LOCAL SELF-RELIANCE

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[1] Capital and operating costs must be kept to a minimum. (This goal can be accomplished by using grants or low-interest loans to finance construction, by employing as few workers as practical, etc.)

[2] Marketing procedures should always be planned in advance. It's best to locate a fairly consistent group of consumers ... preferably folks who will be willing to pay a little extra to obtain organically grown produce.

[3] The grower should have excellent horticultural skills, and ought to be sure that his or her abilities are developed before setting up the business. (Knowledge of disease management and pest control techniques is especially important.)

THEM THAT'S DOIN'

Two notable commercial community greenhouse projects have been recently established ... one in Orange, Massachusetts and another on an Indian reservation in Washington state. The northeastern operation was started—and will be managed—by a food co-op that intends to eventually market its produce. The Washington greenhouse will be run by the residents of the reservation and will sell food to other people who live in the area. Both structures were partially funded by grants from the National Center for Appropriate Technology (Box 3838, Butte, Montana 59701), which plans to provide $1,000 grants to build another 200 greenhouses during the coming year.

It should not be surprising if these projects require a few years of experience before they become full-fledged, profitable organic solar greenhouse operations. It is most important, at this time, that such experiments are merely underway, that their owners are learning about the management of the projects, and that—in time—they will be able to share their experience with people in other interested groups.

You can have a free catalog of ILSR's selection of books and pamphlets by sending the Institute a self-addressed, stamped envelope. To get on the mailing list for the organization's bi-monthly magazine, Self-Reliance, send $8.00 ($15.00 for institutions) to ILSR, 1717 18th Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009. Or, send $25 ($17 of which is tax deductible) to become an associate member of the Institute ... and-in addition to receiving the magazine—you'll obtain a 20% discount on all other Local Self-Reliance publications.—MOTHER.

For the past several years, the good folks at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance in Washington, D.C. have been working to help urban residents gain greater control over their lives through the use of low-technology, decentralist tools and concepts. We strongly believe that more people (city dwellers and country folk alike) should be exposed to the Institute's admirable efforts ... which is why we've made this "what's happening where" report by the ILSR staffers one of MOTHER's regular features.

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