This book is an appeal for building holistic and mutually beneficial communities that are mindful of the impact that our acts of daily living have on the land, and on the people. It is my belief that if the six basic needs of daily life—food, clothing, housing, health, education, and banking can largely be met with locally, within a hundred-mile radius, people will find diverse, innovative solutions to the problems of poverty, exploitation, and environmental degradation. The reduced distance between the consumer and producer, and the producer and raw materials will empower the people to begin the process of restoring economic and political balance in the world. This is but one possible solution to the troubles of the world around us.