What does it look like in your community if the crisis or war comes? Where is water, who can perform CPR, and how many root cellars do you have? These are questions that the participants in Rusta Bygden have already started working on. Over the weekend, we met participants from the project at a conference in Grimslöv to share experiences and develop ideas.
The day offered discussions on important topics such as water supply, energy sources, healthcare, and communication channels. Each community shared its preparedness plan and its best ideas – and there was much to be inspired by. Here are some other exciting thoughts that were raised:
- Data/IT: How can we support those with limited technology skills in a crisis, such as during a pandemic? Does the community need its own mobile broadband in emergencies?
- Social health: Does the community have contact persons or meeting places to reduce social exclusion? How can we help people manage anxiety in difficult times?
- Childcare: Who takes care of small children when parents are working on crisis management? Do we have places where children can receive education when the roads are closed?
There were also many strategies for the topic of food! Inventory of root cellars, courses in preservation, and communal gardening were just a couple of all the solutions that the communities came up with. This was well complemented by the workshop in outdoor cooking during lunch. There, everyone cooked a meal that could feed 50 people together. On the menu was freshly baked bread, fried pike perch, and wild boar stew, cooked over a bed of coals, which also warmed in the winter cold.
The day concluded with an inspiring study visit to a preparedness farm, where we learned about bokashi composting and biochar.
A big thank you to all the communities that shared their ideas and showed what fantastic work you have put in! We also want to thank the project leaders of Rusta Bygden for the rewarding day and the Study Association Vuxenskolan, Hela Sverige ska leva, and Coompanion for their important contributions.
Do you want to know more about Rusta Bygden and what you can apply for funding for? Check out our micro-support!
Published: November 26, 2024
