SHC RURAL PLAN
THE RURAL PLAN
- To start a self-help corporation in a rural setting you would start where the landless farm laborers reside or among indigenous populations suffering malnutrition. Many of these people work all day every day and still do not have enough to get by. A recent National Geographic article quotes the statistic that one half the worlds population, three billion people, subsist on less than two dollars a day. A self-help corporation could help, these people improve their lives by providing organization and expertise.
- In a rural setting, a self-help corporation should start with animal husbandry. The first step would be to identify potential sources of animal feed that is free for the collecting. As described in the [ Biological Potential Project ] there are seeds, fruits, and insects that can be collected and fed to animals that no one is using. Further, with a little organization, grass and trees can be utilized to raise insects that can then be fed to poultry. Once the organization is in place, a steady supply of protein can be produced at nominal costs.
- When animals are allowed to run free, they are subject to predation, theft, or just running away. In addition, where societies are based on grazing animals, overgrazing can destroy the productivity of the land. As described in [ Environmental Principles ], a self-help corporation should build structures to raise chickens, hogs or rabbits. Facilities could also be built for cattle, sheep and goats, if a regular supply of hay is available.
- Another reason to raise animals in structures is to be able to collect the manure. All manure, human and animal should be collected daily and composted to provide fertilizer for crops. At the first opportunity, a self-help corporation would also want to construct a methane digester so as to produce its own power. See [ Methane Project ].
- A self-help corporation would only need to control a small area of land to start. The structures for raising animals can probably fit between the huts and shanties the people already occupy. However, growth will depend on access to additional lands. If land is not available through projects such as described in [Environmental Restoration Projects ], then the corporation will need to sell enough of its animals to earn enough cash to purchase access to additional land.
- Once the corporation decides what animal feed is available and as a result, determines which animals it is going to raise, steps should be taken to increase the amount of available feed. The land from which the corporation is harvesting its animal feed can be permacultured. Permaculture is a design system for creating sustainable environments. (Bill Molison). A productive mix of plants will also enhance the habitat for other animal species.
- Assuming that the corporation's control of land will be limited, it should not invest in growing staple crops. Corn, beans, rice and wheat can be produced much cheaper through mechanized agriculture. Instead, the corporation should concentrate on intensive gardening of high value crops. In particular, the corporation should grow those crops that provide the nutrients needed by the people in that area. The corporation would need to sell enough of its animals and high value crops to purchase the staples at wholesale.
- Once a self-help corporation is producing, it will attract workers to (1) collect animal feed, (2) feed the animals and collect the manure, (3) butcher the animals, (4) tend the gardens, and (5) prepare the food for the workers to eat. The corporation can then also offer low cost balanced meals to the general public as an additional source of revenue.
- As a rural self-help corporation grows, it could develop, both for its own workers and the general public, low cost, clean and safe housing, and laundry services. The location of the corporation's facilities may lend itself to providing services to tourists. For example, facilities near a wilserness area may provide opportunities for eco-tourism. The corporation may also wish to produce its own building materials such as manufacturing cinder blocks, roofing tile and ceramic tiles. (Cleanliness will be enhanced by tiling surfaces in the facilities).
- A rural self-help corporation will need an understanding with the governnment concerning its obligation for taxes. Preferably, that understanding would involve contributing labor to the welfare of the nation rather than money. It would also be helpful if the understanding involved the care of land that can be permacultured.
- Once a self-help corporation is producing a substantial portion of its own food, it can link to urban populations. In fact, producing meat and vegitables would facilitate implementation of the [ Urban Plan ].
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