Self-Sufficiency in Style
Starting a Rural Business
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Self-Sufficiency in Style Starting a Rural Business |
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A man of many talents. Lecturer, writer, farmer, businessman. |
The writer has long warned his readers not to confuse being
self-sufficient with running a business. He has considerable doubts
whether the two are genuinely compatible. However, it has long been clear that people interested in self-sufficiency are also likely to be the ones capable of creating a rural business. So having issued the warnings, see EARNING A LIVING , and considered the doubts first expressed years ago, let's take a look together at what might be possible. There is nothing wrong with starting a business. The writer started fourteen and would never have been able to afford to become a hobby farmer without the proceeds from their eventual sale. But whatever his experience in being self-sufficient and starting businesses, he never seriously did the two together. It is time to introduce you to someone who thinks it possible and has written widely on the subject. |
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Mike Robinson has done it all. Farming, organic growing, consultancy, lecturing at one of Britain's premier agricultural university colleges and editing relevant publications. He runs an organic microholding. He has written an academic paper on the whole issue. It deserves wider attention from the people who could benefit most, but perhaps they are not the kind of people to search the output of universities? Let's take a quick look at what Mike has to offer. |
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His introduction goes well beyond the big business motive of "just lawful
profit." Lifestyle is firmly linked to business: community, job satisfaction, responsible freedoms, health protection for the customer and care for the environment. |
Green business. |
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Lifestyle needs and choices. |
First, he takes a look at the Case for the Smaller Rural Enterprise. The role and place of the individual and the scope and range of objectives that rural lifestyle people generate to meet their needs is examined. |
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Then Mike seeks to become informative and illustrative looking at survival strategies for the smaller rural enterprise and real life. He gives case studies of existing (and ongoing) small rural businesses. Case studies are always of great value to anyone contemplating change. |
Learning from others just what is possible and how. |
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Handling the dreaded forms. |
Then he takes on the practical role, covering aspects and actions which may be useful to consider when planning and starting up a small rural business, as well as practical ‘real business’ financial planning for the smaller enterprise. There are even planning forms for actual use are provided in the appendices, - including help for those "challenged" by any form of formalised planning. Clearly, this writer knows his audience, warts and all. |
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Finally, the end piece looks at aspects of surviving ‘small’ in a ‘largist’ world. That is a really unusual stance in a business environment, where "large and growing" has long been considered a pre-requisite of profit and long term survival. |
Hi! Small fry. |
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Does Mike Robinson succeed in convincing us that small is not only possible, but beautiful too? You can judge for yourself. If you are thinking about financing an attempt at self-sufficiency with produce sales or a related business - this is a "must read." 140 pages from a man that has done it! |
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You can reach Mike Robinson here |
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... reconsidering the possibilities - at Hangman's Cottage, just to the south of Misery Corner. November, 2006 |
