March 31, 2008 - According to Harrowsmith Country Life editor Tom Cruikshank, community economies based on local shops and industries were the norm only a few generations ago, and may again flourish.

Referencing The Small-Mart Revolution, the April 2008 issue of the Canadian magazine features Michael Shuman's localization ideas in the Editor's Note ("Greetings") and a special feature, "The 100-Mile Shopping Diet" by Marlene Bergsma.

The key point for Cruikshank is the localizing influence of rising oil prices and the impact on global supply chains, transportation costs, and consumer willingness to travel.

"If our great grandparents knew that their descendants think nothing of driving an hour to a mall just to save a dollar or two on clothing and groceries, they would shake their heads in disbelief," Cruikshank says. "It seems to me that we'd be gaining something if our rural communities were more self-sufficient. [...] Shuman's hypothesis makes you think twice before surrendering to the notion that the countryside is doomed in the face of global economics."

Going deeper, "The 100-Mile Shopping Diet" discusses the benefits and importance of shopping locally, how to recognize a "truly local business," and how to extend your 'local first' habits beyond shopping to things like electricity and investments.

You can order a copy of the April 2008 issue of Harrowsmith Country Life here.