Critical Bibliographic Essay Garrett Montgomery 3/25 ... - Oncourse

large to make the difference. New Ruralism needs “Smart Code” which integrates land
development, ordinances, and zoning regulations all into one to promote walkable streets and
conservation of open areas, as well as many other conservation designs. (Stratton, 2009) New
Ruralists reconnect with the earth itself and in the process gain a larger sense of community and
self-sustainability. Open lands are preserved as use by wildlife, grazing animals, and medium
sized farming. No longer are the cities sprawling in need of food from the ever growing
industrialized farm, but the people needing the food are neighbors with those who provide it.
Cash crops are not the homogenized norm in the fields, but whatever the community needs and
purchases at the local market are what the farmer provides. The simple supply and demand
functions work not only on a global scale, but on a local scale as well.
Microenterprise and Microdevelopment are economic models used in small developing
countries that do not have much in the means of economic vitality. In Microenterprise small
loans from 50- 5,000 dollars are given to an individual to engage in a self-sustaining business
that operates in the sectors of the small economy. (Karides, 2010) When stepping back a small
town or city may not be much different than a small developing nation. There are major
dependencies on larger economies and outside sources, and very little self-reliance. Can a
community in the US help itself become more self-reliant by giving incentive to its own
members to create and become self-sustaining? In these small situations, if a group of people
borrow money, then others cannot borrow until the money is repaid. The created sense of
responsibility is implicated upon the borrowers by the community and will help ensure loans are
paid back. The sense of accountability given to the dollars in hand help take away from the
imaginary value of the dollar, and give it real value. (Bennholdt-Thomsen, 1999) Renewed sense
of responsibility with money and with the community will help garner subsistence in the