Building resilience in the Saugeen Region.
Business growth that replace imports is good growth
I think there can be good acceptance of transition that includes growth, as long as the growth is done by creating products locally, which can economically replace products that are currently being imported. I seem to remember this as a key part of one of an early Margaret Mead’s book. There are a number of barriers to this but I think some ideas can fly with the support of a few local key purchasers like government or local non-profit organizations. What does the Chamber of Commerce think of this idea? What does the city or county think of this idea?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Lynne Taylor on -
Terri and Robert, Hi! I've been working with Marlene Wynnyk who is the recipient of the Premiere's Award for Agricultural excellence 2009 (The Healing Arc www.thehealingarc.com for the commerical growing of the Sea Buckthorn berry. The berry is an import replacement for citrus flavoured fruit....check it out! I think you will love it and grown right outside Wingham. Marlene is a member of Transition Teeswater...she's a smart cookie.
Lynne Taylor-Steering Committee-Transition Teeswater -
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Permalink Reply by John A Harrison on -
Great opening discussion. If we add two key elements, the need to earn outside, or export, dollars for the health of our regional economy (Jane Jacobs' books and others) and the degree to which we can engage in the Creative Economy here, we may find some great added opportunities for growth oriented businesses. However we need to have better incubator and business services here, and a Regional Economic Development Corporation would be a good start. We need most diverse sources of business capital here.
Owen Sound is included in an "axon" extending from the GTA in the GTA/Rochester megalopolis by Richard Florida on at least one of his maps that I have seen because Stats Can rates Owen Sound as the Tenth of the Top Ten Cultural Economy Cities in Canada. Think Transcontinental RBW Printing.
John Arthur Harrison, President & CEO, Ontario Midwestern Railway Company Limited -
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Permalink Reply by Lishui Springford on -
There are many, many business opportunities that can't currently be explored because they can't compete in this era of cheap oil and Third World imports. As these begin to dwindle, though, local opportunities will start to surge.
The problem is that people aren't preparing that way; people are continuing as though cheap oil and overseas imports will continue for the forseeable future. And people don't have much choice, because most people don't know how to fix a car or put food by or repair a house foundation.
We are still completely dependent on a monetary system and that means trading an hour of time for a single $8 food item, which isn't much for the many people who don't know how to cook from fresh, organic ingredients. At minimum wage, if you can get a paying job, you've got to put in 100 hours just to pay for one month's rent, and with rising food costs, another 50 hours just to pay for the average diet these days.
This is where the transition movement must come into play. For every rise in food, transportation and housing/utilities costs, there should be a new series of options waiting in the wings, set up at City Hall, and ready to put into place when the demand comes e.g. cohousing projects, new community gardens, and low-energy transport options.
Some businesses will scream that this is an unfair advantage, this "giving away free housing, food, transportation." However, those that don't have much income would be the ones to provide the labour - for every downturn in the economy that means lost jobs and decreased income, there should be a new series of opportunities to directly barter or trade, work in community gardens, perform duties in the cohousing projects, and fix and pedal bicycles or row boats to transport people and goods. The transition will mean transition away from the use of money for most daily goods and services. In the future, the key "currency" for trade will be skills, not cash.
I believe that what's needed the most right now is skills training of all kinds for everyone. There's a major business opportunity right there. -
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