Our Mission: to help maintain and build self-reliant communities having

• a healthy respect for and stewardship of the natural resource base;
• a vibrant economy strong on local products, energy, fuel and food;
• growth management focused on supporting the historic settlement pattern of villages and downtowns surrounded by rural countryside;
• social infrastructure and networks to provide equitable support for the less able, solidarity, joy, celebration and rooted connection for all, and
• active citizen participation in making decisions for the communities’ futures.

Our work focuses on four realms key to community self-reliance:

• sustainable working lands,
• community energy,
• flood hazard mitigation planning, and
• community development infrastructure.