Creating a Sustainable Community Vision

Madelia, a rural community of about 2,500 in Minnesota, is building a competitive advantage for themselves; environmentally, economically and socially. The community plans to implement the Madelia Model - a locally produced renewable energy facility using biomass and a bio-industrial park - with a focus on improving residents' quality of life.  Earlier this year, Madelia residents met in focus groups to create community principles for the development and implementation of the Madelia Model.  A Sustainable Vision: Creating Community Principles for the Madelia Model explains the community visioning process, highlights personal reflections from residents and shares the resulting community principles. 

Prairie Horizons Farm

"Where's the old dairy barn?" my colleague Jim and I exclaimed as we drove into Mary Jo and Luverne Forbord's driveway at Prairie Horizons Farm near Starbuck, Minn. for an afternoon tour and conversation.  While it was hazy, the view of the rolling glacial moraine extended to nearby towns, and there was no dairy barn in sight.   

After Jim and I received a warm greeting from Mary Jo we learned that the old dairy barn and home site were across the alfalfa field and pasture.  We looked out the view from their living room; it was so different from my view of my neighbors houses and garages.  Undulating grasses stretched across the rolling sea of hills parting occasionally by wetlands or oak stands.  From where we stood, we could not see the grazing cattle, but soon we would meet them up close and personal. 

Mary Jo and Luverne had been dairy farmers for a number of years, then they hit a turning point.  They decided dairy was not the right fit for them, or their farm.  So they switched to a grass-fed beef operation.  The cattle graze year round on the rich and sugary sweet (yes, of course we tried a bit) grass and forage in the fields.  Luverne and Mary Jo have noticed changes in the land from this move to a grass-based system.  The water quality in nearby wetlands are improving, more birds are singing their tunes on the prairie, bare unprotected soil is no longer present and the native prairie stands are coming back.  This isn't the only entrepreneurial venture the Forbord's are involved in.

The are members of the local ethanol plant, Chippewa Valley Ethanol Cooperative, which makes Shakers Vodka and plans to use gasification of biomass for their energy needs.  They grow corn for their ethanol plant shares, and also have certified organic alfalfa fields.  Their native prairies are hand harvested, and planted into pure stands of spefic grasses.  Through this method, they created their own "native grass nursery" local to their farm site. Additionally, Mary Jo is the Executive Director of the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota.  And, if that's not enough, you should hear the ideas they have for their farm - a variety of biomass energy crops to operating a farmers market and restaurant at the old dairy barn.  Mary Jo and Luverne are two of the most wonderful, entrepreneurial folks you could ever hope to meet.  And, I hope you get to meet them too someday!

Read more about Prairie Horizon Farm

On the farm alone?

IATP had the honor of hosting ten enthusiastic, inspiring young people at our office a few weeks ago.  The topic of discussion: empowering rural youth.  These folks, a high school student interning in sustainable agriculture, college students who work on their organic school farm at the University of Minnesota, an IATP intern and other young persons working in the field of agriculture and the environment, gathered together for a frank discussion on attracting and keeping youth in our rural communitites.

Almost every participant would like to, if they could get past the barriers, farm in our rural areas.  Surprisingly, the biggest barrier mentioned was not financing or land access, although both high on the list, but isolation.

Youth are already gone from many of our rural places and these young people believe they will be isolated from meaningful relationships and friendships, basically living alone on the farm.  Isolated not only from friends and significant others, but also the social activities and community events they have come to enjoy in the city: yoga classes, concerts, restaurants, and the list goes on. 

So the discussion continued.  Do young people move only to places where there is already a community set up for them, or do young people need to move into a rural area and create the type community they are seeking?  This is the question we left to ponder as the discussion drew to a close.  Thank you to all the young people who met with us and inspired us; and thanks to all the young folks who are creating vibrant rural communities.

Plans are underway for a Rural Youth Summit in October 2007!  More information coming soon.

Design for rural people in developing nations

Design that Solves Problems for the Worlds Poor, a recent New York Times article, highlights some unique solutions for poor water quality, diffcult water transportation and lack of electricity for lighting in developing nations.  The "Lifestraw" portable water filter provides a safe way to get drinking water from any river or lake.  Subsistance farmers can pump water for their crops without electricity by using human power, thereby increasing production, and income.  Design solutions like these create new economic development opportunities for rural communities and farmers in developing nations.