Small Is Possible: Summarized.

Is a self sufficient local economy really possible?  It’s the question that led to the publishing of Lyle Estill’s 2008 book, Small is Possible; Life In a Local Economy.

I found it to be an easy but insightful read into the politics, struggles, and rewards of a group of North Carolina residents trying to live local.  The book is divided into two parts with the first, “Funky Town” providing some background and context to the authors experiences and beliefs.  The second part, titled “Homegrown” is Estill’s practical explanation and examples of how they’ve done it, or would.
It is this section of the book that I found most helpful in starting to think of ways to not only live and purchase locally, but it shows how one might begin to think about the types of businesses (and investments) that would be necessary for a community to replace it’s dependence on imported goods and services.

At 216 pages, with 16 chapters the material is easily digestible and well worth the time…even if you (like me) don’t agree with all of the author’s ideas.

Check it out at your local library or purchase it here: Small is Possible: Life in a Local Economy