Thrifty and Smart: The Resilience of Rural America

When the Going Gets Tough, Rural keeps going. It is true that the crash of the economy has effected everyone but especially rural communities where because of their remote locations resources are limited. Lake County, Oregon is among those rural communities that are fighting to survive. Lake County is unique for multiple reasons but specifically their choice on how to help a struggling community with the conglomeration of renewable energy technologies. Lake County is blessed with an abundance of renewable energy such as geothermal, solar, and wind. It is home to the largest solar farm in Oregon which is located in Christmas Valley. Paisley, Oregon’s own Mayor worked with Surprise Valley Electric, the local electrical co-op,  developing plans to have a 3 MW geothermal plant built which is scheduled to go online by March 2014. Rural communities are experiencing a rural funding gap then how have they survived and accomplished so many projects? Inclusive leadership, diversified resources, and collaboration are key methods that help with the rural resilience. Lake County is open for business with renewable energy contractors and they understand an investment for a long term strategy not just a quick fix in difficult times. Ranches and livelihoods can be and are saved by these creative strategies.   Most people strive for financial viability and sustainability.   The citizens of Lake County get creative in their strategies to achieve these goals and portray strong characteristics of survivalists and conservationists.  Lake County citizens are filled with an array of craftsmanship and if they don’t know how to do it they figure it out.

Duane Graham, the owner of Summer Lake Hot Springs in an interview replied “Living in rural communities, such as Lake County, reinforces your energy awareness. Anytime you take a trip to Bend that’s $50 in your gas tank.” People learn to stock up on supplies and be mindful of energy consumption. You can call it frugal or sustainable but out here it just makes sense. We got on the subject of the agricultural and food scene where we see a major shift back to local and organic products and practices. Duane replied, “You know, back when the Paisley Mercantile was a mom and pop market, folks relied on locally owned hardware stores and lumberyards rather than Home Depot.  And there was a flour mill on the river in nearly every town.  And a butcher shop or local woods full of fresh meat.  And every household grew a garden and canned.” “I realized that my values were akin to my Grandmother’s when she told me, ‘What you young people call organic food, we just called food.’  I want to live that simply.”  You can learn so much living the rural lifestyle. It brings you back to simplicity where you learn to be thankful for the little things in life and learn how to literally survive and live off the land. A good friend once told me that “Being here in Oregon’s great Outback I have realized that you have time on your side. When does that ever happen in life?” Living out here you can understand and appreciate the beauty of that statement. People move at a slower pace out here and take time to sit with you and share stories. Lake County shares in building community pride by reaching out to each other when times get tough rather than giving up. Out here they get creative ; out here they are just plain survivalists.  What resources does your rural community have and what creative ways have they utilized them to survive?

About the Author:  Katie Kargol received her Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science from the University of Colorado. Upon graduating,  she enrolled in an array of classes at Northwest Renewable Energy Institute where she ultimately attained a Wind Turbine Technician Diploma.  Katie moved to Oregon for an adventure of the RARE AmeriCorps Program – Resource Assistance for Rural Environments kind! Katie is serving with Lake County Resource Initiative (LCRI), where she is focused on promoting a number of local renewable energy programs and projects.  A large part of LCRI’s mission is to transform Lake County into a net exporter of renewable energy. Katie is assisting with further develop of LCRI’s website and renewal energy documents; promoting LCRI to Lake County residents; offering an array of renewable energy tours; perform energy audits for local income renters, homeowners and business; and helping to develop and coordinate curriculum for LCRI’s newly created Natural Resources Learning and Innovation Center.  Following her second year with the RARE AmeriCorps Program, Katie hopes to find a full-time position that allows her to integrate sustainable practices in government and community-based development projects.