Innovation Center

This is a "thought" page...with a general theme of Moving a town towards being more self-sufficient...

All humans require basic needs: food/water, clothing, and shelter. Most humans, especially those in the US, live well beyond our "needs." Simple food items have been replaced by highly processed "food" in order to appeal to our desires. Tap water has been replaced with bottled water. Basics clothing has been replaced by fashion. These "beyond-basics" needs have been driving our economy for many years; our cars get fancier, our electronic become more integrated, our needs in general have become inflated.

This perceived "innovation" has raised the overall quality of life for most and much of it is well deserved for those hard working individuals, but let us not forget the difference between what is considered a basic need and a luxury item.

Basic Needs: Food

1) Water

2) Bread

3) Vegetables (and hence ability to grow, conventional/hydroponics)

4) Meat (for many, debatable)

5) Eggs

Basic needs: Clothing

1) Pants

2) Shirts

3) Socks and underwear

4) Shoes

5) Jackets

Basic needs: Shelter

1) "apartments" single story, single adults/single family neighborhoods

2) "apartments" multiple story, single adults/single family neighborhoods

3) "duplex housing" single family neighborhoods.

4) single family housing neighborhoods

In a small town like Monmouth IL the residents acquire the majority of their basic needs from outside vendors. Many of these vendors have used a model to mass produce in order to lower prices to attract business at the expense of lower quality. Additionally, many people will drive significant distances to pay a lower price for a basic need without reference to the indirect costs related to transportation or their own personal time.

So it is reasonable to believe that a local community, hence local businesses could provide basics needs for their residents, but it would be difficult to "shift" the mentality of the community. In order to start this shift in thinking, Monmouth should have the following businesses:

1) A dariy (milk, cheese, ice cream, etc)

2) A bakery (bread, rolls, etc.)

3) local eggs

4) local meat

5) Textiles

So why do we drive 10-40 miles to purchase these items as a lower price (and often lower quality)?...if we all work together as a community/family, we can support local businesses which in turn then support the local economy.

All of us eat bread...let's make bread and lets BUY bread HERE! If you want something special ask!

Many of us eat eggs...let's raise chickens in town and lets BUY egg HERE!

Many of us eat ice cream...let's make ice cream!

Many of us drink beer...lets make beer HERE and buy beer HERE!