'How to Become Food Self-Sufficient' Competition

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The theme of this competition is "How To Become Food Self-Sufficient" and all entries should fully and completely describe methods, systems and plans which will allow an individual, family or small group of people to grow, forage or otherwise produce as much of their daily nutritional requirements as possible... and to process and consume that food with the least possible impact upon the planet.

A premium value is placed on non-chemical, low energy, low technology, natural and "organic" systems which can be easily understood and put into use by unskilled and unschooled individuals at little or no dollar or other monetary cost.

A premium value is placed on those systems which are largely or completely self-righting and self-perpetuating and which to a large or complete extent do not disturb the natural environmental balances of any area in which they might be placed.

A premium value is placed on systems constructed of the older, more basic and more enduring materials and components (earth, stone, glass, iron, etc.), instead of the newer, more exotic and less permanent materials and components (plastics, integrated circuits, "space age" films, etc.).

A premium value is placed on systems which are largely or completely powered by solar, wind, water, methane, tidal and other clean and/or renewable energy sources instead of nuclear, fossil fuel and other dirty and/or non-renewable energy sources.

A premium value is placed on systems which produce—on a long-term and non-exhaustive basis—every nutritional element needed for human health and vigor.

A premium value is placed on systems which consistently produce food that is flavorful, varied, interesting and a delight to eat when prepared in many different ways and according to the culinary customs, styles, tastes and taboos of the widest possible cross section of ethnic and cultural groups.

A premium value is placed on systems which favor—in this order—the endurance of the planet, the preservation and appreciation of all life-plant and animal-and a decentralized, gentler and more humane human society than we now enjoy.

No particular premium is placed on systems which concentrate on any particular link in the food chain—high or low—but a premium is placed on systems which promote and inspire a reverence for the intricate web of life and spirit of which we all are part.

A premium value is placed on systems which are actually in use on or before September 30, 1975 and which produce a regular harvest of food which may be weighed, measured, tested for nutritive content and otherwise inspected and/or eaten.

Each entry should be in English and should consist of a printed or typewritten manual of any length which fully and concisely explains the design, construction, input, operation, output, cost factors and all other relevant details of a particular system. A premium value is placed on photographs, artists' renderings, working drawings, charts, graphs and other supplemental material which supports, illuminates and clarifies the information in the manual. A premium value is placed on entries which are neat, clean, logically organized, well presented and easily understood.

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