NARFI - The North American Rural Futures Institute

Rural Entrepreneurism: Self-fulfillment By Contributing to Your Community's Economy

Thu, 07 Oct 2004 05:37:14 -0400

We profile four rural entrepreneurs – Dave and Chris Shaw, and Wally and Heather Wilson – who are contributing to the health and quality of life of Montana's Hi-Line regional economy while fulfilling their personal dreams of independence and creativity. Their stories reveal lessons learned that are encouraging to all rural folks considering starting or growing their own business.

Grassroots & Groundwork: Reducing Poverty and Rebuilding Communities Conference

Fri, 22 Jul 2005 13:31:44 -0400

Leah Noel, NARFI Executive Assistant, recently attended Grassroots and Groundwork: Reducing Poverty and Rebuilding Communities Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota. On behalf of NARFI, Leah joined a group from north central Montana, from the Community Ventures Coalition, a newly funded NWAF agenda for poverty reduction.

NARFI Donates Renewable Energy Books to MSU-N Library

Wed, 29 Sep 2004 05:54:47 -0400

NARFI Director Timlynn Babitsky met recently with MSU-Northern Library Director Cynthia Harrison to contribute a bookshelf of books and a CD-ROM to bolster the university's information resources about renewable energy. MSU-N students, faculty, and citizens throughout northcentral Montana are encouraged to use these materials to envision and implement Montana's alternative energy future.

Brainstorm...

Thu, 07 Oct 2004 05:24:24 -0400

Want to entice travelers off the Interstate to come spend money in your town? Here are three different projects that are doing just that in rural America. Click here for Make it clever and they WILL come.

The 2004 Community Wind Energy Conference

Wed, 29 Sep 2004 05:56:52 -0400

Craig Erickson of Bear Paw Development Corporation contributes his Future Thinker experience report after attending the 2004 Community Wind Energy Conference thanks, in part, to a NARFI mini-grant. Craig views this event from the perspective of a professional economic developer. Craig and Don Marble attended the conference on behalf of the Hi-Line.

The 2004 Community Wind Energy Conference

Wed, 29 Sep 2004 05:55:52 -0400

Read our latest Future Thinker experience report by Don Marble, Liberty County Commissioner. Don recently attended the 2004 Community Wind Energy Conference thanks to a NARFI mini-grant that helped Don meet the expense of attending this event on behalf of the Hi-Line.

Seeking Common Ground...

Thu, 07 Oct 2004 05:13:04 -0400

There is a widely held perception that Rural Electric Cooperatives (REC) are generally not interested in pursuing renewable energy. On closer look, this does not appear to be true. Click here for the rest of the story.

22.8 Million in Grants for Renewable Energy

Thu, 07 Oct 2004 05:14:19 -0400

$22.8 Million in Grants for Renewable Energy - Farm Bill 2004 Funding Announced. Applications must be postmarked no later than July 19, 2004. click here and also here for more information.

Workshop on Wind Power Draws Big Turnout

Wed, 29 Sep 2004 05:58:45 -0400

Over 250 people filled the community meeting room and spilled into nearby hallways of the Hill County Electric Co-op to attend the USDA Farm Bill Wind Power Workshop. Folks came to learn about an emerging renewable 'crop' to be harvested in northcentral Montana. This reprint of the Havre Daily News story is enhanced with NARFI photos and links to on-line versions of the presentations from the workshop.

Cheap meds...

Thu, 07 Oct 2004 05:15:27 -0400

Eastern Ohio�s Bruce Buren makes a decent living off of what most farmers dismiss as weeds and wasted land. Read this wild story!

No silver bullets...

Thu, 07 Oct 2004 05:14:46 -0400

We have come to believe that "out there somewhere" is the silver bullet that will fix whatever ails us. If only we can only find it, then our farm, school, town, region, economy -- future -- will be saved. Truth is, there ARE no silver bullets; there never have been. But that does not mean there isn't a way...click here to read more.

Living with the Land

Thu, 07 Oct 2004 05:18:02 -0400

There's a beautiful log home under construction off-the-grid on the Rocky Boy's Reservation where Ted Demontiney and his family will be close to nature thanks to the power of the wind and the sun.

Y'all come back, now

Thu, 07 Oct 2004 05:20:12 -0400

Do you want to know about the love life of chickens? About harvesting hay in Greenland? About self-discoveries while farming late in life? Celebrate life in rural places through images and stories offered here by rural folks across North America who love rural life despite its many challenges.Click here to start your journey.

New Entries in Rural Futures Directory

Thu, 16 Sep 2004 21:43:43 -0400

A number of Wind Power entries were recently added to the NARFI Rural Futures Directory. Especially interesting are the educational resources for teachers who want to add wind power topics to their curricula. To see the newest teachers' wind power resources visit this page.

Get Wired or Get Left Behind

Mon, 10 Nov 2003 14:18:35 -0500

Montanan Kate McMahon and community networking guru Andrew Cohill have sage advice for rural communities in Get Wired or Get Left Behind, their feature article from the July issue of Planning, the publication of the American Planning Association. [ Read article in PDF format ]