from the relocalization group in nonviolent communications, consensus decision making processes, and other relevant facilitation and governance models.
V. IMMEDIATE PROJECTS
1) Conventional-to-Organic Farming Assistance Program
Start a program to help farmers transition from “conventional” growing methods to more sustainable methods. The financial obstacle of converting from conventional to organic agriculture prevents many farmers from taking this vital step toward a more sustainable food system.
2) Free Tree Program
Start a program to distribute free fruit and nut trees, and berry bushes to help create sustainable, edible landscapes. Also look to building edible forest gardens, sustainable aquaculture ponds, and community vegetable gardens. A suprising and significant amount of food can be grown on trees!
3) Starting a Community Seed Bank
Start a community seed bank that focuses on growing seeds specific to the local geography, climate, and soil conditions that are available to community members for extremely low costs.
4) Bird Flu Preparation
Formulate a detailed plan for how your community will prepare for a potential bird flu pandemic. Involve local doctors and health authorities.
5) Energy Auditing & Weatherization Program
Create or ramp up local efforts to audit and weatherize homes. Particular attention should be paid to low-income folks who will be the first to feel the squeeze of rising home-heating and gasoline costs.
6) Free Small Livestock Program
Identify local small livestock (rabbits, chickens, turkeys, goats, etc.) and find out ways to drastically increase availability of small livestock to the community if the need arises.
VI. LONG-TERM PROJECTS
1) Starting a Bioregional College through Gaia University
Start a Bioregional College through Gaia University’s M.Sc. degree in Regional Development of Gaia University. To see how we're doing it, check out OPOA's Bioregional College Page.
2) Starting a Community Currency
Figure out how to start a community currency and the best form of it for your community, then start one!
3) Electing Relocalization Leaders to Local Public Offices
Elect a leader/leaders from your local relocalization movement to a local seat or office.
4) Create a “Community Center”
Create a “Community Center” with a common meeting place/town hall, community gardens, edible landscapes, a natural, outdoor amphitheater, and places to recreate and for children to play.
QUESTIONS AND PLANS
The following is a list of important questions and plans that are vital to consider when preparing to relocalize one’s community. Many of these questions and considerations are a result of the hard work of other groups who have been formulating relocalization plans to address the considerable questions that the coming times demand. In particular, the following groups should be given credit and their plans read carefully:
“Tompkins County Relocalization Plan”
Community Solution's “Agraria Plan”
NATURAL RESOURCES ASSESSMENT
WATER
1) How much rainfall do you get per year?
2) Is this adequate to support local food production?
3) Are there any dangerous contaminants present in the water supply?
4) What is the current water treatment system that your community is using?
5) How much energy does this treatment system use?
6) How will your region be affected by climate change in terms of water?
7) What are the recharge rates of the aquifers that your community is using?
8) Are the recharge rates equal to or less than the rate of use?
9) What are the major watersheds?
SUNLIGHT
1) How much sunlight does your area get per year?
2) What is the steady ground temperature?
3) What are the prominent wind patterns?
SOIL
1) What kind(s) of soil does your community have?
2) What is the area’s local geology?
3) What soil ammendments are needed to correct soil imbalances?
ECOSYSTEMS
1) What are the major ecosystems in your area?
2) What types of plant and animal life exist?
3) What are the keystone species of your area?
4) Were there wetland areas in your community prior to development? Are they still there? Would wetland restoration be a beneficial or feasible project for the community?
COMMUNITY CARRYING CAPACITY AND IMPACT QUESTIONS
1) What is the population density and distribution of your community?
2) What is the per capita use of resources? What is the community footprint?
3) How much material waste does your community generate? How much sewage is produced? How is the sewage treated? Would it be beneficial or feasible to compost human manure?
4) What is the general health of the ecosystems in your area? Are there industrial sites that have been heavily polluted? What would be the best means of cleaning up these sites?
5) Is there a community recycling program? Will this still be able to work in a post-peak oil world? What are some alternative uses for these "waste products?"
6) Is there a business or organization in your community which sells salvaged building materials? If not how could such a business or organization be formed?
AGRICULTURAL QUESTIONS
1) What kind(s) of soil does you community have? How long is the growing season?
2) Is the soil deficient in any particular components?
3) What are the best kinds of crop or crop systems to grow with this type of soil?
4) Have any permaculture approaches been utilized in other areas that have similar conditions to your community that have been successful? What would you need to do to mimic these systems?
5) How many acres of land can be used to grow crops in your community? How many acres are currently under production?
6) How many of these acres are being grown with sustainable or organic practices?
7) Who owns most of the land—family farmers or agri-businesses? How is this land ownership distributed?
8) What information can be gathered about the agri-businesses?
9) Is a forest garden approach possible in your area? If so what types of trees would best suit your growing conditions?
10) What are the local organizations and governmental agencies working within your community and what services do they provide?
11) Are there farmers’ markets in your area? How many and how often?
12) Is there a community composting system in your community? Would such a system be beneficial or feasible to your community? Would composting of human manure be beneficial or feasible?
13) Are there local tool-makers and suppliers in your area that make essential tools? What are the essential tools for your community?
14)Are there any large greenhouses in your area? What are they being used for and who are they owned by? How large are they?
15) Are there any community gardens in your area? Would it be beneficial or feasible to put in community gardens?
16) Are there any land-grant colleges in your area that are doing research on local or sustainable agriculture?
17) Are there experienced growers or educators in your area? Are they willing to work with the relocalization group?
18) Are there programs to assist farmers to transition from conventional growing practices to organic ones? If not, how would you go about establishing such a program in your community?
19) Is there a seed-saving organization or network within your community? How would you go about setting up a seed bank?
20) Are there any local farmers who still use draft horses? Would they be willing to teach their skills? Are there local breeders of draft horses?
21) What are the local sources of livestock?
22) Are there any Community Supported Agriculture programs in the area?
23) Do any of the local farms have internship or work-exchange positions?
24) What is the population density as compared to the local food production capabilities? Is this sustainable?
25) Are there restrictions or codes against homeowners raising small livestock such as chickens and rabbits? If so, what is the best way of getting rid of these restrictions?
26) Would a sustainable aquaculture system be beneficial or feasible in your community? Are there any local experts who could help in this effort?
27) Is the place you get food locally owned or owned by a large corporation? Is there any location where farmers can sell food throughout the week?
28) How far do farmers travel to get to the farmers’ markets? How far do buyers travel to get to farmers’ markets? Would some sort of public transportation system be beneficial or feasible? Could farmers carpool using some sort of alternative transportation system (e.g. a school bus converted to run on biodiesel or waste vegetable oil)?
29) What are the most appropriate means to preserve food? Should this be a community project or an individual project?
30) Could particular buildings be deconstructed to be used for supplies particularly for making cold-frames and greenhouses?
31) Is there a community food bank or other emergency food supply? How big is it? How long could it sustain the community?
32) Is your area capable of growing winter crops? What winter crops would be best suited to the area?
33) Is hunting a beneficial or feasible means of supplying food? How many individuals could be sustainably hunted per year? How would the community ensure that game was not being over-hunted? Are there means of improving the quantity or quality of the game?
34) Are there any local folks trained in permaculture? Are there any permaculture training programs in your area? Have you ever considered becoming a permaculture instructor?
ENERGY SOURCES
1) Roughly how much energy does your community use? What are the sources for this energy by percentage?
2) How much wind and sunlight does your area receive? Is wind or solar power a beneficial or feasible option of energy generation?
3) Are there any streams or rivers that could be used to generate power with a microhydro system? Where would be the best place to locate a microhydro system? How much energy could such a system generate?
4) Should energy generation be a community project or would it be best to carry out on an individual/family basis?
5) Can the community buy certain materials or parts (such as photovoltaic panels) in bulk and sell them at-price to the community?
6) Would decentralized energy production and local energy farms be beneficial and feasible? What would be the best ways to initiate these projects? Could decentralized energy production also be used to heat homes or businesses in the area?
ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND HOME HEATING QUESTIONS
1) Roughly how much energy does your community use? What are the sources for this energy by percentage?
2) Where is the power-plant that makes the energy for the community and how far away is it?
3) How many heating- and cooling-degree days are there in your area?
4) How many homes have undergone an energy audit in your area?
5) Are there any government programs in your area which fund energy auditing and weatherization work? What is their criteria to determine who they help? Is the program managed on the federal, state, or local level? Could a local weatherization program be of benefit to the community?
6) Are there populations of folks in your area who will be more susceptible to rising home-heating costs? What can be done to help these folks?
7) Can certain products (such as compact fluorescent bulbs, low-flow water faucets, photovoltaic panels, and high-efficiency refrigerators) be bought in bulk by a community and then sold for at-cost prices to community members?
8) Are there any natural or green builders in your area who specialize in energy efficient building?
9) What sustainable building products can be manufactured or grown locally?
9) Would decentralized energy production and local energy farms be beneficial and feasible? What would be the best ways to initiate these projects? Could decentralized energy production also be used to heat homes or businesses in the area?
10) Are houses in the area worth retrofitting or would it be better off to build completely new structures? Should families consider sharing houses to reduce energy use?
11) Are wood-burning stoves a sustainable way of heating homes in your area? How much wood could be burned without damaging the local environments? How much carbon would be released burning these trees?
12) Considering that the refrigerator generally uses more energy than any other appliance in a house, how can we reduce the energy requirements for cold food preservation? Root cellars? Community refrigeration using high-efficiency appliances such as the Sunfrost models?
13) What energy auditing businesses and weatherization organizations and businesses are operating in your area? Are they non-profits, government organizations, or private businesses? Would forming an energy auditing and weatherization business be a beneficial or feasible thing for the relocalization movement in your area to take up?
14) Is it beneficial or feasible to set up a methane digester?
15) Can such devices as solar hot water panels be manufactured locally? Can they be built using recycled materials?
16) What are the local zoning laws and building codes? Are any of these restrictive to using green building and natural building techniques? What is the best way to challenge and get rid of these unnecessary and harmful zoning laws and building codes?
17) Are there any local manufacturers of cellulose?
18) Are there any classes or certification courses on energy auditing and weatherization in your area?
TRANSPORTATION QUESTIONS
1) Generally speaking, how dependent is your community on personal automobiles?
2) What is the average commuter traveling distance (as best as you can compute it)?
3) Is the community walkable?
4) Are there bike paths in place that could be used instead of automotive transportation?
5) How many school buses does your community use? How far do they generally travel each day? How much fuel do they use? Could the school buses be used for public transportation?
6) Is there a public transportation system in place? How extensive is it?
7) Are there any bike stores or cooperatives in your community? Are there community members who are good at bicycle repair? What would it take to set up a cooperative bicycle parts and repair shop?
8) Is biodiesel production a beneficial or feasible project for the community to undertake? What crops would best suit the local growing conditions for biodiesel production?
9) Is there a railroad system in your area? Is it still in operation? If not, can it be revived? If so, what is it currently being used for? Where does the rail system travel? Is it being used to capacity?
HUNTING AND GATHERING ASSESSMENT
1) What are the key edible wild plant species in your community? Where do they grow? What is the best method of harvesting and preparing them?
2) How much wild food could be sustainably harvested from the area?
3) What animals could be hunted for food? How many individuals of each species are there in your area? How many individuals could be sustainably hunted each year? How do you ensure that they are not over-hunted?
4) Are there members in your community who are competent at hunting animals using primitive hunting methods?
5) What hunter safety courses are offered in your area?
6) Is there a local gun shop or gunsmith?
MEDICINE AND HEALTH CARE QUESTIONS
1) What doctors and medical facilities are in your area? What is their specialty or treatment level? How far away is the nearest hospital?
2) What emergency medical service providers operate in your area? How reliant are they upon fossil fuels? Will ambulance providers still be able to function in an atmosphere of rising fuel prices and potential social instability?
3) How would your community cope if there were a pandemic such as avian influenza?
4) Are on-call doctors that travel to homes a sensible approach to treating patients, as it was in the past?
5) What medical supplies may become difficult to get in the future? Is it worth stocking up on these supplies?
6) Are hospitals prepared for possible long-term blackouts? How would this affect treatment facilities?
7) How can “alternative,” herbal, and preventative approaches to medicine reduce the need for conventional “Western” medicine? Is a community medicinal herb garden a beneficial or feasible approach to take? If so, what herbs and plants should be grown? Are there people in your community who are trained in the use of herbs? Who knows how to prepare treatments and tinctures?
BIOREGIONAL QUESTIONS
1) What bioregion is your community in? Where are the watersheds in your area?
2) What are the neighboring communities like? Do they pose a threat? How can neighboring communities be assisted in the process of relocalization?
3) How will you protect your watershed and ecosystems from destruction?
4) What environmental and sustainability based organizations are operating in your community?
5) How can your watershed or bioregion be both rewilded and, in parts, turned into flourishing edible landscapes? What species of fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, and herbal and medicinal plants can be grown without extensive maintenance in your watershed or bioregion?
LOCAL ECONOMY QUESTIONS
1) Generally speaking, how strong do you think your local economy is? To what extent is it dependent on long distance transportation to meet its needs in terms of food production, energy supplies, building materials, and other essential goods?
2) Is the grocery and hardware store locally owned or owned by a larger chain store or large corporation?
3) What would it take to get local businesses to sell locally grown produce and locally made goods?
4) How would you plan to establish a community currency in your area? What are the obstacles to establishing a community currency? What kind of currency and what features would best suit a community currency in your area?
COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT
1) What groups, organizations, non-profits, schools, university programs, and local businesses are present with and around your community that are attuned to the same goals of relocalization, sustainability, and social justice?
2) What is the local political situation like? Would the current folks in local offices be willing to hear about the issues concerning peak oil, sustainability, and relocalization? Is there a possibility of getting a relocalization group member elected to local office?
3) Are there any groups of people who will be more susceptible to the coming crises, particularly in regards to increasing home-heating and gas prices? What can be done to help these folks out?
4) What kinds of skills do folks in your community have?
RELOCALIZATION ORGANIZING ASSESSMENT
1) Is there a good place to meet in your community? Where would you be able to get free or discounted office space?
2) Is there anyone in your group who has skill at website design? Would they be willing to create a website for your group at a discount or for free?
3) Where would be a good place for a community center?
4) Is there any place the group could buy land to set up a farm and Bioregional College?
THINGS TO DO
1) Make an extremely large master-map identifying topography, bioregional boundaries, existing communities, watersheds, population density, agricultural areas, potential areas to setup community centers and farms, aquifers, roads and railroads, bike and footpaths, forested areas, wetland restoration areas, areas to be reforested or turned into forest gardens, etc.
2) Conduct a skills assessment of the community. This can be done when you are going door-to-door chatting with folks about the need for relocalization, passing out literature, and giving gifts. Passing out a questionnaire or survey with questions for community members about skills they have, distance they commute to work, home-heating costs, things they would like to see more of in their community, etc. could be passed out to be returned later. Provide a stamped envelope, making this process easier for the local residents! This would be an excellent source of information for relocalization folks and would make a good publicity piece in the local paper.
COMMUNITY PLANS
Write up a plan for the following projects based on the information gathered above. Plans should be holistic, specific, dynamic, and flexible. They should set specific goals to be completed by a particular date. The “Kinsale Energy Descent Plan,” for instance, provides a vision of what they would like to accomplish by the year 2021 and then outlines concrete steps to be taken each year to ensure that they stay on track. This approach is a most excellent one, only instead of 2021, we should set our visions for quite a bit sooner, perhaps 2015:
1) LOCAL FOOD PLAN
2) ENERGY PLAN
3) WATER PLAN
4) HOME-HEATING PLAN
5) TRANSPORTATION PLAN
6) BIRD FLU PLAN
7) LOCAL POLITICS PLAN
8) HOUSING PLAN
9) HEALTH AND MEDICINE PLAN
10) EDUCATION PLAN
11) LOCAL ECONOMY PLAN
12) WASTE PLAN
13) COMMUNITY BEAUTIFICATION PLAN
14) COMMUNITY RECREATION AND FUN PLAN
RESOURCES:
Central Ohio Relocalization Effort
“Tompkins County Relocalization Plan”
Community Solution's “Agraria Plan”
WE NEED YOU!
Here at OPOA we are trying to transform crisis into opportunity. If you think that the mission and material that OPOA provides is useful and much needed during this coming time of crisis, we ask that you give what you can to support a truly grassroots movement to protect and defend the Earth and humanity during the coming times. With two full-time staff members, practically all funds are used exclusively to further our mission to help prepare the Ohio area for the coming times and to distribute free information about how individuals and communities can prepare for the coming times. Without your kind donations and support we wouldn’t be able to survive! To donate or find out more about how you can get involved please follow this link. Voice your opinions, solutions, inventions, suggestions, insights, strategies, and analyses at www.RelocalizationWiki.org.