What can we do outside the shire that builds our diversity now and in the future

Personally I am drawn to cottage industry. Especially suited to community are those that require high capital costs. For example, home made jam. To sell, it is usually required that you have a commercial kitchen, for a jam maker this is a cost that is prohibitive for a single craft-maker. Yet a commercial kitchen, in a community setting has much more value.
On the land it might allow public meetings to take place, catering lunches for workshops, feeding overnight guests. At market it might allow us to sell foods that we would be making for ourselves, sauerkraut, yogurt and other fermented products, soups, bread, etc... We could even offer hot food at our farm-stand to demonstrate what could be made from in season produce. (Then sell "kits")
Beyond the "commercial" status a larger stove most likely required would allow larger batches of non-food products like soap or herbal preparations.

As far as commercial kitchens go I got excited about this particular capital investment when I went to a restaurant that had no permanent kitchen. The dining room was just a converted one room building. Parked in the back was the kitchen, A converted RV that at one time sold crepes off the street. Parked directly outside the backdoor this mobile kitchen was able to keep its commercial status practically installed as a drive-in addition.

This is a place to post ideas that people can work on themselves or in small groups that have potential both as a stand alone project and as an aspect of integrated community

This could be a stand alone business venture that allows investment to later benefit the shire

This is an important topic because as the shire is in its infancy as a manifested place, it can be maturing in practice every day. I am currently working a small bit of land in texas and will begin natural building workshops this march. This not only increases my skills as a natural builder, innovating ideas in use of cob or found "waste" materials, but experience teaching others to see the same potential in natural materials and making money in the process. This is my way of living the good life right now while expanding the knowledge base of the shire.

Instead of make a list of ideas which would be fun and productive, here is a way of thinking of harnessing one's own person passion in a way that will benifit the individual now and the community later. First imagine a habitat. This can be a habitat in nature, cities, within a single home, or the world in general. Each of us has experiences with this habitat that make us experts in how to improve upon it. This is where the project begins. Any idea, no matter how small, is a potential for improvement in the human habitat. From aesthetics to community planning, every aspect of life can be beautified, its function improved, its efficiency increased. Once some idea, any idea, has been seized as an important and viable project, go share your passion with the community and both will be upheld.

yes yummy treats!!