What are we doing to prepare? What did Joseph do? Witnessing opportunity? I think so.

By the way, whose resting place did they just (try to) burn? Joseph

Hello? Hello?

Question to my Pastor:

I want to plant an idea with you and see whether something comes of it, either as an official interest by the Church, as an outgrowth of LEAP or by sharing it elsewhere.

The economic news is bad. One tried and true approach to recession is local cooperation. I am going to paste a little news on the subject and some recent phenomena in business. I also want to trot out some very loose ideas about getting started.

Lois and I are going to organize a discussion with a small circle of
families here and at Grace. The questions are: what do you have to offer other families and what can they offer you. The complexity of a full blown barter system is formidable, for certain. But, starting the
discussion, is well, getting started.

Here are a few simple issues we can contribute:

1. A little seminar on gardening for folks at grace: efficiently using
raised beds to garden new areas, sunlight/site selection, species
selection that has worked for us, efficient/cheap/non-ugly fencing, how to start plants and use cold frames, how much to plant, how to work cooperatively to share either space, labor or produce. (And, I am proud to say, my seedlings are already up in January, losers! :) )

2. Lois is becoming an avid coupon clipper and is saving LOTS of money. Another lady at Grace is a real expert and will be sharing her information.

3. There is a bulk food ordering program through the Herb Shop in PJ, which seems to be pretty reasonable.

4. The B*&$#'s have a local source for raw milk.

5. We have 40 chickens and eggs to trade.

6. I have a very expert nurse practitioner down the road. Medical
information and access to medicines may be at a premium.

7. I have an excellent source for very inexpensive spices (an Indian
grocery in New Jersey).

Article on bad economic news and local opportunities for cooperatives:

http://pacificfreepress.com/content/view/2236/81

A very large and new barter brokering business:

http://www.tradebank.com/index.asp

Of note are a number of worrisome tendencies: 1. cooperatives can be disappointing (LEAP can be blessing or disappointment); 2. much of Church life is involves resisting centrifugal forces; 3. putting a value on services and trades is indeed difficult. 4. sin.

On the other hand, there is inherent productivity in doing what you love. America is about to suffer an enormous drop in productivity. The Lord blesses agreement Mt. 18:19. The Lord has plans for us, to prosper us.

Blessings,