First Steps: A Launch Project for Big Idea

When I was a little girl, some of my first memories are of being in the garden with my Grandma, and eating her delicious food. Filling my mouth with juicy red strawberries from the yard, or picking crab apples for apple butter. Every time I smell a tomato plant I am instantly transported back to her side: watching her slowly, carefully tending her beautiful fruits. Whenever I eat rhubarb, I think about her strawberry-rhubarb jam on french toast that was a regular treat my siblings and I would inhale with relish every time... and it tasted even better because we would make it together. At Grandma's house there was nothing wasted, so everyone was welcome to come and fill their bellies, often leaving with some sort of jam or other canned goodies. She was an unfailingly kind woman, and truly my inspiration. She is no longer alive, but still guides me through all of the lessons she taught me. So, after spending a lot of time musing over ways to initiate the Big Idea I have come up with an evolving "Launch Pad" idea that is a small(ish)-scale project with the same principles and goals as the larger Big Idea Project: a Modern Homestead Community (MHC). The MHC will be a 30-100 acre plot of land home to 25-100 people, including foster children and the elderly/infirm. The MHC will be developed and managed utilizing permaculture principles and sustainable materials. The community will consist of both people who spend the majority of their time working around the MHC, as well as those that have full or part-time outside jobs. You are super excited about this project, but probably have some questions, like: What will the MHC do for the community? -Provide free community and childhood education on topics such as: organic gardening/permaculture, sustainability, personal health, food preparation and preservation, and more -Provide housing for foster children, including special needs children -Provide senior living in a continuous care retirement community type model -Participate in research in a variety of fields (agricultural, environmental health/science, sociological/anthropological, biomedical, and more) -Provide community gardening space in the Marcella Barnes Community Garden (named for my late Grandmother) -Provide community gathering and performance spaces in the Marla Jupp Community Hall & Performance Space, and the Alec Jupp Outdoor Performance & Gathering Space (named for my husband's mother, who is an avid gardener and community activist, and his late father, a musician and Master gardener) -Provide a model for modern, forward-thinking and sustainable community living that doubles as a community resource in case of disaster -Give back to the earth through responsible planting and use (and teaching others to do the same) How will the MHC be funded? -Start-up costs will be fundraised, equipment rental and/or donation, out-of-pocket (from self, other live-ins, and investors), and possibly grants applied for -Ongoing donations from sponsors, community dinners, classes, fundraiser dinners, small donations, etc -Percentage of profits from MHC memeber-made goods and personal plots (each MHC member will have a garden plot for personal use (or market produce), and access to some MHC raw products for market use with (say) a 25% "tax" on plot products and a 40% "tax" on sales with goods using community stores) -Volunteer time donations, collaboration with local schools for student volunteers/interns (nurse, doctor, high school internships, etc) -Income from working live-in members for "room and board"

A little note...

The Big Idea for Change will be an institution that takes a holistic and inter-disciplinary approach to making the world a better place through research, collaboration, innovation, outreach, and improving local and global access to education, healthcare, and basic needs (food, water, shelter, safety). The new approaches to education, research, and most importantly to being part of one's local and global communities will transform our economy, higher education, and hopefully the world... This is a Big Idea that will take time, and need community support as well as people willing to get directly involved.

Change.org

I have recently learned about the website Change.org. It is an amazing site where you can sign petitions from all over and help be a part of real change. I highly encourage everyone to check it out! http://www.change.org It's an easy way to get involved and do good for the world, so thanks to the creators of Change.org!

Basic Rights for All

I have been re-reading my earlier posts and I noticed I talk a lot about education and research and the economy, but there are some key points I managed to miss.
One of the most important aspects of Big Idea is the social change that could come from it. By educating and promoting a responsible global citizenship mentality, we hope to steer society in the direction of peace and understanding and instil a willingness to set aside differences and work together for the betterment of the earth and every person on it. Education, formal or not, helps fight the ignorance that is burdening this country and so many others. This is a social movement trying to bring the world into the bright future that is possible when we all respect one another and work together for peace and prosperity.
I believe all people have at least 5 basic rights: food, clean water, safe shelter, access to healthcare, and education. Big Idea is a way to see that all people across the country and the globe have those basic rights met. Initially that will be by directly educating and providing care and supplies, but eventually the goal is that the people we are helping will become self-sufficient (ie a village we serve has students that are able to attend Big Idea and become nurses, doctors, engineers, and teachers in their communities back home) and hopefully understanding and peace will follow.
More to come. 

In Case You Hadn't Noticed...

I am taking a break from Big Idea for a little bit. I am in nursing school and needless to say that is rather time consuming. It has also taught me that this plan is possible but also that we will have a better chance of success if I wait and learn more myself before plunging into this vast and hugely important project. I am a go big or go home girl, and when I do something I like to do it right. This is one of the most important undertakings of my life, and I truly believe that together we can make this happen, create a force for good to change the world. And to do this right will take time. I hope to get some more posts up over the summer. Until then, cheers.

Global Health and Wellness News: Banana peel can purify water, say scientists

Check out this awesome article on how Banana peels remove heavy metals from water making it safer to drink.

Global Health and Wellness News: Banana peel can purify water, say scientists

Big Idea's General Scheme for Education and Economy working together

One of the primary goals of Big Idea is researching ways to make the world a better place. While the research is being conducted, the researchers and their peers will be lecturing on their specific research as well as related studies. We also want to include as many people and students as possible in the actual research, which has several purposes

1) The more people that look at a problem, the more potential solutions there become because people approach problems in different ways.
2) It allows students excellent hands-on experience which will help them find employment
3) It allows students who may not be attempting a Bachelors or Masters degree elsewhere to have access to higher levels of education
4) Once the technologies are developed enough to be in production there will be a large number of people with varying levels of education and experience but who really understand it and that will make for an excellent workforce on all levels

So an example of this might be a mechanically inclined young man who although a Bachelors degree wasn't in his future at the time, he was intelligent and cared about the earth. So, he comes to Big Idea to learn about (lets say) some new solar technology we're working on. This young man learns not only essentially everything there is to know about the technology and how its put together and how to fix it but also expands his logic, reasoning, and knowledge in other fields. Then he goes out and gets a job because he has direct experience and a great skill set.

With a workforce that skilled and knowledgeable the American-made products would be fantastic and that's how Big Idea wants to use education and research to help the economy. Creating new technologies and new job fields that not only make the world a better place but generate great products we can be proud of.