11.4 Building community networks and local economies

Urban permaculture and community resilience go hand in hand with building strong local networks. By focusing on local economies and community connections, we can create more sustainable and resilient urban environments.

Building community networks and local economies is key to this approach. It involves creating systems for local exchange, cooperative businesses, and skill sharing that strengthen community bonds and increase self-reliance.

Building Local Economies

Localized Economic Systems

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• Local economies focus on supporting and promoting economic activity within a specific geographic area
  • Prioritize locally-owned businesses and locally-produced goods and services
  • Keep money circulating within the community, creating a multiplier effect that benefits local residents and businesses
  • Examples include buy-local campaigns, local currency systems, and community-supported agriculture (CSAs)
• Local exchange trading systems (LETS) enable members to exchange goods and services without using traditional currency
  • Members earn credits by providing goods or services to others in the network
  • Credits can be spent on goods and services offered by other members
  • LETS foster community connections, reduce reliance on external economic systems, and provide access to goods and services that may be otherwise unaffordable

Cooperative Business Models

• Cooperative businesses are owned and democratically controlled by their members, who share in the profits and decision-making
  • Members can be employees, consumers, or producers, depending on the type of cooperative
  • Examples include worker cooperatives, consumer cooperatives (food co-ops), and producer cooperatives (agricultural co-ops)
• Cooperatives prioritize the needs of their members and the local community over maximizing profits
  • Reinvest surplus earnings into the business, distribute them among members, or support community initiatives
  • Provide stable employment, fair wages, and better working conditions compared to traditional businesses
• Farmers' markets directly connect local farmers and producers with consumers
  • Eliminate intermediaries, allowing farmers to receive a larger share of the profits
  • Provide consumers with fresh, locally-grown produce and the opportunity to support local agriculture
  • Serve as community gathering spaces that foster social connections and promote local food culture

Strengthening Community Networks

Reciprocal Exchange Systems

• Community networks are social structures that connect individuals, organizations, and resources within a community
  • Facilitate the exchange of information, support, and resources among members
  • Examples include neighborhood associations, community gardens, and local advocacy groups
• Time banks are reciprocal exchange systems where members earn time credits for providing services to others
  • One hour of service equals one time credit, regardless of the type of service provided
  • Members can spend their earned credits on services offered by other members
  • Time banks value all contributions equally, fostering a sense of inclusivity and reciprocity

Knowledge and Skill Sharing

• Skill sharing networks enable community members to share their knowledge, skills, and expertise with one another
  • Can be organized through online platforms, community centers, or informal gatherings
  • Examples include workshops, mentorship programs, and skill-swap events
• Skill sharing promotes lifelong learning, empowers individuals to develop new abilities, and reduces reliance on external resources
  • Strengthens community bonds by fostering a culture of mutual support and collaboration
  • Helps preserve and pass on traditional knowledge and skills that may otherwise be lost

Enhancing Community Resilience

Building Resilient Communities

• Community resilience is the ability of a community to withstand, adapt to, and recover from adversity, such as natural disasters, economic downturns, or social upheaval
  • Involves developing the capacity to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to challenges collectively
  • Requires a combination of physical infrastructure, social networks, and economic resources
• Resilient communities are characterized by strong social connections, diverse and adaptable local economies, and robust systems for meeting basic needs
  • Examples include community emergency response teams, local food systems, and decentralized energy production

The Role of Social Capital

• Social capital refers to the networks of relationships, trust, and reciprocity that exist within a community
  • Includes bonding social capital (connections within a group) and bridging social capital (connections between different groups)
  • Facilitates collective action, information sharing, and resource mobilization
• Communities with high levels of social capital are more resilient and better equipped to face challenges
  • Have a greater capacity for self-organization, mutual aid, and collective problem-solving
  • Examples include community support networks that emerge during crises, such as natural disasters or economic recessions