SteveBosserman, October 2006:

Thanks so much for thinking of me in the role of partnering with Sam to develop a food story around soy. It would truly be an honor to do so. However, I am in the midst of several projects in the moment and I fear that to commit to another one—even though it is ALMOST impossible to say, “No, thanks” to ANY such request from you—would jeopardize the co-learning process with Sam and put at risk my other working relationships.

I will work with you in parallel on a local level in order to accelerate and deepen the learning. The target community in which I am active with localized agriculture is Columbus, OH. As I engage with people, organizations, and businesses in the Columbus area concerning this project, I will share my learning openly with you and I trust you will be doing the same in your endeavors. Your stories and my stories will become our stories and those will be the legacy of the first chapter in “social agriculture.”

Does that approach work for you and support your efforts? Please let me know if I / we need to redirect. Thanks in advance for your consideration and involvement!

African Immigrants in Chicago

Steve Bosserman: Organizing skill learning forums for African immigrants in Columbus, Ohio

Franz's vision for a "village forum" emphasizes the "connectivity - skill development / knowledge transfer - real-world application" sequence essential for the vision to become a reality. The degree of connectivity around the world is improving rapidly as more and more people secure access to phone and Internet services. This sets the stage for advances in appropriate technology, resources of all types, and experiential insights to flow from one localized adaptation to another based on the situation being addressed. However, the critical element in facilitating this flow is education and training for those on the ground at point zero where the result will be directly experienced. The significance of LOCALIZED development of skills, resourcefulness, and innovation to design, fabricate, assemble, install, and maintain a solution under consideration within a specific area can not be overstated.

We are blessed in Columbus to have a population of over 100,000 refugees and immigrants from a wide array of African countries. Unfortunately, despite an over 25-year period wherein refugees and immigrants have continued to come into this area, they are disadvantaged by lack of language skills, job skills, health care, affordable housing, and entrepreneurial possibilities. Ironically, in many ways this mirrors the same basic conditions they sought to escape by leaving their homes in Africa. But it also provides an opportunity to increase their capacity to address these conditions by offering learning forums wherein they develop the necessary skills and expertise to draw from and contribute to knowledge available through global connectivity, frame and present problems and opportunities such that solution possibilities are attracted, and successfully apply fundamental principles and techniques of design, fabrication, assembly, installation, and maintenance to adapt appropriate technologies to local circumstances.

The project we envision establishes these learning forums within the African refugee and immigrant community residing in the Columbus area. The approach is three-tiered:

1) raise the skill level among local community members so that they are able to start businesses, create jobs, improve their living circumstances, and build a strong node in an emerging network of refugee-immigrant communities across the U.S.

2) link with other African refugee-immigrant community "network nodes" within the U.S. so that the sharing of learning, ideas, and capacity is expanded. For instance, it would be awesome if a learning forum could be developed around Marcin and Brittany's farm where they are experimenting with the application of several appropriate technologies that would have applicability for refugee-immigrant populations. I'm looking forward to hearing what Andrius and Jeff learn when they visit the farm next week. They may define several opportunities to hook into what is going on there.

3) tap the ongoing network with the family members of refugee - immigrants who remain in Africa to facilitate the transfer of skills and capacity building from the U.S. to localities in Africa. Many of the efforts underway under the auspices of the MS lab are strengthening and expanding the connectivity among people in many African countries. This presents a likely "bridge" to tie capabilities and capacity in the U.S. with capabilities and capacity in Africa thereby augmenting the strength of each.

This is a fundable project that can provide financial support for several in the global network who choose to participate and contribute. There are numerous governmental agencies and NGOs in the Columbus area who are likely candidates to sponsor such an effort. Earlier efforts to initiate a local learning network within this community are continuing to prepare the way for such a timely expansion. Preliminary feedback from leaders within the local African refugee-immigrant community is quite positive. Linda and I are working with them to develop the proposal. Perhaps it would be effective for all if we made the proposal-writing process available in the public domain. This would be similar to what Jeff did with the Buckminster Fuller Institute (BFI) proposal. That way the Columbus experience could be a basic template or starting point for adaptation to other areas where this type of approach would be relevant. At least we would not have to reinvent the wheel. This was what George Chan was suggesting with future proposals based on the BFI submission last month--a great idea, too!

So, that's the scoop from here on the Columbus version of Franz's vision. Without a doubt, Linda and I will not be successful without you helping us figure out steps along the way. On that note, your feedback is greatly appreciated. Whatever you suggest that facilitates your involvement and increases the chances for success for local African refugees-immigrants and their families and friends in the U.S. and around the world will be given prompt attention. Thanks in advance for your consideration.

Warm regards, Steve (and Linda) B.

African immigrants in Columbus, Ohio

Alinda Aligawesa

Identity, Voice, & Community among New African Immigrants to Kansas Final Report [1]

The Columbus Foundation will have a new grants program in early 2008.

The Capacity Building Initiative: Immigrant and Refugee Organizations includes:

• Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church Social Services, Seleshi Asfaw, President, sasfaw AT wowway.com Job connectivity, senior services, basic computer training, marriage and family counseling, youth programs, tutoring, translation, and support. To help Ethiopian families and children to improve the quality of their lives through education and training, supportive services and self-development opportunities.
• Ethiopian Community Organization, Community membership organization providing advocacy, referrals, interpretation/translation, cultural awareness, mutual assistance, and support, To help Ethiopian families and children to have adequate access to appropriate services and to assist the community by providing services. Office Phone: 614-501-6080
• Kiaca Gallery, Central Ohio residents, with special emphasis on African immigrants, KIACA Gallery is committed to establishing a solid platform for the discovery and appreciation of contemporary African art in American society and to building bridges of understanding between African and American cultures. Talle Bamazi. kiacagallery AT sbcglobal.net
• Somali Senior and Family Services. Abdi Warsame. To service the community and meet the needs of the immigrant and refugee population in Columbus, Ohio and to assist in the integration process.
• Somali Women and Children’s Alliance. Hawa M. Siad. http://www.somaliwomenandchildrenalliance.org Interpretation/translation, life skills, youth programs, health initiatives, job training and placement, English courses, sewing classes, diverse support services and referrals, advocacy. To equip refugees and immigrants to become self-sufficient and an integral part of the greater community.
• Sonlight Community Services, African Community, primarily Ghanaian and West African, GED and after school programming for youth, health and wellness, English classes, mutual assistance and support, To provide quality services and opportunities through education and other community enrichment programs to enhance the quality of life of African immigrants in Central Ohio. Kusi Odomse Akuoko

Organizing Independent Thinkers in Columbus

Steve Bosserman and I spoke by phone for almost two hours about work that we might do for him. Steve leads our working group on Social Agriculture http://groups.yahoo.com/group/socialagriculture/ which was our "headquarters" for our work on My Food Story http://www.myfoodstory.com, our largest project so far. His deepest value is "social justice" and he consults as an agricultural knowledge broker. Steve and his wife Linda live in Columbus, Ohio which I imagine is about as "American" a place as there can be, in all the best senses. Steve has a deep understanding of our lab's purpose and promise.

Steve believes that our Minciu Sodas laboratory presents enormous values for his clients in agriculture. These opportunities are growing real. He's interested at this time to invest in work that we might do to show the possibilities. First we would focus on developing our good energy in the Columbus, Ohio area. Later we might do likewise for Kansas City, Chicago and Dallas/Ft.Worth. Steve is deeply moved by Marcin's, Rick's and Jeff's commitment to work on the ground, as well as our African colleagues, and he is impressed by Sasha's very helpful work. Indeed, he also dreams of building a home that would express the values we discuss.

Steve has been investigating How is localization unfolding? What are the metrics? These are profound business questions because they invite businesses to profit from localization by responding to it as a fluid process that may go slower or faster in different directions. Business can learn the logic of localization and atune itself accordingly. Steve has drawn a complex diagram of 85 concepts (I encourage you to login at our wiki and upload it!) with four quadrants:

• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Construction / Landscaping http://www.usgbc.org/LEED/ which includes "green buildings"
• Community / Connectivity
• Renewable / Distributed Energy
• "100-mile" Feed / Food /Floriculture

Steve gives the example of the city of Greensburg, Kansas which was recently demolished by a tornado. The city is remaking itself as a "green city". Steve thinks that we have so much to offer in such situations. We probably need to look ahead and Lucas's interest in disaster recovery may make us relevant in the future. Although our fresh thinking is relevant always and everywhere.

Steve envisages three layers to our work:

• 1) Find out who is doing what in the 4 quadrants in the Columbus, Ohio region.
• 2) Analyze, how can we bring these quadrants together?
• 3) What would be the sets of solutions for the gaps that separate the quadrants?

A Focus: Housing

Microhousing

Steve and I spoke about his interest in building small houses (400 square feet or less) that might be moved as needed. He would like to have a small village of such houses for his family. I look forward to our developing a PatternLanguage for such GlobalVillages. I suggest that we think of this as a GlobalAmericanDream because Steve and Linda would be showing how the American Dream might be a reality for all people around the world. This would be a way of including all people into the American Dream in a way which might be truly sustainable.

FranzNahrada alerts us to his colleague TonySGwilliam http://www.tonysthouse.com

Applying Our Resources

Steve is thinking of a budget of $4,000 to $5,000. I invite our thoughts, how we might work most effectively? My thought is to apply the fractal model that I think worked well for My Food Story. I assume a budget of $4,500.

I suggest that we work for three months with the goal of organizing at our laboratory a critical mass of participants from the Columbus, Ohio area which would be 1 new working group leader (aside from Steve), 10 active participants, and 100 supportive participants at our groups and/or wiki so that they are contributing total at least a couple of letters or posts per day. Another goal is to have 4 of our laboratory's worknets hosts our work on each one of the four quadrants (for example, James Ferguson's Ethical Design for green architecture, John Roger's Cyfranogi for community currency, Steve Bosserman's Social Agriculture for local food, and perhaps a new group for energy independence - although other groups are welcome to offer to host!)

I propose to distribute the resources as follows:

• $2,250 I would take half for my own work which would involve myself working about half-time to engage online and by phone independent thinkers in the Columbus, Ohio area. I would take responsibility for the overall cohesion of the project.
• $1,250 = 4 x $300 We would have 4 people, each responsible for integrating 1 quadrant. We would need 1 working group to host each quadrant, but this may or may not be the working group leader.
• $1000 would be incentives to help us meet our targets of getting 111 new participants from the Columbus, Ohio area. I think this would be to back a community currency that could be pooled for the kinds of technology projects that I discussed above, perhaps in each case requested by some thinker in the Columbus, Ohio area.

Columbus Links

GreenArchitecture

Columbus's Green Building Forum 4th Annual Green Building Expo September 13, 2007, Green Residential Showcase and LEED for New Construction Workshop, Green Resource Guide for Columbus Ohio

Ohio Green Buildings in the Columbus area include:

• Ohio 4-H Center at the Ohio State University.
• The Ohio State University Thompson Library Renovation
• Audubon Center

Office of Compliance Assistance and Pollution Prevention, Information about Green Buildings

Paul Bonneville researches the Columbus real estate market and his website contributes to the urban renewal of Columbus, Ohio.

DamonStrub of Nomad Architecture and Dumpster Design won Noteworthy Entry, Columbus, Ohio Affordable Housing Competition, 1994.

Green is the New Granite includes a picture of a gatehouse entrance to Hidden Creek at the Darby near Columbus, Ohio.

RenewableEnergy

Green Energy Ohio is a non profit organization promoting environmentally and economically sustainable energy practices. Ohio Solar Tour, October 5-7, 2007, Friday-Sunday 2007 Ohio Renewable Energy Resource Guide Green Energy Economics

Ohio Peak Oil Action Committee Ryan Hottle ry.hottleATgmail.com seeks to found Bioregional Colleges.

LocalFood

ThisWeek Community News article announces that the Uptown Market aims for September opening.

Farm Science Review, September 18-20, 2007

Schedule of speakers

Becke has a blog Columbus Foodie and cares about local food and organic food. She has a food event calendar and links to farmers markets in Columbus. And a long list of Ohio food bloggers!

CommunityOrganizing

Sustainable Worthington promotes local action in Worthington, Ohio - a community within the Columbus metropolitan area

Community Currencies article by Ohio Peak Oil Action Committee Bird Flu Preparation Appropriate Technology and many more thoughtful articles.

Community currencies in Ohio include:

• Simply Hours in Columbus
• Summit Hours in Akron
• Wooster Hours in Apple Creek
• Portage Hours in Kent
• Cuyahoga Hours in Cleveland

Beyond Columbus Reference Links

LocalFood

City Farm Boy - Urban Farming in Vancouver, BC, Canada

Cuba Inspires Urban Farming in Vancouver, BC, Canada

Next Steps

I will try to start thinking about 1) who we might link with in the Columbus area, 2) who might be "quadrant" leaders at our lab, 3) how might we connect the 4 quadrants in each of our visions for replicable global villages (including Marcin's, Jeff's, Rick's, Franz's, yours AndriusKulikauskas July 8, 2007 23:28 CET

Polyculture

BenDeVries has ideas...

AboutThisPage

• EndeavorLeader=SteveBosserman
• EndeavorTeam=AndriusKulikauskas
• EndeavorSummary=Organize independent thinkers in Columbus, Ohio to catalyze links between investments in livable architecture, a vibrant community, energy independence, and a healthy ecosystem.
• ProposalLeader=AndriusKulikauskas
• ProposalSummary=AndriusKulikauskas leads work for SteveBosserman for three months with the goal of organizing at MinciuSodas a critical mass of participants from the Columbus, Ohio area which would be 1 new working group leader (aside from Steve), 10 active participants, and 100 supportive participants at our groups and/or wiki so that they are contributing total at least a couple of letters or posts per day. Another goal is to have 4 of our laboratory's worknets hosts our work on each one of four quadrants: LocalFood, GreenArchitecture, RenewableEnergy, VibrantCommunity. Total budget: $4,500.
• ProposalStatus=This proposal is on hold for now. Steve and Andrius are currently focusing on a PatternLanguage for FamilyLiving and MicroHouse business opportunities.
• GlobalVillageIndex=SteveBosserman is interested in building a MicroHouse cluster in the Columbus area.
• Polyculture = FoodForest including Aronia, Apple, Peach, Cherry, Jujube, Pear, Plum, Persimmon, Mayhaw, Strawberry, GroundCherry, Hazelnut

Add Your Comments