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Assignments And Grading

Local Economy Course Assignments

Reading

Course readings will be from a course reader especially developed for this course. Readers will be available the first day and will cost $25.00.

We will read some from the reader every day for homework, followed by a brief discussion of the previous days reading in class. 25 points for participating in discussion in class. Due every day

Writing Assignment

Choose an article in an area of special interest to you from the on-line course wiki resources. Read the article, and do the following:

• A brief report oral report on the article and followed by a class discussion led by you on the relevance of the article to the themes of the course. (15 minutes)
• A written report (1-4 pages) on the article relating it to the themes of the class that will be posted on your class blog.

Local Economy Web Research Report Research local economy related web sites and blogs, pick one and review it on your blog

Utopian Vision for the Future Write a story about a future community that has implemented the concepts we are learning about in this course. It can be based on a comprehensive vision for the whole community or an in depth review of one aspect of the community.

25 points, Due Monday, January 21

Group Projects The class will break into groups, and each group will work on a project that explores relocalization in our community. This project should make an original contribution to the relocalization efforts for our community. Project ideas:

• Explore the flow of money in our community – what happens to the money the community spends on things like energy, food, or building materials? What happens to the money we put in local banks?
• A business plan for a business or non-profit that helps with relocalization efforts
• A study of a sector of our economy and the impact of relocalization – Energy, building materials, and food are some possible topics.
• An historical study mapping how food was produced for our region in the past. You will interview people like Ernie Hinckle and research old maps and photos.

25 points - A written report placed on the group project wiki and a class presentation due at the end of the class. Presentations and report due January 30

Evaluation (written exam) 10 points Due Monday, January 28

Radio Project Do 5-15 minute radio program about some aspect of the course. 20 points Due Jan 29

Cook Lunch Create a menu with your group and make lunch for the class using the 100 mile diet criteria. 10 points, each group will have to cook lunch just once. Lunch each Wednesday

Writing Assignment

• Letter to the Editor

Write a letter to the editor, offering a local economy solution to some problem 10 points '

20 points –draft due January 17 , final due January 24

Microenterprise Lab Certification Work with Lab Director Mark Stimson to get basic safety certification on use of the lab. 10 points Due by January 31'

Local Economy Prototytpe Develop a prototype of a local economy product using the Microenterprise Lab. Ideas:

Solar hot water heater

Musical instruments using local woods

• Marimba
• Kalimba

Community Soap Factory - research soap making on a community scale, appropriate for use with our water quality. Research all kinds of soap and detergent, including the use of local oils in the production of the soap. Test the use of glycerin(a byproduct of the biodiesel process) in making soap.

25 points, presentation to class and 1-4 page summary on your wiki. Due by January 29

Project of your own choosing Do an individual project of your own choosing, with instructor approval Up to 20 points -