In support of a more local/regional food economy for the Texoma area,

we featured the film, “The Power of Community”

Continuing CORE’s series of Films & Forums, this compelling film, directed by Faith Morgan and produced by Community Service, Inc. of Ohio, tells the story of how a society faced with an energy crisis and economic hardships pooled its creative ideas and efforts and triumphed over insurmountable odds...that of feeding its population!  Through cooperation, conservation, and community efforts,  they were able to create a new low-energy society by transitioning from large, fossil-fuel intensive farming to small, less energy-intensive organic farms; urban gardens; and backyard gardening.  This transition involved becoming a more sustainable society, rather than one dependent on foreign exports and large industries to survive. 

This film does not deal with political issues, but rather life-sustaining strategies.  Richard Heinberg, author of The Party's Over, Powerdown, says, "Everyone who is concerned about Peak Oil needs to see this film...It's one of the most important and hopeful stories of the past few decades...a story not just of individual achievement, but of the collective mobilization of an entire society to meet an enormous challenge."  In these days of skyrocketing costs, Peak Oil, and plummeting incomes here in America, perhaps we can learn what innovation, determination, and cooperation it takes to transition, survive, and thrive.

After the film, we discussed how citizens in the Texoma area can participate in a more local/regional food economy — the creation of Farmers' Markets for Texoma-grown foods (NE Texas counties within 100-mile radius) and organizing local community gardens and backyard gardening. 

For more information about CORE's "Local Food Makes $ense" effort and for joining CORE's Texoma-Grown Directory of growers and producers, see our F O O D page.

June 25, 2009

"The Power of Community" is a project of the Arthur Morgan Institute for Community Solutions, a non-profit organization that designs and teaches low-energy solutions to the current unsustainable, fossil fuel based, industrialized, and centralized way of living. Visit www.communitysolution.org for more information.