Advance Praise for
Small is Possible
A seasoned entrepreneur and social innovator, Estill tells fun-to-read stories that are engaging, insightful, and practical. His book is an indispensable resource for community organizers and economic developers alike.
— Michael Shuman, author of The Small-Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses Are Beating the Global Competition
Cutting through the heady academic and altruistic arguments for local, small economy, Estill’s captivating storytelling offers practical and can-do reality. I came away from this book filled with enthusiasm for a pro-neighborhood commercial community.
—Joel Salatin, farmer, activist, author of
Everything I Want to Do Is Illegal
Community is quickly emerging as the most important word in the environmental lexicon — and for a society that’s focused so squarely on individualist consumerism, it’s not the easiest concept to really understand. Here’s a real-life, warts-and-all description of how to get things going back in the direction of neighborliness. I found it immensely hopeful.
— Bill McKibben, author of The Bill McKibben Reader
Estill has framed an evolving community of strong interdependent local enterprises that are the foundation of a healthy environmental, social, and economic system. He shows us the possibility of giving up the“American Dream” while losing nothing. Here is a book to help us start building a new economy.
— Michael Gordon,E. F. Schumacher Society
This is a wonderful, often funny, and inspiring book. Small is Possible offers hope and encouragement to those engaged in the difficult but rewarding task of reviving communities that have been devastated by globalization, corporate greed, and apathy. Creating strong, caring, local communities offers one of life’s biggest adventures — and opportunities.
— Greg Pahl, author of The Citizen-Powered Energy Handbook: Community Solutions to a Global Crisis
Lyle Estill paints a loving and evocative picture of a community in which small is not only possible, but also transformative.
— Andrea Reusing, Owner/Chef of
The Lantern restaurant in Chapel Hill
Small is Possible is an excellent book brimming with hope. In the age of energy transformation, the innovative people of Chatham County show that it is easily possible to reduce their footprints and live joyous lives.
— Dr. Reese Halter, TV Host,
Founder of Global Forest Science
We’ve been a neighbor county of Estill’s for many years, and we are constantly trying to keep up with those folks. We invite you to do the same.
— Dr. Jack Martin; Burlington Biofuels Co-op;
Lyle Estill
small is possible
life in a local economy
NEW SOCIETY PUBLISHERS
CATALOGING IN PUBLICATION DATA:
A catalog record for this publication is available from
the National Library of Canada.
Copyright © 2008 by Lyle Estill.
All rights reserved.
Cover design by Diane McIntosh.
Cover Images: Upper photo (Bees/flower) © Debbie Roos, North Carolina
Cooperative Extension, www.growingsmallfarms.org Lower image: istock. Interior map © Stayce Leanza.
Printed in Canada.
First printing April 2008. Second printing December 2008.
Paperback ISBN: 978-0-86571-603-2
Inquiries regarding requests to reprint all or part of Small is Possible should be addressed to New Society Publishers at the address below.
To order directly from the publishers, please call toll-free (North America)
1-800-567-6772, or order online at www.newsociety.com
Any other inquiries can be directed by mail to:
New Society Publishers
P.O. Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0, Canada
(250) 247-9737
New Society Publishers’ mission is to publish books that contribute in fundamental ways to building an ecologically sustainable and just society, and to do so with the least possible impact on the environment, in a manner that models this vision. We are committed to doing this not just through education, but through action. This book is one step toward ending global deforestation and climate change. It is printed on Forest Stewardship Council-certified acid-free paper that is 100% post-consumer recycled (100% old growth forest-free), processed chlorine free, and printed with vegetable-based, low-VOC inks, with covers produced using FSC-certified stock. Additionally, New Society purchases carbon offsets based on an annual audit, operating with a carbon-neutral footprint. For further information, or to browse our full list of books and
purchase securely, visit our website at: www.newsociety.com
NEW SOCIETY PUBLISHERS
To my brother Mark, who has been my patron, my financial engineer, and my friend for the past forty-five years.
Contents
Economic Re-Development
Main Street
PART II — HOMEGROWN
Connecting Ourselves