Living LandscapesDESIGN
Module 21 / 25
Module 20 examined how decisions and work are organized. Here, examine the forms of value and exchange that support households and community projects. Begin with human and social capital, then compare currencies, lending, banking, investment, and monetary systems. Fullerton's talk considers the purpose of finance before the book readings focus on livelihoods and household budgets.
What you’ll learn
Use your own copy, buy the book, or borrow it through a library when possible. If you are local to me, contact me about borrowing a copy. You can also contact me for information about digital or other access to assigned readings.
If your edition uses different page numbers, contact me and we can match the correct section.
For articles, excerpts, videos, and other resources, use the links in the lesson. If a video player does not load, try its source link. If you cannot access a reading or media resource, or it has no link, contact me with the module number and resource title.
Ask about books, readings or media access ↗Read
differencebetween.com
Distinguish the knowledge and skills people bring to a project from the relationships and networks through which they cooperate. Use that distinction when comparing the forms of exchange in this module.
Open resourceRead
open.edu
Compare the exchanges described here with conventional money: what is exchanged, who participates, and how the arrangement depends on trust. Carry those questions into the community-lending and banking videos.
Open resourceWatch
YouTube
Consider how lending arrangements connect people who need resources with those able to provide them.
If the player does not load, use the source link.
Watch
YouTube
Compare the banking discussion with the preceding community-lending example, paying attention to how resources are made available and decisions are made.
If the player does not load, use the source link.
Watch
YouTube
Compare the forms of investment described here with the knowledge, relationships, and other resources a project depends on. The monetary-systems reading then examines the arrangements through which value circulates.
If the player does not load, use the source link.
Read
popularresistance.org
Open resourceWatch
YouTube
Fullerton's conversation with Ricardo Bayon presents regenerative economics as a way to examine the purpose of finance. Compare his arguments with the preceding monetary-systems reading, noting how each connects financial decisions with ecological and community conditions.
If the player does not load, use the source link.
Module 20 examined how decisions and responsibilities are organized. Here, consider the resources needed to sustain your own design. Develop the budget introduced in Module 6 by separating cash costs, labour, exchanges, and non-cash benefits. Identify ongoing work or expenses, using current local costs and prices.
Book reading
Jessi Bloom and Dave Boehnlein
Module 19 uses these pages for its income-from-acres topic. Here, apply the selection to livelihoods, business models, and alternative currencies. Consult the parts you have already studied as needed.
Pages 291 to 295: Livelihoods, business models, and alternative currencies
Book access & editionsBook reading
Ben Falk
Pages 427 to 430: household-money discussion
Book access & editionsBook reading
Toby Hemenway
Chapter 8: Optional deeper reading
Book access & editionsIf earning a livelihood through permaculture interests you, these optional videos extend the budget discussion to running a business. Consider their examples in relation to the work and ongoing resources a business requires.
Optional · Watch
YouTube
If the player does not load, use the source link.
Optional · Watch
YouTube
If the player does not load, use the source link.