Presentation to Bayham Council November 6, 2008

The future of Port Burwell and Bayham
Oct 30, 2008
-Most of the businesses on our main street are for sale
-A lot of homes are for sale because is no work in Port Burwell or one cannot afford to drive to work.
-Our present medical facility is about 6 months behind in seeing patients
-the price of a barrel of oil has fallen to under $70 a barrel from a high of about $147
-Stock markets have been very volatile ending drastically down in the last few weeks with most investors and pensions funds incomes down by about a half of their previous worth and this means job losses to keep profitable.
-Most businesses are reporting lower sales than are usual at this time of year
-there is a huge credit problem in the world today and money for buildings and businesses has dried up.
-There has been many layoffs at businesses close by Bayham and more scheduled to come
-The price of fertilizers and pesticides have risen drastically making farming less profitable during the past summer.
-the price of farmers commodities have fallen drastically.
-House prices have fallen drastically across the states and in England and now Canada is being hit
-Municipal services will cost a lot more as a new wave of inflation moves in.

So what are we doing about this? I do not think that anyone on council is presenting any forward thinking or reasonable proposals to mitigate our future. Nor is our municipal Bureaucracy thinking ahead since they are referencing what has been done in the past and looking to see what is normal in other municipalities. What should be taking place is a concerted effort towards self sufficiency and sustainability and this is found as part in the movement afoot that is concentrating on making, buying, selling things locally.

So what is going on in the world today and what is its impact on Port Burwell and how do we prepared for our future?

Not everyone is sure of what is happening or why it is happening but one need look no further than ourselves. As Pogo said “We have found the enemy and the enemy is us”. Yes it is we who have perpetuated the problem as we have become a rabid consumer encrusted with debt spurred on by advertising that promises satisfaction of owning the latest toy. At some time this unsustainable practice had to come to an end and that end is now. In a nut shell we did not save any money and any money we did save we put into companies futures on the stock market which relied on ever increasing consumer spending hoping to make a our million for retirement. But even those who do have real money bank accounts and guaranteed saving certificates will incur tremendous losses as the value of paper money falls drastically as the only way out of this problem may be hyper-inflation. So if our wages go up by double our debts then become more easily managed as has been practiced by many in the last decades.

We are systematically eliminating the very ecological resources and economic resources upon which our ever-increasing population and our historically unprecedented living standards depend. We have not practiced sustainable living and are dependant and become addicted to the services of electricity, natural gas, municipal water and sewers, fossil fuels, telephones, cable television and endless resources. Have we forgotten this is finite world?

The inescapable conclusion to our recent financial crisis is that our way of life is not sustainable—it cannot be “fixed”; it must be replaced. Desperate and futile attempts to perpetuate our existing lifestyle we are simply waste remaining, and increasingly scarce, time and resources.
Our only recourse is to transition to a sustainable lifestyle , one in which we live within our means ecologically and economically—forever. Should we fail to do so, quickly, the consequences associated with our predicament will be horrific bringing catastrophic climate changes to our human existence that cannot be stopped.

Bureaucratic Problems:

For our Municipal Bureaucracy it is business as usual despite the fact that we are entering into uncharted areas of unemployment, financial uncertainty and an end of an era of cheap fossil fuels. We need to prepare for the years ahead. But who dares to look ahead, instead we look to the past and what other municipalities are doing.

I decided to look ahead and prepare for what most experts feel is our future. Tthe Bayham Municipal Bureaucracy did not understand the importance or at least could not fit it into the present bylaws for at least one person to be off grid in the town of Port Burwell thankfully the council members decided to explore this possibility and granted me a temporary permit. But in the case of the Chickens that too may be a immediate future for many of us as our food purchasing ability becomes limited but no-one on council has seen that yet.

None of the council members have ever visited me yet I have had numerous visitors from the surrounding area and others from across Canada visit and study sustainable living with me. The only person from the municipal offices I have had visit me are the bylaw enforcement officers and of them only Bill Knifton actually looked at everything I did and understand why I was doing this. Paul for his part was only interested in getting a picture of some chickens! And why is Paul proposing new bylaws despite no actual problems outlined other that its not esthetically pleasing to someone.!!! As a thinking employee he should see that with our economic uncertain future we may have to consider chickens in our back yards.

One of the first habits we acquire is to glance at our mother before deciding how to react to what's around us. In society it is called social referencing and the reactions of our local government shows that very clearly but it is counter productive in todays world and easily stifles creative and progressive individuals who may not be unable to deal with the politics. I am not paid to counter the work of the municipal bureaucracy which takes many hours of preparation but the staff who is paid does not in my estimation do through research and presents poor interpretations of local bylaws. Are these employees not paid to do any creative thinking??

Preparing for the future
If there are no jobs and people cannot walk to work in Port Burwell there will be no economy. It will not be long before energy needed for driving long distances will be prohibitively expensive as the boom and bust of fossil fuels will discourage investment and eventually this finite resource will be no longer our staple diet. The result will be that people will move to find jobs in larger cities and house prices will fall drastically then houses will be repossessed by mortgage lenders leading to more instability locally. Those on pensions may also find that the funds invested in stocks do not produce enough revenue to provide for those on pensions and if there is a reduced pension income there will be a lack of spending and the downward spiral continues. Port Burwell will be devastated.

How can this be stopped? Bylaws need to be changed that encourage each individual to operate a small business in their garage and home. We need to promote gardens and limited amounts of things such as a wood shop, a metal shop, a leather shop and yes even chickens in our backyards. One need only look to Cuba that underwent the blockade from the States and the failure of Russia. They suffered a loss of about 75% of their energy but they where prepared. Now most of the food to feed Havana is grown in the city itself. Gardening and livestock keeping is encouraged within city limits and farms are concentrating on organic farming. According to the WWF, Cuba is the only country that has managed to combine an environmentally sustainable footprint per head of population with an acceptably high quality of life as measured by the UN Human Development Index. And if Cuba can do that without the latest and most economical technology, how much easier should it be for us?

Small business need to be encouraged. Many small useful items can easily be produced and bartered in Bayham. Local currencies should be explored as a preparedness issue in Bayham. Large enterprises like the proposed Fairy are flirting with disaster and any grade four student can do the math that shows the financial mess that would follow. It would be far better to invest in a number of small businesses.

Of special interest to me are the farmers who will before long be mostly bankrupt. We plant seeds purchased from someone else, we purchase pestisides, and fertilizers all based on fossil fuels, plant monocultures that need massive machines relying on fossil fuels for energy. A look at small organic farms with very small acreage is far more productive and uses a fraction of the energy per acre. I have been experimenting with sunflowers and have so far been able to produce oil that I cook with, oil that I use in my diesels and then the sunflower meal is used to feed animals ( chickens), I then make some biodiesel for my biodiesel heater and to use in the winter when I am not using my bicycle on the roads.

A very good suggestion for ideas on this would be to ask for volunteers to come forward who handpick their team to develop ideas and then the municipality would provide seed money to many of them. Making a committee that involves adversaries goes nowhere.

At the last meeting Mark Taylor asked me what was the end result of my work here in Port Burwell.

My goal is to become as self sufficient as possible and share my findings with anyone else. This means that I derive all of my energy from the sun. Everything is recycled and byproducts of one process are used in another. My aim is Zero waste in my system. Nothing is carelessly done and a lot of research is done on every aspect of my project. I have an emergency sewage system that does not pollute the lake and an emergency water system being built as well as my own electrical, hot water and heating system which I share with all of those interested. Interns and visitors come from all parts of Canada to study with me on sustainable living. This is an experiment and the more that participate the better it will be.

One frightening fact for me is that we have become totally dependant on electricity from the grid for everything. But think carefully what will be functioning when the electrical grid fails? I recently spent time with a grade 3 class and they understood this well. Since we base these on finite fossil fuels soon nothing in our current society will function, now if grade 3 students can figure this out surely we could start considering some future alternatives to our coming crisis rather than being caught unprepared.

Do you not think that this deserves some immediate investigation and action?

-Mat Redsell. Port Burwell oct 2008

Economic future of Port Burwell: (and Bayham) written in 2006 by Mat Redsell

The future for Port burwell looks rather grim concerning employment especially for those that drive long distances from Port Burwell. The affordability of energy for transportation, heating, electricity and manufacturing is bleak, and if businesses are not turning a profit then jobs are lost and the economy goes into recession. And if fossil fuels are in short supply then it becomes a chronic recession or depression. This I predict is our future.

The only solution I foresee is that we must adopt a local economy based on a community working together that support small businesses with a growing basis in barter. This will not put millions of dollars into the all ready rich but it may insure that a community that will have the greatest possibility of surviving not only the impending fossil fuel crisis but the adverse effects of climate change.

Surprisingly, we already have many small hidden businesses in many garages in Port Burwell, some are probably classed as illegal operations perhaps even run by those people on disability pensions, welfare, or unemployment benefits in order to meet their monthly expenses. People are generally quiet about them but this may be a great resource that needs to be encouraged. A small amount of money spent on these and other small developing businesses could greatly enhance the economy and survivability of those living in Port Burwell. Diversity and local initiatives is probably the key to the future of Port Burwell rather than putting all of our eggs in one basket for something as grandiose as a ferry service.

If we where looking for a profitable business to enhance our investment portfolios back in the 1980's then a top pick might be tourism and perhaps a cross border ferry but in the reality of diminishing cheap fossil fuels, Americas economic decline, and world global warming we may need to drastically rethink our needs and resources so that they do not rely on fossil fuels but rely instead on a local economy that is not affected by large industry located in far away places and reliant on scarce fossil fuels.

One way to solve this by having a number of small businesses owned by the residents of Port Burwell that are not based on fossil fuels that also provide for the needs of the local community . This is the only viable long term solution for Port Burwell if not most of the world in the foreseeable future. Another way to help Bayham is the creation of Co-ops.

Once one realizes that fossil fuels are going to be very scarce in the near future one then has to think of alternatives to our supply of electricity, water, gasoline, natural gas and a source of heat for our homes. Thinking ahead to any kind of sustainable future makes one think twice about our goals in life and the direction we should be heading and where our time and money should be invested.

The basics of food, warmth and shelter for everyone are worth thinking about in a sustainable way so that we preserve what is left of this once glorious world for those who are to follow.

The most reliable source of energy would be electricity from windmills in Port Burwell but at present this commodity is owned by businesses outside Port Burwell is sold to Hydro who sells it back to us at market prices. It is financially possible and especially morally correct to build and own small scale windmills rather than relying on Coal and Nuclear electricity generation for our future? Global warming is real!

Businesses that will not make a good investment:

Tourism: I would not bet on this being a valid method of making a business in the long term. It is highly seasonal, perhaps just supplying enough work for employees to claim unemployment at the end of the season. While it provides a few unskilled jobs it does not produce much of worth for the community and none of the participants develop skills such as woodworking, carpentry, farming etc. that are vital to the local good and economy. And in reality this only enhances those that are already financially well off.

Cross Border Ferry: This idea it holds no future since it is predicated on truck traffic which will be greatly diminished in the years to come with fossil fuel depletion and is far too energy dependant on heavy dredging of the harbour and once it becomes unprofitable then everything leaves Port Burwell and we are right back with no industries and a lot of municipal debt.

Marina: The future of fossil fueled pleasure boats is dismal with the rising cost of fuel. The cost of building a harbour may be prohibitive and will prove unattractive to any investor.

Stores: Vendors that rely on products manufactured more than 200 miles from Port Burwell may not do well in the long run. This is such a hard thing to do just now with the inexpensive selection of products from China. The hardware run by Ian Almond and his wife is a real benefit to Port Burwell and I hope he can morph it into something with a future selling locally made items.

Viable businesses:

Businesses that might do well in the next 5 years:

A Sustainable Energy Co -op. Members own the co-op. Together they pay for staff and reap the benefits of any sales. Nearly every household in Bayham needs vapour barriers and insulation and a source of inexpensive heat. Spreadsheets could be developed to show the benefit of energy conservation. A co-op could purchase insulation and vapour barrier and sell it at cost plus office costs. The Co op could also install it (you help me ,I help you) . After the insulation and vapour barrier, one should then calculate the heating needs in a season and could then be concerned with alternative heat such as solar air heater, solar water heater, wood stove etc.

Call centre: Many Banks and businesses have call centers where inquiries are answered. Port Burwell with its relatively inexpensive real estate would make a good call center. In a call center there are all kinds of people hired. Power for the electronics could be derived from local wind. I power all of my computers in my office with solar cells and wind turbines.

Woodworking to provide refinishing, furniture, Shelving, boat building for fishermen that can operate in the shallows of the Big Otter. Wood is still available and in the past a lot of machinery was made from wood. Skills in woodworking needs to be honed over time. Most people cannot just pick up a hand saw and cut a straight line, or sharpen a plane. These skills need to be learned from local trades persons and studied and applied over the course of a few years.

Carpentry to make and repair buildings. Working with an experienced carpenter is a very worthwhile education. Knowing how to read plans and organize ones work takes time to understand. Carpenters who know a lot about insulation will be most valuable in the next 5 -10 years. Paying apprentices to learn these skills will prove very beneficial to the community.

Home heating fuel: Heating ones home could be most difficult if the electricity or the Natural gas either was disconnected or was no longer affordable. When exploring alternate heating there is wood, various grasses, coal, wood pellets, various grains, corn, biodiesel and alcohol. Consider also various heating systems that employ heat extraction from the ground. My bet would be to harness some of the sunshine to offset the heating costs. My solar heater cost less than $25 and has been producing heat every day there is sunshine. A local supplier of any one of these would be good but first one must insulate and conserve to the highest degree.

Recycle and repair shop: A store that specializes in recycled articles such as clothing, tools, furniture, etc. Repairs of appliances may be very important if money is scarce.

Limited manufacturing would be possible with power from a windmill or the use of manpower.
Ideas such as:
composting toilets from buckets
tables from local wood
Chairs from local wood
small wooden boats or canoes
Biodiesel from used oil from restaurants or canola oil from the fields.

Stores that sell locally made goods.

Canoe maker.-make canoes from wood as fossil fuel gets a lot more costly. Canoes can be used on the Big Otter river for fishing and pleasure.

Skills exchange -a business that taps the local talent. People pay a small fee to apprentice with a local expert or craftsperson. Since schools do not teach survival skills such as canning, knitting, gardening, repairing things children could learn some of these skills from the grandparents of our society who knew how to survive without television and supermarket food supplies. This is vital to the community to share knowledge. It is especially important to get the older folks to share their knowledge of things before modern times.

Fishing:
. Fishing is a ready source of food... it does not take time to nurture plants or animals over the course of many months. This is fairly instant and while there are still a quantity of fish in the lakes this may be the best source of food to feed us. Boats can be made much smaller to accommodate the Big Otter harbour.

Businesses that might do well 10 years down the road:

An economy based on the skills of self sufficiency will be the wise investment in Port Burwell appropriate for the year 2016 just ten years away.

Farming done organically, will provide the community with nutritious food. Each resident can also be involved in their own organic gardening to supplement fresh foods and vegetables not available in stores. Suggestions for investment -maple syrup, pigs, chickens, cows, ducks, vegetables, fruit trees. Organic farming needs well trained leaders and a lot of physical hand work. It would be well advised to have these skills when fossil fuels depletion becomes more apparent. These skills cannot be learned in one season.

Blacksmithing providing the community with impliments such as garden tools, woodworking tools. Welding and fabrication. Old metal objects recycled into useful tools. One needs the specialized skill and tools for this. WE have in Port Burwell someone who is versed in the these skills and a learning sessions with him would be well spent.

Lumber mill for timber, powered by wood gas or biodiesel. Knowing how to cut down a tree and make it into timber is skilled trade. It may also rely on horses to harvest the logs, and a mechanics skill to work with machinery.

Ice cutters: Hopefully global warming does not affect us in such a way that we no longer have ice on the lake. If electricity gets scarce because we cannot afford it or the system is down ice would be a good commodity in the hot summers to keep food fresh. Knowing how to cut the ice and how to store it for the summers use will take time to learn.

Work Horse farms and trainers : If the automobile is no longer available to the general public short distance hauling would have to be done by horse. The only ones that know how to train horses today are the Amish and Mennonite communities.

Fishing to provide food and smoking and salting of fish for the winter. Woodworkers could build boats could be made from wood that can cope with the low levels of the otter river.

Repair men for the many machines and appliances that are in existence. These skills need to be learned and cannot be put into practice from book reading.

Alternative energy providers. Solar heaters for water and home heating, electricity from solar cells and windmills, efficient stoves, insulation, etc. Pellet fuels, stoves,.

Energy conservers : Our many homes here are very deficient in insulation and energy conserving materials. This is one area that will reduce our dependency on energy use. Knowing that ones energy use is very small will certainly help financially and make alternate energy use practical.

Seamstress -person who does sewing for the village, repairing cloths that need mending.

Windmill owners: Those people who invest in windmills not connected to our grid will be assuring that electricity will be available locally. I wonder if those farmers already leasing land to windmills will actually be able to get electricity from them? It would be rather ironic that those who leased land to windmill operators could not afford to purchase electricity.

What do we do today to meet the needs of tomorrow?

The idea of village zoning is inconsistent with village life and especially our survival. We need businesses intermingled with homes so that one can walk to work, trade with a neighbour and get to know everyone just as it was 80 years ago.

The council needs to promote business here by attracting attention in offering a tax free period of five years to any business who builds a new building along with power from already approved wind turbines. Council needs to fast track at no cost for building permits and various approvals required in putting up a new building.

Lastly what we need are individuals that have focus and commitment not willing to be subject to the committee mentality.

-mat