Rural life in literature
ABCD and Rural Communities
From Orion Magazine this month.
Barbara Kingsolver writes...
The Urbicene
Urban life has undeniable benefits. But what happens when we lose our connection to the natural world?
Forum Activity for @derek-a-peterson
ABCD and Rural Communities
Books, Websites, Social Networking Sites that give insights and/or advice on increasing capacity and connection in rural areas.
ABCD and Rural Communities
From the Missouri Independent - https://missouriindependent.com/2022/06/07/the-elephant-in-the-room-is-destroying-family-farms-rural-communities-and-our-democracy-opinion/
The elephant in the room is destroying family farms, rural communities and our democracy | Opinion
Books, Websites, Social Networking Sites that give insights and/or advice on increasing capacity and connection in rural areas.
ABCD and Rural Communities
A thoughtful piece on "Why Rural America Matters" - https://www.deseret.com/2022/6/12/23061549/why-rural-america-matters-idaho-country-moving-cities-uprooted
Rural life in literature
ABCD and Rural Communities
Today, I ordered "Uprooted" by Grace Olmstead.
In the tradition of Wendell Berry, a young writer wrestles with what we owe the places we’ve left behind.
In the tiny farm town of Emmett, Idaho, there are two kinds of people: those who leave and those who stay. Those who leave go in search of greener pastures, better jobs, and college. Those who stay are left to contend with thinning communities, punishing government farm policy, and environmental decay.
Grace Olmstead, now a journalist in Washington, DC, is one who left, and in Uprooted, she examines the heartbreaking consequences of uprooting—for Emmett, and for the greater heartland America. Part memoir, part journalistic investigation, Uprooted wrestles with the questions of what we owe the places we come from and what we are willing to sacrifice for profit and progress.
As part of her own quest to decide whether or not to return to her roots, Olmstead revisits the stories of those who, like her great-grandparents and grandparents, made Emmett a strong community and her childhood idyllic. She looks at the stark realities of farming life today, identifying the government policies and big agriculture practices that make it almost impossible for such towns to survive. And she explores the ranks of Emmett’s newcomers and what growth means for the area’s farming tradition.
Avoiding both sentimental devotion to the past and blind faith in progress, Olmstead uncovers ways modern life attacks all of our roots, both metaphorical and literal. She brings readers face to face with the damage and brain drain left in the wake of our pursuit of self-improvement, economic opportunity, and so-called growth. Ultimately, she comes to an uneasy conclusion for herself: one can cultivate habits and practices that promote rootedness wherever one may be, but: some things, once lost, cannot be recovered.
Books, Websites, Social Networking Sites that give insights and/or advice on increasing capacity and connection in rural areas.
ABCD and Rural Communities
[quote="Allison Lourash"]
Thanks for sharing Derek- the Rural Workgroup has been collecting a list on a google doc as well- https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ydAYiHBaOXSFGYtWeiOmD3P2KeENm5kdusxgEVa2eiE/edit?usp=sharing
[/quote] Thank you for sharing this.
Collective Impact PodCast
ABCD and Rural Communities
In this episode, we’re diving into the topic of what does it mean to do collective impact work in more rural areas. Collective Impact Forum executive director Jennifer Splansky Juster chats with Deb Halliday of Halliday and Associates about what can be helpful to consider when working in a cross-sector collaborative that supports rural communities.
Books, Websites, Social Networking Sites that give insights and/or advice on increasing capacity and connection in rural areas.
ABCD and Rural Communities
https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/takeaway/segments/114798-revitalizing-rural-america
Rural America makes up 90 percent of the country but holds less than 20 percent of the population, and those numbers continue to decline. Yesterday we looked at a book putting forth the argument that cities make us better, happier and healthier. But what about the argument for living in the country?
Books, Websites, Social Networking Sites that give insights and/or advice on increasing capacity and connection in rural areas.
ABCD and Rural Communities
https://dailyyonder.com/podcasts/
If you’re on the hunt for great audio storytelling from rural America, look no further. You don’t want to miss these rural podcasts from our team at the Daily Yonder, plus some other favorites from our rural friends and colleagues around the country.